Isn’t Being A Wicked Woman Much Better? - Chapter 186

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Side Story 3
* * *
“Sister, what is this?”
Enrique, who had been sitting beside me perusing a picture book, scurried over and asked. Once he had obsessively consumed only books that aided his studies, but recently he had begun to leaf through picture books that children his age might enjoy.
I tilted my head, observing the large circle his tiny finger pointed toward.
“What could it be? I’ve never seen it before either.”
“You don’t know something, Sister?”
“Of course I do. And here’s a secret—there’s nothing particularly advantageous about letting people know you’re knowledgeable.”
“Why?”
“Because people start treating you like a walking encyclopedia, which becomes tedious. Especially if you have an approachable demeanor. If you ever want to display your knowledge, always charge for a lecture. Never give it away for free. Understood?”
Our youngest, unusually kind and endearing for a Simour, was constantly receiving invaluable life lessons from me.
‘Early education is important, after all.’
Enrique blinked his large eyes, seemingly not fully grasping my meaning, and I gently stroked his soft hair while examining the picture book more closely.
“Now, let’s deduce together what circle has captured Enrique’s curiosity….”
The book depicted customs of the Empire, and judging from the table of contents and surrounding illustrations, it appeared to showcase food consumed by commoners.
“Ah! This is a crêpe.”
It bore no resemblance to the crêpes the nobility enjoyed, which is why I hadn’t recognized it at first. It seemed the commoners here prepared crêpes as large and round as possible during the new year, then gathered as families to share them.
“A crêpe?”
“Yes, a grand crêpe. They gather around it like this and eat it together on New Year’s.”
“Ah, I see.”
Enrique, his curiosity satisfied, returned his attention to the picture book, and I reclined against the sofa to meditate.
My recent withdrawal from High Society and confinement to the house served another purpose—to restore my body. During the battle with the Demon, I had exhausted my sacred power all at once by channeling strength beyond my limits, draining what had been brimming like seawater until it became as barren as a desert.
‘The recovery is frustratingly slow.’
Still, my strength was returning gradually, like water filling a bathtub, so there was no need to rush….
As I calmed my mind and quietly assessed my condition, Enrique’s Governess arrived at the Annex Building. Judging by Enrique’s lack of complaint, he seemed to be getting along well with his new governess.
“What brings you here?”
“It is time for the young master’s tutoring session.”
“Tutoring?”
“Yes, he requested it himself. Sword training lessons.”
Enrique interjected.
“Why did you suddenly want to learn swordplay?”
“I want to become strong. Stronger than the Sword Mage Duke. I want to protect the Empire with you later too!”
Enrique declared this with sparkling eyes.
“That’s good. Regular exercise is beneficial.”
“And I’ll grow taller too.”
“Then you’ll need to eat more than you do now. No picky eating.”
“Okay! I’ll eat fish and carrots well.”
As Enrique clutched the picture book and rose from his seat, the governess suddenly seemed to remember something and opened her mouth.
“Oh, the Duke was wondering what food the young master would like to have at dinner.”
“I want to eat a grand crêpe.”
Enrique opened the book and pointed at the illustration with determination, and concern flickered across the Nanny’s eyes.
“Well, that’s primarily food consumed by commoners, so….”
“So what? If our Enrique wants to eat it, then he should eat it.”
Though I hadn’t meant to sound angry, the Nanny must have heard about the predecessor who had vanished without a trace, because she hastily agreed with me.
“Y-yes, of course, Miss Deborah!”
“We’ll have it at tomorrow’s formal dinner, Enrique.”
“Yes, Sister!”
Seeing Enrique’s cheeks flushed with excitement, a pleased smile naturally bloomed across my own face.
‘And… Isidore is coming to our house tomorrow.’
The prospect of spending the entire New Year with my fiancé, who had been frantically busy until now, made my spirits soar even higher.
Just thinking of his face made me happy. I was truly afflicted.
* * *
“Lord Rozard.”
“What is it?”
“Duke Simour is planning to host a formal dinner this evening. You won’t be attending, will you?”
Rozard, who had been rifling through a desk piled high with invitations, responded to his aide’s question with indifference.
“A dinner all of a sudden? What’s the occasion?”
“It appears Duke Visconti is visiting to pay his New Year’s respects, so the Duke arranged a gathering.”
“New Year’s respects, is it. How quickly he’s eager to play the role of son-in-law after just getting engaged.”
He carelessly set down the letter in his hand and clicked his tongue.
“Hmm. At this rate, they’ll be holding the wedding ceremony any day now.”
Deborah was of marriageable age, so it wouldn’t be strange to set a wedding date immediately.
“Ah.”
Rozard suddenly snapped his fingers as if he’d realized something.
“That fellow intends to finalize the wedding date with Father today. New Year’s respects—a convenient excuse.”
“It will be a wedding for the ages. Simour and Visconti, the Holy Maiden and the Demon Swordmaster….”
A marriage of this magnitude would be etched into the Empire’s history. I couldn’t even imagine what sort of remarkable and great second generation would be born from it.
“Hmm. If I were Isidore’s age, I’d want to enjoy myself a bit more.”
There were so many women in the world. Rozard, who had no desire whatsoever to be bound to anyone, thought this way.
“Duke Visconti is renowned for his clean private life and ascetic nature.”
“…So if Isidore is clean, that makes me dirty?”
“N-no! That’s not what I meant at all. I simply meant that in terms of private conduct, he’s a perfect match for Miss Deborah Simour, the very embodiment of a Holy Maiden. Ha, ha.”
“So as the Holy Maiden’s brother in terms of private conduct, I’m disqualified?”
As he continued to jab at his aide, the man’s face went pale.
“But Lord Rozard is the most popular and respected person in the Empire these days!”
After Isidore became officially off the market, Rozard had rapidly risen to become Asteia’s most eligible bachelor. The noblewomen preferred Rozard, who engaged in social activities and skillfully managed his connections, over Beleck with his eccentric tendencies.
Consequently, invitations to New Year’s parties from noble families with marriageable daughters were pouring down upon him like a downpour.
“Have you decided which family’s invitation you’ll accept today?”
The aide tried to quickly change the subject, and Rozard raised his silver eyebrows askew.
“The weather’s cold—why go out? I’ll dine at home, so keep my schedule clear.”
“You’re attending the banquet?”
“A man understands another man better.”
“Pardon?”
“Duke Visconti—I intend to see for myself whether he’s truly as flawless as the rumors suggest, without a single speck of dust.”
* * *
“Were you both home?”
Duke Simour looked bewildered as the twins sauntered into the banquet hall where the dinner was being held.
“You seem to have plenty of free time.”
“This year, we don’t need to prepare project proposals to secure our budget. Last year’s patent performance was exceptional.”
Beleck Simour, slipping in a subtle boast, adjusted his silver-rimmed spectacles and glanced around the banquet hall.
“It appears Knight Isidore hasn’t arrived yet.”
“He’s taking a walk with Deborah. They promised to arrive on time, so sit down first.”
“Using the Simour Town House as a dating venue. The more I see, the bolder he becomes….”
Beleck Simour settled into an appropriate seat with admiration, and Lord Rozard opened his mouth, his long eyes narrowing.
“Father.”
“Why do you have that scheming look on your face?”
“I was thinking of bringing out some premium spirits I’ve been saving for today.”
“…You’re planning to get Knight Isidore drunk?”
“Knight Isidore and I haven’t just been connected for a day or two—we’re comrades who fought together against the Demon Lord. Yet I’ve never had a chance to speak candidly with him, man to man.”
“No matter how much you probe, only virtues emerge from that inhuman fellow. What could possibly come out just because alcohol is involved?”
“It seems you’ve already probed quite extensively.”
When Beleck Simour pressed the point, Duke Simour’s eyes narrowed.
“Be quiet.”
“…Yes, Father.”
“Well, the spirits… if we drink moderately to lighten the mood, it wouldn’t be so bad.”
The moment Lord Rozard received his father’s permission, he summoned a servant to retrieve a barrel of spirits from the deepest corner of his wine cellar.
It had a smooth aroma and clean taste that went down the throat in an instant, but its alcohol content was formidable enough to loosen one’s mental defenses in moments.
“Father!”
“Enrique, you’ve arrived?”
Shortly after, when the youngest appeared, Duke Simour’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he gently stroked his soft hair several times.
“Our youngest wanted to eat a large crêpe, didn’t he?”
“Yes, it’s something eaten when the new year arrives.”
“Indeed, only commoners eat like that.”
Duke Simour gave Beleck Simour, who was breaking into laughter, a withering look.
“A fifty-inch crêpe topped with truffles and gold leaf, filled entirely with caviar.”
“…Commoners certainly couldn’t afford that.”
“Father, Sister has arrived.”
“Oh? Beleck and Lord Rozard are here too?”
Deborah Simour entered with a surprised expression, finding both busy twins unusually at home together. The eyes of the Simour men locked onto her direction in unison, then fixed immovably upon Knight Isidore standing beside her.
Whether from additional exercise, Knight Isidore’s physique seemed unusually imposing today. They called him a fox, but strictly speaking, his body belonged to that of a massive predator.
‘There’s no one quite like him in the entire Empire, I’ll admit.’
His exterior is flawlessly perfect, his reputation spotless, and above all, the way he looks at Deborah is far too transparent.
‘Damn it.’
Beleck Simour absently rubbed his arm as goosebumps rose across his skin. What could he possibly find fault with in someone so obviously genuine? The man was nothing but a honeypot reserved exclusively for his sister.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————