The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 162

The unexpected words startled everyone, including me.

Father is here? Really?

But not seeing his overwhelming presence anywhere, it seemed he was watching me, having concealed his form with magic.

“He will reveal himself in the evening when his busy schedule is over, so please wait.”

The clan leaders flinched and stepped back at Ian’s calm yet firm words.

Watching that, I almost teared up a little.

‘He’s so cool as always. Because Ian is so calm, my anxiety subsides.’

Ian had no weaknesses.

Of course, Ian didn’t exude the kind of oppressive aura that would clamp down on opponents’ throats with his molars like Grandpa. Nor did he emit a chilling coldness like Father, making it impossible to even meet his eyes.

However, Ian had his own way of handling things, which would definitely be helpful in the times to come.

Instead of a sharp, confrontational demeanor, his firmness was expressed with a gentle, breeze-like softness, leaving no room for criticism.

Softness over strength, strategy [kৌশল] over force.

That was the future of Dribljane that Ian and I shared.

‘Ah, I want to stand next to Ian.’

Suddenly parched, I grabbed a glass and gulped down the drink.

The strawberry-flavored sweetness filled my mouth, making me feel refreshed.

‘Anyway, so… Father is judging me right now. Then something will happen today no matter what. I definitely believe there will be a meaningful change.’

But what if, just what if, Father doesn’t recognize me?

What if he doesn’t believe what Ian said?

What if he calls me a fake?

‘…No. Believing with all my heart is not enough. Let’s not worry too much.’

Even after resolving to trust Father, my skin prickled with tension as the moment approached.

My lower abdomen turned cold, and my hands began to tremble.

I clutched the glass tightly, sending fervent glances to every corner of the banquet hall.

Praying that Father, wherever he might be, would recognize me.

I wanted to return to my original place as soon as possible.

* * *

As evening came, the number of people in the banquet hall nearly doubled compared to the daytime.

With the nobles from the countryside having completed their arrival, the spacious hall, as well as the terrace and outdoor garden, were teeming with people.

Hoping that Father might secretly speak to me, I stayed in place for a long time, but that didn’t happen. Eventually, tired, I holed up in the lounge provided by the Holy Empire and didn’t come out for quite a while.

Then, after the sun had set, I stepped back into the banquet hall, and as soon as I appeared, a curious silence rippled from the entrance.

‘Haa. His Majesty the Emperor is really taking the lead.’

Realizing that the main figures had not yet appeared, I silently endured the burdensome gazes directed at me.

‘I thought His Majesty the Emperor would come earlier.’

The Pope was also here, so I thought he would show his face out of courtesy, but no.

Rahin, Yuri, and His Majesty the Emperor had not yet appeared in the banquet hall.

This was definitely rude.

It was a treatment that ignored the Pope.

‘Did he want the Pope to get angry at me?’

But the Pope was nowhere to be seen in the banquet hall.

Not knowing how things were going, I felt a slight unease.

“Saintess. Are you okay? Oh my, look how pale you are!”

As I repeatedly clenched and unclenched my hands, Sandy approached me and made a fuss. Then, she whispered quickly into my ear.

“But Saintess. Why aren’t you getting angry?”

“Angry? Why would I be?”

“No, why are you being so frustrating today! That Saintess over there hasn’t even shown her face! Honestly, I’m angry too, but it’s strange because you’re not flying off the handle.”

Ah, is that perhaps His Majesty the Emperor’s goal?

To provoke the ‘Saintess of the Holy Empire’ to cross the line and then restrain her?

If so, it was a great plan.

Rahin would probably be so furious that she would have trouble breathing.

“Honestly, I used to think it would be nice if you didn’t get angry, but now I feel the opposite. How many hours has it been now!”

“Hmm.”

“I’ve already eaten and there’s nothing to do, so I don’t know how long we have to keep doing this. Why do nobles do this? I don’t understand why the owner of this country isn’t showing their face! I feel like you’re becoming a spectacle.”

I stared blankly at Sandy, who was venting her frustration for me.

Thinking back to the day Sandy and I first met, it was a great development.

And I didn’t want to keep such a kind-hearted friend next to Rahin as an emotional trash can.

“If I ever go back to how I was in the past, Sandy.”

“Yes? Yes.”

“Don’t look back and run away. And if you have nowhere to go, ask for help from the Dribljane family of the Magic Empire.”

“Yes???”

Sandy looked at me with a ‘Are you crazy?’ expression.

But I continued to speak firmly.

“Then Retina will come looking for you. If other priests besides you need a place to go, come to Dribljane and say your name. You can shout the name of Dribljane at the border. There is always a member of the family stationed there.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying at all. Why is Dribljane suddenly coming up?”

Sandy’s eyes widened in astonishment. I gently grabbed Sandy’s shoulder and finished speaking seriously.

“Remember it. It’s what you should do if you ever lose your place to go.”

“That’s very strange, but it’s a specific statement….”

Sandy gave me a suspicious look.

But there was no way she would believe anything more I said here, so I stopped talking.

And it was right then.

A commotion, like a small whirlwind, arose at the front of the banquet hall.

It was so noisy that I instinctively knew that Rahin had appeared. Of course, it wasn’t just Rahin who had appeared.

‘Mother! Even Lady Inanna…!’

At first, I didn’t notice Rahin’s appearance because I was looking at the familiar faces.

Tears welled up, and I forced myself to bite the tender flesh inside my mouth to hold them back.

Then, a moment later.

“……!”

My eyes met with the hateful Rahin for the first time, and I couldn’t help but be shocked.

I didn’t show my surprise clumsily, but… what should I say? I felt dizzy.

‘Did you come out late because you were busy dressing up like that?’

Honestly, I couldn’t help but think that about Rahin’s attire.

The skirt, puffed up like a child’s, caught my eye.

Then there was the large tiara and earring set with pink diamonds. The necklace and ring were so dazzling that it was hard to look at them.

It’s good to do it moderately to be sophisticated and pretty, but she was wearing all the items, so I couldn’t say anything.

And the biggest problem was that ‘Rahin’ didn’t have the height, body shape, or face to pull off such accessories.

It’s not good to see her buried in jewels.

‘That’s all… all my reputation.’

However, Rahin’s eyes were full of superiority as she looked at me.

It felt like she was saying, ‘How is it? I’m better than you, right?’ I felt suffocated, but at the same time, I felt drained.

‘You’re really nothing special.’

You coveted my position just to have something like that?

‘There are so many things I can do in my position. There are so many things I was planning to do when I officially became the hostess in my 20s.’

You wouldn’t care about things like that.

You’ll just eat, sleep, play, consume, and enjoy like a beast.

That made me angry.

The attitude of only enjoying abundance and not taking on any responsibility, duty, or anything.

If Rahin had sat in my place and done something properly, I wouldn’t have been so angry.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you like this for the first time.”

Lady Inanna opened her mouth with a kind tone towards me, cutting off the war of nerves between Rahin and me.

But I knew.

That Lady Inanna’s voice was colder than she usually showed me.

“I don’t know if you’ve enjoyed the banquet enough, even though you haven’t fully recovered from your journey.”

A probing gaze swept over my entire body.

I easily understood the meaning behind Lady Inanna’s words.

‘There wouldn’t have been anything worth eating in the Holy Empire, so I guess she’s asking how it is to see the Magic Empire.’

I’m so happy to be back that I’m crying, Lady Inanna.

I swallowed those words and greeted her politely.

“I hope you are at peace at home? My name is Florin from the Holy Empire.”

There’s no way she can be at peace with Rahin there.

I was sure that Rahin had messed up the house, so I stabbed her like this.

Lady Inanna was silent for about 3 seconds before smiling.

“I’ve heard a lot about the Saintess.”

No, that’s what Rahin did. Not me.

Although I couldn’t say it, I gave a sincere answer in my heart. At the same time, my mouth was faithfully spitting out what I had to say.

“I guess you’ve heard the rumors that I’ve become like an angel these days.”

As I smiled and replied, Rahin scoffed as if for everyone to hear.

“……Daughter.”

At that, her adoptive mother gave her a low warning from behind.

If it were me. If I had been in my original place… there would have been no need to give such a warning.

Lady Inanna and her adoptive mother could have only been proud of me.

“Hmph. An angel, what a joke.”

Rahin pouted.

It was such an act that lacked any manners that even Lady Inanna, who had been subtly checking me, showed a slightly apologetic look.