I Only Raised Men for Revenge - Chapter 31

“What are you trying to do? Huh?”

“What do you mean, ‘trying to do’? I’m just offering advice. The choice is up to you and Father, but I’m just saying to be careful. I’m advising that a single choice can tarnish one’s name.”

“Are you planning to make a scene there?”

Sesenia picked up another piece of meat with her fork. She shrugged, looking like she had no such intention, and popped the meat into her mouth.

“No?”

“Then why are you even talking about it? It’s annoying.”

She wasn’t planning to make a scene.

But she didn’t say she wouldn’t do anything, just that she wouldn’t strike first. Sesenia chuckled and looked at her sister.

“You’re really not planning anything, are you?”

“Don’t worry.”

Because she wouldn’t do anything first. But if someone asked her, she would tell the truth.

“Why do you keep smiling?”

“Can’t I even smile with my own face? You’re so weird, Sister. Why are you making such a fuss about everything I do? Is this your real self? It’s so different from when you talk to Father.”

Elzer’s face hardened every time Sesenia smiled.

“I like it when you’re like an angel, Sister. So, smile. If you don’t do anything, I won’t do anything either.”

“……”

“Father, what do you think? Don’t you think Sister is acting strange these days?”

“Now that Sesenia mentions it, you’re right, Elzer. What’s wrong with you lately? You weren’t like this before.”

“I, I just… I’ve become so sensitive because I’m so eager to run the family well as your successor, as you wish, Father. I’m just sensitive. Sorry, Sesenia.”

“It’s okay, Sis-ter.”

Elzer found the sight of her chewing the meat like a rabbit so irritating that she wanted to say more, but she knew it wouldn’t help her at all, so she gave an awkward smile.

“So, Father, you’ll grant my request, right?”

“Of course. It’s my daughter’s request, so I have to grant it.”

Only then did Elzer show a somewhat satisfied expression. That’s how it should be. Father should do as I say. That emotion seemed to be clearly visible.

‘Well, it’s not like this is the first time. Still, it’s a scene I can’t get used to.’

The fact that her father cherished Elzer had been something Sesenia had witnessed since she was a child. There were many excuses for it.

Because she was a daughter who looked just like her mother, whom her father loved so dearly. Because Elzer had been sickly since she was young. There were countless excuses, but it still seemed strange.

While he was widely known as a thorough and ruthless person when it came to state affairs, he showed no thoroughness or ruthlessness in his current demeanor. He was just an indecisive figure who accepted all of his young daughter’s whims.

He was completely helpless when it came to Elzer, to an incomprehensible extent. Sesenia shook her head at the sight.

“Now that we’re here, let’s talk about the national foundation banquet.”

“Is there anything special about it?”

In the past, Elzer made a splendid debut through that national foundation banquet. Elzer, who had discovered Hepria cotton and made a huge profit, drew everyone’s attention for her beautiful face and intelligence.

And this time would be no different. The reason Elzer was trying to attribute the Hepria cotton to her own merit, even at the cost of negative rumors, was to make a splendid debut through the national foundation banquet.

Also, through that event, the Crown Prince intended to expedite his engagement with Elzer.

“I’m asking whether you’ll attend or not, Sesenia.”

“Sesenia is busy, why would she attend?”

In the past, Sesenia did not attend that banquet. It wasn’t mandatory, and since Elzer, who would succeed the Marquis and the Marquisate, was already going, she didn’t particularly feel like going.

She also didn’t go because she wasn’t particularly interested in social circles.

“I’m going, though?”

Of course, not now.

Sesenia tilted her head with an endlessly light voice.

“Why would you go there?”

“Is there a reason why I shouldn’t go?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that, but you didn’t like that kind of thing.”

“I’m going to try to like it. I’m an adult now. Father, can’t I go?”

“Of course, you can.”

“Father, you never took Sesenia to those kinds of events before. She doesn’t even know proper etiquette yet, what kind of banquet is that? What if she disgraces the family?”

Elzer started throwing out random words, as if she didn’t want Sesenia to go to that event at all costs.

“I see, so I lack etiquette compared to my sister. That’s a really interesting thing to say.”

“……A, anyway. You never went before anyway!”

“That’s why I’m saying I’m going to go. Because I’m an adult now. Why, is there a reason why I shouldn’t go? If you say I can’t go, I won’t go. I’m a sister who listens to you well, right?”

The Marquis’s gaze, and Sesenia’s gaze, turned to Elzer.

“……It’s just. I was wondering if you really had to go this time. I haven’t even properly adapted to social circles yet. Um… so I’m worried, I’m worried, that’s all. As your sister, I’m worried.”

“Yes. You don’t have to worry. Then, Father, it seems like it’s decided that I’m going.”

“This is a good opportunity. It’s been a while since the three of us went out together. It’s good. Then we should talk about whose escort you’ll be going with.”

As if this was the reason they had gathered today from the beginning, the topic changed quite smoothly. Sesenia, who had already finished her meal, used a small spoon to break off a piece of the tart that was served for dessert and put it in her mouth.

“We should also talk about the engagement, too.”

“Engagement? What engagement?”

This seemed to be something Elzer didn’t know either, as a deep frown formed between her brows.

“Hasn’t this father been pushing for an engagement with the Imperial Family for a while now? It’s about that.”

“The Imperial Family, you mean an engagement with His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Yes. So this father wants you, Elzer, the eldest daughter, to be engaged to the Imperial Family. Becoming the Crown Princess ultimately means becoming the Empress, doesn’t it? It’s quite a good position for you, who have always been ambitious about rising high, isn’t it?”

Elzer’s cheek twitched slightly.

‘What choice will she make?’

Sesenia rested her chin on her hand and stared intently at her sister.

“O, of course!”

“Yes. I thought you’d say that.”

“But Father. I don’t like the current Crown Prince.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“I want to be the Empress. But I mean I don’t like the current Crown Prince.”

‘If there’s anything different from the past, it’s that she said she wants to be the Empress.’

Elzer wanted to create the exact same situation as in the past, to a maddening extent. It was so obvious. That’s why she was angry when Sesenia said she had brought the holy relic to the temple, and she tried to stop Sesenia from going to the national foundation banquet at all costs.

And now, just like in the past, Elzer was thinking of placing Sesenia as the Crown Princess, and then the Empress, in her place.

“I don’t understand why you don’t like him. This father was thinking of promoting the engagement with His Highness the Crown Prince on this occasion, and asking His Highness the Crown Prince to escort you to the national foundation banquet. You’ll be able to receive more splendid attention than anyone else, Elzer.”

The Marquis’s feelings were understandable.

She was a daughter who wanted to sit in the highest position in the Empire more than anyone else. And now she suddenly says she doesn’t like the current Crown Prince.

“I don’t like the Crown Prince, even if it’s another Imperial Prince.”

“What does that mean? His Highness the Crown Prince will unconditionally succeed to the next throne. He has inherited the strongest power among the Imperial Family, and his mother, Her Majesty the Empress’s family is also excellent. He’s different from other Imperial Princes whose mothers were maids or whose families are humble. What’s the problem?”

That was the problem.

That perfection. It turned the Crown Prince into a good-for-nothing. No matter what he did, Crown Prince Helbert would become the Emperor. No matter what trouble he caused, the Empress would stop it, and the strong bloodline he possessed protected him.

Until the day Sesenia died, he firmly maintained his position.

“I don’t like him. He’s a good-for-nothing.”

“Elzer! To call His Highness the Crown Prince a good-for-nothing…!”

“He’s such a good-for-nothing that Her Majesty the Empress is struggling, so much that it’s hard for her to clean up after him.”

‘That’s true.’

Sesenia cut out a small piece of the tart with lots of strawberries on it.

“That’s all because of misunderstandings.”

“What misunderstandings? He can’t resist women regardless of marital status, and he throws a fit if things don’t go his way, what else would you call that if not a good-for-nothing?”

“So when you’re in a high position, you tend to get caught up in all sorts of rumors. That’s all it is. Actually, His Highness Crown Prince Helbert, whom I met, was a very nice person.”

“No. There’s no such trash anywhere.”

Sesenia, who had been nodding and agreeing with Elzer’s words, barely managed to hold back a burst of laughter. Trash. But she thought he was really trash, too. Trash that would be hard to pick up anywhere.

‘She’s the one who carefully picked up that trash, and she’s saying that with the veins in her neck standing out. It’s so funny.’

Elzer had made a fuss about not liking the Crown Prince in the past, but this time it was a little more severe.

“Trash. Elzer, even if you say that… and you haven’t even met him. So, listen to this father’s words. Nothing has ever gone wrong by listening to this father’s words, has it?”

“That’s…!!”

The Marquis, who knew nothing. And the trash Crown Prince that the Marquis was packaging. She couldn’t tell the truth to someone who knew nothing, so she bit her lip tightly.

“Haa… anyway, I won’t do it. I said I won’t do it. If it’s such a good position, Sesenia can get engaged instead of me!”

That’s when it happened.

Sesenia drew a clear line.

“My sister should go to such a precious position. How could a younger sister covet such a position? Sister. You don’t have to give this up.”

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