Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 73

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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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“Why?”
“Shouldn’t Diena experience the greatness of Sleep Magic firsthand? And frankly, I’d rather not go with the likes of you.”
“But that’s——”
“Besides, it only makes sense for our clever Diena to enter rather than someone ordinary like yourself. Just from watching you try to persuade me, I can tell her mental fortitude is quite exceptional.”
Barcan tilted his head at the absurd turn of events. Helio’s manner toward Diena was oddly reminiscent of how Malacar treated her. His speech had grown noticeably curt from a moment ago.
“Our Diena? When did you two become so familiar? And for the record, I’ve been called a genius as well.”
Barcan frowned, displeased.
The Duke of Castleton had been the same way, and now this sorcerer too. Diena had captivated them all in a heartbeat. Turn your attention for even a moment and people swarmed to her.
Barcan reminded himself that he’d made the right choice following Diena, and met Helio’s gaze unflinchingly.
Helio folded his arms as he spoke.
“I realized it after our conversation just now. Our intellects are on the same level. And true geniuses don’t announce it like you do——it simply shows. The way it does with Diena.”
Barcan’s eyes narrowed. Helio seemed completely taken with her. He needed to change tactics.
“You’re quite right. Now that I think of it, perhaps I ought to show more humility. Would you permit me to witness your magnificent magic?”
At last, Helio’s expression softened with satisfaction.
“Ah, so you wish to experience this great sorcerer’s magic after all. An opportunity to enter another’s dream is not something one obtains easily.”
Helio declared with unmistakable pride.
“Very well! All three of you shall enter. Now, lie down.”
“As you wish.”
At Helio’s command, Barcan quickly reclined on the bedding. Diena, who had been lying there first waiting for the magic to commence, opened her eyes wide in alarm.
“What? No, I thought it was just you and me——”
Before she could finish, Helio’s magic activated. The Blue Powder he scattered began to emit light. Diena’s face twisted in dismay.
‘I didn’t agree to go with Barcan.’
But her thoughts could not continue. As the magical circle blazed with blue light, the world spun and her consciousness faded.
* * *
Barcan slowly opened his eyes.
‘Where am I?’
He frowned.
A portrait hung before him——a strikingly handsome man’s face, black hair like Diena’s, green eyes. Beside that portrait was another painting, its surface covered.
Diena stood before it.
Barcan suddenly felt a flutter of displeasure. Tears were streaming down her face in an unbroken cascade.
Diena hugged herself with thin arms, pouring out tears as though her heart would break. Whatever caused such sorrow, it was profound.
Barcan’s gaze slowly drifted toward the window.
Beyond it, winter raged——cold wind scattering snow. Yet Diena wore clothes terribly thin for such weather.
It seemed to match the image of House Rothwell that she sometimes spoke of.
‘He said he’d send us into a dream….’
This must be Diena’s dream. He’d thought they were entering Rudrick’s dream——why did he see Diena’s instead?
Then Barcan blinked slowly. He’d heard Diena murmuring softly.
“Mother… Father……”
Now that he thought about it, he realized he knew of Diena’s father, but almost nothing of her mother.
‘Theodore Rothwell brought Diena to the house one day, didn’t he.’
Her mother was not officially the Duchess of House Rothwell. Diena herself had spoken of her mother scarcely at all.
“Why am I……”
The Diena in the dream wept with such profound sorrow that Barcan found himself drawn forward without thinking.
He reached toward her, then stopped. The knowledge that this was not real held him back.
This was Diena’s memory. A terrible memory from her past, something that had happened to her. In the moment he grasped that truth, the scene shifted again.
* * *
Just before they all opened their eyes within Rudrick’s dream, Cain had already realized that an uninvited guest had entered his own.
A mirthless laugh escaped him. Diena Rothwell had invaded his space. And with Barcan Kardian, no less.
‘How did they even get into my dream?’
Along with discomfort came sharp vigilance. Was Diena about to derail his father’s plan yet again?
‘Do you think I’ll suffer what Romie did?’
He couldn’t fathom how they’d arrived, but he would not tolerate them moving about freely in his domain.
The dream was his realm. And within it, he was virtually invincible.
‘The one I need to deal with first….’
Cain never engaged the stronger opponent first. That would be stupidity incarnate.
So his target was already decided.
Diena Rothwell.
Cain unleashed his Dream Manipulation upon her——to rouse everyone from her dream instead of Rudrick’s.
“Let’s see what sort of thoughts occupy that mind of yours~”
He smiled, one corner of his mouth curling upward.
* * *
Barcan blinked. When the scene shifted, the first thing he saw was Diena’s face, radiant with laughter. Familiar faces surrounded her.
‘Who are these people?’
A youthful Cassian Volkov and Dietrich Hartmann.
Cassian gazed at Diena with flushed cheeks. Barcan felt an inexplicable displeasure as he stared at the sight.
Barcan recognized the emotion in Cassian’s gaze toward Diena.
It was the same look he’d seen countless times before——in the eyes of young noblewomen confessing their love to him.
‘Yet at the Winter Gala, Diena showed Cassian no interest whatsoever.’
Barcan watched the scene unfold, arms crossed.
“Diena, I heard your house is conducting an Ability Measurement soon?”
The Five Great Houses held Ability Measurements before the Winter Gala, unlike other nobility.
This memory was from before that Ability Measurement, from before her status as a Non-Ability User was revealed.
“Yeah, I’m a little worried.”
“Don’t worry too much. Everything will be fine. You’re the lady of House Rothwell, Lord Theodore’s daughter.”
Cassian offered a gentle smile and patted Diena’s shoulder. Dietrich nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. Diena will definitely be a top-tier Ability User. There’s no way she wouldn’t be.”
Barcan kept his jaw clenched as he watched them for a long while. Seeing Diena so intimate with them stirred something decidedly unpleasant within him.

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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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