Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 54

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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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In her past life, she’d said things like that often enough. After all, she was the sort of person who saw Bianca—breathtakingly beautiful as she was—and found her highest compliment in “she dresses like a human being.”
But then, from Barcan’s lips, came an answer Diena had never imagined.
“She does.”
“…What?”
“Beautiful.”
Bianca cried out, triumphant.
“See? Even you have to admit it! Anyone with eyes would agree.”
Diena tilted her head, bewildered.
She stared at Barcan directly, but he simply turned away and gazed out the window, offering nothing more.
He seemed entirely indifferent to her.
So perhaps—
‘It was just something he said. Maybe he was even teasing.’
That was Barcan’s nature, after all. Yet his uncharacteristic composure bothered her. His mood seemed somehow subdued.
Diena exhaled softly, dismissing the thought. There was no need to read meaning into the actions of someone like Barcan, who likely meant nothing by it.
As silence settled over them, Bianca’s eyes flicked uncertainly between the two.
‘Something’s off about him.’
It was the intuition of someone who had shared Barcan’s tastes since childhood. Whatever Bianca found beautiful, he found beautiful too. Their palates were alike, and they had always wanted the same things.
And—
‘I like Diena.’
So perhaps Barcan was drawn to Diena as well. The thought struck Bianca so forcefully that she clapped a hand over her own mouth.
‘Could it be? Really?’
Her eyes swept across Barcan quickly. But he was pointedly avoiding looking at Diena—which meant he seemed entirely unaware of whatever his own heart held.
She had no intention of meddling in whatever lay between Diena and Barcan. It wasn’t her place—
‘I’m completely on Diena’s side!’
If a man didn’t even understand his own heart, he had no right to be Diena’s match.
How pathetic. How utterly pathetic.
Bianca clicked her tongue in disapproval. Then her eyes met Barcan’s. She caught him frowning deeply, his expression souring.
A look wholly different from the one he wore when gazing at Diena.
‘What if some strange man falls for Diena at the Winter Gathering and tries something foolish?’
That thought hardened Bianca’s mouth.
‘I’m actually starting to worry.’
All five of the Great Houses would be present. Most of them were people Diena had known before.
Particularly Cassian of House Bolkoff.
Among the people of House Cardian, Bianca attended social gatherings most often and kept best informed of high society’s doings.
She’d learned only recently that Cassian and Diena had once cared for each other.
She hadn’t sought out that knowledge—it had come to her when the young ladies learned Barcan wasn’t averse to Bianca and began competing to befriend her, sending letters that she’d read through one afternoon.
‘What if Diena gets hurt?’
She’d be lying if she said the worry didn’t gnaw at her, but there was something else too—a quiet joy at the prospect of attending the Winter Gathering alongside Diena.
‘Once I’m at the Winter Gathering, everyone will learn that I’m an Ability User.’
When that happened, all the people who’d looked down on her would reverse their stance in an instant.
She didn’t care what they thought of her, but she wanted to show Diena—wanted her to see Bianca succeed brilliantly at the Winter Gathering.
And…
‘If anyone dares to wound Diena, I’ll protect her from now on.’
Her obtuse brother wasn’t going to step up, so she would have to. With that resolve, Bianca’s cheeks flushed.
* * *
“Diena, I’ll take my Ability measurement and then stay right beside you.”
Inside the carriage bound for the Winter Gathering Hall, Bianca regarded Diena with worried eyes.
Sevar, Barcan, and Bianca each had roles to play at the gathering. The House head Sevar had to remain with the other Great House heads, and Barcan, as heir, had to stay among the heirs of the other houses.
Malacar also needed to meet with personnel from the Magic Tower, which meant Diena would be left alone for long stretches.
“You didn’t really have to come with me, you know.”
“No. I’m House Cardian’s dedicated healer now. I know your body still hasn’t fully recovered—I can’t skip this.”
Until now, Bianca had only welcomed Diena’s attendance, but once they arrived at the gathering, the thought of facing the Duke of Rothwell unsettled her. So when Diena made that comment, she raised her voice slightly in response.
Knowing what schemes the Duke of Rothwell might attempt that day, she’d resolved to be there from the start.
At last, Bianca spoke with grim determination.
“If anyone gives you strange trouble, you tell me right away, understand? I won’t be able to leave during the Ability measurements, but at least I’ll know to come find you. Your brother can too.”
She clenched her fist firmly.
Diena tilted her head, confused.
“But Barcan has to stay with the other heirs of the Great Houses, doesn’t he?”
“It’s fine. He never properly keeps to those things anyway, right?”
Bianca directed the question at Barcan, who sat across from them.
Barcan nodded with equal solemnity. Even without hearing this, he’d already planned to keep close watch over Diena’s surroundings.
“Obvious enough.”
Diena let out a small laugh.
“All right. I’ll come tell you if anything happens.”
Diena gazed out the window.
Before long, a throng of people came into view, and among them, the processions of countless nobles.
This was an event held once a year exclusively for Ability Users. The crowds were always thick, but this year seemed especially so.
Diena could never forget how much she’d envied Romie and Cain whenever they spoke of attending the Winter Gathering. She would sit perched in the high tower window of the Rothwell Residence, watching their carriage depart for that far-away celebration.
Even after she’d awakened to her Ability, Diena had never been able to attend the Winter Gathering.
Because outwardly, she’d remained a Non-Ability User.
‘My power had to be used as though it were Romie’s.’
Her uncle had publicly presented Diena’s purification ability as Romie’s own. Together with her naturally awakened healing power, it had allowed Romie to reign as a saint.
‘Some of the Five Great Houses will be among those people, I’m sure.’
This was the first time she’d see them since leaving the Rothwell household.
Just then, a carriage came into view. It bore the unmistakable emblem of House Bolkoff—a roaring lion carved sharply into its side.
Diena’s expression grew cold.
‘Cassian will be in that carriage.’
Cassian was the young lord of House Bolkoff and had been Diena’s childhood friend.

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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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