Chapter 116 - Mother-in-law

To be honest, even I was surprised by what Cesare did this time, and I thought I would know vaguely why he was so reckless as if he were misled, but the Pope wouldn’t have tolerated his actions either way.

He wasn’t such a stupid nobleman, and most of all, it was against his ambitious plan to make me Queen of Britannia and keep the North in my hands.

Would that be included in the circumstances that my father-in-law just said?

I carefully selected the words in my head.

But he shut me down before I opened my mouth.

“It was a sweet offer, not something I was into, as you seem to know already.”

“Ah…”

“I don’t know what you think of me, but I’ll have to be honest. Whoever is the Pope, no matter how corrupt, is not worthy of interest to the Omertas. When I was young, there was a time when I was burning with a passionate sense of justice and patriotism, but well, what does that mean to a man who couldn’t even keep his family? To a man who made even his wife, who was on the brink of k*lling herself, leave like that.”

“…….”

“When the king, who is my brother-in-law, announced that he would have that woman as his wife, I pretended to dissuade him like others, but I was smiling inside. It would be a lie if I didn’t say I’d been looking for the opportunity to throw him out of the throne all along. Well, it was the same case when Romagna asked for Britannia’s reinforcements… The reason why I pretended to accept the proposal to honour the engagement with his daughter was purely because I guessed how my son would react. I actually wanted to take this opportunity to change my arrogant son’s habits, aside from the excuse to be able to get back at His Holiness in the future.”

I already knew that, but I didn’t understand why he was saying this.

No, did he always talk like this?

I wasn’t sure if it was just me being awkward or him wanting to share.

“That was how you came to us. Back then, I was just… It’s obvious even if I don’t explain it. I will refrain from giving excuses about how I really felt in the past. My attitude was bad, and it wouldn’t have worked out anyway. However, what should I say? You really did manage to shock me in ways I never expected.”

“…what?”

“You only pulled out unexpected acts. So at some point, I don’t know why…. God, I don’t know what I did and said. I’m sorry, this became a rant. As I get older, I often get sidetracked. My eyesight has also weakened.”

“…….”

“I was confident that I could see through everyone, but it was only the misjudgment of an arrogant old man. It’s only because that cheeky brat hates his father….”

“Father-in-law.”

I called him calmly, halting his blabbering.

He turned his head and coughed loudly, then looked at me with a slight shudder.

“Don’t say that. Father-in-law is one of the few people who has seen through me more accurately than anyone else.”

Of course.

I vividly remembered the conversation we had by the stable the other day.

His expression, inspecting me to see if there was any hope for his son.

Alright. I get it now.

Unlike back then, when it was unclear, every piece came together now.

I could vaguely see what he was really worried about at that time and how his deceased wife, who had nothing in common with me except for an eating disorder, had something to do with it.

In a way, I should thank Cesare.

If it hadn’t been for the fuss this time, I probably wouldn’t have been able to break out of this endless cycle.

After many years, when my father-in-law realised and looked back with regret, the love mother-in-law had for him, may have already turned into an irreparable mask of love and hatred.

Even if he had tried to repair things, they would have only hurt each other.

What he thought would last forever, must have never returned to its original form.

He must have been trapped in a bubble of madness, swept away by the stormy love and hatred of his wife.

Mother-in-law must have been really sick.

If her anorexia was out of control, maybe she wanted to turn back time.

Back to when she was younger, to the days when she had just met a Paladin, whose red eyes were full of passion and worship…

Of course, that was just my guess. But it turned out that something good happened between Izek and Father-in-law.

Was it really good though?

“You said you felt like you were struggling to death. Now I know what you meant.”

“…….”

“In the midst of all the fuss at this festival…… What Cardinal Valentino did to me before the Mirror Room was unimaginable to me, but it’s true that he was desperate to get away with it anyway. So his crime is my responsibility. Because I always tried to use him, since I couldn’t trust him. No, should I say that we both were at fault…? Eitherway, he was left with an irreparable wound.”

“You…”

“I could have made an excuse that I couldn’t have done anything about it, but rather, I want to tell you that I misunderstood you. Despite all this, I was really surprised that you would be so generous and affectionate.”

“.. yes, yes.”

Through a dry cough, ‘What do you mean affectionate…’ There was a murmur.

I stopped smiling.

I sincerely mean this.

“If I were to answer the question you asked me at that time…… I want to tell you that you don’t have to worry anymore. You can relax.”

There was a moment of silence.

During the long silence, he slowly turned his eyes away from me, and soon began to stare out of the window.

He had been doing it without moving for so long that I wondered what had risen above the sea.

“Father-in-law…”

“… Well, for the time being, we’ve decided to keep the part about your secret talents a secret. Meeting that spoiled dragon will also be done under tight security. If any of the dogs, who have not received proper mental education, drink alcohol, and poke their snouts in other places, they will be punished severely for the crime of breaking the rules.”

“…….”

“Oh, I forgot the most important thing. I came here to ask this question. This raid took out not only Angvan Palace, but also Elendale, and if Cardinal Valentino was behind it, there must have been someone who helped him. God would laugh at us if we thought that it was only him who was responsible for it. Anyway, do you know who and where he is?”

“Yes, but I don’t know if he’s still here. He has been the cardinal’s loyal servant for a long time. I’m sure he went back to Romagna with Cardinal Valentino as soon as it happened…”

“Well, I don’t think he could have done that, but…”

“What?”

“Nothing. Then I’ll talk about the details with my son who thinks he’s the best. Don’t think about anything right now and just focus on resting well.”

What in the world……?

I closed my open jaw slightly, and then smiled at a thought that suddenly flashed through my head.

“Father?”

The duke, who finally got up and was walking briskly, stopped and looked back at me.

Strange embarrassment spread to the solemn face staring at my smiling face.

“What’s wrong…?”

“Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

“…….”

“By the way, Father. Can you just call me Ruby from now on? You can speak comfortably.”

He didn’t say anything for a while.

Of course, it would be strange at the start.

However, as soon as I thought it would be good if I went more slowly, my father-in-law, who stared at me with fierce eyes, suddenly stated.

“Oh, by the way, I sent that maid somewhere else.”

“…what?”

“I sent her to a relative’s house in a faraway land.”

“..w-why?”

“I don’t know about that. My daughter suddenly suggested that we do so even if it was a little late, so I just followed.”

This was some unexpected and shocking news.

He sent away the maid?

Ellenia’s nanny and one of her loyal servants, the mean maid?

Because Elenia suggested it first?

I couldn’t believe it, but maybe something happened?

I thought he’d ask me if I had any reason to guess what occurred, but my father-in-law just scratched his beard a little and added, “Ah, you’ll have a lot of work to do after you recover. Ansalim here is also working under Ruby.”

“…F-Father, I just…”

“So have a good rest. Haha!”

With that, he suddenly left.

I laid on my back in bed for a moment, clutching my head.

Why the maid?…! What the……! This was so sad and anti-climactic!

I was planning to have a thrilling, tense head fight with that mean b*tch in my own way… Of course, I was relieved that she disappeared on her own.

However, it was surprising because I didn’t expect this at all.

What made it go so far?

I didn’t think Ellenia would have come to this conclusion, or maybe she just wanted to distance herself from the people who were too close to her in this complicated situation…?

“My Lady, shall I bring a new plate? Is there anything else you want to eat?”

Ronja always used to be friendly, but Lucille was following her track as well now.

Was she happy that the nanny disappeared?

Even if she was gone, there was no chance that Lucille, who’s still young and only been here for three years, will become the new head maid, so what was the point of being around me all the time?