The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 122

A majority agreed with the solemn statement. However, there were those who did not.

He was the very person who, long ago, under the Pope’s orders, had commanded the Holy Knights to ‘Capture the Saintess of the Magic Empire!’

“I-Is it really necessary to go all the way there? A debutante ball… It’s a place that detracts from the Pope’s solemnity.”

His name was Merebanno.

At 88 years old, he was, in name and reality, the second-in-command of the Papal State.

Being the stubborn man he was, he loathed the Magic Empire, a haven for infidels, so much that when he received the Pope’s orders, he arbitrarily changed a few words.

For example, changing ‘Send a polite request and escort her with honor’ to ‘Capture her.’

He had heard the story of how the Holy Knights had been tormented by assassins sent from Dribblyane because of a moment of anger.

‘Since I said it was the Pope’s order, it’s fine as long as the Pope doesn’t find out.’

What if the Pope went to the Magic Empire’s banquet and heard about it?

Merebanno was one of the few who knew that the Pope, George, known for his kind nature, was not actually very pleasant.

His grudge-holding was notoriously long, so if he found out that he had not only followed the order carelessly but also changed the wording, how much would he torment him!

However, Pope George was not listening to Merebanno’s words in the first place.

“Then I can go in a capacity other than the Pope.”

“Yes, that’s a great i… Huh?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll create an appearance that will force them to approach me first.”

“!”

“All you have to do is pretend you don’t know me.”

The Pope smiled faintly and withdrew his divine power.

Being near the Pope felt sacred, but once he completely concealed his divine power, he was no different from an ordinary person.

The high-ranking priests were stunned by his amazing level of divine power control.

“Now, we need to choose someone to go with me. That person will be the representative.”

The Pope’s gaze lingered on Merebanno for a long time. The representative was as good as decided.

* * *

Day 4 of my date with Dante.

Today, there was a big event in the Dribblyane family: the transfer of the head of the family.

Although it hasn’t been officially announced outside the family, Father is effectively the head of the family from today.

Father, who had already been taking over various tasks, was able to carry out the duties of the head of the family without any problems.

And me as well…….

‘It’s not like I was just eating and playing in Arkhalik.’

I learned how the country of Arkhalik had been able to function without any problems.

Absolute respect for Dad is the foundation of the country, but that alone doesn’t solve practical problems.

How to move talented people, how to place them in the right positions, how to win people’s hearts, how to make difficult decisions, and how to take responsibility.

That’s what I saw and learned in Arkhalik.

‘So I can do well.’

Dribblyane is a huge family, almost like a kingdom, but it didn’t seem too overwhelming to manage.

“Since Kiraxus doesn’t have a partner, Florin will take on the role of the lady of the house from now on,” Inanna, dressed in a dignified manner, said to the assembled people, holding my hand tightly.

The elders of this family, the heads of the vassal families and their families, even the members of the collateral lines, all looked at me.

I straightened my back confidently and accepted their gazes.

“I hope everyone treats the new lady of the house as they treat me. She is young, but she is more experienced and has learned more than I did at this age….”

*Don’t underestimate her just because she’s young and treat her carelessly.*

She trailed off, but that’s what she meant.

“We plan to go down to the territory after the 20th head of the family is decided. Until then, you’ll have to see our old faces a little longer.”

Finally, the head of the family, Grandfather, threw in a joke with a barb and induced laughter, and people laughed heartily.

I couldn’t laugh, so I slightly raised the corners of my mouth and quickly lowered them.

I knew it would happen someday with the passage of time, but to leave as soon as I returned to Dribblyane felt abrupt.

Near the territory where the head of the family, Grandfather, and Inanna plan to stay, there is a vast plain where the sunset is beautiful.

It would be a good place to spend the rest of their lives, but it’s just my childishness to want them to stay here a little longer.

“Father, congratulations on becoming the head of the family.”

Soon, I pushed through the crowd and approached Father.

Dressed in a weighty black suit, Father leaned loosely against the wall, as if he hated being surrounded by people.

Being against the wall was a signal not to talk to him, so people only glanced at him, not daring to approach, except for me.

I sighed and stood quietly next to Father.

“Are you okay, Father? You don’t look well.”

“Ah, to think that Meatball [Florin’s nickname] will take on the role of the lady of the house. It must be tiring to do all that work; I wonder if I should have arranged a political marriage in advance.”

As expected, Father didn’t reject me.

He was the one who always appeared when I looked for him since I was very young.

I relived the day Ian almost died in my dreams a couple of times a year. Of course, the day Father saved me was also included in that long dream.

Maybe that’s when it started: the absolute trust in Father.

There’s no way Father would abandon me.

There’s no way Father wouldn’t answer me.

I looked up at Father with eyes full of solid trust.

“I can do it all. Don’t worry.”

“If so, that’s a relief.”

Father used magic to pull a chair from afar and placed it down, signaling me to sit.

It didn’t matter if I stood, but since Father had brought me a chair, there was no reason not to sit, so I lightly sat down.

“As a matter of fact, there was something to tell you. There has been official contact from the Papal State. They said they would visit during Debutante Week.”

“A banquet?”

“Yes. They say it’s for missionary work.”

“Ah… I can’t stop that.”

It’s not like the imperial family of the Holy Empire is coming; it’s the Papal State.

The Papal State was no different from the imperial family in terms of power, but as a religious institution, it was more free to visit other countries.

However, what made me uneasy was that they were the reason I went up to Arkhalik earlier in the first place.

They tried to capture me alive!

“If possible, stay with Yuri during Debutante Week.”

“With Yuri all the time? I’m not so sure about that.”

I hadn’t met her yet, but she certainly wasn’t someone I felt comfortable with.

When I showed hesitation, Father stroked his chin.

“The Pope won’t forcibly kidnap you, but they will persistently try to confirm whether you have divine power. But if Yuri is there, she can block that kind of bullshit.”

“Can’t I just show them that I have divine power and be done with it?”

“In that country, the presence or absence of divine power is everything, so if you have divine power, they will bother you. But if you hide it, they will try to reveal it.”

Father clicked his tongue. I was also troubled.

The answer is to avoid it appropriately and subtly pass it over, but that’s the hardest thing to do.

‘It’s not like the Emperor has any reason to tell the Papal State not to come.’

The war ended a long time ago.

It was a new era where babies who didn’t even know what war was were being born. It’s time to at least pretend to join hands for peace and harmony.

Almost no one in the Magic Empire believes in religion, but the key is that the Papal State won’t come empty-handed.

They will bring relief goods for the poor and missionary funds and spread them all over this country.

In the end, the Papal State’s visit was a matter of great national interest.

“If it’s revealed that I have divine power, what exactly will happen?”

“They will try to verify you. There can’t be two Saintesses under the sky, so they will try to confirm which one is real. In the end, they will demand that they should take over your affiliation just because you have divine power.”

“Ah… That’s really annoying.”

I wasn’t scared before, but I’m even more so now that I’m grown up.

‘No, does the Magic Empire think we’re stupid?’

The logic that the Holy Empire should have all the Saintesses.

I couldn’t understand their ideology, so I sighed deeply and got up from my chair.

“They have their own Saintess there. I don’t know why they’re making a fuss about me when they can live happily with their Saintess.”

“Speaking of their Saintess… According to a reliable source, she was released from the seal a while ago.”

“…Laheen?”

Already? It was about time, but so early?

‘Wait a minute. But why isn’t there any reaction?’