The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 24

“Young Master Ian.”

John approached me, carefully avoiding stepping on the bushes, and greeted me respectfully. His attitude was much more polite than when he had dealt with those fleeing guys earlier.

“Were you bullied again?”

“…….”

“Are you hurt anywhere? I think you should go to the infirmary…….”

“I’m fine.”

However, unlike John, who was being quite friendly, the red-haired boy was cold. Ian, looking annoyed at the blood that only smeared when he tried to wipe it off, stood up without even glancing at me.

“Don’t report it.”

“But, Young Master.”

Ian passed by us with a gaze that seemed to freeze the ground with every step.

As I blankly watched him, I suddenly noticed a long… tail extending above Ian’s hip, and my mouth dropped open.

‘What? What is that?’

The spotted tail’s fur was a slightly reddish gold color.

Ian, who seemed very tired, had his human ears disappear and leopard ears sprout. It was obvious he was limping.

He must be hurt himself to the point where it’s hard to maintain his human form.

“Let’s go to the infirmary.”

I approached cautiously, prepared to be rejected, and took Ian’s hand.

“It’ll only make you suffer more if it gets infected.”

I thought I might get thrown off, but thankfully, Ian didn’t do that. He just… glanced at me with an expression of annoyance.

I swallowed hard and gave him another gentle nudge, not quite a nagging.

“Seriously. And if it gets infected, you’ll get beaten up next time, okay?”

“…….”

“If you don’t want to go to the infirmary, I’ll call the doctor for you. I’ll lie and say I’m sick. Huh?”

Ian de Rivierre.

A saber-toothed tiger of the large, sharp-toothed tribe and also a leopard beastman, the first son of Lady Ariadne.

His half-siblings all appear as male protagonists in the later part of the original story, but for some reason, Ian wasn’t one of them.

So, I was curious about who Ian was, what kind of child he was.

‘Even when I saw his name on the family tree, I never imagined he would be treated like this.’

He’s Lady Ariadne’s son! Why is he being bullied?

‘Of course, it wasn’t one-sided… it looks like Ian beat them all up.’

Still, that obnoxious Gerd acts all high and mighty because he’s a prince, but Ian doesn’t seem to have any intention of using his mother, Lady Ariadne, as a shield.

“Mind your own business.”

After a moment of silence.

Even though I looked at him with tearful eyes, Ian turned away from me. He had already pulled his hand away.

‘His hands were so cold.’

I stared blankly at my fluffy front paws and then followed Ian.

“Hey, are you coming to the banquet today?”

Silence.

“They’re roasting a turkey! It’ll be delicious!”

Failed to persuade him with food.

“If you take your medicine well, Dambi will give you a present!”

Ignored.

“Those guys from earlier, should I slap their butts if I see them later? Don’t fight! Like this.”

This time… a look of pity. But at least there was some reaction.

Whether Ian was naturally kind or just annoyed, he left me alone and headed towards the Heir’s Quarters.

It created quite an amusing scene. Ian in the lead. Me following about three steps behind, and Sir John one step behind me.

We walked in a line like we were on a train, and after running out of things to say, I even brought up the weather.

“Wow, the weather is nice……!”

“If you have eyes, look at the sky. It’s cloudy.”

“…….”

Usually, I would have given up after being ignored this much, but I really wanted to get close to Ian.

Ian, so pretty!

He’s almost idol visual center-level handsome.

“Ouch!”

But then. Ian suddenly stopped in front of me, and I crashed into his solid calf, staggering.

“Little Mistress!”

Thankfully, John quickly caught me with both hands, or I would have fallen on my butt.

I rubbed my nose, wondering what was going on, and climbed back onto John’s shoulder.

“Have you committed such barbaric acts again!”

But I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at the chilling shout that followed.

“If you wish to be chosen by the mistress, you must always be modest and maintain proper decorum. I have repeatedly told you to abandon your barbarity!”

What, who is this? Who is yelling at the young master like that?

“Since you clearly fought even though I told you not to, you will not attend the evening banquet today. It is a punishment. After writing one hundred reflection papers in the punishment room, you will receive five lashes with a switch.”

What the hell?

I glared.

I don’t understand.

Why is he scolding him without even listening to what happened?

‘Besides, who gave him the right to say whether or not he can go to the banquet? Today’s banquet is for me!’

It’s a place for me to meet the heirs who might become my future husband. Why is he interfering?

“That is Weasel, the etiquette teacher in charge of the heirs.”

John hurriedly explained, noticing my eyes narrowing.

I crossed my arms and tapped my hind paws.

“He still doesn’t know who hit first.”

I’m getting more and more uncomfortable.

The etiquette teacher was babbling on and on, and Ian was just standing there silently. No defense, no excuses, no pretexts, just standing still.

And I knew very well where that behavior came from.

‘He has no expectations.’

No expectation that someone will help him. No expectation that someone will understand his unfairness. Ian had the resignation unique to someone who has no one to trust.

‘But why???’

Where did he sell the title of Lady Ariadne’s first son?

‘Besides, that teacher.’

“Why doesn’t he greet me?”

I shouldn’t judge people by their appearance, but the etiquette teacher had a very bad look about him.

His chin was sharp, his nose was hooked, and his eyes were narrow. His eyebrows were thin, and his cheekbones were prominent.

He ignored me and John at the same time and was pointing out things to Ian.

“Oh my, isn’t this Sir Grizzly!”

After a while, the teacher turned to John.

Rubbing his palms lightly, the teacher stroked his goat-like beard and glanced at me.

“Sir Grizzly is here, which means… this little one is our next mistress?”

You are watching an etiquette teacher not following etiquette.

Speechless, I scanned the etiquette teacher with an expression that said, ‘Let’s see what you’re going to say.’

“I am Weasel Mormentara.”

“So?”

“……Pardon?”

Ah, I could overwhelm him with eloquent words, but who can fix this frustrating oral structure for me?

I had no choice but to call Pompom and pat it.

– He’s an etiquette teacher, but he doesn’t even know who to greet first.

Of course, I’m first, then John. Ignoring that means he’s not friendly to me. I don’t know why someone like that is an etiquette teacher.

“Ian. Didn’t do anything wrong.”

– Ian was surrounded by several people. No matter how you look at it, it’s not Ian’s fault. But why is he scolding him without even understanding the situation? What right does he have?

The etiquette teacher, Weasel, seemed to be listening carefully to the words coming from Pompom, chuckled, and approached me.

“I was too excited and committed a rudeness. Please forgive me.”

“Okay.”

“And… the Little Mistress may not know, but Young Master Ian has half the blood of an enemy country mixed in him. He is very barbaric.”

“?”

“Ahem, it is well known that the late Lady Ariadne went to war and had a child with a man from an enemy country.”

What is he talking about? What does that matter?

I know that the Magic Empire and the Holy Empire have a bad relationship. Hybrids between the two countries probably don’t live well. But what amazes me is not that part.

“Who’s the mom?”

“Pardon? Of course, it’s Lady Ariadne.”

“So you’re saying you’re hitting Lady Ariadne’s own son to teach him?”

“No, I mean, half of Young Master Ian is an enemy country’s knight or mercenary…….”

“Isn’t who the mom is the important thing?”

Maybe the reason Ian didn’t become an alpha in the original story is because of this man.

He looks cunning, and he seems to get along well with Gerd.

I stared at Ian with strength in my eyes.

“You talk too. What happened. Clearly.”

“…….”

“Just because you’re quiet doesn’t mean everything will just pass.”

This is true.

‘If I just endure it.’

‘If I just bow my head, it’ll be peaceful.’

‘If I just keep my mouth shut, everyone will be fine.’

These thoughts are very wrong.

Most problems only get bigger the quieter you are. It’s better to catch them early like catching a rat.

Of course, facing a problem as soon as it arises is very difficult. It’s very hard for someone with no one to lean on and low self-esteem.

I knew very well what that feeling was like.