The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 99

#99.

At that opportune moment, I took a step back from his eager proposal, a guarded look in my eyes.

“If it’s a retinue of knights…”

“They will be the ones to act as the Saintess’s hands and feet, in Hebel’s stead.”

Ah, so you intend to monitor my every move?

It was as good as saying they would plant spies in Zabishe Castle.

Zabishe Castle had been showing an exclusive attitude toward other clans.

It was so extreme that those who weren’t Beastmen of the Lion Clan couldn’t even work in the castle.

In the midst of all that, an exception was made for ‘me.’ Before being Zerachiel’s wife, I was his pet, and thus allowed to stay in Zabishe Castle despite not being a Lion Clan Beastman.

Of course, it wasn’t as if I hadn’t anticipated this. Having been recognized as a Saintess, I already expected that Hebel wouldn’t simply let me go alone.

‘It might be better to have Ella with me.’

I’d rather have Ella with me than be watched by complete strangers.

From what I’d observed, Ella didn’t seem to like Hebel very much.

If she were truly on Hebel’s side, she would have given the envelope she took from Victor to Isaac, not me.

But Ella didn’t, and what that implied was clear.

Ella doesn’t trust Isaac.

She says she respects Isaac, but she doesn’t ask for his help in crucial moments, which makes it certain.

However, I couldn’t be sure if Ella would readily accompany me.

From what I’d seen, Ella seemed to be staying in Hebel for some reason.

For someone in such an ambiguous position, she didn’t seem to have any complaints.

Usually, when one is warm and well-fed, they tend to focus on what they lack, but Ella didn’t show any signs of that.

‘Perhaps there’s another reason why she’s staying in Hebel.’

If that were the case, my agreeing might put Ella in a difficult position.

“I’d like to hear Ella’s opinion first.”

“That child will be delighted. It’s an honor she hardly deserves.”

Isaac answered definitively, smirking. He intended to keep her by my side no matter what Ella wanted.

He calls her his daughter, yet he’s so eager to seize such opportunities, which is very petty. Of course, I have no intention of letting them control me or Ella.

“Then how about this?”

As I threw out the suggestion, Naaman and Isaac looked at me with puzzled expressions. Rachel, on the other hand, looked at me with interest, as if whatever happened would be amusing.

I spoke confidently in a clear and spirited voice.

“I can’t stop you from forming a retinue of knights, but I’d like to limit those who can enter Zabishe’s main castle to Ella alone. And of course, Ella should usually stay at the villa with the other knights.”

“Then there’s no point in having a retinue of knights.”

Isaac protested, but that was none of my concern. I looked at Naaman, who held all the decision-making power, and said,

“I’d like her to stay in the main castle if I could. But as you all know, my husband is an uncontrollable madman, so it’s hard enough for me to protect even Ella alone. Of course, if you don’t mind the priests dying, she can stay in the main castle.”

This meant that I would deal with anyone who entered the main castle except for Ella. Since I was conveying my intentions by using Zerachiel as an excuse, Isaac’s face was already turning red.

Naaman, on the other hand, was surprisingly compliant.

“If that is the Saintess’s wish, then we must comply.”

“Really?”

“Yes. After all, Hebel’s priests cannot stay outside Hebel for long, so we were planning to protect the Saintess by periodically rotating a minimal number of people.”

“Well, unlike Ella, the others are restricted by Hebel.”

In the first place, those who had undergone the Hebel contract were mostly unable to leave Hebel for some reason, or they would die.

Only those with weak pheromones were abandoned or could move outside Hebel for a short time. Those without pheromones might not even last a day outside before dying.

‘Wait a minute, so Ella has pheromones?’

I belatedly noticed the contradiction and tilted my head. I had never sensed pheromones from Ella.

“By the way, can Ella go outside Hebel even though she doesn’t have pheromones?”

“Ella’s case is a little different from the others.”

“Different?”

“Her pheromones disappeared after birth.”

“What?”

Such a thing exists?

I was about to make a dumbfounded expression and ask for an explanation when Ella arrived.

“Did you call for me?”

“Ah, welcome.”

Isaac greeted Ella warmly and placed her in front of me. I stared at Ella.

I was worried because she was said to be undergoing training, but she looked more normal than I thought.

“The Saintess wants to have her first dance with you.”

“Ah, it’s an honor.”

Ella smiled awkwardly and bowed before me.

It was around the time Ella and I went to the center of the hall. I frowned when I felt that Ella’s hand was excessively cold. It was as icy as if it had come out of a freezer.

Now that I looked, the color of her lips was strangely bluish. She had covered it with rouge, but it seemed she couldn’t hide the purplish tint.

“Were you punished a lot? I heard you were punished for breaking a promise.”

“Ah, it’s okay. It was a weaker punishment than usual. I just have to endure the cold a little.”

“…What?”

“Ah? What did I say?”

Ella blinked as if she had inadvertently spoken honestly. Seeing her innocent expression, I felt angry for some reason.

“Ella, that scar I saw last time, did you really get it from falling down?”

“Lady Chercia.”

“Actually, Isaac hit you, didn’t he?”

“…….”

“You have to tell me honestly so I can help you.”

At my earnest words, Ella moved her lips again. Finally, she said quietly.

“There’s no need to help me.”

Her face was stiffer than usual. She didn’t seem to realize that it made her look even more pitiful.

“Why not?”

“I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me so much. Especially since I’m full of apologies to Lady Chercia.”

I don’t know when she saw me to be only full of apologies. In the first place, Ella had never done anything wrong to me, so it was an even more perplexing reaction.

“When have you ever done anything wrong to me?”

“Well, someone like me is unsightly and only causes trouble. If Lady Chercia gets to know me, she will surely regret saying she would keep me by her side.”

Ella answered defensively and pressed her lips tightly. It was as if she deserved to be treated that way.

She didn’t even know that it made me feel beyond pity, but angry. I frowned and said in a low voice.

“Why is it that my surroundings are full of people who pretend to be okay?”

Zerachiel was like that, and now Ella is like this. What the hell is wrong with this world that there are only people who can only self-deprecate?

And why can’t I just ignore these people?

“Lady Chercia?”

“Don’t do that, don’t apologize when you haven’t done anything wrong.”

It will only make the other person arrogant.

Ella just looked anxious at my scolding. I pinched Ella’s cheeks without hurting her and said.

“Don’t say you’re okay either.”

“…….”

“That’s actually scary, isn’t it? Because you’re afraid the other person will refuse when you ask for help.”

“……!”

“If you keep trying to 맞춰주다 [match your behavior to] to others and blaming yourself, you might lose yourself. Do you really want that to happen?”

At my pointed words, Ella’s eyes widened. Soon, tears welled up in her sky-blue eyes.

“I, I don’t want that.”

“Yeah. You wouldn’t want that.”

“Re, really…….”

Ella started crying without even knowing what she was saying. The Beastmen who saw this thought I was bullying her and whispered among themselves.

Regardless, I wiped away Ella’s tears and said firmly.

“Whether you want it or not, Isaac has decided to send you to my side anyway. So don’t be stubborn and stay by my side.”