Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“It’s only natural that people become irritable when they’re unwell. Even as kind as Miss Bianca is, there’s nothing to be done about it.”
“Yes, that’s true enough.”
Barcan’s expression darkened.
‘But Bianca’s maid…….’
Bianca seemed to be going through a belated adolescence. She hadn’t answered her family’s letters, and she frequently clashed with her friends.
So much so that there was scarcely a young lady of standing left in the Northern Region who might become her companion.
And on top of that, the household maids were quitting one after another because of her.
Barcan shook his head with a resolute expression.
“In that situation, I’d say it’s even more inadvisable.”
Just as he was about to voice his objection, Diena raised her hand eagerly.
“I want to do it!”
At that, Barcan shook his head.
“It won’t be as easy as you think.”
“I still want to.”
“It will be quite difficult.”
“How difficult?”
“Well, I haven’t seen her in so long that I’m not entirely sure myself.”
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Barcan’s mouth. He could not approach Bianca’s side while she was in a state of Darkness Encroachment. It might even worsen her condition.
It struck him as absurd that he couldn’t even witness his own sister’s situation firsthand.
“But I still want to do it!”
Faced with Diena’s stubborn determination, Barcan hesitated briefly.
Even before falling ill, Bianca’s temperament had been far from easy. He’d heard she’d grown even more volatile of late.
Yet someone as resolute in will as Diena might well get along with his sister after all. Moreover, she was strong enough to declare her intent to take revenge on the Duke of Rothwell.
He found himself willing to place hope in her.
He could do nothing but nod in the end.
“Very well, if that’s what you wish to do, then do as you see fit. But if it becomes too much, speak to the head maid at once.”
Barcan turned to leave.
He had to fulfill the Emperor’s order to escort Malacar to the Imperial Capital.
But he stopped at Diena’s words that followed.
“You must return quickly, Barcan.”
“……Return quickly?”
“Yes, truly. You absolutely cannot be late. Please promise me.”
Barcan regarded Diena with confusion in his eyes.
No matter how strong she pretended to be, she was still so young. She must be afraid of being left alone.
After all, there wasn’t a single person here she knew.
“Very well, I understand.”
Diena was precisely the same age as his sister. Part of him longed to see how she adapted, but he could not remain here any longer.
He was someone who would depart soon anyway.
Even as he thought this, something nagged at him strangely.
“I’ll depart at once. Prepare what’s needed.”
Malacar too regarded Diena with concerned eyes as he spoke.
“I’ll return for you soon. Take care of yourself in the meantime.”
Once Barcan and Malacar had left, the Butler’s gaze turned toward the head maid.
“Matilda, you heard what Barcan said.”
“Rest assured. I shall instruct and care for her well.”
The Butler offered Matilda a reassuring smile.
“Yes, you’ve served Miss Bianca faithfully all this while. I trust you’ll do well by her.”
The Butler spoke those words and took his leave.
The moment he vanished, Matilda’s demeanor transformed entirely.
The respectful and measured bearing of moments before evaporated, and her face hardened coldly. She spoke in a chilling tone.
“You, follow me.”
The place they arrived at was a rather shabby Maid’s Quarters.
“What, disappointed? Did you expect a nicer room? But this is the servants’ quarters?”
Matilda stood with her arms crossed in the doorway, looking down at Diena.
“I don’t know who you are, but I’ve served this Kardian Family for a long time. I’ve met countless people like you.”
Diena looked at her silently. Contempt lingered in the corners of Matilda’s mouth.
“All of you trying to get something out of the young master and mistress. They’re all the same scheming tricks. I’ll give you one piece of advice: mind your conduct. Otherwise, you won’t last long in this household.”
“Wow…….”
“What?”
“Oh, just surprised.”
Diena marveled as she listened to Matilda’s words.
‘What quite the introduction.’
For Diena, who already knew Matilda’s true identity, these words were absurd.
Unprepared for such an unexpected reaction, Matilda cleared her throat awkwardly. Then, almost at once, she pulled one corner of her mouth up into a smile. She reasoned that the girl was too young to understand the situation.
She threw the Black One-piece Dress onto Diena’s bed with a rough gesture.
“Stop talking nonsense and put this on. It’s what the maids of this estate wear.”
Diena carefully picked up the dress. Still, it was in far better condition than what she’d worn in the Rothwell household.
Matilda clicked her tongue at the sight of it, then left Diena’s room as she was.
‘How petty. Not even offering food.’
Diena clutched at her rumbling stomach.
‘After all this time, my hunger is unbearable.’
Throughout the journey to the Kardian household, she’d been able to eat plenty of delicious food. Barcan had fed her something almost constantly.
“Why are you so thin? If you’re going to survive in our household, you ought to eat more.”
Just a few days of eating well, and already she couldn’t endure hunger the way she used to.
Fortunately, there was water on the table beside her bed. Diena closed her eyes and drank it slowly.
In truth, had she not volunteered to work as a maid, Barcan would have treated her as a guest.
But if that were the case, she couldn’t accomplish what she needed to.
She’d been the one to first suggest working as a maid because she’d anticipated what Matilda—who remained at Bianca’s side—might attempt.
‘Matilda was sent by the Rothwell household.’
She knew this because in her past life, she’d happened to read a report Matilda had sent to the Rothwell household after Bianca’s death.
Everything Matilda had done in this place.
‘She must be subtly brainwashing Miss Bianca even now.’
That report contained detailed accounts of Bianca’s preferences and inclinations, and precisely what actions had been taken toward her and how she had been molded.
Diena had even imagined telling Barcan everything she knew to be true.
‘Barcan, I know what is being done to your sister right now. So believe in me and dismiss this head maid at once. And while I’m not certain whether I can cure her Darkness Encroachment or not, I have a feeling I might. So please allow me to stay close by Miss Bianca’s side to test this.’
Had she said such things, she would surely have been dismissed from the household even sooner than someone who’d worked here long—or worse, suspected as an agent of the Rothwell family.
Miss Bianca held Matilda in favor, and she had no idea what was being done to her. So no testimony could be expected from her.
Therefore.
‘I’ll eliminate that head maid myself, quickly and quietly.’
During her work in Purification at the Rothwell ducal household, she’d encountered far worse villains than Matilda.
Dealing with a small-time head maid was nothing. After that, she would become the beloved maid of Bianca and work to cure her Darkness Encroachment.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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