If You Are Suited for the Villain's Secretary - Chapter 78

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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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If the Villain’s Secretary Suits Me
Chapter 78
In most cases, such ceremonies were held no earlier than the child’s first birthday, no matter how eager the parents were.
After all, there was always the risk that something could go wrong with the infant.
But for Kaileb Crimson, at least, such risks were irrelevant.
‘Finally, the day I dispose of that wretch Basil.’
Kaileb Crimson had only one expectation of Basil.
That after designating the unborn minor count as his heir, Basil would die as soon as possible.
Only then would the minor count in Odette’s womb inherit the title—the birth of a count who was half ‘Crimson’.
No matter how precocious the child, he could hardly manage the family business from birth, so naturally, Odette, the count’s only blood relative, and I, her maternal grandfather, would seize power.
But there was a slight problem.
‘Is it truly fitting to fill the remaining half with the blood of such a timid, incompetent wretch as Basil?’
Just as the minor count would inherit everything of Plebiae if his father died.
Should the posthumous child himself die, wouldn’t Odette, the count’s only blood relative—no, the only heir—inherit everything of House Plebiae?
‘The very reason I couldn’t dispose of Basil sooner. The Empire’s peerage laws are bound by that damned ‘blood’.’
Marriage alone was insufficient.
When a titled husband dies, his wife has no claim to succession.
She remains merely a phantom of the house, bearing only the hollow title of ‘lady’.
Just as Countess Noel, despite her visceral hatred of the illegitimate Victor Noel, could never inherit the house herself.
But if she became the count’s mother without other family members, the succession condition would be satisfied.
That was why. Why I had waited for this day alone.
And why, once designated as heir, it mattered not what became of the child.
“But I should make preparations nonetheless.”
Kaileb Crimson had secretly acquired not only the Magic Tower but also a hospital.
So that whether the child fell ill, suffered misfortune, or was ‘disposed of’, no word would leak out.
After that, he intended to provide his daughter with a proper man, unlike Basil.
For Odette, who would be beautiful and hold the title of countess in her hands, and a man worthy of the ‘Crimson’ blood that would endure for generations—yet one who would not be stubborn like Basil, but would readily bow his head before money.
“Hah….”
To swallow Plebiae without Plebiae itself.
Ah, what a perfect plan this was.
“Hah, hahaha!”
Kaileb Crimson, brimming with exhilaration, opened his pocket watch.
Inside was a portrait of my daughter. My beloved daughter. Soon to be a countess, my precious daughter.
“Hello, my princess.”
Kaileb Crimson loved Odette. At least, that was what he believed.
How could it not be love to bestow upon the child who resembled me most the glory I desired above all?
Besides, she was useful. Beautiful and innocent, perfect to display on the market.
Had I shared my plans with Odette, things might have been easier, but I did not.
I had raised her to believe that ignorance and obedience to my hand was happiness, and I intended to keep it that way.
“My daughter, all the more lovely for her foolishness.”
And I must know nothing… so that when my husband dies at tonight’s banquet, I can show a convincing reaction.
That way, I can prevent the gossips from saying I stole my son-in-law’s title, didn’t I? It was the same reason I drew La Mar into this affair.
Besides, no matter how loveless a marriage may be, it’s only natural to be shocked and terrified when someone coughs up blood and dies before your eyes.
Then I need only comfort my frightened daughter and make her depend on me.
The same way I’ve been training Odette Crimson since her mother’s death.
‘Well, if I inherit while I’m at it, things will be easier. After all, Basil will die only after I’ve designated an heir.’
Kaileb Crimson whispered this terrible thought as though it were nothing at all.
“It’s cute how you’re acting like a girl going through a belated adolescence just because you caught a glimpse of the world beyond the Crimson Mansion’s walls… but let’s save that for today only, shall we, my princess?”
She refuses to dismiss the maids I assigned to her, talks back to me.
I cannot allow the rose I cultivated to develop a will of her own. Otherwise, when I become a count, she won’t move as I wish.
Odette Crimson—a masterpiece I’ve painstakingly created and the most valuable commodity of the Merchant Guild Crimson.
A commodity has no need for thoughts.
Kaileb Crimson smiled and gazed leisurely out of the carriage. The sunlight was blinding.
“A fine day indeed.”
Click.
As Kaileb Crimson closed his pocket watch, he heard the signal.
-Chairman, we’ve received contact from that man Aden’s secretary.
Kaileb Crimson’s lips curled upward in a sneer.
-He wants to exchange documents and an antidote, and suggests meeting near La Mar’s Branch 11.
My choice to extract information through the secretary was indeed the right one.
Though there were some minor complications along the way.
Moreover, the effort I’ve put into continuously pressuring the Investigation Bureau through Marquis Vito has borne fruit.
‘That fool Aden was finally arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau last night.’
It was well-known that Crimson and La Mar were rivals. Not that I particularly wanted to admit it.
But Kaileb Crimson decided to exploit that fact.
The scenario was this: Aden, caught trying to assassinate Marquis Vito, an ally of Crimson, made one last desperate move through his subordinate to harm me—but my son-in-law drank the poison instead. The fake import records and ledgers containing evidence that the poison came from La Mar were already forged.
All evidence that the poison was manufactured at Magic Tower Siphron, which I had acquired, was destroyed.
Moreover, this poison’s magical properties dissipate over time, so even if they examined the corpse, there would be no evidence it was a magical poison.
They would think it was merely ordinary delphinic poison. Unless they obtained the original solution or the liquor the attendant had drunk.
But Marquis Vito held the liquor, and I had hidden the magical poison’s original formula well.
‘In the first place, unless they were a mage belonging to Siphron, they wouldn’t even suspect it was a poison using magical power. Of course, there were other ways to kill Basil with ordinary deadly poison, but then I’d lose the opportunity to showcase Siphron’s capabilities.’
Kaileb Crimson was a businessman.
A poison that takes effect at a predetermined time? Any nobleman with rivals would covet such a tool.
So the banquet was also a kind of showcase.
‘But gold and titles aren’t my only objective.’
His enemy Aden was a cunning man, and Kaileb Crimson wanted to see him fall to pieces in despair.
So besides the ‘Black Label documents’ that could give me leverage over Aden, I prepared another leash.
“No. Let’s meet in Plebiae County instead.”
-Ah, you mean at the county where the banquet is being held, sir?
Ah, you mean at the earl’s territory where the banquet is being held?
“Right. Bring me the documents as soon as you get them. I need to see with my own eyes what secrets Aden is hiding.”
-Understood, sir. Then the secretary…
There was someone perfectly suited to be used by Aden’s orders—to poison the food and then be discarded.
“She’s a dead woman walking anyway, so I might as well use her efficiently. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
-Yes, sir. Then I’ll take her to the area near Plebiae County along with the documents.
“Good. We can say she was caught trying to poison and escape.
Iliana Grecia.
Aden’s secretary, who will be found dead with the forged La Mare documents in hand.
‘If Jeremy Sand hadn’t been exposed, that would have been his role… but I prefer this arrangement.’
When I hear that woman is dead, I’ll get to see Aden’s wax-like expression shatter into pieces.
‘I’d really like to see that face in person.’
Kaileb Crimson thought idly.
People say death is transient, but Kaileb saw it differently.
Depending on how one manipulates circumstances, it could be made so remarkably useful.
Just as Iliana Grecia was, just as Basil Plebiae was, and just as the previous Count and Countess Plebiae had been.
Kaileb ended the transmission with a smirk and gazed out the window. He murmured to himself.
“What a beautiful day…”
Kaileb failed to notice that someone in the distance was watching a carriage depart and raising a communication device.
“Yes, Director. That greedy, depraved bastard has departed.”
-….
“Yes sir, Kaileb Crimson. …Ah, you understood perfectly well. Yes, I’m heading out now. See you soon!”
It was Luther.
After adjusting his hat and ending the transmission, he took off running like the wind.

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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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