Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 29

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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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Diana suddenly seemed to remember something and opened her mouth. She carefully produced a notebook from her breast.
“What is this?”
“These are the items Miss Bianca will need for the tea party she’s hosting.”
The notebook Diana offered was filled with a list of unfamiliar items.
“I’ll need them within a week. Please make sure to procure everything.”
Varcan, having read through the entire list, responded with visible bewilderment.
“I meant you should tell me if there’s anything you want.”
“Hmm…? Oh, I don’t have anything personal I need yet. Just focus on preparing these for now.”
“Hasen.”
Varcan shook his head as though resigned and handed the notebook to Hasen. As soon as Hasen examined the contents, his face clouded with difficulty.
“These items will take considerable time to obtain. They’re the most fashionable things in the Capital right now, but… it’s quite possible there’s no stock available.”
“If that’s the case, perhaps you should reconsider whether the payment is sufficient.”
Diana responded firmly to Hasen’s hesitant words.
“That’s true enough. I’ll spare no expense and bring everything as quickly as possible.”
Having finished what she came to say, Diana looked at Varcan. She wondered what he might say.
But even as the moments stretched on, Varcan’s mouth showed no sign of opening. Finally, unable to wait any longer, Diana spoke first.
“Varcan?”
“…Yes?”
“Is there something else you wished to say? I’ve stated my business, but you haven’t explained why you called for me.”
Varcan hesitated for a moment. His gaze drifted toward the ornate gift box placed beside him.
He’d prepared a gift on Hasen’s advice, certainly, but saying it aloud as a present felt awkward. And truly, wasn’t a gift meant to carry something more than mere material goods?
How could money given directly be considered a heartfelt present? He enjoyed coin well enough, but even he couldn’t quite call it a gift by any definition.
But the deed was already done.
Under Diana’s persistent gaze, Varcan finally opened his mouth.
“I heard it was your birthday.”
“Yes, it was.”
“I’d originally planned to prepare a cake. But Bianca said she was already doing that.”
……
“Look, there’s no special reason behind it. I simply provided for you because we’re in a contract relationship. An employer ought to ensure his employees are well cared for, after all.”
Varcan’s words kept lengthening. Recognizing this, he exhaled and gestured to his side.
“Take it.”
“What is this?”
“Money.”
It was a box brimming with gold coins—Diana’s birthday gift, which Varcan had deliberated over for quite some time before preparing.
“…Why are you giving this to me? For curing Miss Bianca?”
“How would I have known that in advance? I prepared this beforehand.”
Varcan spoke slowly.
“…Ahem. Happy birthday.”
“Oh…”
Diana stared blankly at the box he indicated. Varcan thought to himself that it was a disaster. Seeing her expression, it seemed Hasen’s judgment had been wrong after all.
“It’s not quite right, is it?”
Even as he asked, he was taken aback.
Diana approached slowly and ran her hand over the money box, then looked at him with eyes glistening with tears.
She appeared profoundly moved.
It was the most emotional expression Varcan had ever seen from Diana. Confronted with this unexpected side of the usually composed woman, Varcan was thrown into confusion.
Diana, meeting his eyes, replied.
“Thank you, Varcan. I love gifts like this.”
“Oh… really?”
“Yes, I’ve actually received something like this before.”
“…That’s curious. I never thought anyone else would have the same idea as me.”
Hearing his words, Diana could not suppress her laughter.
‘Who else but Varcan would give such a gift.’
In her past life, it was a gift she’d received from Varcan and the Cardian Mercenary Group. The wrapping was even identical, and she nearly broke into tears on the spot.
‘They said they wanted to give me the most precious thing they had.’
The mercenary group Varcan led back then had been poor.
Despite their considerable skill, they were always forced to exercise caution due to the danger of pursuit by Duke Rotwell. Since nobles were always involved in anything that paid well, they had no choice but to remain short on funds.
Yet even in such circumstances, Varcan had never once allowed Diana to feel the lack of anything.
In fact, he’d even given her a purse of money on her birthday, claiming it was Hasen’s idea.
And back then, too, Varcan had been embarrassed as he said this.
“It’s the most precious thing we have right now. That’s what a gift is supposed to be.”
The only difference was that the box Varcan now offered was far larger than that purse had been. But their blunt, straightforward way—unchanged from then—touched her heart deeply.
“I was deeply moved then as well.”
At that, Varcan’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t be moved by such things. If you remain in our household, you’ll receive far more. I can give you more than that fool ever did.”
Hasen turned to Varcan with a startled look.
“Sir? You never mentioned that.”
Varcan answered without concern.
“I’m saying it now.”
Then, avoiding Hasen’s gaze, he simply rose from his seat.
“So you’re taking it?”
“Yes.”
The moment Diana answered, he lifted the box from the floor. It looked undeniably heavy, yet Varcan handled it as though it weighed no more than a feather.
Diana gave him a puzzled look.
“Varcan?”
“How would you manage to carry this? It’s packed full of gold coins. Your thin arms couldn’t lift it at all.”
“Oh…”
Diana was an Esper, and despite the weakness to her stamina from her ability’s side effects, her physical strength was actually quite considerable.
But she saw no reason to mention this fact and interrupt his mood. Varcan seemed to be in excellent spirits. He spoke with a satisfied smile.
“Delivering it to your room is part of the gift.”
* * *
The tea party grounds, set against a serene lake, resembled a watercolor painting. Esina narrowed her eyes as she fixed her gaze on Bianca.
Before attending the party Bianca was hosting, Esina had come full of expectation. She’d planned to thoroughly mock Bianca for her usual rustic ways.
But there was nothing to find fault with. Esina’s eyes narrowed to slits as she fixed her stare on the teacup Bianca held.
‘That teacup—when I looked for it, they said it was sold out and wouldn’t sell it to me.’
It had happened just days ago. This teacup hadn’t been here when she’d last visited the Mansion, so Bianca must have purchased it specifically for this tea party.
What Bianca had obtained, she herself had failed to procure.
‘Just how much money did she throw away?’
Esina slowly turned her gaze away, her expression growing darker.

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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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