Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 7

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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 exhaled in relief.
Malacar cast a spell to prevent the noise inside the carriage from leaking outside.
“Hush now. Just stay quiet for a moment.”
“I….”
“You don’t need to say anything. You ran away because of this, didn’t you? You’ve awakened an ability, haven’t you?”
Diana nodded carefully.
“Yes, I possess the Purification Ability—I can purify darkness.”
“The Purification Ability?”
“I can take darkness and dissolve it, or transfer it to another ability user.”
Malacar’s face went slack with shock, his mouth falling open.
“An ability like that exists….”
“Let me purify the darkness from you, and would you ask Barkan to take me with him?”
Malacar thought of Barkan and those around him, who suffered side effects from their formidable power just as he did.
If they could all be purified by her—
‘It would be an enormous help. Enough to make the Duke of Rotvel fear us.’
Of course, even if it weren’t, he had already decided to help Diana escape this place. He wasn’t so callous as to turn away from a girl in such a pitiful situation.
“I’ll ask, but….”
Whether Barkan would agree to take her was uncertain. That willful man never listened to anyone if something didn’t suit him.
Just then, a commotion erupted outside the carriage.
“Stop at once!”
Diana instinctively pulled the blanket over herself, drawing into a ball.
“The Duke of Rotvel has arrived!”
A moment later, Baltazar’s low, furious voice rang out.
“What brings someone from the Cardian Family to these parts?”
Diana held her breath and listened intently to the conversation outside.
* * *
Barkan replied in a curt tone.
“I see no reason to explain myself to you.”
Those around him held their breath at his brazen demeanor. His manner of speech was far too casual to be addressing the Duke of Rotvel.
Baltazar’s displeasure showed plainly as he spoke.
“If you won’t explain yourself, then I’m free to act as I see fit.”
Barkan stood firm without yielding an inch.
“That won’t be possible. This is a procession sanctioned by His Majesty the Emperor.”
“By His Majesty?”
“Malacar is currently inside this carriage.”
“…….”
“One of the Five Elders of the Magic Tower. His Majesty entrusted us with his protection.”
At this, Baltazar fell silent. But soon his angry voice returned.
“This is my territory. Within my lands, I have the right to inspect the carriage. Open the door at once.”
“I beg your pardon.”
Barkan’s tone was resolute.
“Even as the head of the Rotvel Family, you have no right to search a Cardian carriage. On what grounds would you search it?”
“Young Master of Cardian! How am I to trust your claim that Malacar is inside?”
“I never asked you to trust me on that.”
Silence stretched between them. After a moment, Baltazar spoke again, his voice somewhat subdued.
“You must know we have a niece in our family who hasn’t awakened an ability. She made a small error this time, and my wife administered discipline.”
“…….”
“But she refused to accept the discipline and rebelled.”
He shook his head as he continued.
“She fled from the place of discipline. I suspect she may have hidden in your carriage.”
Realizing that intimidation wouldn’t work, Baltazar was now attempting to sway Barkan.
“I’m asking you to help us recover a member of our family. If one of the Cardian Family disappeared, wouldn’t you worry as well?”
Barkan did not respond.
Baltazar sighed with obvious frustration, having grasped that Barkan would not open the carriage door.
He turned his gaze toward the carriage and called out loudly.
“Diana! Come home now! Your aunt is worried about you!”
Diana held her breath. Her face grew serious as she considered.
‘If my uncle acts like this….’
Given Barkan’s nature, she could predict his likely response.
“The world is colder than you think. Nowhere you go will welcome you as they should.”
Though it sounded like concern, Diana understood the true meaning beneath his words—a mockery: did she really think a non-ability user like her would be treated with respect anywhere?
“A family member shines brightest within the family itself. Do you really think strangers with no use for you would take you in?”
Baltazar’s voice grew progressively colder. Irritation crept in when Diana gave no response even after such words.
At that moment, Malacar shook his head gently and carefully covered Diana’s ears.
“Don’t listen. It’s all nonsense.”
He was concerned for her pain.
‘He’s taking my side.’
Diana, about to tell him she was fine, closed her mouth instead.
Even though Malacar was covering her ears, Barkan’s voice came through clearly and sharply—his anger had raised his pitch.
“That’s merely your opinion.”
The world outside fell silent.
“The young lady is not in my carriage. But even if she were, and even if she possessed no ability whatsoever—”
Barkan’s voice was calm but unwavering.
“If she asked for help, I would have given it. That’s how my parents raised me.”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“I too awakened my ability late. Yet no one ever told me I was worthless.”
“Barkan Cardian!”
Baltazar raised his voice in fury at Barkan.
But Barkan answered without sparing him a glance.
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t speak of your beliefs as though they were absolute truth.”
Diana, who had covered herself with the blanket up to her head, peeked out slightly.
‘I’m truly fortunate.’
At least she wouldn’t have to worry about being dragged back to Rotvel immediately.
‘Thank you, Uncle. Thank you for explaining so earnestly to Barkan exactly what you think of me.’
Her chest tightened and her nose stung.
It was not because she was hurt by her uncle’s words. If she had no memories of her past life, perhaps it would have been different, but now that she remembered everything, his words held no power to wound her.
The reason tears threatened to spill was that she saw the Barkan of now overlapping with the Barkan she had known before.
The way he spoke with such certainty—he was exactly the Barkan she remembered. Her uncle’s words had surely only strengthened Barkan’s resolve to take her with him.
‘That’s so like Barkan.’
Her ally, who showed such a terrible nature when dealing with the Rotvel Family.
Seeing that familiar figure again, she found it hard to hold back her tears.
* * *
The carriage jolted as it left the Duke of Rotvel’s estate. Diana gazed out the window at the roof of the mansion growing distant and released a long sigh.
Relief washed over her at having escaped, yet unease lingered still. She carefully lifted her gaze to look at Barkan, who sat across from her.
“Why did you help me? You told me to return to the family without protest.”
Barkan gazed out the window for a long moment before slowly turning his attention toward her.
“I told you—my parents raised me that way. I dislike the Rotvel Family, but you’re not at fault.”
“…….”
“And I didn’t want to do as that man Baltazar wished.”
It was a deceptively simple answer. Yet Diana clenched her hands tightly. She understood how significant his words truly were.
‘To think he would help me, even though I’m of the Rotvel Family….’
Every ability user suffered the side effects of Darkness throughout their lives, requiring Suppressants to manage them.
The Rotvel Family controlled the supply of Suppressants and was using it to pressure the Cardian Family.

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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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