Chapter 90: Flower of Evil
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 90: Flower of Evil
Tilda, brought into the Dandolo family to wed their heir, was dissatisfied with everything.
The reason was simple: the mansion did not belong to her.
Unable to act as the true mistress in a house that wasn't hers, Tilda found every corner of the estate irritating.
"Hmm-hmm~"
Despite her lingering resentment, she sat on the sofa today humming a cheerful tune. There was only one reason for her immense delight—the ring on her finger.
It was a band crafted from polished silver, set with a massive diamond at its center. But this was no ordinary stone. It was a red diamond, a gem that could only be unearthed by miners who descended below the boundary of Hell within the God’s Grave in the western part of the continent.
Dubbed the "Blood Diamond" because it had claimed tens of thousands of lives, it was a rarity among rarities—a treasure that could not be obtained with mere money. Tilda took immense pleasure in the fact that a gem others could only dream of possessing now adorned her hand.
However, her pleasant smile was short-lived.
"My love, has something wonderful happened?"
The moment she heard that voice, Tilda’s bliss vanished. The one who threw cold water on her mood was the young lord of the Dandolo mansion, Henri Dandolo. He was her fiancé and the very man who had gifted her the ring.
Tilda turned her head, her face shifting into a practiced, theatrical smile.
"I was just thinking of you."
"What a coincidence. I was thinking of you as well."
Henri laughed joyfully, oblivious to her true feelings, and kissed Tilda’s hand. He squeezed himself onto the sofa next to her. Tilda, annoyed even by the sensation of his clothes brushing against hers, subtly shifted away and asked, "How is business lately?"
"Business? It’s going wonderfully! I heard the dwarves in the West discovered a rare earth vein used for magic materials. Money will literally be raining from the sky."
Henri clapped his hands and swayed in excitement. However, all that escaped Tilda’s lips was a heavy sigh.
Henri’s smiling face clouded over with bewilderment. "What’s wrong? This is good news, isn't it?"
"It is. For now, at least. But why is it that I can’t see a future for us?"
"You can’t see a future? From where I’m standing, I see us going from strength to strength..."
"That’s because you’re an optimist. I don’t see it that way. I’m at a loss as to how we’re supposed to live from now on. Those beasts are still lunging at me, trying to snatch away what’s mine."
"Do you mean your brothers?"
Tilda nodded.
"Those two are more vicious than you can imagine. Do you have any idea how much I suffered because of them when I was young?"
A surge of genuine resentment rose within her. Tilda continued, her voice thick with staged passion.
"Those beasts think I only came to this family to use you. They want to paint me as the world’s greatest villainess and turn me into a fool who can’t exercise power anywhere!"
A single tear rolled down Tilda’s cheek. That one drop made Henri’s heart sink.
"Tilda, my love. Do not be anxious. My heart beats only for you." Henri gently took Tilda’s hand. "Look. This diamond. Isn't it your favorite gem?"
"..."
"I swore when I placed this on your finger that I would make you the happiest woman in the world. You don't need to feel insecure anymore."
"...Really?"
"Of course." Henri kissed the back of her hand again and spoke softly. "My love, I would pluck the very stars from the sky for you."
Only then did Tilda, who had been shedding tears the size of peas, break into a smile.
This idiot is so easy.
They say all men become simpletons for the women they love, but Henri was a particularly severe case. That was just the kind of person he was. Unlike his father, who had expanded the business through aggressive investments and ruthless methods, Henri was mild-mannered and preferred a leisurely pace. He was a man of impulse, lacking any sense of meticulousness.
But at least he has talent.
Developing the Western region had only been possible thanks to his impulsive intuition. Though his appearance was unsightly and he was well up in years, his ability made him tolerable. At the very least, she had to use him until all her headaches were resolved.
Just then, a servant approached and whispered into Tilda’s ear.
"The fire has been successfully set."
It was good news.
"Faster than I expected. Understood."
"What’s faster?" Henri asked.
"It’s a secret."
"A secret between fiancés?"
"It has to be. I’ve prepared a gift for you."
"Oh... for me?" A wide grin spread across Henri Dandolo’s face. He slid an arm around Tilda’s shoulder. "Could you give me just a tiny peek at this gift?"
Tilda gave him an equally innocent smile. "No. I’ll tell you later, so please be patient for now."
"Aw, come on. You can't even show your fiancé a little bit?"
"I love surprises. If you find out now, I’ll be sad because it’ll feel like all my hard work was for nothing."
She pouted her lips and puffed out her cheeks. Henri beamed at the sight.
"Alright, alright. Even if I see it, I’ll act like I’m blind and don't know a thing."
"If you're acting like you don't know, it means you already know."
"I’m a better actor than I look."
"Oh, stop it! Hohoho!"
Tilda burst into laughter. Seeing her mood brighten, Henri looked relieved.
"I should get going now. It’s time for my father-in-law to eat, isn't it?"
"You could just leave that to the maids. Isn't it a hassle?"
"I neglected him a bit while I was sightseeing in Halim, and he is your father, after all, Henri."
"Haha, well now. Both my father and I are far too lucky to have a daughter-in-law like you!"
Henri scratched his head, grinning foolishly. He began humming a tune about how happy a man he was, and Tilda laughed along with him.
That laughter lasted exactly until she stepped out and the door clicked shut.
Tilda’s expression instantly turned cold. She walked along the red carpet toward the head of the family’s room. As she walked, a maid slipped in beside her.
"His condition?"
"The same as usual."
"Is that so? Fine. Is everything ready?"
"Yes."
"Give it to me."
Tilda took the tray, and the door opened.
"Father, it’s Tilda. I’m coming in."
Tilda entered the room. Inside, the wallpaper chronicled the Dandolo family history, and a prominent family tree caught the eye. Having maintained their lineage for over two hundred years, their pride was immense.
The person who embodied that pride most was Henri’s father, Rico Dandolo. Rico had been the most aggressive merchant in the family’s history. To keep Herman Pascal’s expansion in check, he had dived into high-risk, high-reward ventures. Through a combination of skill and heavenly luck, Rico’s business grew steadily, building the reputation they held today.
However, no matter how much one earns, no merchant is free from the passage of time. Rico had become an old man with little time left. He was a man on the brink of death, barely able to breathe, let alone hold a spoon.
"Hello, Father. How are you feeling today?" Tilda asked.
She knew no answer would come. Tilda continued talking to herself.
"The weather is lovely today. It might be a good idea to go for a short outing."
"..."
"Of course, in your condition, even sitting up is difficult. It’s quite tragic."
"..."
"But surely you feel energized because your daughter-in-law is talking to you?"
Tilda shoved a spoonful of porridge into Rico’s mouth.
"Henri says they discovered a rare earth vein in the area he contracted. They say it has great mana sensitivity, so we’ll be rolling in money."
"..."
"Isn't it amazing? Just a few years ago, you cursed him, calling him a worthless piece of trash. You lamented that the Dandolo Merchant House would be ruined if a man like him became chairman. And yet, that very son is about to bring another golden age to the company."
"..."
"Who do you think made your pathetic son like that?"
"..."
"It was me. No one else. It’s all my doing."
Tilda smiled deeply, lost in her own narcissism. "I am such an incredible woman."
She shoved the wooden spoon back into his mouth. "I am not a woman you should treat like a ghost who will tear this company down."
She stirred the spoon inside his mouth. "Everything is mine. The Pascal Trading Company, the Dandolo Merchant House, this mansion..."
Roughly, she shoved the wooden spoon deep into his throat—so deep it seemed impossible.
"And even your life, which is no different from a vegetable's."
Gack... gack—!
Rico’s face turned pale as he began to choke. Tilda wore a delighted expression. Just before he suffocated, she pulled the spoon out. He gasped, his breath returning in ragged hitches.
"But you must live. It’s more beneficial for me if you live a little longer rather than dying right now."
"..."
"They say you have to be alive for me to change that hidden will of yours. Why did you have to make things so difficult by keeping secrets?"
Tilda stroked the old man’s chin with her finger. The pleasure of dominance was brief. Tilda’s finger stopped.
"Oh my?"
Her smiling face turned icy. Rico Dandolo, who shouldn't have been able to lift a finger, had moved. His eyes had rolled over to look at Tilda. His pupils were trembling violently, so bloodshot they looked like they belonged to a vengeful spirit.
Murderous intent. A hatred so intense it was hard to believe it came from a speechless old man was directed entirely at Tilda.
Tilda looked down into those eyes and muttered coldly, "I suppose the medicine wasn't enough..."
She quietly pulled a small vial from her robe and added another drop to the porridge. Without even mixing it, she scooped it up and shoved it into Rico Dandolo’s mouth.
The strength left Rico’s eyes once more. He returned to being a frail old man who could do nothing but breathe.
"Rest, Father. You don't have much time left anyway." Tilda smiled brightly again and whispered into the ear of the now-vegetative Rico Dandolo. "When you pass away, I’ll send your son along with you so you won't be lonely."
Tilda stepped out of the room carrying the empty porridge bowl. The mansion’s servants were waiting.
"Are you sure the blame was pinned on the Murchit Mercenary Agency?" Tilda asked as she handed over the tray.
"Yes. Murchit went to Valdrova Castle late at night to speak with Stephan, but he returned after only two hours."
"Sent back late at night... It seems the conversation didn't go well." Tilda smiled with delight. "Now we just have to set them off one by one. One by one."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Proceed. Let’s take everything for ourselves."
"Understood."
The servants moved busily. The plan had begun.
Now, everything will fall into my hands.
Murchit Pascal and Stephan Pascal. Though they were her blood relatives, to Tilda, they were nothing more than obstacles in her path to the Pascal Trading Company.
Tilda raised her hand and held it up to the light. The expertly cut Blood Diamond sparkled beautifully.
"It would be perfect if it weren't an engagement ring."
Despite her lament, she was happy. The name of an engagement was fleeting, but the beauty of a diamond was eternal.
* * *
Murchit returned that very day.
Though it was late at night, the fact that he wasn't given a place to stay was no different from being turned away at the door. From that, the public could guess that the discord between Murchit and Stephan had deepened.
Afterward, Murchit showed signs of breaking away to become independent. He began preparing to transfer all the businesses he had managed to his mercenary agency and separate them. It was an intentional move to force a reaction, and the target took the bait.
Herman Pascal had moved.
Knowing that their power must not be divided, he tried to block Murchit’s attempt at independence while simultaneously attempting to reinstate himself as a director to oust Stephan.
Just as Stephan predicted.
Herman had no idea what was actually happening. He only knew that the two brothers had fought and that a rift was forming as a result. The best actor is the one who enters the stage knowing nothing. Herman had become a crucial player in erasing everyone’s suspicions.
The father, Herman Pascal. The older brother, Murchit Pascal. And the man himself, Stephan Pascal.
Under the name of the Pascal Trading Company, a three-way battle between the men had begun. It made Tilda believe everything was moving according to her plan.
It was just as she was thinking this.
"Regent."
Isabella entered Ferda’s office. In her hand was not the usual mountain of documents, but a single thin handkerchief.
"A carpenter found this while organizing construction materials. He said he couldn't read, so he brought it to me..."
What Isabella handed over was a neatly folded black scarf. When she unfolded it, she saw writing in a startlingly vivid red.
No, it’s not blood. It’s dye.
If it were blood, it wouldn't have stayed that bright red. Whether it was blood or dye didn't matter. There was only one group Ferda knew of that used red dye to write on black scarves.
The Black Bandana.
A secret organization spread across the entire Serdes Continent. It was an underworld organization with a provocative slogan: "Nothing is hidden, and nothing is out of reach."
True to such an information network, the content was equally provocative.
— To the Honorable Ferda Valdrova.
— We are aware of the recent events surrounding the Pascal Trading Company.
— We shall see you soon.