The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 23

The flower called the Mad Bloom was the flower engraved on the crest of Jabesi. At first glance, it resembled a black rose, but it differed in that everything from the stem to the leaves and petals was black.

The Mad Bloom was a flower grown from a seed that appeared the moment a direct descendant was born. The flower, which blooms the moment madness erupts later in life, darkens over time.

And when all the black petals fall, one completely succumbs to madness. Therefore, it was the duty of the Jabesi head to commit suicide when only one petal remained.

Occasionally, there were cases where they hid out of fear of death, and that’s what the heir was for.

The more the head’s flower withered, the stronger the heir’s power became. Therefore, if the head went mad, the direct descendant had to sacrifice their life to subdue the head.

Thus, the direct descendants of Jabesi implicitly avoided each other because unnecessary affection would dull the blade [weaken their resolve to kill each other].

In particular, the moment the flower bloomed, the head instinctively smelled death in the heir’s pheromones.

A relationship where the father’s decline becomes the son’s prosperity. This was also the reason why the direct descendants of Jabesi did not have strong bonds.

Other families, who did not know these inner workings, judged Jabesi to be heartless. That was because only the direct descendants of Jabesi and their family doctor knew of the existence of the Mad Bloom.

In the meantime, Devohn’s provocation was like touching a sore spot. Zakari muttered coldly.

“You must be hoping for that.”

Surprisingly, the Page family, which suffered the most damage, benefited the most from the last great chaos. Jabesi was under quite a few restrictions due to the responsibility for the war.

“I was just worried about you.”

“I don’t need your disgusting concern.”

It was when Zakari was about to end the conversation that Devohn spoke.

“I heard your son’s pheromones are comparable to those of the first head. You must be very worried. Strong power brings a strong backlash in your family, doesn’t it? It would be very difficult if your son went crazy.”

Devohn’s silver eyes seemed to glint with a blue light. Zakari sighed deeply.

His skill in gnawing at his nerves was still the same. The nuance of subtly treating his son as a nuisance was also disgusting.

Zakari smiled brightly and said.

“Yes. He is very strong. So, I apologize in advance.”

“Apologize?”

“In case my son accidentally turns a territory into a wasteland. The adjacent northern region must be very worried.”

“Are you saying that our northern region is afraid of your son?”

When Devohn frowned and protested, Zakari smiled generously and said.

“Well, if not, why are you so interested in my son? He’s just a young black lion who hasn’t even reached adulthood yet.”

“That’s……!”

“Haa, it’s hard when your son is too good. You must be happy. You have a good son who doesn’t give you any trouble.”

Zakari gracefully gestured an apology and left the scene. There was a barb in the words that sounded like praise.

“That damn black lion…….”

Devohn glared at Zakari, clenching his fists. Someday, he would tear that arrogant black lion’s mane to shreds.

* * *

“So, it has come to this. I thought this day might come someday… Why couldn’t you just get along 적당히 [adequately/moderately]?”

Ivan uttered in a pitiful voice, as if looking at a terminally ill patient who had been sentenced to death.

I couldn’t help but sigh at the clear mark on the inside of my wrist. It wasn’t painful, but it was a disturbing mark.

It had already been a week since I was bitten, but it was still there. Rather, it seemed to resemble a rose pattern more and more as time passed.

That was the black rose on the Jabesi crest. So, if you looked at it wrong, it felt like a tattoo that was deliberately engraved, not a bite.

I held out my wrist and asked.

“This isn’t going away. Why is that?”

“That’s because it wasn’t just a bite.”

“If it wasn’t just a bite?”

When I asked back with a face that I didn’t know at all, Ivan only moved his lips as if he was embarrassed. Merina, who was standing next to him, smiled awkwardly and avoided my gaze.

It seemed like an act that had some meaning at a glance.

“What is it? What is it?”

“It’s better if you don’t know yet.”

Ivan was uncharacteristically tight-lipped. The day would come when Ivan, who had a mouth as light as a feather, would shut his mouth like this.

I don’t know what it is, but I know that this mark is very meaningful. Anyway, it didn’t seem like I would get an answer even if I pressed him further.

Zerachiel, who had engraved this scar, was no different from usual. In a word, he was still not normal.

At that time, Merina put a lace bracelet made of cloth on my wrist and said.

“I’ll cover it up with this for now.”

Following that, she only smiled, so she seemed to know too.

Okay. Everyone knows except me, right?

I felt a little sad, but if they didn’t tell me, it might not be that important. No, it has to be!

I obediently wore the bracelet, trying to ignore the chilly feeling. It had already been a week since I stayed in Hebel.

In the meantime, I learned that the rabbit beastkin did not accompany the Page family.

It was strange. Originally, Ella should be living in the Page family by now.

And in the original story, Ella was supposed to play a big role in this event.

Here in Hebel, where the divine beast, the ancestor of the beastkin, was born and laid to rest, sacred objects containing traces of the divine beast were buried everywhere.

Originally there were twelve, but only ten have been found so far.

Due to the geographical characteristics of Hebel, it was very difficult to detect them in the first place. Even if you found it, you shouldn’t touch the sacred object carelessly.

Since the sacred object chooses its own owner, it could attack if you tried to touch it rashly.

The sacred objects that had already been discovered were thoroughly sealed off and enshrined in the treasury inside the sanctuary. The sanctuary, the head of Hebel, was a place where even Naaman could only enter once a year unless there was a special case.

It was said that there were ten sacred objects with mysterious powers inside the sacred sanctuary. Naaman would take out the sacred object once a year to show off Hebel’s presence.

Ella not only discovered such precious sacred objects so easily but also was chosen, showing off her tremendous presence. [She was recognized by the objects as worthy.]

She was the first beastkin to be chosen by Hebel’s sacred object, causing even more of a stir. Naaman used the sacred object in an extremely limited state, so how could she not?

Where did she find it?

If Ella wasn’t here, it was a sacred object that would never be discovered.

When I leave the Jabesi family later, I needed something to protect me. And the sacred object that Ella found in the original story had the ability that I desperately needed for my escape life.

It was a sacred object that helped hide pheromones.

Ella hid her pheromones safely for a while with that. It was a tragedy that Zerachiel found out.

Anyway.

It was a very, very necessary item for me, who had two unique pheromones.

For a very brief moment, I felt like I was stealing something from the original heroine, but I was in a desperate situation.

I, who had a lot of experience in having my nose cut off while worrying about others [being betrayed despite good intentions], decided to be brazen.

Doesn’t the heroine already have a strong supporter named Heathcliff?

I needed to build up my strength to escape from Zerachiel’s lair.

And it didn’t seem like Ella’s status would drop just because I swiped one of these.

Fortunately, I, who knew the original story, already knew how to be chosen by the sacred object. Frankly, if I could just arrive at that place safely, the sacred object was as good as mine.

So, missing this opportunity would be a foolish thing to do.

With a solemn face, I put my hands together and prayed briefly.

‘Lord, please make me a great thief today.’

Having thus shaken off the last pangs of conscience, I embarked on a mission to find the sacred object. I’m sorry to Ella, but I need it.