Chapter 204
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: Conjugal Fraudsters (1)
"...I never imagined the results would be this intense."
Lucia's red lips parted slightly.
"Then let's take a short break, and have the winners—Vivian and Reika—settle the final round."
Reika chewed on her thumbnail as she thought.
'...Winners' round? What winners' round?!'
They were dressing it up nicely as a winners' round.
Her victory over Bianca had only come from exploiting a flaw in the match.
If it had been a fair and square fight without that weakness exposed, they would've lost a hundred percent.
'This is dangerous... This is too dangerous! I've been waiting so long for the invitation event... I can't be separated from my dear brother-in-law like this!'
The worst possible scenario for Reika... no, for the Garcia mother and daughter.
Of course, she had consummated her relationship with Eugene, but just once.
Wasn't it too much to expect months of pent-up lust to be satisfied with a single encounter?
Reika let out a deep sigh.
In truth, winning would solve everything...
But the odds of beating that busty, creepy girl were slim to none.
'...She'll probably go off with just a light touch!'
Despite the long rest, the aftereffects of the 'Dildo of Imperfection' still lingered in Reika's pussy.
'A draw... I have to drag it out to a draw.'
The score was still 1-1.
As long as the outcome wasn't decided, she might be able to push for a draw.
'But how? Should I get on my knees and beg? No! That won't work!'
If it meant securing Eugene, she'd kneel a hundred times over—but it wouldn't fly.
Of course not.
If the roles were reversed, Reika wouldn't have let her off with mere begging on her knees.
'Then... what do I do...'
No matter how she racked her brain, the opponent wouldn't let her dodge the match.
With defeat drawing nearer every second, her mouth went dry, and anxiety filled her heart.
"Now, let me explain the rules for the final round. The match will..."
Just as Lucia was about to reveal the rules for the final round—
Knock knock—
A knock echoed from the door.
Lucia let out a short sigh at the same time.
There was no need to ask who it was.
Only one person knocked like that.
Lucia approached the door and spoke.
"...Marjan, something important is underway. If it can wait, come back later."
"Sorry for the interruption, Lady Lucia. But this is urgent. It seems the situation you were worried about has come to pass."
"...Tch. Of all the times..."
Lucia bit her lower lip lightly as she glanced over the Calliope mother and daughter.
"....!"
Reika didn't miss that moment.
The mother and daughter exchanged quick glances and nodded.
This was a lifeline for Garcia and Reika—a godsend.
They had to grab it with both hands.
"Oh dear, oh dear... With an intruder showing up, we'll have to call the match here. Shame, but it's a 1-1 draw."
"Tell me about it. We were so close to winning, and it ends like this..."
Garcia's words made Bianca gape in disbelief.
"A draw?! Who decided that? Where do you think you're running off to!"
"...Running? Why would I run?"
"You're scared you'll lose!! You're chickening out!"
As Bianca threw a fit, Garcia twisted her lips into a smirk.
"Chickening out...? Tch, such vulgar speech. Character comes from one's words and actions. With talk like that, you'll never have the refinement of true nobility."
"Refinement my ass! You were the one squealing 'eeek' while getting fucked by your own son..!!"
Bianca's sharp retort hardened Garcia's face.
Knock knock—
"...Lady Lucia, if you're busy, should I come back later?"
"..."
As Marjan pressed on, oblivious to the mood, and Lucia stayed silent, Reika smiled brightly.
"...What, you want to continue the match? Fine. Then send whoever's outside away, and we'll proceed. Otherwise, it's a draw."
"That's ridiculous! Who do you think you are, deciding—"
"What if you call it ridiculous? The referee needs to decide quickly. For the record, the condition for a draw is that my brother-in-law visits home next break."
Having seized control, Reika shook the whole board.
She showed a glimpse of the wicked girl she once was in the Calliope household.
"You're joking! You declare a draw and tack on conditions?!"
"Yes, the interruption is the host's fault. Naturally, you compensate for it."
The discussion proceeded without input from the prize—Eugene.
But Eugene and Lucia's minds were focused not on the mother-daughter versus sisters showdown, but on the news Marjan brought.
"Lucia.."
"...Yes, I understand, Master."
Called by name, Lucia nodded with a bitter expression.
"I'll accept Garcia's proposal. Since we can't continue the match now, it's 1-1—a draw."
"Brother-in-law. Then I'll see you at home next break."
"Yes, Sister. Mother too—we'll visit the family estate next break."
"...Hehehe. Perfect. We've achieved plenty."
Watching their satisfied smiles made a corner of his heart feel uneasy.
Next break...
He doubted such a thing would even exist.
Lucia's obsession with the 'invitation event' probably stemmed from knowing this was Carnea's final festival.
'...From now on, a civil war engulfing the entire empire will begin.'
Not just Carnea—the whole empire would be swept into war.
"Whaaat...? A draw? We had this won! That doesn't make sense!"
"It's important to respect the referee's call. See you at the estate, Brother-in-law."
"...See you at the estate."
Garcia and Reika slipped out like they were fleeing, before the ruling could be overturned.
Marjan watched them pass and widened her eyes.
"...Lady Lucia. Who were those people who just left?"
"...Don't worry about it. Come in, Marjan."
"Yes, Lady Lucia."
As Marjan entered, Vivian glared at her with a sullen expression.
Eugene scratched his cheek and spoke.
"Bianca, Vivian. Sorry, but could you step out for a bit?"
"Why! Why kick us out too? What's the big secret you three are gonna talk about!!"
Bianca narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Marjan.
"Please. It's not something Bianca or Vivian should hear."
Hearing it now would only cause needless confusion.
Especially for members of a house like Beatrice, only just rising again.
"Sister..."
Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Vivian tugged at Bianca's hem.
Bianca glanced between Eugene and Vivian, then sighed.
"...Tch, fine, whatever. But don't forget—this match was our win. We'll claim our prize later!"
Asserting her rights one last time, Bianca led Vivian out of the room.
"....The smell of something naughty... is filling... Eugene's room..."
"..."
After seeing the Beatrice sisters to the door, he returned to find Marjan blushing and fidgeting her legs.
Lucia crossed her arms and snapped.
"...Marjan. You said it was urgent—explain the situation."
"...Ahh...! S-sorry. Lady Lucia, the situation you feared has occurred. ...Pedro Longist, eldest son of the Longist family, was scarred on the face during a duel."
"...Pedro was in Class 1 of Year 3, right?"
The Longist family was a major power among the western nobles.
Not comparable to the great house of Ursula in the west, but top-tier excluding the great houses.
For Lucia, next in line as Ursula's heir, it was a house she couldn't ignore.
"Which house scarred him?"
"...It was a commoner named Jaybit."
Lucia stroked her red lips.
"A commoner dueling a noble during the invitation event? Surely all the houses were watching?"
"Well... Apparently, the noble who was supposed to fight got injured suddenly, so Jaybit stepped in as a substitute."
"And Pedro accepted?"
"Yes. Being from Class 2, he thought it'd be an easy win. By Year 3, skill usually matches class ranking. They say Pedro dominated until Jaybit's sneaky counter at the end."
A commoner scarring a noble.
Outside Carnea, it would be a grave crime.
But inside Carnea—especially in a fair duel—no one could punish it.
"So what do the Longists want? Surely not compensation?"
"Yes, a sincere apology and nullifying the match."
"...That's reasonable enough. If an apology settles it, that's the right call."
Eugene nodded at Lucia's words.
Rules of Carnea or whatever—scarring someone's child in front of their parents.
Morally, an apology was in order.
"Then what's the issue? Jaybit refuses to apologize?"
"No, he was heated at first when the Longists called it a cheap trick... but after calming down, he agreed to the terms and was ready to apologize..."
Jaybit might feel wronged, but Carnea days are short and life is long.
Bending pride once to appease noble wrath was the smart play.
...Yet the news reached Lucia, meaning...
'A situation arose where the apology couldn't happen.'
And the cause of that situation...
"...Her Highness the Princess intervened."
Marjan nodded at Eugene's sighing mutter.