The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 25

“Ian, you’re not alone.”

*Swoosh.* I hurried to Ian’s side, gently nudging his limp hand with my paw.

His hand was so cold my little fur ball couldn’t warm it… but still, this was what I could do.

“Ian, he’s a potential future husband.”

Ahem.

I cleared my throat, drawing the etiquette teacher’s attention. (Etiquette teachers in noble settings were responsible for instructing young nobles in proper manners and behavior.)

As soon as I blurted out the word ‘husband,’ Ian turned to me, his gaze a mix of bewilderment, indifference, and a faint, indefinable tangle of emotions. I thought I could see where this was going.

‘If he’s Ariadne’s son, who cares if his dad is a mercenary or a knight from an enemy country?’ I thought.

Besides, Ian was strong enough to defeat anyone who came at him. If he fought and won against these so-called successors, wouldn’t that prove his potential?

“Ian, you’re not a troublemaker.”

I declared firmly, speaking clearly to the dumbfounded etiquette teacher.

*Weasel or whatever, just you wait*, I thought.

“Come to the banquet. To meet me. I’m inviting you. No need to be nervous [벌 바들 is a Korean expression for being nervous or intimidated]. I’ll talk to the Lord.”

Having said this much, Weasel seemed to realize he was outmaneuvered and sullenly pursed his lips.

I resolutely drove my point home.

“Ian will be an Alpha.” (In this context, “Alpha” likely refers to a position of leadership or dominance within the Driblianei family.)

It was as if I was predicting the future.

At that, a golden ripple appeared in the pupils of the boy who had been indifferent all along.

On the other hand, Weasel’s pride was wounded. How much had he struggled to get this position, where he could officially control the successors?

If honor increases, money follows.

With that thought alone, he had slipped bribes and rubbed his palms together anxiously to win the position.

One of the parents of several successors had recommended him, and Weasel had discerned from the first day of his appointment which child ‘should have a high attitude score’ and which should not.

At first, Ian, Ariadne’s own child, was a target of attention. But as time passed, he realized that Ian was easy to manipulate. No matter how much he pushed and shoved him, he just remained passive.

He had received half of Ariadne’s precious blood, but the other half was from a commoner, so wasn’t he just aware of his place?

As time went on, Weasel became more and more arrogant.

After all, neither Ariadne, a perfect Driblianei, nor the Lord, nor anyone else interfered in the ‘management of successors.’ The Driblianei only raise those who climb back up after throwing their young off a cliff. (This is a metaphor for the Driblianei family’s harsh training methods, where only the strongest survive.)

Whatever happens in the management of successors, whatever conflicts arise between the children, the adults of the family do not interfere at all.

The judgment is that if they can’t survive and gain an advantage in this small society, they will be useless on the battlefield, in politics, or in diplomatic situations.

Therefore, Ian was the perfect toy for Weasel, who usually enjoyed oppressing the weak. He was someone who would never enter the main house and would die below the cliff.

‘I’m angry, but… Sir John Grizzly is protecting that weasel. He’s not someone I can handle.’

I have to back off here.

Judging so, Weasel smiled slyly and bowed.

“Yes, it would be nice if he becomes an Alpha. Then I’ll be on my way.”

After Weasel disappeared, stroking his beard, I immediately looked at Ian.

Ian, who seemed lost in thought, replied in a hoarse voice.

“You didn’t have to help.”

“I know.”

“Don’t take my side either. I don’t need it.”

“Yeah. But I did make a prediction. Ian will be an Alpha.”

I didn’t bother to argue with Ian’s cold words.

Ian was probably going through early adolescence… I should just let it go.

Instead, I wanted to let Ian know I was interested in him.

“John! Ian, he has talent, right?”

*Even if he doesn’t, say he does*, I thought.

When I turned around with burning eyes, John laughed awkwardly.

But when he answered, John had a serious face.

“Yes. He certainly has a talent for using his body. This is not an empty compliment.”

I had a triumphant look on my face and gave Ian a look that said, ‘See? What did I tell you?’

Ian seemed a little shaken by John’s declaration, but after hesitating, he coldly gritted his teeth again.

“Then why couldn’t I go to the academy?”

Ian regretted saying those words as soon as he uttered them.

‘Ah, the academy… he really wanted to go.’

Wasn’t Dante, Ian’s half-brother, there now?

So Ian might have wanted to be recommended and go to the academy himself.

“…Never mind.”

As if he regretted saying it, Ian tried to retreat back into his hard shell.

Blocking his ears and hearing nothing, covering his whole body with an outer skin and feeling nothing. That’s how Ian had lived.

Ariadne would have been away from home often, and always returned with a new sibling. Young Ian might have been pushed further and further to the edge.

In fact, I knew nothing about Ian. But perhaps because of my ignorance, I could quickly close the distance. Because I’m not on the list of people who have been bullying Ian!

“Um… let’s be… friends for now!”

“Friends?”

The low murmur was filled with doubt. It was as if he was hearing the word ‘friend’ for the first time in his life, with an unfamiliar expression.

The boy, who didn’t even know what it was and didn’t even know if it was good or bad, eventually frowned. But I knew better than anyone that it wasn’t because he didn’t like it.

‘I, too, have been pushed around and lived like that…’

I cleared my throat and stretched out my arms towards Ian.

“Hug me.”

“Why, ugh, why would I?”

“Because we’re friends!”

Ian’s face, which had been as cold as ice, cracked for the first time, as if he hadn’t expected this at all.

Covering his face with his arms, Ian actually took a step back and ran into the building, leaving me embarrassed. It was as if he couldn’t bear the soft and fluffy feeling of the word friend.

“Hey, John. If he does that, can’t I follow him?”

“That’s not true. You are certainly allowed to enter the Successor’s Hall.”

“Hmph. Then I’ll take a look around.”

There’s nothing to do even if I go back now.

I wish I could transform into a human, but I’m just a squishy pink belly with thread-like front and back paws.

I’ve already picked out all the decorations, and there are no classes because it’s the day of the banquet, so it would be better to look around the Successor’s Hall.

“This building was originally a wooden building. It has been repaired here and there, and stone pillars have been erected, but there are still parts that retain its original appearance.”

“Yeah.”

“The front yard of the Successor’s Hall is also used for small parties from time to time, so it has soft grass.”

“Um…”

Ian… gunpowder… bullying… Ian.

‘But when was Ian mentioned in the original work…’

As I pondered, my tail wagged.

I flipped through the pages in my head, searching for his name.

‘Ah, but why does the gunpowder smell so strong?’

It’s as if someone sprinkled gunpowder on the floor… or something?

“Huh?”

Suddenly, the letters swirled in my head.