Chapter 157
Chapter 157
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Betrothal Meeting
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"Ahem."
On the spacious dining table, the lavish spread of dishes was in no way inferior to a royal banquet.
Even in the Bright family's southern territory of Viollen, there were foods made from precious ingredients like seafood from the western sea or fruits from the east.
And atop it all lay a strange silence.
It was only natural.
What was supposed to be a betrothal meeting where the Verdi and Bright families celebrated each other had been intruded upon by the Zeronia family.
The Bright family wanted to issue an order expelling the guests, but upon hearing that Deus—the host of this gathering—had invited them, they could only shut their mouths.
The name "betrothal meeting" had long since become meaningless. It was bewildering why they all had to endure this awkward situation together.
"Mm, this is delicious."
Of course, there was one person unaffected by the atmosphere.
Deia, in particular, was quite satisfied enjoying delicacies she couldn't get in Northsweden.
"Try some of this."
"I can feed myself."
"Then you wouldn't be so skinny. Eat more when you go out."
Sighing, Deia glanced toward Erika, seated across the table.
"You're with him, so why don't you take better care of him? He's so busy, I'm worried he'll collapse."
She said it with a smile, but the words dripped with clear hostility. The atmosphere chilled instantly.
"Forcing food on him would just stress him out. I like Deus just as he is right now. If he collapses, I'll be there to support him."
Deia's side flinched slightly at the blunt response. No one had expected Erika to openly declare her affection for Deus like that.
"Erika already takes good care of me. No need to worry."
She'd brought desserts last time, and subtly worried about my thinness without being pushy, often bringing specialties to the lab.
Crunch.
A weight and sharp pain pressed on the top of my foot.
Glancing at Deia, who was stepping on my foot, she wore a mask-like smile.
"Why?"
"...Know your place."
I had no idea why she was clashing with Erika, but now wasn't the time.
I turned my gaze to the others.
Gideon and family head Giltea Zeronia from the Zeronia family looked like they were dying to speak, lips twitching, but as unintended interlopers, they stayed silent.
"Ahem, Duke Deus. It's about time you explained the reason for this."
The one who finally spoke was Elan, head of the Bright family and Erika's father.
"I thought today was meant to solidify the engagement between Erika and Duke Deus. I guess I was mistaken."
He glanced toward the Zeronia side before continuing.
"We have some unnecessary guests here."
At that, Giltea—his red hair flowing back like a lion's mane—scoffed in response.
"We have our own ties to that young lady over there."
"..."
"She came wagging her tail, begging to marry Gideon. And now that we're hesitating a bit, you insult us like this?"
Thud.
Overcome by emotion mid-sentence, Giltea shot to his feet and glared at me.
"I'll make it clear. The rest of the family called this a once-in-a-lifetime chance from the goddess, saying we need to impress the Necromancer."
"Ah, Father!"
Gideon panicked, trying to intervene as Giltea suddenly upended the table, but Giltea's finger was already pointing at me.
"We'll rise again in the end. It looks like you called us here to tighten discipline on the Bright side, but dragging us out like dogs—you'll regret this."
Giltea spun to storm out. His temperament was said to be fiery, and his thick forearms indeed screamed warrior bloodline.
I opened my mouth to stop him.
"What bullshit."
Deia, munching on chicken nearby, chimed in with her chin propped up.
Giltea's gaze snapped to her. Even as his ferocious killing intent poured toward Deia, she stabbed her fork into the chicken and twirled her wrist.
"The Zeronia fall was your own fault."
"What did we do wrong? We had nothing to do with the His Majesty's assassination!"
"If you fly too close to the sun and burn up, is it the sun's fault or the fool who got too close?"
"You bitch...!"
"You shouldn't have grown big enough to threaten the throne. Might as well have rebelled, you idiot."
"That remark just now! Can you take responsibility?"
Mentioning rebellion so casually was quite risky.
Deia just shrugged.
"Dunno. Guess an evil spirit possessed me."
She glanced my way and brushed it off lightly. She knew this level of talk wouldn't undermine their position—that's how confident she was.
"And you're innocent? What you did to the Setima villagers was a sight to behold. What nonsense."
"That was war, actions of our ancestors! And we atoned with valuable land and a necromantic monument. The Marias Tribe lives there as slaves now!"
"If you've atoned, own it and move on instead of jutting out your lip like you're the victim. That's just pathetic!"
"..."
"Honestly, did you give up that land and build the monument out of true remorse? You were begging the royals to stop squeezing you, cutting off your own flesh."
It wasn't wrong.
So Giltea's words faltered, and the one-sided verbal assault began.
"You're here hoping to get something out of this. Thinking the Necromancer might show us mercy."
"..."
"But now that you're here, oops? Things look like they're going south? 'I'm a warrior, damn it!' Try grabbing some pride? You're just flapping your gums—embarrassing! If that's the case, draw your sword and charge!"
Deia spat out her tirade. Erika glanced at me, mouthing if this was really okay, but I nodded gently.
She must have seen it.
"Hey! You! Your little sister's fighting so hard for you, and you're flirting with your fiancée via glances?"
"...You can stop now. Sit down."
"Ugh, brothers are all enemies, enemies."
Deia gulped down her wine. Her actions might seem brazen,
but those present knew she was quite calculated.
Deia and I had coordinated before entering the hall.
In this mutually uncomfortable setup,
the side with nothing to lose would stand first—that was obvious.
To test how far each family would endure, where their limits lay, Deia had charged in emotionally.
She'd sacrificed her image to forcibly expose their hands, what I couldn't check from my position.
Thanks to her, I was certain.
The Bright family showed no sign of backing down.
The Zeronia family...
"Please sit down. I'll caution Deia."
At my word, Giltea coughed awkwardly and sat back down, embarrassed.
His aggressive stand was a show of force, declaring they wouldn't be pushed around.
But Deia hit harder, exposing all their cards.
We started from an advantage, but it was a psychological victory for Deia.
"The reason I gathered you all is simple."
Everyone focused on my words. Deia wielded the whip; now it was my turn with the carrot.
"To offer you a chance to contribute to the kingdom."
It sounded like I planned to use them—and I did. Yet both families' expressions brightened subtly.
In these times when royal power soared unchecked, they knew serving the crown and aligning with the royalist faction brought plenty of scraps.
"It won't be a bad deal."
* * *
What was called a betrothal meeting was really a secret conference.
The three families lingered until late evening without conclusion, agreeing to continue tomorrow.
A tactical timeout.
The Bright family's eldest and second sons headed straight to their father Elan's office.
As soon as they entered, eldest son Elia spoke.
"The Necromancer's proposal isn't bad. But it's disappointing."
A chance to align amicably with the royals was good, but the engagement with Erika felt effectively annulled.
The Zeronia family would happily accept a shot at royal favor.
But for the Bright family, wanting to solidify ties through marriage, it wasn't bad but unsatisfactory.
Second-best, not ideal.
"And that idiot Erika is obviously siding with the Necromancer."
Elia vented, and family head Elan sighed deeply in shared regret.
Then second son Edwon cut in with a confident smile.
"Then let's go another way."
"Hm?"
"Got some secret plan?"
Facing his brother and father's gazes, Edwon thumped his chest confidently.
"I'll marry Deia Verdi."
"...Is that possible?"
Having witnessed Deia Verdi’s momentum and cunning, the two eyed him skeptically.
But Edwon replied with a fresh smile.
"She's been glancing my way nonstop. I've counted double digits just from eye contact."
Surprised yet seeing potential, they considered it.
Edwon was especially handsome in the Bright family. His colorful romantic history could even be an advantage in handling Deia adeptly.
"Well, she's pretty enough to my taste. Since Erika failed, I'll take responsibility."
In truth, even as he said it, Edwon was quite taken with Deia's looks.
"She seems pretty emotional. A few fateful scenarios naturally arranged, and my charms will seal it."
He was convinced from their repeated glances that Deia already fancied him.
* * *
The next morning.
With the so-called betrothal meeting scheduled for evening, there was free time to roam.
Deia sat on a bench in the Bright family garden, arms crossed, legs dangling boredly.
Seeing Deus and Erika spending time by the flowerbeds beyond irked her oddly.
'Why's that idiot doing unnecessary stuff.'
They weren't even marrying Erika, so why waste time?
It'd been ages since the family gathered; family talk wouldn't hurt.
Isn't the current family more important than some future one?
'And that woman's not even on the schedule.'
Sighing deeply while glaring at the pair, Deia turned at the approaching presence beside her.
Bright family's second son, Edwon Brilliant, stood smiling brightly with a flower.
"I picked this since you seemed to like the family flowers."
"...Ah, yes."
Deia managed her expression while sizing up Edwon.
His gleaming teeth visible through the bright smile.
'Ah, finally cleaned it.'
Yesterday, food stuck in Edwon's teeth had bugged her so much she'd stared; she'd wanted to yank them out. Fortunately, it hadn't lingered till today.
"Would you spend some time with me?"
'What the hell's this guy.'
Why the sudden move?
'Ha, does he see me as easy?'
In a flash, she saw through the Bright family's scheme and snorted inwardly.
She nearly asked if his brain needed a bullet hole for ventilation.
But seeing Deus and Erika over there soured her mood needlessly.
"Follow me."
Deia shot up and marched straight toward the pair.