The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 8

* * *

‘Is it real?’

A week after the family council meeting.

I was putting together a puzzle that Nina had brought, deep in thought.

Next to me were piles of incredibly delicious cookies, candies, jellies, and cakes, gifts sent by a few naive elder grandfathers who had suddenly believed I was a Saintess.

‘They probably just said that to help me out back then. I don’t have any divine power.’

Haa. I sighed briefly and recalled the events of that day.

“Spring is coming early. Knowing that is my ability.”

I clearly said that.

I just meant that knowing where to invest was my ability, but suddenly the atmosphere shifted to ‘She’s another Saintess, so she knows in advance where spring will come.’

‘It was coincidental. Kiraxus must have been aiming for that.’

But isn’t being a Saintess too big of a lie?

My status has been dramatically elevated from just an ‘Albino Beastkin’ to a whole ‘Saintess of the Magic Empire,’ so there’s no worry about being kicked out, but how am I going to handle this……?

‘Ah, am I the one who has to handle it……?’

The moment I was called ‘another Saintess,’ the conference room became a mess as if a hornet’s nest had been poked.

Unbelievable, if spring really comes, that will be the proof, don’t lie, and so on.

But spring will really come.

‘Then…… am I going to become a fake Saintess?’

No, if they were going to put on such a play, they should have explained it to me beforehand! I thought they would explain after the meeting, but they just disappeared!

Thud. Frustrated, I put strength into my hand, and the puzzle I was holding folded in half.

“Oops.”

“You’re very strong, Florin-nim. Were you not enjoying the puzzle?”

“No, I’m just frustrated…….”

“I see. You must be feeling cooped up because it’s snowing so much today, and you’re stuck inside the bedroom. Shall I play with you?”

“It’s okay. Nina, you’re busy.”

I shook my head like an adult.

Of course, playing tag and hide-and-seek with Nina is super fun…… but she must be busy, so I shouldn’t bother her.

Turns out, Nina was Kiraxus’s only maid. When I first found out, I thought Kiraxus was a real jerk for making one person do all the work, but after hearing the whole story, I was impressed.

‘To catch an assassin who came to kill him and forcibly cast a 10-year obedience contract magic…….’

……I must ask her to teach me that magic later!

This is how I found a way to adapt to the villainous family.

‘It’s about time the Lord of the House contacted me.’

The situation has already become too big, and there’s no room to back out.

Eventually, resigned to whatever happens, I pushed the puzzle aside and hugged a crayon. Unlike crayons, which don’t smudge well on my white fur, crayons were perfect for playing with.

‘Let’s organize my goals.’

I diligently drew a crown shape on the sketchbook Nina gave me. This was my conclusion.

‘Now that it’s come to this, I’ll try being a fake Saintess and daughter-in-law!’

I don’t know who my husband will be, but it’ll probably be one of the guys from the novel, I guess.

Of course, in the second half of the novel, my husband will also be head over heels for Raheen. That’s how those novels usually go.

‘It doesn’t matter because I don’t have to love my husband, but it’s a problem if the Dribryane family collapses due to a love triangle.’

Because if this family goes bankrupt, I, the mistress, will also be out on the streets, right?

‘Then let’s see……. I need to build my own power base that has nothing to do with my husband, and I’ll support the family.’

What if my husband gets stabbed and dies somewhere?

‘I’ll just become a Duchess.’

I chuckled slyly.

‘But it would be best to eliminate the reason why this novel had to become a dark one, if possible.’

You never know where and how variables might pop up.

I took out a pink crayon from the long box and drew three hearts. They represented the male protagonists of the second half of the novel.

Among these three, Dante is the only direct descendant of this family, and the other two are not.

Gerde is a collateral relative with the blood of the Ritzenbium royal family. Yuri was the youngest son of Ariadne-nim, who had the blood of the Magic Empire’s imperial family.

‘These three have deep wounds from their childhoods. And they fall helplessly for Raheen, who understands and empathizes with those wounds.’

It was an obvious savior cliché.

‘What if I steal that savior cliché earlier than Raheen?’

Wouldn’t Raheen’s influence be reduced a bit?

This time, I took out a red crayon and wrote numbers. It was a concrete goal for my life from now on.

“Very good.”

Looking at the squiggly letters, I smiled gleefully. Then, I reached out and devoured a piece of brownie like a rich person.

I didn’t even suck the chocolate off my fingers.

‘If this is the treatment given to a Saintess…… I’ll pretend to be a Saintess, forever!’

In blissful delight, I lay down on my back, exposing my bulging belly.

“Is Florin-nim here?”

But that was then. The call from the Lord Grandfather I had been waiting for finally came.

Tossing the crayon aside, I jumped up and ran out, clutching my chestnut-sized hands.

“I’m here!!!”

Let’s go! To sell off the information of the Holy Empire!

* * *

“Look at that! New sprouts have appeared!”

“Truly, spring has really come. Only in the very place that Florin-nim pointed out!”

“This is the proof, Lord of the House!”

“Isn’t it true that a Saintess has appeared in our Magic Empire, just as the Young Lord said?”

A private conference room attached to the Lord of the House’s room.

Right now, the heat here was enormous.

Amidst the shouts of excited retainers, the Lord of the House, Emmanuel Guillaume Dribryane, was staring intently at the scenery in the video stone. To be exact, at the land with new sprouts and the dry branches with flower buds shown by the video stone. The evidence of spring.

About a week ago, he bought the Luxoria County, thinking he was being deceived. Not just a piece of land, but the entire thing. And this was the result of the investment.

“Lord of the House!”

Soon, the door opened, and a white ferret, respectfully carried in a basket by the butler, appeared.

Emmanuel, staring at the creature placed on the table, roared at those around him.

“What are you doing not laying out the red carpet immediately!”

Dribryane is strictly merit-based. Even for the successors, that rule was unconditionally followed.

Basically, the allocated allowance and dignity maintenance expenses were very small, and performance bonuses were only received if there were political or business results.

‘I knew that.’

But to experience it so clearly.

The carpet made of fleece was so soft that it felt like I might slip. The fact that it was laid out only for me meant only one thing.

That my abilities were recognized!

The advantage of a villainous family is that they turn a blind eye to origins as long as it’s profitable.

Nitpicking and questioning everything is the style of the Holy Empire.

The Holy Empire values honor, lineage, nobility, and grace more than money. But the Magic Empire was not like that.

Money is the best!

“Child. What is your name?”

“It’s Florin.”

“Florin, I see. I will remember your name now.”

A little later.

I was sitting confidently in front of the Lord Grandfather, drinking milk with honey. Putting my face in the big cup and licking it wasn’t easy, but the smell of honey was too tempting to ignore.

“Hmm, yes. It must be difficult to humanize an albino. I will instruct them to make tableware and cups that are easy for you to use.”

“Thank you.”

“Haha, no need to thank me. Now that I see it, you are a treasure!”

“Hehe, then I won’t refuse…… also, please make a table! Please put pretty and shiny things on it too!”

Why refuse something they’re giving me? I would have asked for more.

I was sure that my exclusive items, which the Lord of the House was going to ‘make,’ would never be cheap. They would surely be miniatures with artistic value, enough to be displayed in a museum somewhere.

I smiled brightly and leaned my soft cheek against the cup. It was an action to tell those gathered here to look at me.