Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 84

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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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“When did I ever say I wanted to get close with you?”
“You said that even though non-ability users make Side Effect Suppressants, those people are truly remarkable—far superior to a mediocre intermediate Ability User like you. Those were your exact words.”
Diena reminded her of a conversation they’d shared at the winter gathering. It was a memory Romie could never forget, and her face flushed crimson.
“The truth is, I’ve been raking in money lately. More and more Ability Users are seeking Side Effect Suppressants from the Magic Tower than from the Temple.”
……
“And now, suddenly needing you, suddenly wanting us to be family—it can’t be helped. It’s because I’ve been doing so well, after all.”
Romie, indignant at first, did not back down and opened her mouth to respond.
“Didn’t House Rothwell play a huge role in you becoming so successful? So shouldn’t you be repaying that debt now?”
“Ah, now that you mention it, I remember the day I left House Rothwell.”
Diena’s sudden words brought confusion to Romie’s face. Diena smiled slightly and spoke.
“That day, Romie, you were wearing a dress with such a beautiful red ribbon on it.”
Romie’s lips trembled. Even now, thinking of that day made heat rush to her ears.
“I was wearing a worn-out one-piece. All the elders of the Five Major Houses witnessed the whole thing, so they all knew exactly what position I held in your family.”
“That, that’s……”
Romie lost her words for a moment. She forced her eyes wide open and spoke.
“I didn’t come here to trade these childish jabs with you.”
“No, that’s wrong too, Romie.”
“What’s wrong about it?”
“Calling it a childish jab. I’m simply stating facts.”
Romie’s lips hardened. Diena was right—she had merely listed facts. Those facts simply turned Romie’s insides upside down.
Diena smiled and spoke.
“Well, but I admit my nature is petty. That’s why I don’t think I can be close with you again. As you can see, I hold grudges for quite a long time.”
Diena left Romie sitting there in stunned silence and turned to look at Barcan and Bianca.
“Let’s go now.”
The two, who had been smiling contentedly, nodded their heads. And it was just as they were about to leave.
“Diena.”
Cassian, who had been silent all along, rose to his feet. His mouth opened.
“Take my betrothal to you seriously.”
At his sudden words, Diena’s steps halted.
“I know you’re angry. I know why you’re like this now.”
……
“But the situation was what it was then, and it couldn’t be helped. I just want you to understand that.”
Diena frowned and turned back to look at him. And her eyes met Cassian’s crimson gaze.
He did not avoid her stare. His bearing was confident, as though the bad memories of childhood could be erased in an instant.
‘It wasn’t mere baseless confidence, though.’
He was a strikingly beautiful person.
As an Ability User, he spent his days traversing battlefields under the blazing sun, yet his skin maintained an otherworldly pallor. That translucent complexion was in sharp contrast to his jet-black hair.
His eyes, gazing down at her with a slow, deliberate droop, possessed a haunting beauty. His appearance was so perfect that even “handsome” seemed insufficient.
Diena frowned and opened her mouth.
“Cassian. What is this?”
With a figure as perfect as a painting, Cassian answered.
“I have never, not once, forgotten you.”
* * *
Upon leaving the Reception Room, Diena hurried to her own chambers, saying she had urgent matters to attend to.
Outside Diena’s door, Bianca was engaged in a silent scream.
“She, she went to her room to think because she’s distressed, right? Because she has so many things on her mind?”
Her hands trembled. Bianca was on the verge of tears. Cassian’s final words kept replaying in her mind.
“Damn it all!”
The thing was—he was far too handsome.
Irritatingly so.
One would think that even a grave transgression might deserve forgiveness, coming from a face like that.
That the words he spoke in such a face were calculated smoothness was clearly the work of a master. Perhaps several times more masterful than Ardin. Bianca turned sharply to the side.
“What, what do we do…… Brother! Really, what should we do? Is there no way?”
She gripped the hand of Barcan standing beside her tightly. In her panic, she lost control of her strength—the grip was quite forceful.
“Calm yourself, Bianca.”
“Does it look like I can calm down? Look at what he said—I’ve never, not once, forgotten you? Something that smarmy, Diena wouldn’t fall for that, would she? It’s all just pretty words!”
She was so flustered that her words barely came out properly.
“He’s the one who turned away from her in a difficult time. If he truly cherished her, he shouldn’t have done that.”
Bianca knew more than anyone how painful such a situation was. As emotion welled up inside her, her face contorted.
“I went to a Tea Party not long ago and heard rumors about that Cassian fellow.”
The moment Bianca heard that House Rothwell was arranging Diena’s betrothal, she began attending Tea Parties regularly.
It was the place where the high society’s secrets and rumors flowed most freely and unfiltered. In her own way, she was checking public opinion.
“They said Young Lady Diena was absolutely crazy about him in her childhood.”
“They said Young Lady Diena was the only one pursuing an unrequited love?”
“According to Young Lady Romie, that’s the case—but in my opinion, it wasn’t one-sided.”
“But as soon as it was revealed that he was a non-ability user, he began distancing himself.”
“Well, though it’s only natural, it is tragic for Young Lady Diena.”
Hearing that, she felt even more strongly that this betrothal had to be stopped.
“He’s telling me to forcibly betroth myself to Daniel Roshe instead. It’ll be absolutely dreadful!”
Barcan furrowed his brows but did not answer.
“What if Diena’s resolve weakens and she agrees to a betrothal with that bastard?”
“That won’t happen.”
“Can you be sure of that?”
“If it does come to that, I’ll dispose of Cassian before it does.”
At Barcan’s confident words, Bianca felt slightly more at ease. But her face quickly contorted again.
“But, but what if Diena takes a liking to that bastard? Not that such a thing would happen, of course!”
“That is……”
This time Barcan could not answer and closed his mouth. Of course, he believed Diena would never do such a thing. She was not soft enough to forgive someone who had turned away from her.
But however slight the possibility, it did exist, and so he too could not help but feel uneasy.
Bianca clutched her hair as though the very thought was unbearable.
“Come to think of it, that’s not even the real problem. After all, Diena could become betrothed to someone else right now, not necessarily to him! …… You’re not just going to stand by and watch that happen, are you?”

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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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