The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 118

I waited all night, just in case, but Ian didn’t come.

And so, the morning of my second day back arrived.

I woke up late and was being attended to by Linda and Nina when Inanna sent a message.

She wanted to have a late breakfast together.

“Inanna!”

“Come in, dear. How are you feeling?”

“It was champagne, so I’m fine.”

“That’s a relief. Still, I made sure to prepare something easy on the stomach.”

Since it was spring, breakfast was held in the outdoor garden.

As soon as I sat down at the lovely table, a soup with minced crab meat was served. After that, dishes like butternut squash salad and steamed fish, which wouldn’t upset my stomach, were brought out.

“Dante has become quite the adult, hasn’t he?”

“Yes, I was surprised.”

It was a casual remark, so I didn’t immediately grasp her intention.

However, around the middle of the meal, Inanna mentioned Dante again.

“Everyone has been working hard to become the head of the family. Dante is very popular both within and outside the family. He has such an affable personality that almost no one dislikes him.”

“Dante isn’t the type to make enemies.”

Who could possibly hate Dante?

Dante had grown like a giant evergreen tree. A person with the same front and back. Simple, upright, and righteous.

His emotions are so transparent that he’s subtly cute… It makes me feel secure and trusting because I don’t think he would ever deceive me.

Even the way he walks is like a knight’s textbook, so I could easily imagine how much admiration he’s receiving now that he’s just become an adult.

“Let me tell you a secret, that fellow has been going to a nearby orphanage to take care of children for several years now.”

“Children?”

“Yes. I thought he would stop after a while, but he’s been doing it steadily for years. It seems he’s trying to do it secretly.”

Inanna smiled contentedly as she spread onion cream cheese on a bagel.

“He disappears in a hurry whenever he has a day off, so I wondered what he was doing. It’s an orphanage in Dribblyane [likely a region or city] built for war orphans… Thanks to him, that orphanage has been ranked number one in financial transparency for years. The children are also in very good condition.”

How could there be embezzlement when Dante goes there himself?

Again, Dante was like a giant tree. To say that he is clear about right and wrong means that he is stubborn and inflexible. On top of that, Dante’s nature is hot-blooded, so….

‘If he were to find out that they were abusing the children or embezzling money, he would execute them on the spot.’

Dante may seem soft, but that’s probably just the way he is in front of me.

That’s the feeling I got.

“I thought he would stop when he became an adult, but seeing him still going, I think he’s probably trying to learn how to take care of his own children in the future. He’s such a family-oriented guy.”

“H-His children?”

This is bad.

I was drinking hot tea and burned my tongue because I was so surprised.

No, he’s not even married yet!

‘Hearing her talk like this, Inanna is definitely pushing for Dante.’

Is that why she prevented Ian from coming to the banquet yesterday?

As the alcohol wore off and my mind cleared, I seemed to understand.

‘Yesterday was a moonless night.’

It must have been the busiest day for someone in a shadow job like Ian.

Suddenly, I remembered that when I asked when I should go down, Dribblyane had set the date for yesterday.

At the time, I thought nothing of it and just thought, ‘I’ll go down that day,’ but now I see….

‘She deliberately arranged for me to meet only Dante first.’

It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

The starting lines for Ian and Dante were different. That fact bothered me when I was young, and it still does.

“I’m sorry I can’t give you more time.”

After a moment of silence, Inanna opened her mouth in a soft voice.

“I’ve talked to all three of them, and they each want to spend a week with you completely. Without interference from the other children.”

“Ah.”

“Would you like to try that?”

It’s similar to what Father said.

Since I was going to choose after spending three weeks like that in the first place, I nodded.

“But I don’t know if they’ll accept my choice because it’s such a short period.”

I understand that you want to settle the internal affairs of the family quickly.

One of the reasons I drank champagne yesterday was because I was upset that the Head of the Family and Inanna were getting so old.

But what if they don’t accept my decision?

Will they really respect and try to understand my decision even if they are not chosen?

“I want to choose quickly rather than give them false hope.”

“I’m sure you’re worried because the children’s personalities are so different.”

“Yes. If I get a week each and then make a choice… will they accept it?”

Thinking of Yuri, who is a predator himself, I felt uneasy.

The fact that Yuri has been quiet until this time, even though I came down, was also very suspicious.

It would be nice if the symptoms of the shark’s first attachment had subsided a bit… but that would be too optimistic.

“That’s what we decided. Spend time with one person for seven days starting tomorrow. You can go on a trip or stay at home.”

“What’s the order?”

“You choose. You’ll be choosing around noon tomorrow.”

Inanna gently patted the back of my hand with her wrinkled hand.

It was full of meaning that she understood my anguish and worries.

As I entrusted myself to the patting, I quietly asked a question.

“If I choose someone who is suitable to be the head of the family, will I come to love that person? Even if it’s not love now.”

“Most arranged marriages are like that. Compared to that… we’ve been watching these men in the family since we were young, so we’re perhaps lucky. Even if you don’t get an answer as to whether you’ll come to love them, I can assure you that you’ll be loved.”

And then you’ll come to love them.

Inanna’s whisper tickled my chest.

“By the way, Kiraxus doesn’t have a partner, does he? So, after Immanuel and I go down to the rural estate, you’ll be the only mistress and take over the work.”

The table was all cleared, and lemon sherbet came out for dessert.

Inanna scooped it up and held out the spoon to me, smiling mischievously.

“I’m glad I can finally be freed from my duties. I believe young you will do well in the future.”

“I’ll try.”

The sherbet was sweet and sour. As if to signify the trials of choice and the joy after the decision that will come to me in the future.

“Oh, and you’ll also have your debutante [a formal coming-out party for young women] within those three weeks. That’s how you can officially become the mistress of this family.”

“……!”

“Fortunately, Salones wants to help with that.”

Well, yes. In any story, trials come first.

I scraped the sherbet to the bottom and then stood up vigorously. There was no time to sit still.

* * *

The next day, from the moment I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by a mountain of dresses. When I was in Arkhalik, I had my measurements taken in advance, and my adoptive mother had made a lot of clothes.

“The debutante is a serious occasion, after all. It’s like a coming-of-age ceremony for young ladies.”

“That’s right.”

“So, I won’t wear pink. Take out yellow too. It’s too childish.”

Warm colors suit me better than cool colors. So, if I take out pink and yellow, the number of options is drastically reduced… but I still want to look mature.

My adoptive mother nodded at my opinion and clapped her hands. Then, the staff in the dressing room, who were standing in front of the dresses, diligently took out clothes.

“Then, we have white, gold, and red left. Mother, which one do you think is best?”

There are some unique ones like orange or purple, but I wouldn’t wear those to the debutante.

I was torn between three colors of dresses that were both plain and eye-catching.

“Wouldn’t gold be good? Daughter.”

“Do you think so? What do you think, Linda?”

As soon as I asked the question, Linda, who was looking at the dress with fascinated eyes, raised her hand and answered quickly.

“I think the red dress is good! It goes well with the Little Lady’s fair skin and matches her eye color!”

“Really……?”

I stared blankly at the dress with a design that completely exposed my shoulders.

I like it because it’s full of ruffles and lace.

Linda noticed that I was worried and ran to the table where the accessories were placed and took something out.

“How about wearing this around your neck?”

“A lace choker necklace?”

“Yes! The Little Lady has a slender and pretty neck, so it will look great on you.”

Linda smiled brightly, proud of recommending the item with all her heart.

I fiddled with the necklace made of thin lace and came to the conclusion that it would be good to layer it with another necklace.

“Mother, I’ll wear this.”

“Then the dress is decided. I’m glad you decided quickly. I was wondering if I should call the tailor again if you weren’t happy with it.”

“No, Mother. This is enough.”

You’ve made almost enough dresses for me to wear for three years, and you’re going to call the tailor again.

I shook my head.

‘Once I become the mistress, I shouldn’t order new clothes for a few years. I already have too much.’

I was already used to having material things.

Perhaps that’s why I had such a strong feeling that I had to repay all of this, and I decided not to focus on my emotions.

‘They say you go blind when you fall in love.’

Until I rationally choose someone who is suitable to be the head of the family, I didn’t want to love anyone. I wanted to save it and love them after I chose them.

That’s when it happened.

The sound of the bell ringing twelve times was heard.

At the sound of noon, I stiffened.