Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 80

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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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“That’s quite something. What ability is it?”
Diena tilted her head in confusion as well.
“It looks like a combat ability… though it’s strange. House Rothwell has never had a combat ability user in all its generations.”
The man’s robe slipped away then. She caught a glimpse of black hair scattering across his shoulders.
But just before his face became visible, the mirror lost its light.
Crash!
In that same instant, it shattered into fragments. Barcan frowned.
“Why all of a sudden…? Is this going to be alright? The relic’s been destroyed.”
The Duke of Castleton had given his permission for her to take whatever she wished as compensation, and he seemed to regard Diena quite fondly, but there was no helping the unease that rose when something broke. The Duke of Castleton was a man with an unusual attachment to his treasures.
“Diena?”
Diena stared at the scattered mirror shards on the floor for a long moment before opening her mouth at Barcan’s call.
“…What should I do? I feel awful about this toward the Duke.”
She had gone rigid.
Since this was her first time using the Mirror of Blood Veins, she hadn’t known the mirror would shatter after being used just once.
‘I thought it would merely lose its power…’
But separate from that, Diena was confused. The Mirror of Blood Veins was certainly a relic that reflected bloodline. Yet she had no idea who the man she’d just seen could be.
Her uncle, Balthasar, was a man obsessed with House Rothwell’s bloodline and Abilities. So if he heard of any distant relative awakening an Ability, he would do everything in his power to bring them into the family.
And indeed, the people of House Rothwell all possessed exceptional Abilities.
‘Then he can’t be a relative. But if that’s the case, why did he appear in the relic?’
It was unthinkable that Diena wouldn’t know a person with a combat ability of that caliber.
Then, suddenly, one particular hypothesis flashed through her mind.
‘…Surely not.’
But immediately, Diena shook her head. It left only an inexplicable distaste. That couldn’t possibly be.
‘If Father were alive, he would have returned to the family without question.’
Moreover, the Ability the man had displayed was utterly different from Theodore’s. After witnessing the tender scene between Elia and Rudrick, she found her heart unsettled without understanding why. With that thought, Diena exhaled softly.
5.
Even after Rudrick awoke, Diena remained at House Castleton for several days. She needed to confirm that he wasn’t being consumed again by Cain’s Ability.
Fortunately, as time passed and Rudrick experienced no nightmares, Elia was genuinely delighted.
When she heard that Diena and Barcan had damaged the relic, she offered no reproach whatsoever. Instead, she was anxious they hadn’t taken even more.
“Diena, I heard you chose only one mirror from the storehouse. And that relic has become unusable, you say? That hardly begins to repay such a debt.”
“Truly, is there nothing else you wish for? I’d very much like to give you something. Tell me whatever you desire, and I’ll grant it if it’s within my power.”
Diena finally managed to think of something she needed at her suggestion.
“Then, could I receive some self-defense weapons?”
“Self-defense weapons?”
“I don’t know what might happen ahead.”
Elia was so pleased at those words that she ended up providing far more than was necessary. As Barcan surveyed the weapons—enough to fill several carriages—he asked with a serious expression.
“Are you planning to wage war or something? If it’s something like that, tell me beforehand. I need time to prepare myself.”
Beyond that, Elia personally moved about, pressing various items into Diena’s hands.
As a result, Diena’s belongings as she left House Castleton had become several times heavier than they’d been at first.
And Helio too made haste to depart for the Magic Tower.
“I’ve come to understand the greatness of my Sleep Magic. I’ve accomplished something remarkable, just like that fellow Malacar! Of course, since the true nature of those House Rothwell people must remain secret, this achievement cannot be spoken of to anyone yet.”
But far in the future, Sleep Magic would certainly prove invaluable in the conflict with House Rothwell.
Helio continued with a serious expression.
“Even if word of House Rothwell’s doings were spread elsewhere, no one would believe it. I understand now why you’re hurrying with the improvement of the Side Effect Suppressant. Don’t worry—if the entire Magic Tower joins forces, we can complete the development more quickly.”
Helio regarded Diena with evident satisfaction.
“And when you come to the Magic Tower, seek me out. Unlike that fellow Malacar, you’re someone I can actually talk to. Clever and capable—I think the other elders would take quite a liking to you as well.”
After he left, Diena and Barcan set out toward House Cardian.
Throughout the journey to House Cardian, Diena remained silent. The image that the Mirror of Blood Veins had shown her kept returning to her mind. Barcan, too, refrained from disturbing her as she lost herself in thought.
It was just as the two of them arrived at House Cardian. Sebar and Bianca came out to greet them.
“Diena!”
Diena blinked in surprise. Bianca had rushed toward her with an expression verging on tears.
“Bianca? What’s wrong?”
Bianca hurried over and embraced her. Diena gently patted Bianca’s back. The body pressed against hers was trembling pitifully.
“Why are you so late, Diena! I’ve been so worried. I couldn’t sleep at night wondering if you’d been kidnapped by House Rothwell or something.”
“But Barcan was with me?”
“Oh, right. I forgot about him.”
Bianca had genuinely forgotten, and as she looked toward Barcan, Sebar approached them with a furrowed brow. He ran a hand roughly through his hair with an irritated expression.
“While you were away, a message came from Balthasar Rothwell. That’s why Bianca has been so anxious, I suspect.”
The moment she heard those words, Diena’s face twisted. A message from her uncle could never mean anything good.
‘Uncle must have learned that Cain failed.’
She’d expected some reaction one way or another, since the Duke of Castleton had also refused his proposal. Sebar sighed and spoke.
“First, finish unpacking your things. I’ll explain everything in detail in the reception room.”
Diena prepared as quickly as possible and made her way to Sebar’s reception room.
She’d come to the reception room immediately after unpacking, yet Barcan had arrived before her.
“Father, please speak quickly.”
Bianca gave Barcan a warning.
“You’ll be more shocked than you expect. Prepare yourself.”
“I understand, so just tell me.”
At Barcan’s urging, Sebar handed Diena a letter.
[Diena, once your birthday passes, you’ll be seventeen years old. I’m thinking of finding a suitable fiancé for you in preparation for that time.]
Without realizing it, Diena crumpled the letter in her hand. Sebar spoke with a furrowed brow.
“He says he intends to find you a fiancé.”

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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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