Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: If You Do Bad Things, I'll Kill You All!
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Those guys seemed like the kind of scary bastards who’d even strip Dad down to his bones.
Having resolved to uncover the true identities of Dad’s aides during the hunting tournament, I couldn’t afford to relax. As the saying goes, you have to be most wary of the people closest to you.
Dad, as usual, hummed a tune without a care in the world, saying it felt like a picnic.
‘That innocence is what makes Dad so charming.’
While I bristled with suspicion and Dad sang carefree songs, the carriage sped along and soon arrived at a small villa near the hunting grounds.
We were told we’d give a brief speech for the hunting tournament at the villa—Dad’s property—then enjoy a feast from the hunt.
Dad escorted me to a room inside the villa and gazed down at me affectionately.
“Daughter, get some good rest.”
“Mm-hmm!”
“I’ll show you the hunt later.”
I waved at Dad a few times.
“Shall I help you with your bath? There’s still some time before the tournament!”
I shook my head no.
There was no time for a bath.
I had to sit on the sofa in the most luxurious room in the villa and rack my brains hard.
‘Today, uncover Dad’s aides’ identities. Tomorrow, seduce the holy knight... Oh, my head hurts.’
Only one month left until Axel arrives at the ducal house.
Remembering the survival weapons Grandma gave me, which clinked in my pocket, I felt a despairing thought: being a baby with so much to do made survival tough.
The maid sisters cautiously looked down at me as I let out a big sigh.
They were so devoted that a single sigh from me had them fidgeting anxiously.
“Lady Sien, is your head hurting?”
“It must be because there are no cakes here...!”
I shook my head firmly and opened my mouth.
“I’m fine!”
The maid sisters, looking at me proudly, chimed in together.
“You’ll have a light meal soon, and after the tournament, you can eat tons of meat!”
“The hunting tournament sounds exciting. They say they’ve prepared something huge...”
“Something... huge?”
“Yes! I overheard those guys whispering earlier.”
They definitely seemed suspicious.
Thanks to the whispers the maid sisters passed on, my suspicions grew stronger.
‘No good. Just in case, I need to protect myself properly.’
I bit my lip and rummaged through my pocket.
I tucked a large gourd-shaped bomb artifact into the hem of my dress, then strapped on all the safety and offensive artifacts Grandma gave me.
The blue hairpin in my hair was a survival artifact that could create a massive protective barrier around me. The watch on my wrist was for recording, the anklet on my ankle was...
There were so many, my body was practically a walking arsenal.
‘They call this gear carry.’
The maid sisters looked at me curiously, but that didn’t matter.
Having gained confidence rapidly, I grinned like a little devil.
‘Not bad at all!’
But right then—
A strange noise leaked in through the open window of the villa.
“Hear that sound?”
When I asked, the maid sisters nodded cautiously.
I stared at the window, shuddering. Something seemed to be out there by the window.
***
While the hunting tournament was in full swing, Grand Duchess Delphia received the late news that Matthias had become the heir to Mirmod and scowled.
She wasn’t one for frontline combat like Axel, but she’d been training her own soldiers on the borderlands of the duchy. Plus, as a grand duchess on official duty, she had to tediously inspect the boring outskirts. She couldn’t move freely right now.
“Ah, while I’m stuck in this godforsaken border corner.”
“Eek.”
“...The family heir has been decided, huh?”
Snow-white hair and blood-red eyes.
She looked just like a witch from a fairy tale.
Naturally, her personality was prickly and nitpicky.
“Unbelievable.”
Grand Duchess Delphia swept back her white hair and spat curses through gritted teeth.
Sure, she hadn’t assumed the Mirmod heir position was hers by right.
But it grated on her that Matthias, who’d been exiled and only recently returned, had claimed the spot.
She spoke curtly to the aide who brought the news.
“Now it’s a three-way battle between Axel, Matthias, and me. Right?”
“Ha! Even if Matthias snagged the heir title, it’s just for show. Pathetic, a mere exile preening over first pick. The ducal seat belongs to you, Lady Delphia...!”
“Quiet.”
Delphia watched her furious aide’s shoulders slump.
Nothing here pleased her.
She itched to return to the main estate. There were far more amusing things there.
Delphia crossed one leg and asked sharply.
“What’s the one thing Matthias cherishes most?”
“...Uh...”
Delphia twitched her eyebrow, and the aide cautiously replied.
“His young daughter, perhaps? I hear he brought her along this time.”
“Ah, right.”
Delphia crossed her legs and leaned back against the chair.
The aide swallowed dryly watching her. When Delphia acted like this, nothing good ever followed.
Sure enough, she stared into space with red eyes and asked.
“What’s Matthias up to now?”
“He left for the hunting tournament, I hear. To strengthen bonds with his closest aides, probably. Likely took his daughter too.”
“Hmm...”
Heading out for a hunting tournament was natural to flaunt one’s power.
Grand Duchess Delphia nodded with a smile.
“Plant spies and find out who Matthias’s aides are.”
“Yes, understood!”
“And the most important part. Honestly, don’t you want to pour cold water on their little festival?”
She smiled innocently.
“Come on, let’s kidnap her.”
“Who...?”
“Matthias’s daughter.”
Their expressions turned sinister.
***
I peeked out the window with the maid sisters.
Outside, Dad’s friends were gathered in little groups.
‘What, what? Why are those uncles huddled here talking?’
It was weird.
Several uncles with fierce faces crowded around one burly, bandit-like man.
‘The one in the middle is that ribbon-haired uncle from before. Is he getting mobbed?’
That uncle held a strange flower and argued fervently.
Purple petals with bright yellow stamens... fine so far, but it looked just like the bizarre flower from that past-life TV cartoon, Pocketster, like Lururu’s lips or something.
No matter how I looked, it screamed poison. Like a pitcher plant vibe?
Blaming my sharp eyesight, I gasped.
‘Why are they under my window? Are they gonna give that to me?’
Beside me, the maid sisters whispered in horror.
“They’re probably gonna give that flower to Lady Sien.”
“What a pretty flower.”
I couldn’t fathom where the “pretty” came in.
‘Anyone can see they’re trying to poison me!’
But maybe our whispers leaked through the open window. The uncles scattered in an instant.
Faster than me, who’d learned shrinking steps from Grandma’s magic tool.
As they dispersed, they shot suspicious, shady glances toward my window.
‘Those uncles, what were they up to under my room window? They seem skilled, super suspicious.’
Anticipating the upcoming tournament, I checked my artifacts again.
Indiscriminate attack gourd artifact: equipped.
Overkill defense earring artifact: equipped.
Human-disintegrating necklace artifact: equipped.
I glared at the sisters with fierce eyes.
“How many hours till the tournament?”
“Any minute now, Lady Sien!”
I’d thought the tournament would pass peacefully, but now I wasn’t so sure.
No matter how I thought about it, it was time to vet Dad’s shady aides.
‘With these artifacts.’
I clenched my fist, glaring at them.
***
Finally, my body and mind were fully prepared.
I arrived at the hunting grounds, solemnly holding Dad’s hand.
‘This is the Rocherne Forest where the hunting tournament’s held.’
The Rocherne Forest was huge. Round trip would take my little legs a solid two hours.
‘The tournament’s finally starting. Time to check their skills!’
“Sien, isn’t this too high up?”
As I tensely scanned around without a word, Dad called me softly, concern in his voice. He seemed uneasy looking down from such heights.
I peeked below our huge platform.
“Nuh-uh. Perfect for me.”
I haughtily lifted my chin.
Dad, staring at me, soon smiled sheepishly.
Armed soldiers guarded fragile Dad and mighty me well around the platform.
‘Oh, new nobles. Local lords?’
Below the platform, in the outdoor seats for honored guests, sat middle-aged vassals from count families and noble ladies in flashy dresses.
Right in front of the seats were scary-looking horses whinnying menacingly.
My gaze naturally went to the riders.
They looked like dangerous criminals or escapees!
Dad’s closest aides.
‘Those guys might bag lions or bears today. Don’t show fear, though. I’m Sien, future big bad, after all.’
Go, go, fighting! Chanting to myself, I glanced at Dad.
The tournament hadn’t officially started yet.
I tugged Dad’s collar lightly.
“Dad.”
“Yeah, Sien?”
“I wanna join the hunting...”
“No.”
Knew it.
I nodded obediently without whining.
I understood Dad’s feelings.
At just five years old, it was natural I couldn’t join.
Hunting wasn’t my main goal anyway.
Dad looked at my pout affectionately.
“Instead, I’ll give you playtime in the meadow before the feast. Sound fun?”
Only Dad could soothe my disappointment like this. I beamed and nodded big.
‘So during the tournament, observe people. Later, head to that distant meadow and test the bomb artifact.’
Today was for figuring out Dad’s aides’ true intentions.
But even if those self-proclaimed aides harbored ill will, maybe I could make them unable to ignore Dad easily—by showing off my terrifying dignity as his ally daughter.
‘They’ll be shocked seeing the bomb go off. It’s super dangerous, and Grandma said to use it carefully.’
With my plan set, I giggled.
As Dad and I finished talking, quick-witted soldiers below the platform fired a massive salvo.
Boom!
The fireworks signaled the start of the hunting tournament.
With the signal, Dad glanced at his aides with his usual kind expression. They looked somehow resolute and hurried off.