The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 49

The master of Earth Island glared at him as if he wanted to kill him, but the master of Fire Island shrugged it off.

The master of Earth Island spoke out of loyalty, vying to be the king’s most favored.

‘Well, this is the result,’ he seemed to say.

The master of Fire Island clicked his tongue. ‘Tsk tsk. Old man. You need to learn to phrase things differently.’

He then placed a hand on his chest, knelt, and, ensuring the king was listening, spoke slowly. ‘Your Highness, such a powerful force that shakes the three islands is uncommon.’

‘……’

‘Perhaps… just perhaps… could that power be related to Your Highness? It’s worth investigating, even the smallest clue.’

For the first time in a long while, a flame of human emotion flickered in the king’s indifferent gaze.

The master of Fire Island, noticing this, swallowed hard. The words were spoken and couldn’t be retracted. He had no choice but to press on.

He yearned for the king to return to his former self.

Ten years prior, the king had welcomed his beloved queen, experiencing happiness for the first time in his long life. Some island masters, foolishly, resented the king’s joy. They argued that he had transformed from a divine being into a human capable of love and jealousy.

Thus, these disloyal subjects plotted to eliminate the queen.

The plot involved two critical miscalculations: first, the king’s love for the queen was deeper than anyone imagined, to the point where he cradled her lifeless body, cursing his own powerlessness to revive her, and ultimately, giving up everything.

The second miscalculation was…

The kidnapped queen was pregnant.

‘Perhaps the queen’s child survived on the ground.’

*I hope so.*

The master of Fire Island lowered his head, sweating under the intense pressure. *Please, let him be alive.*

Born prematurely at eight months, survival seemed impossible. Moreover, wasn’t it winter on the ground?

Immediately after giving birth, the queen passed away without revealing the child’s location.

Despite a decade-long search throughout Arkhalik, the child’s whereabouts remained unknown. He must have fallen to the ground or been killed.

*He couldn’t have survived. He’s not there.*

‘We interrogated the disloyal traitors, but they claimed ignorance about the baby.’

‘…So.’

‘Gaianos [likely a reference to someone who can use Gaia magic, or earth magic] might have intervened. The surviving royal descendant could be the cause of this disturbance.’

‘!’

‘Please consider it, Your Highness…!’

The master of Fire Island prostrated himself, resting his head on his hands.

Hope is dangerous, but the king has reached his breaking point.

Things couldn’t worsen. There was no successor, no one capable of replacing the king. If the king were to die…

*Who knows? Sky Island might fall to the ground.*

The king, who has ruled for three thousand years, *was* Arkhalik. That’s why no one dared to commit treason, even after he became a tyrant.

Everyone respected and loved the king. Ten years hadn’t erased their loyalty.

The master of Fire Island shuddered to imagine the chaos that would erupt upon the king’s death.

‘Find him. Find him and… bring him back alive.’

‘I will obey.’

They didn’t even know if the king’s bloodline was male or female. But inheriting the blood of God, they would surely recognize him or her on sight.

That’s what Ryun, the master of Fire Island, believed.

*It’s been a while since I’ve been to the ground.*

*I’m looking forward to what will happen. Somehow, I have a feeling that the ground will become noisy.*

Chapter 4. Let’s Go to the Tea Party!

I dreamt a big, wet nose was nudging my cheek.

The soft fur tickled so much I sneezed. ‘Achoo!’

*It’s not a dream?*

I opened my eyes, realizing I had passed out, drooling. Next to me, a huge black panther slept soundly.

Dante must have crushed me in his sleep.

‘Haaam, wake up, Dante.’

I shook Dante’s shoulder and stretched. Rubbing my eyes, I confirmed I was in my room.

My room in the Driblyane mansion.

‘When, haam, did you come?’

Still half-asleep, I nodded off, bumping my head against Dante’s back before snapping awake.

But only for a moment. Dante’s fur was so soft I ended up hugging him like a doll.

‘Uuung. I love it.’

Sleepy or not, Dante didn’t wake, only the tip of his tail wagged.

‘Ah, Young Master Ian!’

‘Is Florin up?’

It grew noisy outside, and the door burst open.

‘Florin!’

‘Ian, haeuuum. Are you here?’

I couldn’t yawn widely in front of Ian. It wasn’t coyness, just basic etiquette.

‘Florin, did you have a good trip? You look thinner.’

Ian paused, then rushed over, looking me up and down with concern.

*Eye boogers, drool, just woke up… and he says I look thinner? I’m fine.*

‘Ian, you’re pretty and handsome as always!’

‘W-what am I?’

‘Did you get hurt while I was gone?’

I lightly touched Ian’s shoulder, but he didn’t react.

Relieved, I swayed to my feet.

Ian picked me up… picked me up?!?

‘Euaat?!’

‘Baby, that’s dirty. You’ll get sick if you carry that around.’

*Was Ian always this strong?*

Ian’s face, illuminated by the morning sun, was dangerously handsome.

His golden eyes seemed to glisten, and I was so captivated I processed his words late.

‘Wait, he’s not dirty. Let me introduce you. This is Dante.’

‘…Dante?’

Ian’s smile widened slightly.

Something felt strange, but he was smiling… so introducing them was okay… right?

*Besides, they can’t fight. It can’t happen.*

You can’t just be wary of Laheen. It was these family heirs who ruined the once-normal Driblyane.

*It’s not certain, but I guessed this at the academy.*

Laheen didn’t actually heal these kids’ wounds in the original story.

*Laheen brainwashed everyone to like her with a damn wish, attaching plausible reasons.*

I wiped my drool and braced myself. From now on, it was crucial.

*It would be best to make Dante and Ian get along. To be tightly bound by brotherly love.*

Then, even if they fall for Laheen later, they won’t try to kill each other.

*My happy and wealthy retirement plan!*

Time for the second stage: binding Ian and Dante together.

‘What, you?’

But my wish shattered instantly. As soon as Ian put me down, Dante started a fight.

Dante, transformed into a human, stood between me and Ian.

His eyes, devoid of sleepiness, were sharp. His stiff mouth and furrowed brow showed his annoyance.

‘Ah, so you’re Dante, my half-brother. Nice to meet you. Call me brother.’

I feared they’d start punching each other, but Ian maturely extended his hand. Now, Dante just had to accept the handshake, even if he didn’t like it…

‘Get lost.’

*Thwack.*

Dante slapped Ian’s hand away, so violently I gasped.

‘Dante! How can you do that!’

‘Hmph.’

‘Ian, are you okay? Let me see.’

Ah, no. The first meeting was ruined.

It was almost impossible to recover from a bad first impression. Fortunately, they were young, so there was still hope…

‘I’m okay, Florin. I guess my ‘brother’ is not in a good mood. I have to understand since I’m the ‘older brother’.’

‘Who’s your brother? How dare you.’

‘Hmm. We have the same mother, and I was born first, so it can’t be helped. Even if you don’t like it, you’re still my younger brother.’

Ian calmly explained and smiled. I thanked heaven that at least Ian was in his right mind. Of course, Dante still seemed to dislike Ian.