The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 73

“So, in conclusion, once it’s confirmed that Selena Roibaium cannot become the Empress, her value will plummet.”

Ian, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke, his tone cold.

Father glanced at Ian and tilted his chin arrogantly.

“The current Duke Roibaium desperately wants to be connected to the Imperial Family. If that’s impossible, he’ll discard her without hesitation.”

“Then, if my half-brother Yuri becomes the Crown Prince, everything will be resolved,” Ian stated, his tone dry.

I had already considered that possibility.

“The Empress… she’s in a state of delusional pregnancy, right? She actually believes she gave birth to a baby! And she hates Yuri because she’s afraid he will be a threat to that imaginary child.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“So, she joined hands with Roibaium, the adversary of Dribryane, and Roibaium is taking advantage of the Empress’s… condition?”

“That old wyvern [a mythical dragon-like creature] is fueling the Empress’s delusions.”

Listening to Father’s blunt assessment, I quietly recalled the first time I met the Empress.

So much had happened since then that it felt like a long time ago, but strangely, the image of the Empress’s belly remained vivid in my memory.

‘That murky pheromone and the strange wriggling inside the Empress’s belly… something pitch-black, like dirty water flowing….’

If I get rid of that, will the Empress return to her senses?

“Then, what if, instead of letting her wallow in delusions, we help the Empress… actually become pregnant?”

Until now, we had merely listed the entrenched political situation of the current Magic Empire.

The real ‘solution’ starts now.

My existence becoming a pebble dropped into a lake, creating ripples.

I was now presenting that idea to the adults.

“How?”

“I’m a Saintess, after all.”

“Hmm.”

“I’m not sure, but the Empress seems really sick. In my eyes… I saw something pitch-black flowing. Something disgusting that made me want to throw up and made my body tremble.”

What was it, really?

I didn’t know, but as I carefully retraced the situation, I was seized by a strong conviction that I might be able to heal it.

Isn’t it worth trying?

“Florin’s condition was strange back then.”

“That’s right. Ian shielded her, so she survived. Otherwise, she might have thrown up….”

If that had happened, it would have been a real disaster.

I stroked my chest and looked back at Father and Inanna.

Inanna looked at me with very cautious eyes before turning her gaze to Father.

“Son, what did you see in the Empress?”

“The same thing Florin saw. However, it felt comfortable to me rather than disgusting.”

“Then, do you think Florin actually has divine power? You’re the only one who has ever directly seen that so-called divine power, Kiraxus.”

“Yes.”

???

I was a little taken aback because Father was so calm and nonchalant about it.

No, of course, I expected that… but Father, aren’t you being too assertive?

Did you know in advance but didn’t tell me?

“I can push it away with divine power. It’s just a trivial curse.”

It can’t be trivial!

If it was something that could be easily removed, the Imperial Family would have already kidnapped a priest and told them to heal it.

So, this is something that needs to be filtered appropriately.

‘Father means it’s a curse that is not very difficult to interpret and that he knows how to remove,’ but according to the general and ordinary standards of ordinary people, it is ‘a complex and difficult curse that is impossible to remove.’

That’s how it should be interpreted.

“The Empress was cursed and couldn’t have children?”

“They are constantly trying to conceive. The Emperor also wants to give the Empress a child. He just hopes it’s a daughter.”

“The reason I haven’t mentioned the curse until now is… I see, Florin seems to have recently acquired divine power.”

“That’s right, Wise Mother.”

I blinked as I followed the conversation.

So, I can heal the Empress after all?!

“What if we ask her to cut ties with Roibaium in return?”

Ian, who quickly grasped the situation, quietly interjected.

“It’s useless to add a clause that Yuri must become the Crown Prince. She won’t honor it anyway. However, asking her to cut ties with Roibaium is something the Empress can fully accept. She can find another family to replace them. She can even raise a family from the beginning that will be loyal to her own child.”

“I want to attach the best family to my child, but that’s only possible if there is an actual child.”

“Yes, Grandmother. And Roibaium is too big, too greedy. Right now, the Empress is using them as a means to protect herself, but in the future, there is a high risk that Roibaium will try to manipulate her prince or princess at will. I think it would be good to emphasize that.”

Ah, I really like this.

Everyone voicing their opinions, but it’s clear everyone has been thinking along the same lines.

So, it was very enjoyable to immediately understand and have the conversation branch out without needing a long explanation.

‘Besides, Yuri is the Crown Prince anyway. There’s no way a being that can beat him will be born.’

Knowing the original story was a great advantage. I knew who the Crown Prince was, so I didn’t hesitate to heal the Empress’s curse now.

“Inanna, Father, you understand.”

Then let’s leave it at that. Now we need to move on to the next problem.

“The very moment the Empress kicks out Roibaium, what if Belladi is ready to be the successor? Then Selena will be ousted, and Belladi will take her place.”

Why did things get so complicated? Because Selena touched Linda.

I never forgot Selena.

“And in order for Belladi to rise to the position of successor, Dribryane extends a hand when she’s having the hardest time. Then, in the future, Roibaium and Dribryane will be very good friends.”

“That’s right.”

Inanna smiled faintly.

I confidently added a point.

“Belladi and I are the same age, so we can start as friends and help each other little by little, without being obvious. And Belladi’s situation in the family isn’t good right now… so they won’t think it’s too strange that I’m spending time with her.”

“Certainly, they are mistreating the second young lady in that family.”

“Yes. So, I need… information about Belladi. What she likes, what she hates, what she has a talent for. Can you get me that information?”

A clear path was visible. The steps I had to take were clear in my eyes.

At the end of that path will be Selena’s downfall and my revenge, and Yuri becoming the Crown Prince.

‘The Empress will have the child she so desperately wanted, so she will owe Dribryane a great debt.’

A conclusion that benefits the family.

‘You’re not the only one who knows how to make moves. You think you’re the only one who can plot? Just you wait and see.’

Inanna decided to take charge of the deal with the Empress.

Since I will be visiting her after the banquet period, there is still plenty of preparation time.

I clapped my hands cheerfully.

“Then now, in order for me to freely use divine power, I need information about divine power!”

There’s a limit to seeing and studying it in books, so it would be nice to have a priest.

It would be nice to learn how to use divine power from a priest somewhere with tight security.

‘But I can’t bring myself to ask for a priest.’

I glanced at Father.

Usually, Father solved these problems well.

“Don’t worry about that. There’s someone suitable.”

“Really? But you can’t just kidnap someone who was living well somewhere.”

“I’m deeply concerned about what my image is to you, Florin.”

“No, I just feel like you’re going to grab a seemingly innocent, rabbit-like priest by the scruff of the neck and drag them away….”

I mumbled embarrassedly.

Well, Father also has a brain, so he wouldn’t do that.

“Don’t worry. I’ll bring them after reaching an agreement.”

I hope it’s not an agreement like, ‘Give up your life or come with me.’ Father….

I shook my head.

“Oh, come to think of it, Ian!”

“Yeah?”

“Ian said he was training before. Was it tightrope walking? Is there anyone who’s good at that besides Ian?”

The reason I brought up this story is because what we just set up was a long-term plan. Now I have to make a short-term plan.

The banquet is held again tonight. Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, and continuously after that.

Imagining Selena leading her group and being triumphant every time suddenly made my stomach hurt.

“Well, I don’t know.”

“Hmm… Then, Inanna! There are no rules that say we can’t go out to the city during the banquet, right?”

Of course, there were no such rules.

If you need more accessories or lace fans during the banquet, you have to go buy them. Great nobles can call merchants, but lower nobles have to go to the city themselves.

“I won’t attend the banquet today. Instead, I’m going to go to the city to buy something.”

“Do as you wish.”

Since Inanna readily allowed it, Ian and I decided to go to the city together as soon as we finished preparing.

“Ah, but Inanna.”

Just as I was about to get up from my seat, I called Inanna again.

“Um, I can’t see Yuri. The prince didn’t attend the banquet yesterday, right?”

But strangely, Inanna didn’t answer this question. She just had a very pitiful look on her face for a moment.