The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 25

“She’s cute, isn’t she?”

Zerachiel stated the obvious with a straight face. Zachari, disbelieving, sharply retorted,

“What was that?”

“That’s why I wanted to keep her by my side, so she couldn’t go anywhere.”

“……Just for that reason? Are you out of your mind! What’s so special about that speck of a ferret that you’d go and imprint on it? Tell me the truth right now!”

Zachari couldn’t accept the reason and pressed him repeatedly. But Zerachiel was shameless. He tilted his head as if he didn’t see what the problem was, and asked.

“Why shouldn’t I? I’m going to keep her with me for life anyway.”

“Do you even realize what you’ve done? Imprinting! It’s not something you do to a mere pet! Do I have to explain everything to you?”

“I didn’t do it without knowing. I heard that imprinting is a vow made to a Suin [a person with animalistic features or abilities] you want to be with for life.”

“So, what lunatic does that to a pet they’re raising!”

“Has there ever been anyone in Jabishi who wasn’t crazy?”

Zachari felt like he’d been hit on the head with a hammer at the shameless reply. It was clear he had no intention of admitting he was wrong.

Iban, as well as Zachari’s aide, Herman, were cowering in the corner, heads bowed, due to Zachari’s fierce aura. Zachari nervously ruffled his hair and said.

“You know how serious this is for us, even if other families don’t care. How could you do something so important without even consulting me?”

“Did you consult me before you got divorced, Father?”

“What?”

“I have no intention of becoming a coward like you. Rest assured, I’ll take responsibility for her for the rest of my life without causing any trouble.”

“Je, Zerachiel-nim [a respectful title]!”

Unable to bear it any longer, Iban was startled and tried to cover Zerachiel’s mouth, but the words had already been spoken.

Zachari’s face froze over as soon as the word ‘divorce’ came out. His trembling lips held anger, shame, and an unreadable bitterness.

It was even more so because it struck the most painful spot.

Zachari had not imprinted on Rachel. Ostensibly, it was because he didn’t want to bind each other with such trivial vows, but the real reason was for Rachel’s sake.

Rachel was too precious to live her life as his mate, destined to either commit suicide or be killed by his son.

He deliberately didn’t do it, fearing that she might not be able to meet another Suin after he died. He knew Rachel might try to remain chaste for life.

But the moment his share of the frenzy bloomed, Zachari couldn’t keep Rachel by his side. He instinctively realized why his father, the previous head of the family, had treated his mother so cruelly.

He had personally witnessed how the previous head of the family treated his mate.

It was a relationship where one side unilaterally inflicted wounds and the other only received them. From erratic, nervous behavior to violent outbursts.

In the end, it was the previous head of the family who had used imprinting to hold onto his mother, who was trying to escape, exhausted. Zachari didn’t want to become like his father, so he didn’t create any means to hold onto Rachel.

It was a measure for protection, but Rachel strongly resisted. Rachel, deeply wounded by this, left his side.

That’s why he was uneasy about his son suddenly imprinting on a white ferret. He wondered if he would commit a crazy act like the previous head of the family.

“Damn son.”

Zachari sighed repeatedly, his back turned. A son who was determined to drive nails into his father’s heart. A truly terrible quality befitting the heir of Jabishi.

But it was already water under the bridge. Once you imprint on someone, you can’t undo it unless they die.

Zachari recalled the image of the white ferret cutely scurrying around and groaned softly. It seemed like that small body wouldn’t be able to stand up to a Black Lion [referring to Zerachiel, a member of the Black Lion clan].

There was no telling how long Zerachiel would look after her.

Since there was no other way, he would have to be the white ferret’s shield instead. Zachari spoke in a dry voice, as if he had been caught up in a troublesome situation.

“Fine. Do as you please. But don’t even think about continuing that damn pet play!”

“It’s a contradiction to tell me to do as I please while also telling me not to.”

“What I mean is! Take responsibility since you’ve imprinted on her.”

Zachari continued, grumbling.

“Officially register her in Jabishi. Not as a pet, but as your wife.”

Zerachiel stared blankly at Zachari, who was telling him to take Chichi as his daughter-in-law.

He had imprinted on her unilaterally because he knew he wouldn’t get permission in the first place. Once he imprinted, it couldn’t be undone.

Also, he thought Zachari would naturally try to kill Chichi once he found out about the imprinting. It was something he had done prepared to oppose his father.

But not only was he accepting it willingly, but he was even telling him to register her. Zerachiel asked with a dubious expression.

“Are you really going to accept Chichi?”

“Yes! Isn’t that why you went to such lengths in the first place?”

Zachari turned his head away with a displeased expression when Zerachiel didn’t answer and only smiled.

“If possible, register her with a decent name instead of a pet-like one. What’s Chichi? It sounds like Gigi.”

After that, he frowned and grumbled something. Iban, who had been watching all of this, dropped the documents he was holding.

Herman was also speechless with surprise. How could a little mistress be created so haphazardly?

But Herman couldn’t help but frown at Iban’s subsequent actions. Iban plopped down and pretended to pick up the documents, spouting nonsense.

“She became Chichi-nim [a respectful title] because you called her Chichi, but if you tell us not to call Chichi-nim Chichi-nim, should we call her Gigi?”

“…….”

Have you ever seen such a crazy lion?

Herman looked at him with disgust, but Iban ignored him and spoke with even more exaggeration.

“Poor Gigi-nim……. Now it looks like you’re really stuck with Zerachiel-nim. You’ve lost your name and gained a husband, so I wonder if it’s a good deal.”

It was the moment when Chichi’s chance to escape from Jabishi disappeared forever without her even knowing.

* * *

It was right after returning to the bedroom after arguing with Zachari. The bedroom was unusually quiet. It was because Chichi, who should have been there, was missing.

“She’s gone again.”

Zerachiel, seeing the empty room, wore a smooth smile. A chilly wind swept around him.

Iban, who was with him, was the first to sense the energy and rubbed his arms at the goosebumps that were rising.

“Shall I go look for her?”

“I’ll find her faster.”

“That’s true.”

Iban quickly reached for the door. Zerachiel grinned and started heading somewhere.

Iban, who was following him, sighed softly.

‘Please run away, Chichi-nim! Of course, I know you can’t escape!’

He couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud and only muttered it in his heart. He was being especially careful because he had just seen the father and son looking so fierce.

“Do you really intend to take her as your daughter-in-law?”

“Why? Don’t you want to serve a white ferret as your mistress?”

“If I say I don’t, are you going to cut off my head?”

“You know me well.”

Iban rubbed his neck as Zerachiel grinned. It seemed like both of them were serious.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want the white ferret to be the mistress. It was just that he was bewildered by how haphazardly things were turning out.

Besides, Chichi-nim could now express her opinion. She would definitely be horrified and refuse when she heard what the young master had to say.

What was he thinking to be so confident?

Iban glanced at Zerachiel and continued his random thoughts. A true successor should have at least one adversity. Iban really wanted to see Zerachiel get rejected on this occasion.

Especially look at that expression.

He wanted to see him get rejected even more because he had an expression that said he couldn’t possibly be rejected, and that was a servant’s utmost loyalty.