Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Your Arrogance Ends Today
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Anessa twisted her expression into something sinister as she recalled her private meeting with Sien.
Yes, Sien Mirmod.
That child had seemed remarkably clever for her age.
But...
‘Right, it’s that Mirmod family. A mere puppet—they’re something we can exploit anytime.’
It had seemed odd how the late Duchess and Grand Duchess Delphia protected that little girl so excessively. There was no way Sien had properly won them over.
It still left a bad aftertaste...
‘That affectionate gaze was a bit strange, though.’
If she’d decided to oppose the imperial palace, she could have faked that level of affection easily enough. Anessa scoffed.
“Matthias Mirmod turns against us, and you’re saying that’s how things play out?”
“You know as well as I do—it means the Mirmods and us become enemies. A shame.”
“...”
“I wanted to use them without them even realizing, then finish them off with my own hands.”
Vile intent crept across the Crown Prince’s face.
“But that annoying little bitch—I want to put her in her place myself.”
A smile so venomous it startled even Princess Anessa curled the Crown Prince’s lips.
“Don’t worry, Anessa. I plan to kill that bait first.”
“...And how exactly do you plan to do that?”
Anessa eyed him skeptically, and he curled his lips.
“Right now, that ‘bait,’ Sien Mirmod, should be with Matthias.”
“...Probably. So?”
“As for how I plan to deal with that bait and the Mirmod family...”
The Crown Prince leaned in and whispered his scheme to Anessa. Her expression shifted by the moment as she listened, eventually softening.
“In short, you’re digging a pitfall for them.”
“Exactly. I plan to use that little bait properly. Once that girl’s cast out, the Mirmod family’s reputation will hit rock bottom.”
No matter how it looked on the surface, the Mirmods acted like they cherished Sien.
It would be easy to frame them as fools lavishing affection on a ten-year-old fake and stir up the public.
“We could even plant our own fake in the Mirmods.”
“Precisely.”
“And the pitfall... you’re starting to dig today?”
“Probably starting today.”
The Crown Prince’s and Princess’s gazes met in the middle.
***
At that moment, Matthias Mirmod was with Sien.
“Sien.”
“...Daddy.”
I was sitting on Dad’s lap. I might be ten already, but I still loved sitting on Dad’s lap the most!
‘Today, Dad’s vibe feels a little scary for some reason?’
I pretended to braid my pink hair while perking up my ears to catch whatever Dad said behind me.
After a short wait, Dad spoke up.
“...Sien.”
“Hm?”
“What’s my daughter thinking? Why can’t Dad figure it out? When you were little, I could read your thoughts like a book.”
I flinched and clutched my head.
‘Dad already knows I’m not your average ten-year-old.’
I’d been glossing it over by saying the Mirmod education had awakened my genius, but the limits were showing now.
It was fine if he thought I was special.
But getting caught as an actual reincarnator? That would be trouble.
‘If he finds out I’m not a “real child,” it might create distance between Dad and me.’
The thought made my body sink like lead.
From five to ten years old now, a lot had changed between Dad and me over the past five years.
For example...
“My daughter’s too smart. What’s the slang for it these days?”
Dad’s gentle voice wormed into my ear. Ted, the holy knight who’d been concealing his presence, quietly chimed in.
“Like a second life, right?”
Matthias chuckled low, satisfied, muttering to himself.
“Is that it? A second life.”
He sounded genuinely pondering it, making me flinch again.
‘It really is my second life!’
Then Dad let out a soft laugh.
“My daughter’s sharp enough for even that absurd talk.”
It wasn’t absurd at all...
‘Guess reincarnation is hard to believe.’
I dropped the braid I’d been working on and mumbled, then froze.
‘Dad’s voice just sounded villainous. Lately, he’s giving off this weird villain aura...’
And so, Dad and I had reached the stage of suspecting each other.
Just a tiny spark for now, of course.
I slipped quietly off Dad’s lap.
“Dad.”
“Yes, Sien.”
“...I’m smart. Smart enough to know things.”
Dad flashed his signature kind, warm, adorable smile.
“Sien.”
“Yeah?”
Dad’s hand gently stroked my hair.
“Do whatever you want, Sien.”
“Huh...?”
Dad murmured in a warm voice.
“I’ll have your back, solid as a rock.”
His eyes, saying that, looked strangely intense.
Like a villainous uncle from a fairy tale!
‘Gasp, is Dad really turning into a villain?’
Or had he always been one deep down?
I shook my head to clear the thought.
No need to dwell on scary stuff. I shook off the unease and decided to accept only Dad’s sincere love and trust.
“Got it!”
I hopped down to the floor. I’d end up standing in Dad’s huge shadow, but...
“I’m off.”
Dad tilted his head, puzzled.
“Right now? Where to?”
To reassure my anxious Dad, I put my hands on my hips and declared boldly.
“It’s a secret! But don’t worry—I’ve got a plan.”
Dad looked a bit uneasy. But I stood tall, chin up, staring him down. Finally, a gentle voice came from him.
“Alright, let’s go with Sien’s plan this time.”
Like he trusted me no matter who I was.
I gazed at Dad quietly, then handed him the key from my pocket.
“Then, I’ve got a favor. Go to the family warehouse.”
“What’s this...? Who gave you this? Only the lady of the house has it.”
“Grandma did.”
Dad’s face paled as he checked the key. I smiled at him.
“Dad.”
“Yes?”
“Take this key to the family underground warehouse—you’ll find the swan figurine there. You know what it looks like, right?”
“I do. But why the swan figurine...?”
“If I’m in danger, bring it and come save me at the palace. Got it?”
“Sien? Suddenly...”
I spoke gravely to my bewildered Dad, lips moving carefully.
“Today, we’re collab partners! So trust me completely. I’ll explain later!”
No time now to spell out the whole story to Dad.
I bolted out the door without waiting for his reply.
“Then, Dad—I’ll be waiting at the palace!”
My loud shout echoed down the hall until it faded. I didn’t look back once.
I had to leave this place as fast as possible.
***
Inside the imperial palace.
Ambassador Heinrich let out a quiet sigh. Images of the duchy’s protesters kept flashing in his mind.
They’d grabbed his arm, crying out in frustration.
“We did it because we were wronged!”
“...Wronged.”
“Yes! They stole all our achievements!”
They couldn’t prove exactly what had happened, so there was no way to help. Protecting his citizens was the right thing, of course.
‘But I can’t just take their word and cause a scene in the empire...’
The Michel Mine was important, sure, but the opponent was the empire. The emperor had ordered minimal friction.
‘...What am I supposed to do?’
Was there no way to resolve everything peacefully? After pacing the annex for a while, he stood to take a walk.
Mid-stroll, someone entered his view.
Sien curled her lips up slyly. She stared at Ambassador Heinrich, then tilted her head.
“What’re you worrying about?”
The little girl who’d appeared out of nowhere.
Sien Mirmod, the one he’d briefly spoken to earlier.
He dazedly watched her fluttering hair, then replied a beat late.
“...Lady Mirmod?”
“Yup! You can call me Sien!”
Her hair swaying in the breeze, her soft voice.
Just as Ambassador Heinrich caught his breath at this fairy-like aura—so different from the ballroom—Sien grinned cutely and whispered.
“Hey, mister! I saw it on my carriage ride earlier!”
“Saw what...?”
Sien whispered innocently.
“The protesters outside the palace! The maids said they’re from the duchy?”
Ambassador Heinrich’s face twisted subtly. He already felt guilty about them, and she’d hit right on it. Knowing or not, Sien tilted her head and smiled.
“I actually saw you listening hard to those protesters! You’re so cool, Ambassador!”
“No, that’s not—I didn’t do anything...”
As Heinrich shook his head uncomfortably, Sien beamed.
“Hee, those protesters must trust you too!”
“...When there’s nothing I can do.”
Her little green eyes soothed his heart. He found himself spilling everything.
‘She’s just a kid anyway.’
As an imperial envoy, he knew the Mirmods’ infamous reputation well.
He knew how much the Crown Prince checked them. But facing this cute, lovable little girl melted his mental barriers away.
Sien whispered softly.
“But... isn’t there something you can do?”
“Hm?”
“You don’t wanna pick a fight with the empire, right...?”
Sien grinned and held out a tiny business card. It looked huge in her small hand.
“Ta-da! Sien Mirmod Trading Company!”
His face twisted in confusion, and Sien flashed a bright smile.
Right then, a middle-aged man’s voice slithered in—oily and slick.
“Ambassador Heinrich, there you are.”
The Ambassador and I turned toward it together. There stood Count Yoter, the Crown Prince’s lackey and rival to my trading company. He smirked.
“What do you want?”
“Oh, nothing with you right now. It’s this one I’ve got business with.”
With that, Count Yoter rudely grabbed my arm. Ambassador Heinrich opened his mouth in alarm.
“What are you doing?”
“Arresting a criminal.”
“Calling a noble lady a criminal?”
“Ha! Noble? This one’s a fake who dared impersonate a Mirmod.”
“What? No, I wanted to hear more from her—”
“Ambassador Heinrich.”
He cut Heinrich off coldly as the man stared.
“Be quiet now. This is between the palace and the Mirmods.”
“...I see.”
Heinrich stared at Count Yoter and me, then saw my tight-lipped mouth and let his hand drop limply.
“It’s a paternity test kit our Yoter Trading Company developed ourselves.”
I looked up at Count Yoter with wide, innocent eyes.
“What’s a paternity test kit got to do with me?”
Like he’d been waiting, Count Yoter sneered.
“What do you mean? You know the truth about your identity’s out, right?”
“That I’m a fake daughter?”
“Exactly. This kit will provide ironclad proof you’re a fake. The palace graciously bestowed this favor on the Mirmods.”
I touched my chin thoughtfully.
“Oh? Even so, you can’t hold a trial right now, can you?”
Trials for high nobles required a royal witness.
The emperor was currently feigning ignorance about the mine issue, handing real power to the Crown Prince and stepping back.
But Count Yoter puffed out his belly proudly.
“Trying to stall, little girl? But it’s possible. His Highness the Crown Prince will preside over the trial himself, right now. Come along.”
Count Yoter’s plan was this.
He’d hype his paternity test kit’s utility while framing me as the fake daughter.
The scandalous tale of a fake infiltrating the Mirmods would spread, naturally promoting his kit after the trial.
‘Noise marketing, they call it. We lose nothing.’
Count Yoter bound me roughly. Ambassador Heinrich bit his lip and stepped forward, but I smiled casually and waved it off.
“Sure, I’ll go. Oh, can we bring the Ambassador to my trial too?”
She acted so leisurely, like she’d planned it all.
Count Yoter gripped my small body roughly and whispered.
“Fine, bring him. Let the Ambassador watch you fall. Your days of acting so cheekily end today.”