Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 83

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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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‘Well, of course. What did I expect from someone like you?’
Balthasar immediately summoned his power.
Darkness Amplification. The black mist visible only to his eyes clung to Diena’s hand.
But Diena didn’t so much as blink, nor did she move. In that briefest instant, she caught the flicker of contempt that crossed Balthasar’s face.
The moment he withdrew his hand, his interest in Diena evaporated. The warm smile on his face shifted in an instant to something businesslike and cold.
“This is Cassian. I’ve brought him along to introduce as Diena’s betrothed.”
At Balthasar’s introduction, Cassian—who had been standing silent until now—gave a small nod.
Sebar glanced sidelong at Diena. Barcan, his face unreadable, fixed Cassian with an intense stare.
Balthasar turned to Sebar.
“Let’s have a word between ourselves, shall we? Give the young people some time together.”
Sebar’s brow furrowed. With an expression of obvious displeasure, he barely managed to open his mouth.
“Fine. Come on.”
And with that, he departed alongside Balthasar, his frown deepening with each step.
* * *
Once the two men had completely left the room, Diena’s lips twisted into a bitter smile.
‘Uncle to the core, isn’t he?’
Diena had known the instant she grasped his hand that he’d activated Darkness Amplification.
If she had been an Ability User, she would have felt excruciating pain immediately. If she were a Non-Ability User, she wouldn’t have suffered any immediate effects, yet something would still have been amiss.
For all his apologies, he didn’t care in the slightest what damage she might sustain. As long as he achieved his purpose.
‘And his purpose was to confirm whether I’m an Ability User or not.’
The moment Balthasar used his power, Diena purified it entirely. Balthasar, oblivious to this, would surely be convinced that Diena was a Non-Ability User.
Diena felt laughter bubbling up inside her.
Just as she’d expected, her uncle had come specifically to verify her Ability himself. And the instant he became certain she had none, his expression shifted to complete indifference.
‘The way he changes so abruptly—that’s so very him.’
From Diena’s perspective, it was fortunate. He wouldn’t covet her power or try to force her back into the family fold.
Diena observed the two people seated before her. A faint smile played at Romie’s lips.
Balthasar’s actions must have been prearranged with Romie. In other words, she too would have caught on to the fact that Diena was not an Ability User.
‘And now that she knows, she seems delighted.’
As for Cassian….
‘He looks rather unbothered by it all.’
In the drawing room, now that Balthasar and Sebar had departed, no conversation flowed. Romie broke the awkward silence first.
She smiled at Diena with evident warmth.
“It’s been so long, Barcan, Bianca. And Diena—I really have missed you.”
It was a face familiar to Diena. When Romie wore such an expression, she was performing. Clearly, with Bianca and Barcan present, she had no intention of showing her true self.
Romie was a born actress. It was no accident that the campaign to make her a saint had succeeded.
Had Diena not possessed her previous life’s memories, she might truly have been deceived—might have believed that Romie genuinely wanted to see her.
“Congratulations on the Side Effect Suppressant from the Magic Tower becoming so popular lately. Your master Malacar’s standing has risen accordingly. Having found such a fine mentor has been good fortune for you, hasn’t it?”
“…….”
“But I must confess, I’m a bit hurt. How could you not reach out once? It was news worth celebrating—we should have shared the joy together as family.”
With an expression of regret, Romie bowed her head deeply.
Barcan and Bianca stirred as if they might speak up at any moment, but they held back. Diena had asked them to do so, anticipating that Romie would approach things this way.
“When House Rothwell arrives, I’d like you to give me some time.”
“You want to talk?”
“Yes. I have things I want to say to Romie.”
“What sort of things?”
“I want to boast a bit—that I’ve earned a lot of money now and I’m doing well. Is that too childish?”
It was Bianca who answered.
“Not at all—I love that kind of thing!”
Barcan, though he said nothing, conveyed his agreement with his characteristic wicked smile.
“I thought you’d both like it. I do too, honestly. We really do get along, don’t we?”
Romie had taken everyone around Diena away from her. She’d often blamed Diena for her own misdeeds. And every time, Diena’s old friends had sided with Romie.
Dietrich had even mocked Diena outright.
“I heard you deliberately spilled tea on Romie’s skirt this morning? No matter what, you should know your place. You’re not in a position to mistreat Romie anymore, are you?”
Cassian had answered with silence.
Perhaps because of that.
Diena had made it a habit never to respond when Romie said anything to her. Silence seemed to invite less criticism than speaking ever could.
It had been hard to bear the condemnation from her old friends. It was her own way of trying not to drift further from them.
Diena recalled the words Romie had once boasted to her.
“The fact that all your friends have come to like me—isn’t that inevitable?”
“People are like that. When they’re no longer useful, it’s only natural to discard them.”
She had spoken thus once, almost as if offering counsel.
“Cassian told me—every time you open your mouth, he loses affection for you. He said it’s unbearable to watch you answer back whenever he speaks.”
Even though it had all come to nothing, the memory crashed over her now, and her heart raced. It wasn’t hurt she felt anymore. It was frustration at her past self—at how the shock had been so overwhelming that she couldn’t respond, could only listen.
‘Sweet potato. A real sweet potato. Roasted sweet potato.’
She had regretted it countless times, right up until her dying breath—why had she been like that?
And only later did she realize that Romie had never actually heard those words from Cassian himself. Because despite her dislike of him, she had always known he wasn’t the sort to say such things.
It must have been something Romie fabricated to anger her—to drive a wedge between her and Cassian.
‘She really must have hated how close I was getting to Cassian.’
But now, in this life, it was Diena who was diligently driving that wedge. She was more than willing to do things she disliked if it meant upsetting Romie.
She opened her mouth slowly.
“So. Is that why you want to be close to me now?”
“What?”
“I understand your desire to be friendly now. You do prefer exceptional people, after all.”

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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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