I Was Happy to Be Dumped by My Fiancé, But Something Seems Off - Episode 25

Above all, what concerned me most was the true nature of Duke and Duchess Moldio. Like Agnes, I needed to investigate whether Luigi was human as well. Then there was the matter of how Agnes had obtained her charming power. When she was baptized as an infant at the cathedral, alongside the investigation into whether she was a beloved child of the goddess Maria, there should have been a check for any other powers she might possess. Most importantly, the fact that the High Priest hadn’t noticed was strange. However, given that the High Priest loved amusing things, there was a theory that he had deliberately overlooked it.

“Probably not, surely.”

I remained invisible and wandered around the Anna Lolo ducal mansion for a while. When Clarissa, completely red all over, was carried out by a maid, I nearly burst out laughing. Fortunately, no sound came out. Even if it had, the surrounding noise was louder than Argent’s voice, so I surely wouldn’t have been noticed.

Agnes was flushed with anger at her daughter’s disgraceful appearance, while Clarissa kept her face down in shame.

If I stayed until the end, I wouldn’t be able to return to Bertina anytime soon, so regretfully, I left the mansion for the time being.

When I returned to the café where Bertina was waiting, a freshly baked raspberry pie had just been set down.

“Welcome back, Argent.”

“I’m home, Bertina.”

I sat down in front of Bertina and ordered hot milk and raspberry pie. Immediately, she asked about the results from the mansion, so I first told her about the diary.

“There wasn’t anything recent, but there was one from around the time you were born.”

I told her how Catarina had given birth to twins after a difficult delivery, how the firstborn sister was supposed to be named Milaria, and how Bertina, born second, was also frail and there were concerns about whether she would grow up strong. Just as the pharmacist had said, there was also the fact that, upon the High Priest’s recommendation, she had visited the pharmacist herself and had medicine prepared. Hearing the diary’s contents made it hard to believe that her father was under a charm.

“When do you think Father came under the charm?”

“I can’t say for sure. But it seems Duchess Moldio has been using her charm since she was a child.”

I told her that the diary contained entries about how, when she complained to her parents about Agnes’s abnormality, she was the one who got scolded instead and was punished for hurting her dear younger sister. Bertina’s complicated expression surely reflected her inner feelings.

“I wonder why Aunt Agnes is so fixated on Father.”

“That was briefly mentioned too. It might be because of the age gap and that he doted on her too much.”

“I believe there was a five-year difference, right?”

“That’s what was written.”

—Bertina thought of several reasons why Agnes might be fixated on her father. First, his appearance, perhaps. With golden hair and deep purple eyes, he was handsome. She had heard he had been popular with the opposite sex since his youth, and even as he aged, his undiminished beauty captivated the noblewomen of high society. Second, as Argent had read in the diary, doting on his sister too much as an older brother had backfired, leading to her current personality. Third… it seemed likely, but Agnes’s ideal image of a man was her own brother.

When I told Argent, he agreed, saying, “That seems to fit.”

“One more. Uncle Luigi.”

“Duke Moldio, huh?”

“Yes. To think he wanted to marry Aunt Agnes, who’s been obsessed with Father since childhood.”

“Speaking from my personal impression, that couple is well-matched.”

“Huh?”

“They only think of their own happiness. They don’t care about others’ misfortune. They’re more demon-like than me.”

They might be demons rather than humans, but Argent shook his head, thinking probably not. They were human; precisely because they were human, even demons would recoil in horror at their actions.

“Humans are more terrifying than demons.”

“When you say it, Argent, it sounds convincing.”

“Thank you.”

“I wasn’t complimenting you.”

While enjoying the raspberry pie, I suddenly asked something.

“Was there nothing besides Father’s diary?”

“I did go to check your room, Bertina. It wasn’t ransacked, but I was a bit taken aback.”

“What happened?”

When I heard that Clarissa had been sleeping in the walk-in closet where Argent stayed, Bertina felt the same way.

I asked Argent what prank he had pulled, and he proudly said it was a great success. I was utterly astonished.

“I take back what I said earlier. Demons are more terrifying.”

If I were in Clarissa’s position, I wouldn’t be able to go to the Anna Lolo house for a while.

• ○●○●○

Agnes, her face flushed red with anger and her shoulders trembling, directed her fury at her daughter Clarissa, who was shrinking down with her head bowed. Both the Annaloro and Moldio families had been summoned by the royal family on a specified date, and hearing that the High Priest would also be present had heightened her anxiety. Then Clarissa messed up. Her charming power had finally been exposed. The reason it wasn’t detected during her baptism as a baby was that she didn’t have it back then. Agnes awakened to her charm at age four, and at the same time, a certain memory also awakened.

It had remained hidden all this time, but now it was exposed because of Bertina. Bertina hadn’t obediently handed Argent over to Clarissa, hadn’t begged for love from the crown prince, hadn’t even begged for love from her family, and acted selfishly, ruining the smoothly progressing plans.

It had always been a dream. Just when it was about to come true, she absolutely refused to let it be ruined.

As Agnes continued to scold her, and Clarissa, shrinking smaller and smaller, finally started crying, it was her husband Luigi who embraced her.

“Agnes, don’t be so angry. Youthful indiscretion happens to everyone.”

“What are you saying! Aren’t you spoiling Clarissa too much, my lord?”

“She’s our one adorable daughter; it can’t be helped if I’m soft on her. After all, she’s the daughter of my beloved you.”

“…Even so.”

Her husband Luigi was infatuated with her. Moreover, using her charm, she had made him loyal so he wouldn’t question anything she did. Clarissa wasn’t his child; she was the child of her real brother, Crow. Though it pained Agnes, Luigi adored Clarissa, who resembled her. That part was helpful.

Still, she wanted Bertina. The only child who resembled her brother. If the eldest son, Bianco, had resembled him, she wouldn’t have paid any attention to Bertina, but why hadn’t she been born a boy? The charm power didn’t include the ability to change genders.

“Father!”

“There, there. If you want Lady Bertina’s attendant, shall we find someone similar?”

“No, I want Argent!”

“Then persuade either Lady Bertina or the attendant. If the attendant says he wants to come to Clarissa, Lady Bertina probably can’t force him to stay.”

“Ah!”

As if she had heard a brilliant idea, Clarissa’s face lit up, she clung tightly to her father, forgot she was being scolded by Agnes, and dashed out. Even when Agnes called “Clarissa!” to stop her, her mother’s voice didn’t reach Clarissa, who was now focused on carrying out Luigi’s suggestion.

Luigi watched his daughter’s retreating back with amusement, then embraced the fuming Agnes. As he stroked her back, she pushed him away, not in the mood.

“You’re in a bad mood.”

“And who caused that?”

“I just want to grant our daughter’s wish.”

“My lord, please be stricter with Clarissa. To do such a disgraceful thing… Who does she take after?”

She never imagined that Clarissa would enter Bertina’s room without permission, go into the attendant’s room, and do something disgraceful all by herself. She was angry wondering where she had learned such a thing and despairing that the daughter she had with her beloved brother had turned out like this.

But there was no doubt that Clarissa was a dear daughter.

When Luigi embraced her again, this time patting her back soothingly, she let him do as he pleased.

“Now, calm down, my beloved.”

“…Yes, I understand. I got too emotional. I’ll apologize to Clarissa later for saying too much.”

“Good. It would sadden me greatly if you two didn’t get along. Once you’ve made up, let’s have tea together.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Agnes told herself to calm down, calm down, and wrapped her arms around his broad back.

If she could just deal with the High Priest before the discussion, there wouldn’t be any discussion to be had. She had her charm. Even if suspicions were cast, as long as she had her charm power, she could handle anything.

“Hey, my lord! I’m very afraid of Lady Inanna. For my sake, could you… Lady Inanna…”

—Kill her?

“Ah… Sure, my beloved Agnes.”

“!”

A sensation like a cold drop running down her spine assaulted Inanna, and she nearly dropped the wine glass she was holding.

When things like this happened, it was almost always something ominous.

While looking forward to what would happen, she decided to heighten her vigilance.