The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 73

#73.

“I can’t even kill him.”

Zachary, unable to bear it any longer, raised his hand, and Ivan scurried away, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“Let’s talk it out.”

*You should have let me talk it out from the start.*

Zachary had much to say, but punishing Ivan wasn’t the priority right now. With difficulty, Zachary suppressed his anger and warned in a low voice.

“I’ll deal with you when we get back.”

“That’s too scary. I think I should go to Rachel right now… No, never mind.”

Ivan, who had been cheeky without grasping the situation, belatedly felt a chill and shrank back.

Zachary glared fiercely at him, and his body suddenly flashed.

Before anyone knew it, Zachary had transformed into a huge yellow lion, shaking his mane in displeasure. Ivan, cautiously watching Zachary, approached and whispered.

“I hope we meet again alive.”

Then, he put his hands together and pretended to pray earnestly. Zachary, infuriated by this, let out a thunderous roar.

“Krrrh (Get lost)!”

“Oh, my!”

Ivan seemed intimidated for a moment, then turned tail and ran. The way he flailed his arms left and right as he fled was utterly repulsive.

‘That one’s not normal either.’

*He was the boldest of the lions, which I liked, but now he’s trying to climb all over me, which is a problem.*

*I thought it was better than being scared and trembling, but it was a huge misjudgment that only grew worse over time.*

‘Sigh, this is my fate.’

Zachary aimlessly plucked at the grass, lamenting his situation.

*To think I’d be part of this ridiculous plan.*

But if it meant reconciling with Rachel, this level of humiliation was bearable. After all, the one who had made things hardest for Rachel was none other than himself.

Now, all that was left was to lie low until Chelsea brought Rachel here.

How much time had passed? Zachary was lying down, bored, waiting for Rachel when he suddenly sensed her pheromones in the distance. He jumped up.

His joy was short-lived as he sensed a familiar and unpleasant pheromone alongside hers.

‘Wait, that bastard….’

Erhaden Roden.

That guy was clinging to Rachel, fawning over her. Zachary’s eyes narrowed.

‘Would it be okay to bite him, pretending it was an accident? At least that wagging tail….’

Zachary, harboring such gruesome thoughts, quietly began to conceal his presence.

* * *

Ilangbore was a place that evoked thoughts of a resort, with its warm sunshine. To the east was the sea, and to the west, lush forests covered the fertile land.

“Welcome.”

Keira came out to greet Zerachiel and me. A subtle annoyance was evident in her stiff expression.

It seemed Rachel was causing quite a bit of trouble. I glanced at her empty side and asked.

“Where is Mother?”

“That’s….”

Keira, uncharacteristically, trailed off and sighed softly.

“She’s in a conversation with a guest who arrived earlier.”

“A guest?”

“Seems to be a fox.”

Keira’s eyes widened at Zerachiel’s words. It seemed he had hit the nail on the head. Zerachiel said quietly.

“The unpleasant smell reaches even here.”

“Yes. He is currently with Erhaden.”

“He seems to be coming and going quite diligently.”

Despite the barrage of questions, Keira answered everything without batting an eye.

“Yes. He has been staying here for quite some time. Rachel has been feeling down these past few days, after all.”

“He’s staying here?”

I interjected in surprise, and Keira said.

“Well, there are rooms to spare. There hasn’t been anything to misunderstand.”

“Whew.”

As I visibly seemed relieved, Keira changed the subject.

“First, let me show you around the mansion….”

Keira was about to guide Zerachiel and me when the door burst open, and Rachel appeared.

“There’s no need for that.”

“Mother? …And a fox.”

I was about to greet Rachel happily but hardened my expression. It was because Erhaden was standing right next to Rachel.

Sensing my gaze, Rachel replied.

“Ern is joining us for hunting.”

Rachel, whom I expected to have swollen eyes, seemed more composed than I thought. If anything was different, it was that she was calmer than before.

*But that made it even scarier. It was as if she was about to explode at any moment.*

“We meet again?”

Then, Erhaden smiled and offered me a handshake. I stared at him blankly.

‘Why is he suddenly acting so friendly?’

*He hadn’t even glanced at me at the wedding. I hadn’t acknowledged him either, so his belated friendliness was a bit strange.*

Moreover, his affable face was full of arrogance. His attitude was as if he had just walked down the aisle with Rachel, which made me feel odd.

‘Father’s rival….’

*I felt like I had been outsmarted by my own trick. The situation had gone beyond sparking jealousy and was on the verge of complete collapse, giving me a headache.*

‘This is all because of Father….’

I grumbled about Zachary for no reason and said awkwardly.

“Nice to meet you, Erhaden.”

“Please, call me Ern.”

“That’s a bit….”

I meant that there was no need to use a nickname since we weren’t close, but Erhaden replied like a slippery eel.

“Come on, we might become one family anyway.”

“Excuse me?”

“Besides, we might end up living together, so wouldn’t it be nice to get along beforehand?”

It seemed he was planning to settle down as a live-in son-in-law after the remarriage. Since Rachel was in the middle of a custody battle, his words about living together weren’t entirely empty.

‘This isn’t how it’s supposed to be….’

I stared at Rachel with a dumbfounded expression. Rachel, who seemed to have lost all motivation, didn’t even have the energy to retract her remarriage.

*It’s troublesome that the fox is so proactive.*

If things continue like this, she might really remarry that fox.

Oh, no….

I was about to protest when.

“If that’s the case, then I’ll call you Chichi.”

Erhaden made a generous offer, but he shouldn’t have. Zerachiel put his hand on the hilt of his sword at the mention of being called Chichi.

“What did you say you’d do?”

“Yes?”

“Say it again.”

Zerachiel muttered menacingly, as if he was about to pounce. Ivan, who had returned unnoticed, shook his head.

“Usually, running your mouth gets you killed.”

*Isn’t that what you should be saying?*

While I was looking at Ivan in disbelief, Erhaden said with a blank face.

“Ah? …Ah! Of course, I also want to get along with Zerachiel.”

No. I thought he was clueless, but it was a complete ploy. Erhaden even started acting friendly towards Zerachiel.

“I’ve heard a lot about you from Rachel. If it’s okay, can I call Zerachiel Ricky… Eek! I’m sorry!”

But he didn’t seem to be a very brave fox beastman. As soon as Zerachiel slightly drew his sword from its scabbard, he immediately backed down.

Well, tricks only work on normal people. A Black Lion like Zerachiel, who has gone mad, will chop off your head without hesitation if he doesn’t like something.

“I’ll just call you Erhaden.”

I said, drawing a line to clear up the situation, and Erhaden reluctantly accepted.

“Yes. I understand. There’s always a chance.”

Those words meant he was ready to pounce at any time.

*He’s a persistent fox.*

So, he must be the suitor who stubbornly endured all of Zachary’s interference.

Afterward, we headed to a hunting ground owned by a family. The hunting ground, located west of Ilangbore, was famous for its lush forests.

“Rachel, come closer. That nasty sun might burn your white skin.”

Erhaden fawned over Rachel with cheesy words, pulling her close to his side. What was strange was that Rachel was letting him do it.

‘Mother is more docile than I thought.’

She didn’t react to the cheesy words that she would normally hate.

Zerachiel’s expression wasn’t good either, as if he also felt something was off.

I looked at Keira, and she shrugged. Her expression said she didn’t know either. The more that happened, the more my doubts grew.

‘Something’s strange.’