Chapter 60
Magi, who had appeared out of nowhere after quietly lurking in the back and watching the whole show, couldn't hold back her laughter as she made a proposal to Catherine.
"I'm showing mercy to my poor little sister personally. I'll lift Anne's spell as her big sister. In exchange, the Chen family won't breathe a word about the Chen Romance lands. Fair, right?"
Catherine didn't say who asked you to? She could guess what Magi was aiming for with that offer. She was mocking Anne and the Chen family.
"Oh dear. Come to think of it, you should be the one watching your step, big sis—the devil contractor. They say it's a seriously powerful demon. What if you get cursed or something?"
"You're right, Magi. The grand archmage by my side said it's a demon as strong as Lemor himself."
Magi pretended to wipe away a tear with her hand.
"It's just so heartbreaking that Anne has to live as a turtle, sis. Or how about canceling the land purchase as a consolation prize? That's nothing for you with all your wealth, right? His Highness Duke Chezare can give you something even better!"
Magi seemed at least ten times more excited than Catherine. Before Catherine could even respond, Magi turned to the viscount and asked first.
"Make your choice, Viscount. Which will it be?"
Catherine chimed in right after.
"Should I incur a high demon's wrath and lift Anne's spell? Or cancel the land purchase as a consolation?"
For Viscount Chen, this was utter humiliation. He was a fairly prominent wealthy man even within the Iterana Empire. Yet here he was, being treated like this by young women who weren't even Duke Chezare—women who were mere disowned nobles, no less!
But Viscount Chen was a born merchant. His priorities were crystal clear. And it was obvious that his fourth wife wasn't at the top of that list.
"A high demon, you say? I can't make my wife bear that demon's wrath."
A turtle's pitiful wail echoed out.
"I'll find other skilled mages and do my best to lift Anne's spell. So... please cancel the land purchase, miss."
Having gotten the answer she wanted, Catherine sighed inwardly.
My idiot sister. You dumped Charles Kilholder for the chance to be treated like a mere turtle.
As Anne's sister, Catherine decided to show some generosity to the Chen family.
"Chezare, do me a favor."
He didn't need her to spell it out—Chezare already knew what she wanted. With a casual finger snap, the tiny turtle instantly reverted to Anne's form.
Anne, her face twisted in terror and body trembling, realized she'd returned to normal and glared at Catherine.
Catherine wiped the nonexistent tears from her eyes with a gaze full of benevolent compassion that embraced all things.
"I couldn't just ignore my little sister's misfortune. Be grateful to me for life, Anne. You nearly spent it as a turtle."
Magi hugged Catherine's back in admiration.
"That's my big sis! How can you be so merciful?!"
Catherine patted Magi's shoulder and turned to Viscount Chen.
"Land means more to you than your wife, huh... I can't cancel it all, so how about half? I even lifted Anne's spell. I'll send a letter soon about which parts. I've done everything I can."
"Y-You...!"
The response didn't come from Viscount Chen—it was Anne. Breathing raggedly as if on the verge of fainting, she shot up from her seat and lunged at Catherine.
"You devilish bitch! Just like your damn mother! Trying to ruin me too!"
Blocking Anne's path wasn't Chezare or Magi—it was Viscount Chen.
"Watch your tongue, wife! She's your benefactor and sister!"
"Let go! How can you do this to me, Viscount? I'm your fiancée! Am I worth less than that crappy Chen Romance land?!"
"That's just how it is."
"How?! Because of you, I... I got humiliated in front of everyone...!"
"I said stop! My bride throwing a tantrum and ignoring her sister's grace—I'm too ashamed to show my face!"
Anne's arms, restrained by Viscount Chen, trembled with rage. Undeterred, she stretched them toward Catherine again.
"How can I stop? I can't forgive you! Ruining my wedding—you, my so-called sister...!"
"Enough!"
That was when someone intervened, halting the sisters' noisy brawl. It was a shout far colder and firmer than Viscount Chen's.
"When are you going to pull yourself together, Anne? Still not over it after all that?!"
Crossing the ruined garden came her father and stepmother, Laura. The Orleans couple had just arrived at the Chen estate—their carriage was visible pulling away behind them. It was rare for the bride's parents to show up so late, right before the ceremony. Father must have been away at the Imperial Palace until the last minute.
"F-Father! Mother!"
Spotting her allies, Anne shook off Viscount Chen's hand and ran to Laura. But Father walked past her without a glance, while Laura eyed him nervously.
"I'm sorry, Viscount. My inadequate daughters have caused you trouble. I have no face left to show you."
After apologizing to Viscount Chen, Father turned to Catherine.
"Come with me for a moment."
Behind them came Anne's wails. Rather than comfort her, Laura busied herself hiding her face from the guests with a handkerchief.
Catherine followed Father away from the chaos. As his broad back drew nearer, she felt oddly proud regardless of right or wrong—but strangely, her chest tightened.
'Come here. Don't just stand there looking down on me pitifully—come here and look me in the eye.'
His voice from that old illusion on the Lilith Ship echoed in her ears.
"Take this."
Before she could call out, a crisp white letter stamped with a familiar crimson seal was thrust toward her. As she puzzledly accepted it, Father added,
"It's a letter from the Panya family a few days ago. I couldn't deliver it since I didn't know where you were, but I'm glad I can give it to you now."
Catherine carefully stowed the pristine letter in her bag. Father studied her face for a while before speaking in a somewhat weary voice.
"You seem to be doing well. How did you hear about Anne's wedding?"
It was unexpected. She'd braced for a scolding about causing a scene at her sister's wedding.
Catherine told the truth.
"Magi told me."
"Magi? Figures. Hard to believe she's Anne's twin."
Laura, their actual mother, would probably agree.
A brief silence fell between Father and Catherine. Strangely, words didn't come easily. In the awkward quiet, Father spoke first.
"I'm sorry. I had to leave Orleans empty that day of all days."
He spent more days away guarding his tiny fief than there. She knew it wasn't intentional neglect—there were reasons—so she had no desire to blame him. That didn't erase the past years of indifference, of course.
Catherine shrugged.
Honestly, she no longer had the affection left to reproach him.
"I'm not sorry. This feels like my real life now."
"That's a relief, then."
"...If it's okay, can I ask one thing?"
"Go ahead."
Catherine took a deep breath and asked Father,
"Did my mother really die?"
Father showed no great agitation. Perhaps he'd always expected this question someday. His calm expression said as much.
"I still remember. That day—her body vanished without a trace."
Her mouth went dry.
"Who was my mother?"
Am I really a nephilim? Then my mother must have been...
She wanted to ask, but her lips wouldn't move.
"Go to Panya."
Father said it like a sigh.
"If you want to know about your mother, Panya's the place. But remember this, Catherine: don't get involved in anything that even smells dangerous."
His voice and expression were utterly grave.
"The atmosphere at home and abroad is unsettled right now—worst it's been lately. I've barely been back to Orleans in two months. You're smart like your mother; you get what I mean."
Suddenly, his unusually fatigued complexion and voice made sense—the ominous domestic and international situation he'd mentioned. As someone working at the Imperial Palace, Father was more sensitive to such things than anyone.
"Heading back to the venue? Your friends are quite the characters."
Catherine shook her head slightly.
"No. I'm going home now."
Father didn't chide her behavior at the wedding to the end. Was it understanding, or indifference? Either way, no nagging was a win for Catherine.
Good. So I'll learn the truth at Panya.
Catherine headed straight for the carriage.
"Yaong!"
At her call, Yaong, who had been dozing facedown on the ground, opened its eyes.
Grrrrowl.
"Let's head back now. We've celebrated enough."
Yaong, who had been growling with dignity, broke into a grin and wagged its tail.
Yay! Yaong was getting hungry anyway! Almost chomped all the human meat laid out here!
The garden's atmosphere, which had been calming, froze again like it'd been doused in ice water at Yaong's booming voice.
Oh, right.
Just before boarding the carriage, Catherine pulled a thick stack of checks from her bag and placed them neatly on the trampled grass.
"Viscount? It's not much, but as consolation for the ruined wedding, here's a little something. If it's short, contact me through Magi. Can't be helped if you're upset— that's life, right?"
Magi's laughter echoed from nearby.
As the carriage door opened, Chezare was already inside, glancing up from his book to welcome Catherine back.
"Satisfied with that much?"
"Eh, not bad."
Above all, getting a lead on her mother was the biggest win.
Studying her face, Chezare said calmly,
"You're too soft. I thought you'd revenge on your sister by turning her into a turtle forever, laying eggs till she croaked."
That's not harsh at all. Demon revenge really is on another level.
"For revenge, I've already punished her plenty."
"That's not how it looks to me."
"They call that rose-tinted glasses."
Chezare made an odd face. Before he could reply, Demian and Fontpado Madam shoved their way into the carriage.
"We heading out now, miss? This gold leaf blocks the air—I'm dying of heat!"
"Just me? I'm worried the flesh under this armor's melting right now."
"Sorry, Sir Demian. Honestly, you didn't need the armor."
The door shut, and Yaong happily bounded forward.