The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 120

The orphanage finally quieted down as the toddlers took their naps.

Older children studied, while some aspiring knights practiced sword slashes Dante taught them in a corner of the yard.

I, more tired than Dante, sat under the persimmon tree that warmly enveloped the entire orphanage, enjoying the spring breeze on my face.

“Tough day?”

Dante appeared, gently pressing a glass of cold drink against my cheek.

I accepted it, and then he unexpectedly offered a piece of butternut squash pie.

The yellow top looked delicious.

“The kids made it yesterday.”

“Really? They’re so talented!”

“Right? One of them dreams of opening their own shop.”

He knew each child’s dream and cared for them. It was truly remarkable.

I knew Dante was a warm-hearted person, but it couldn’t have been easy for him to maintain that.

I split the butternut squash pie in half, giving one piece to Dante.

“Oh, you’re giving me some?”

“There’s only one, so we have to share.”

“You can have it all.”

Dante chuckled and quickly devoured his piece of pie.

I took a bite, and it was soft, sweet, and savory… quite impressive.

“Ah, it’s hot.”

Dante plopped down next to me and unbuttoned his collar. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he took off his shirt.

Startled, I froze for a moment before letting out a sigh of relief.

Dante was wearing a tight-fitting shirt underneath.

“It’s hot with two layers.”

“I see. Were you hoping I had nothing on underneath?”

“N-No? Not at all?”

Ugh, those muscles.

Dante definitely knew where his charm came from.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be wearing clothes that accentuated his muscles like that.

“Look at this. My arms are pretty impressive, right? You can touch them.”

“…Who said they wanted to touch them?”

“Oh, someone’s dying to.”

Dante grinned mischievously and poked my cheek.

I glared at him and forced my eyes away from his muscular arms.

‘Think good thoughts. Think good thoughts.’

For example… when is Dante becoming a Paladin [a holy knight]?

“Still squishy.”

But Dante wouldn’t let me think of anything else. He pinched my cheek and then said that with a satisfied look.

Unable to avoid looking at Dante, I finally sighed and asked,

“Why do you like me? We were young back then… but now we’re all grown up. Don’t you like anyone else?”

“How can you say such a hurtful thing?”

“Well… maybe you don’t see me as a woman. Maybe you’re just confused because we could have gotten married… or something…?”

Dante’s expression turned serious as he listened to me.

With even the slightest hint of playfulness gone, I swallowed nervously.

“Florin.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m telling you this now, but I have never stopped liking you, not even for a moment.”

Whoosh.

The leaves of the persimmon tree rustled in the breeze.

Dante removed a leaf from my hair and continued slowly,

“I liked you then, and I like you now.”

“…”

“People say that I’m good at everything, but I’m too stubborn. They ask who I take after. Who else but Grandpa?”

The current head of the family is an old man, but he must have been young once.

So, will Dante become like Grandpa when he gets old?

I couldn’t quite imagine Dante in his old age.

“Florin, I know you don’t have any feelings for me yet.”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe just as a friend.”

He caught me.

Dante was really handsome. Today, the employees working here were giving Dante such ardent looks.

Honestly, he was so good-looking that it was impossible not to notice him. And me… I guess I was just like that.

A handsome childhood friend. That’s all.

“I have something to say, Florin.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t take it as a burden. It’s my choice.”

What is he going to say?

I put down my glass and hugged my knees. Dante’s serious tone made it hard to breathe.

“I’ve become a Paladin.”

“!”

“It’s a secret. You’re the first person I’m telling.”

Dante’s expression was complex. He seemed happy, yet sad.

I was momentarily confused whether to congratulate him or not, but I still wanted to congratulate him.

You can only be chosen as a Paladin based on your skills.

“Getting in there is a huge deal! Congratulations!”

“Yeah. I got the offer first, but I still had to take the test. And I passed.”

“That’s amazing, really. When did you get so strong?”

Dante’s expression gradually relaxed as I teased him.

“But if you choose me, I’ll quit. And we’ll… start as friends.”

“Ah.”

I couldn’t imagine how much courage it took for him to say those words. So, I couldn’t carelessly respond with any words.

I just let out a small exclamation.

It wasn’t because I didn’t hear him, or because I didn’t have a sentence to respond to what he was saying.

Rather, I was saving my words because I didn’t want to ruin this moment by saying anything.

“As you saw today, I’m good with kids. I’ll raise them all. You can do whatever you want.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll stand firm in the family and support you for the rest of my life… so just choose me, Florin.”

I read in a book that people who grew up receiving a lot of love have no hesitation in sharing that love.

I gazed quietly into Dante’s turquoise eyes. Then I saw the small fragments of anxiety, fear, trembling, and excitement floating within.

It felt like I could scoop up Dante’s emotions with both hands if I stirred them, so I broke eye contact.

“But it’s okay if you don’t choose me. Then I’ll become a Paladin.”

So, Dante’s future as a Paladin is connected like this. But if I choose Dante, Dante will become the head of the family…….

“You’d be upset if I went to the frontier. I didn’t want to leave you like that.”

“…Yeah.”

I almost cried. Knowing how difficult that consideration was, spoken in such a calm tone.

As I bit my lip, Dante glanced at me and poked my cheek.

“Squishy. Don’t make that face. It was also my decision not to put pressure on your choice, and I’m actually interested in what Paladins do.”

“You’re… really like a tree.”

“Really? What kind of tree?”

“A zelkova tree with wide branches.”

You’ve become someone who generously cares with a generous heart.

To not tarnish your consideration, I need to make a proper choice in three weeks. If I’m not going to choose you, it would only be holding onto your future as a Paladin.

Thinking that, I smiled brightly.

Then Dante’s face turned red, and he quickly turned his head.

“Ah, be a little less cute…….”

His grumbling voice was loud.

I chuckled and looked at the distant sky.

And so, my first date with Dante passed.

* * *

At that time, in the Holy Empire.

The lower-ranking priests in charge of chores at the Vatican were having a terrible time these days.

The one causing their headaches was none other than the Saintess, Raheen.

“It’s time to wake up! It’s five in the morning!”

“Ah, I can’t hear you. I can’t hear you.”

“Ugh!”

Despite the wake-up time, she always slept in-

“It’s time for external volunteer work.”

“I’m not going. My stomach hurts.”

“Didn’t you skip it yesterday too?”

“Yesterday I had a headache.”

She made excuses and didn’t participate in going to the places where commoners lived to do volunteer work and spread the word of God-

“You call this food?”

“No, Saintess. This is the bread that even we lower-ranking priests eat!”

“Then you eat it!”

She threw a tantrum because she didn’t want to eat the hard bread. She even knitted a sweater and explained that she would give it to the poor, but she broke the knitting needles after just one day.

The reason why the lower-ranking priests couldn’t do anything about such atrocities was ultimately because of the powerful divine power flowing from Raheen. Whether they could respect her or not, that divine power was real.

It was natural to be afraid of what would happen if they treated her carelessly.

‘Ah, boring.’

And as those lower-ranking priests thought, Raheen was more than capable of destroying this crappy bedroom she was currently staying in and leaving without a scratch. The god she contracted with was powerful, and he didn’t hesitate to lend her that power.

In fact, Raheen’s god was even happier whenever Raheen acted as she pleased.

‘Yes, torment the dogs of the Celestial God even more.’ He would say.

So, there was no way Raheen’s attitude would soften.

Raheen, who had just thrown out a lower-ranking priest after losing her temper, stretched out on the sofa and wiggled her toes.

“So, is that girl with similar powers to me happy right now?”