The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 159

“However, the official meeting is from tomorrow, so I will arrange for you to meet the Saintess starting tomorrow.”

*Who does he think he is, granting or denying permission?*

I was dumbfounded, but Yuri simply maintained a smiling face.

*Never reveal emotions in front of that guy.*

It was a warning from instinct.

*‘I never thought I’d feel self-loathing here.’*

That Pope is the same kind of guy as him.

A cold-blooded person who would do anything for his own purposes, a cruel nature that tries to exploit others’ weaknesses.

*‘He should have been born a shark.’*

Yuri muttered inwardly and stood up from his seat.

“I hope you enjoy your time in the Magic Empire.”

A sharp gaze was fixed on his back as he left the room first.

It seemed like meeting Florin today was out of the question.

* * *

I ate the sandwich Ian’s subordinate brought for lunch, and it was almost dinner time, but I was still with Ian.

To be precise, Hwa-ran was with us now too.

“Heo. Truly… a miraculous thing.”

Hwa-ran squinted and stroked my hair. She seemed to have a hard time believing I was real since I didn’t have silver hair.

But if we could meet like this, proving that I was real would be easy.

“Hwa-ran’s favorite food is *sirutteok* [steamed rice cake].”

“…Huh, how did you know that…!”

“Whenever I visited your room in Arkalik, you always grabbed a bunch of *sirutteok*. You said you didn’t need rice if you had *sirutteok*. If you need more proof… I also know how to make human skin masks.”

Hwa-ran’s eyes widened as I rattled off the facts. This was proof that I was me. Ra-heen couldn’t have made up or even imagined what happened in Arkalik.

Honestly, if Ra-heen really wanted to take my place, she should have erased my memories or hired an assassin to kill me as soon as our bodies switched.

But Ra-heen didn’t seem to have that much intelligence, which was very fortunate for me.

“And surprisingly, Hwa-ran hasn’t gotten married yet, nor has she had anyone she loved.”

“!”

“How about it, Hwa-ran? Do you need more proof?”

“No. You are the real princess!”

Hwa-ran’s face brightened.

Relieved, I sighed and plopped down on the sofa. Then, I stroked Retina’s head as she stayed by my side.

Retina didn’t know what we were saying, so she was just fidgeting.

She was scared because I was crying and the atmosphere seemed serious.

Ian, who was watching us, leaned back on the sofa and chuckled.

“Yeah. The person I love is like this.”

“Huh? What is?”

“She likes taking care of others. She can’t pass by someone pitiful. That’s why she saved me too.”

“R-really?”

I didn’t know I was like that.

Scratching my cheek, I suddenly realized that Yuri hadn’t come yet.

“Yuri was supposed to come today.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. There are only three people who know I’m real right now.”

That alone made me feel much better.

I don’t know how to get my original place back, but even if I assume the worst-case scenario… I can eliminate Ra-heen.

Then I would lose my proud silver hair and red eyes, but I could still live like that.

Of course, that shouldn’t happen.

*‘Father will be very sad. He’ll cry for three days and nights straight. I can see it now.’*

So even if I can kill Ra-heen right now, I can’t move.

Because once Ra-heen dies, it will be like this forever.

At that time, Hwa-ran, who had been pondering something, opened her mouth.

“About the bomb. It would be best if the caster removes the bomb himself, but even if that’s not possible, it might be possible to pass it on once the two of you return to your original positions.”

It was an optimistic outlook, but it was said by Hwa-ran, who had lived a long time and experienced all sorts of things, so it was trustworthy.

“That’s right. Besides, Father hasn’t returned yet. Father might be able to remove it.”

Magic and divine power are completely opposite forces, so the probability of it working is low, but Father’s power might make it possible.

There was no need to let go of the thread of hope yet.

“I’ll go and explain everything. Don’t worry, Florin.”

“…Thank you, Ian.”

“If something doesn’t work out, I’ll kill the Pope and kidnap you, so don’t worry. If you die, I’ll die with you, so you won’t be lonely.”

As expected, Ian had a talent for saying scary things in a very sweet tone.

Without saying anything, I held Ian’s hand tightly and recalled what had happened earlier.

“Come to think of it… I must have trusted Ian a lot. I thought Ian would recognize me, that he would know I was me without any explanation. I think I unconsciously believed that.”

Otherwise, how could I have burst into tears and hugged Ian as soon as I saw his face?

The moment we faced each other, the eye contact that was exchanged in one second.

In that instant, I collapsed.

Ian doesn’t even have the like Yuri. He might not have recognized me and come to find me for other reasons.

“I thought he would at least recognize that Ra-heen is fake, even if he didn’t know I was real… that he would notice the connection between the two Saintesses. I think I was able to endure until now because I thought Ian would definitely do that.”

The person I trust the most when something like this happens is Father.

How could I not trust Father, who even turned back time for me?

But surprisingly, the next person was… not Dad, but Ian.

*‘Dad, I’m sorry.’*

I think Dad got pushed to third place because he’s far away.

“Florin….”

Ian’s golden eyes flickered as if he was moved.

As we held each other’s hands tightly and conveyed comfort with warmth, Hwa-ran cleared her throat loudly.

“Ahem, ahem! Anyway, let’s go with this plan.”

First, Ian informs Father of all of this and seeks a solution.

Second, I confront the Pope again and try to find out the truth about planting the bomb.

Third, at that time, Hwa-ran provokes the Pope as she passes by.

Fourth, after that, Hwa-ran goes to Arkalik and reports on the entire situation.

Fifth, at the same time, Yuri and Ian show me excessive kindness at the welcome party starting tomorrow, making Ra-heen want ‘the situation to change again.’

Sixth, once my situation with Ra-heen returns to its original state, then we deal with Ra-heen.

All six things were written on the paper that Hwa-ran unfolded.

In fact, the idea that we might be able to return to our original positions if Ra-heen wishes for it is just a hypothesis.

It must have been a wish made to God, so how can we reverse it?

Father and Dad may not have a way to deal with the divine power bomb.

Nothing is certain, and it feels like embarking on an unplanned journey, but oh well. Taking the first step is the priority.

That’s how there will be a next step.

Hwa-ran, Ian, and I looked at each other and nodded.

We each had something to do.

“By the way, Hwa-ran, come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever heard it properly.”

“Yes?”

“The crime, I mean. What crime did you commit to be exiled from Arkalik?”

Until now, I had only focused on the fact that she was a criminal. But when I thought about it, no one is born guilty.

It means she did something wrong.

“First, let me tell you about the lightest charge: murder.”

“…What’s not light?”

“Um. There were cases where I used alchemy very wrongly.”

So what the heck is that…?

When I looked at her like that, Hwa-ran glanced at Retina. At that, I covered Retina’s ears.

“Now, tell me.”

“Ahem. So… there was a case where I used people for alchemy. That was the most terrible crime in the history of Arkalik.”

“!”

What did you do with what?

I was so dumbfounded that my mouth dropped open.

“You can achieve great alchemy by using people as materials.”

“Huh. That’s the ultimate taboo.”

Alchemists can use everything that exists in this world for alchemy.

But what you should never do is use living things as materials.

The only exception where it is permissible to use people for alchemy is in order to protect the dignity of a patient dying in unbearable pain. After obtaining the consent of the patient and their family, the patient is alchemized into a flower and scattered in the sky….

What Hwa-ran was talking about didn’t seem to be such an exceptional allowance.

“That’s right. So, after closing my *dantian* [energy center in the body] so that I could never use alchemy again, I was exiled to crawl on the floor in the most miserable state.”

“……”

That was definitely something a child shouldn’t hear.

I shuddered with goosebumps, and Hwa-ran scratched the back of her head and continued.