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Chapter 204




Chapter 204
TL: Zimmings
“Isaac!”
A red-haired boy approached us. Victor is the only son of Count Tenedomor.
Isaac frowned and clicked his tongue.
“What are those fruit flies rushing for?”
Some of the boys behind Victor frowned. “Haha,” Victor only laughed and smiled brightly.
“I don’t know. It’s just our parents put us on an errand. You’re our target this time.”
Having said that, Victor bowed politely towards me.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Dubblede. My name is Victor from Tenedor Duchy. We all go to the same academy with Lady’s two bad-tempered older brothers.”
Isaac, who sat on the sofa first, tapped the seat next to him and said to me.
“What are you saying? We’re indeed sharp-tongued but not bad-tempered. Sit down, kid.”
Henry walked over to the sofa without paying any attention to them.
However, I couldn’t help but think about it.
‘Yes, they are the heirs of the family that will rule Dubblede in the future.’
The current power structure of the empire is as follows:
<Neliard religion>
<Imperial family>
<4 dukes>
Originally, there were 5 dukes, including the Duke of Vallua, but they were ruined and it became the 4 dukes.
And when I reach the age of 15, this power structure will change drastically, the Duke of Dubblede will prevail against the 4 dukes.
So will the other noble family decline like the dukes?
Of course not.
When a powerful family declines, new families will come to power.
‘Our family has to get more power to become independent.’
After I bowed down to Victor Tenedomor, I headed to the sofa where my brothers were.
Then I grabbed Henry’s sleeve and whispered.
“Why did the temple send the youngest cardinal nominee?”
“You mean Clovis? They said he’s going to the academy this year too. He also came to the academy student meeting.”
“The temple sent Clovis to the academy? There is a separate educational institution for the temple.”
“Well, I don’t know, but there must be something they’re aiming for.”
I glanced at Clovis, who was standing in the corner of the drawing room.
He was a quiet and timid person. In the end, Adrian will be the youngest cardinal, but in terms of abilities, he was way superior to anyone else in the temple.
There must be a reason why Clovis was sent.
As I tilted my head, I took a deep breath at the sudden thought.
‘They must be preparing for the arrival of a new child of fate.’
They’re not sure that I’m the child of fate, so they’re preparing for Mina’s arrival.
The present me has a lot of connections within the empire.
I have my great godmother Camilla, the Empress Dowager taking good care of me, and Dubblede is growing day by day.
In the meantime, they’re worried that if Mina comes, they’ll be crushed, so they’re preparing for Mina to attend the academy, the meeting point of future power.
If Clovis settles into the academy first, it will be easier for her to infiltrate.
‘Those sly people.’
I get it why the temple acted like that. The academy is the center of future power. It is a field of golden connections.
Mina is such a bright and lovely child, everyone will love her like before.
Then, even if Dubblede pushes out the 4 dukes in the future, a new path will be opened for Mina with her connections.
I whispered to Henry and Isaac.
“Hey, how do I make them on my side? If I can’t make them be on my side, at least I don’t want to be their enemy.”
“What?”
“What are you talking about?”
Henry and Isaac looked at me with bewildered expressions.
Isaac looked puzzled the whole time, but Henry noticed my intention and said,
“They seem to be the key to the future.”
“That’s right.”
“Leblaine, you know, sincerity, friendship, and ties are of no use at all. In the end, what matters will be how helpful they are to us.”
“…….”
“Show them that you’re a coveted person.”
“Is there any way?”
“It’s the perfect time. Helping Marquis Shuheil is the perfect advertising tool to prove your abilities.”
Henry glanced around and whispered.
“If that happens, at the worst moment when their life is at risk, they will all think of you. Then they won’t be able to easily hold the hand of the real child of fate.”
Henry grinned as he and Isaac looked at me, and I smiled broadly.
This is the Dubblede’s method.
Sincerity? Justice?
The good-natured Leblaine who believed in such a thing was sacrificed in my first life and died miserably.
And now I’ll never die like that.
Just then, Edgar Shuheil entered the drawing room with a haggard face.
I raised my hands and ran to him.
“You must be very worried.”
“…… What does the Lady mean by that?”
I said shamelessly, raising my eyebrows.
“If it’s okay with you, can I take a look at your father? Actually, I have a very special ability.”
“A special ability?  Do you have any healing powers?”
I smiled mysteriously. Edgar Shuheil, who misunderstood my silence, took a deep breath and said to the servant at the door.
“Take the Lady to my father!”
In fact, I had no healing power. But I had a slave, which is my uncle who was famous for his expertise in that area.
***
Healing requires concentration, so all the Shuheil’s family members had a reluctant expression on their faces when asked to go out of the room.
The Marquess took the initiative and drove them away.
Edgar Shuheil bit his lip as he was pushed away by his mother.
“The Shuheil family never forgets our enemies.”
It was a threat that he would not stand still if I did anything to his father.
After that, the Marquess grabbed my hand and bowed her head several times.
“Please share God’s blessings. Please…”
I closed the door tightly after telling her to calm down.
And I took Taylor from the mansion through long-distance teleportation.
He frowned and pressed down on his temple as his fork fell down from his hand because of the impact.
“Child, why are you looking for me?”
“Check the Marquis of Shuheil’s condition. He’s wandering through the dead door.”
“You…”
“Ah, hurry~!”
“Was Dubblede’s prison comfortable? Being locked up again won’t be as comfortable as before.”
When I asked, he clicked his tongue and got up. Taylor looked closely at the Marquis of Shuheil. After lifting the blanket and checking his right leg, he said.
“His legs are infected. There is nothing to do other than amputating.”
“He has been purified by the priest though. Is it an infection?”
“Purification? If it had been purified, it wouldn’t be like this. I think they hadn’t paid in full, that’s why the temple didn’t do anything.”
“Can he survive if you amputate his leg?”
“It won’t be possible. A purification is also needed and a surgery.”
What Taylor meant was that he cannot survive without the help of the temple, whether amputated or not.
“… What if there is meria grass?”
“He can just live without his legs. Why, will you tell me where the meria grass is?”
Taylor raised an eyebrow.
I took a deep breath.
The question now was whether to make a contract with the devil or save the Marquis Shuheil first.
‘So will it be the devil’s information? Or will it be a connection with powerful people?’
I groaned and pondered.
Then, an owl appeared in front of me.
[If you make a foolish decision, it can’t be solved by manpower any longer.]
Storas’s eyes were filled with anger, and an energy flew from its body. My lungs are squeezed tightly by the feeling of oppression.
As my complexion grew pale, Taylor asked while frowning.
“Hey, child!”
It was then that I let out my breath.
‘It seems that its resentment towards meria is deeper than I thought.’
I pretended to speak to Taylor, and looked at Storas.
“If I make the decision you want, can you promise to help me?”
Taylor nodded, understanding that he could save the Marquis of Shuheil if I tell him where meria grass is.
“Yes.”
Storas also nodded.
“You make a ‘contract’. It’s a contract for the soul that can never be broken.”
[I promise you with my name. If you can erase the traces of meria grass from the human world, I will pay any price.]
Taylor nodded.
“If you give me the meria grass, I will do whatever you want.  I promise.”
Then my hand flashed red, reminding me of the two different contractors.
One was from Storas, and the other was from Taylor.
And I made a decision on which of their contracts to fulfill.
“Meria grass…….”
Their gazes were focused on me.