Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 28

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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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Hasen bowed to her first, then stepped into Barkan’s office ahead of them.
Moments later, the door swung open to reveal Barkan seated in a chair, and beside him sat an enormous box that immediately caught the eye.
The box was wrapped with meticulous care in such brilliantly lustrous gold foil that it hurt to look at. Layered across its surface were ribbons of deep crimson silk, each as thick as a finger. Diena blinked.
“What on earth is this?”
“I’ll tell you after we’ve talked. You said you came looking for me because you had something to discuss?”
“Yes, it concerns Miss Bianca.”
Diena recounted to Barkan every detail of what Daniel had said when he came to the Cardian Family Estate, leaving nothing out.
“…This is what happened.”
Of course, she left out the specifics of her own actions.
Barkan’s mouth fell open. His eyes blinked in disbelief before he spoke.
“Does Daniel have a death wish?”
His brows rose sharply, his gaze turning lethal.
“How dare he do something like that to my sister. And why didn’t Bianca tell me about this sooner?”
“Because your communication with her has been so strained.”
Barkan, who had been grinding his teeth, slowly opened his mouth.
“…I knew Bianca wanted to be engaged to him. I wasn’t happy about it, of course. Every time I saw his face, I wanted to punch him on principle.”
“……”
“So my instincts were right. For him to say something like that.”
“Others are spreading rumors that you and your father don’t cherish Miss Bianca. She believes it too, which is how far those whispers have spread.”
“Because my father and I don’t see Bianca often? But there are reasons for that. Do they know and still spread those lies?”
Diena nodded.
“Yes. People believe what they want to believe.”
“Am I supposed to perform at every banquet, singing about how much I care for Bianca? And what do they expect—that brothers and sisters who actually live together get along perfectly?”
“That’s not the reason.”
As Barkan’s voice grew louder, Diena cut him off calmly.
“People find it difficult to believe that a non-ability user could be loved by her family.”
“……”
“It’s usually that way.”
Diena could understand Barkan’s frustration. Both Sevar and Barkan had sent Bianca frequent material gifts.
They also wrote letters regularly, trying in every way to maintain their connection with her. It was all they could do when they couldn’t see her in person.
‘I remember what Barkan once said.’
“I did care for Bianca, but I wasn’t able to show her that when she was well.”
“Why not?”
“Well…most siblings are that way. Bianca probably felt the same about me, didn’t she? Now that I think about it, I should have handled it differently……”
Barkan and Bianca did care for each other, but like most siblings, they were not openly affectionate.
Yet they thought of each other more than anyone. If Bianca hadn’t been a non-ability user, people wouldn’t have even questioned whether she was loved.
“I’ll beat Daniel Rochel half to death, but maybe I should make more of a spectacle of it? That way people might stop getting strange ideas.”
At Barkan’s grave deliberation, Diena shook her head. Either way, this whole mess had happened because they hadn’t seen each other face-to-face.
“That’s actually what I wanted to propose.”
“You have a good idea?”
“I think it’s more important to show your affection for Miss Bianca in front of everyone than to beat Daniel in secret where no one sees. That would address the matter properly.”
At those words, Barkan’s brows furrowed in discomfort.
“The problem is that I can’t express my affection for her openly. You know why the rumor that I don’t care for Bianca spread in the first place.”
“Yes, I do. It happened because you avoided her out of worry that her Darkness Curse was worsening.”
“Then you must have a reason for making such a request even though you understand that?”
Diena nodded with confidence.
“If you trust me, please come to this tea party.”
Barkan looked at her in bewilderment.
“You’re asking me…to meet with Bianca?”
It wasn’t that Barkan didn’t want to meet with Bianca. But whenever he did, she would suffer terribly for days afterward. That pattern had instilled fear in him.
The thought that his presence might worsen his sister’s condition made him careful not to even watch her from afar anymore.
“Didn’t Miss Bianca try to see you not long ago because of me?”
But at Diena’s question, Barkan looked up, his expression startled.
“…Yes, she did.”
“Didn’t that strike you as odd? Normally, even a brief meeting would leave Miss Bianca bedridden for days.”
It had been exactly as she described. Realizing this, Barkan’s hands began to tremble slightly.
Though their meeting had been brief, ordinarily such a short encounter should have left Bianca in considerable pain. They had even spoken.
Yet no report had come back that Bianca had suffered greatly afterward.
“It can’t be.”
“The symptoms of her Darkness Curse have improved significantly. Of course, she isn’t fully healed yet. But going forward, brief visits with you shouldn’t cause her to suffer much at all.”
Barkan’s eyes widened.
It was almost unbelievable. He had resigned himself to giving up seeing her for life, and now his sister was improving. There was even a possibility she might recover completely.
Emotion flooded through him, making his fingertips tremble. His fists clenched, he murmured to Diena.
“This is…the power of your Ability.”
A gentle smile crossed Diena’s face.
“Yes.”
“…It’s truly remarkable. I don’t know what to say. Is it because of you that Bianca can get better?”
“No, it’s still not certain. As I said before, she isn’t fully healed. Just that brief visits with you won’t make her suffer severely anymore.”
“……”
“So perhaps you could attend the tea party and show yourself as a wonderful brother who cherishes Miss Bianca? I think she would be pleased, and it might make the other nobles take notice as well.”
After a brief hesitation, Barkan nodded. Diena was right, and more than that, it felt like the right thing to do for Bianca’s sake.
Barkan released the tight fist he’d been holding without realizing it and met Diena’s gaze.
“Thank you for helping Bianca.”
“I was only doing what needed to be done.”
Diena answered modestly, giving a slight shrug of her shoulders.
His eyes, somehow softer now, added gently:
“…If there’s anything you want, don’t hesitate to tell me. I’ll do whatever lies within my power.”
“Ah, there is actually one more thing I’d like to ask of you.”

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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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