Severing the Limbs First
If she had truly abused the twins, it wasn't an excessive punishment at all. If anything, they were sparing her life precisely because she was family.
Ah, of course, Genevieve would find being thrown out of the mansion agonizing enough to kill her.
"I've gotten used to the residence now, and the most important environment has changed, so I think it's time to start properly looking after the boys."
Long-term mission: seize control of the mansion.
There were far too many problems in this place. Since she couldn't fix everything at once, Ibel had laid out her plans in stages.
First: adapt and build her own allies.
Second: assess the children.
Third: introduce changes to the mansion and expand her influence through them.
Now, the fourth.
Take full responsibility for caring for the children.
"From now on, I'll oversee the boys' lunches and dinners, even their baths. But it'll be surprise checks. I need to know how they've been treated on a regular basis."
Victor fell silent at her words. Ibel pressed on without hesitation.
"The butler and head maid are loyal to the Bayern family. But have they been prioritizing the young masters all this time, or Lady Genevieve?"
"Lady Genevieve, naturally. They've been looking after her since she was a child."
"Exactly. So suppose she struck Damian. Who could stop her?"
No one.
No one but Victor.
Even Damian was ferociously beast-like, and adults disciplining naughty children with a beating was hardly uncommon.
There was that much of an issue, at least…
Letting out a sigh, she looked at Victor.
Ibel's eyes were gleaming.
"I haven't personally witnessed Lady Genevieve abusing Damian. She could just deny it. But if not, there's no explaining the twins' resentment toward her."
Suddenly, a guest arrived.
How the twins—acting like territorial animals—would treat a guest was obvious.
They'd been ferocious even with her.
And this particular "guest" was an important figure to Genevieve.
It was time for a roundup hunt.
"If I catch her in the act, I can find out whether the butler and head maid knew about the abuse and turned a blind eye. Of course, we can't just dismiss such key staff. I'll send them straight to you, Your Grace, so hear them out and mete out appropriate punishment."
"Understood. So you'll start driving her out from there."
"Yes, exactly. I'll turn the household staff upside down too."
Victor was impressed.
Ibel was wise, like a noblewoman who had long managed a household.
Her decisions were measured, her judgments logical and clean. He could trust her with this.
"If you're going to oust Lady Genevieve, you need to cut off her hands and feet first. Please compile a list of servants loyal to her, not you. I'll memorize it."
The lady of a great noble house was the commander of everything that happened within its walls.
Victor, who had run an intelligence unit, knew well how difficult managing people could be.
"It shall be done. The butler will deliver it this evening."
Ibel nodded in satisfaction at his decisive support.
Before she knew it, Cecily Bethel had been pushed far from her mind.
"If Damian truly suffered abuse out of sight, that would be my failing."
A moment later, Victor spoke bitterly.
Ibel didn't contradict him.
"What matters is the future. You've been too busy, away too often. You left their upbringing to Lady Genevieve and didn't think twice about it. But you want things to change. That's why you brought me in."
"Yes."
"I'll make it happen."
Ibel's calm promise swept through Victor's chest.
A rough vow.
She could never know how much it saved him.
Truth be told… Victor was hopeless at caring for children. He had no idea how to handle those tiny lives.
It was worse because they weren't his own.
They were already too estranged to simply shower with affection.
Like a river cut off at the legs—he didn't know what to do.
Yet Ibel found solutions with an unflappable face.
It was wondrous, awe-inspiring.
"By the way, should I attend the sponsored exhibition too?"
"What would you like?"
"Will you be there?"
"I usually don't, but if my wife attends, I'll make an appearance. For reference, Anselm has been going since he was seven."
Wife.
The sudden title brought a faint flush to Ibel's expressionless face.
She didn't notice, but Victor, who watched her so intently and persistently, did.
"…Anselm, at the sponsored exhibition?"
She nearly faltered but managed to ask casually. Victor wasn't the type to point it out and embarrass a lady, either.
"The butler says it's essentially Lady Genevieve's stage to show off Anselm."
Ibel pursed her lips, lost in thought for a moment.
"What about Damian all this time?"
Victor's words caught in his throat at the pointed question.
He had never considered it before.
He'd assumed the boy stayed in his room, but seeing Damian up close revealed deeper problems.
There was no way that child had stayed quietly in his room without Anselm…
'No.'
Victor readily admitted his oversight once more. He managed his subordinates well, yet neglected his family—these still-young children.
"They might have locked Damian away somewhere during those events. It's not impossible. We should investigate if he's ever been tied up."
"…Understood."
Ibel bit her plump lower lip.
'I've second-guessed myself a dozen times, wondering if I was falsely accusing her.'
Damian staying meekly out of the way the entire exhibition? He couldn't have stayed in his room without escaping.
"I'll attend this exhibition too. It's held in the mansion—if I don't step up, it'll look odd. Controlling internal affairs is the goal of this operation, after all."
"Understood."
Victor accepted without objection. As she said, parties in the mansion fell under her purview.
She was free to attend or not.
And Ibel… as he expected, chose the direct approach.
"In exchange, I'll bring Damian this time. If only one twin shows up, rumors about the other will spread. They might already have."
"I agree."
It was what he wanted too. Damian had improved in every way lately.
Unlike before, when he was uncontrollable and full of enmity, now he even demanded to be carried.
Still, sending him among noble ladies who would frown at the slightest disruption… He decided to trust Ibel.
"Finally, I need a dedicated lab for making and researching medicines. They have to be potent, so children can't wander in freely, and security must be tight."
"Give the butler the list of needs, and it'll be handled immediately. I'll assign two guards on rotation."
"Thank you."
That should keep even the rowdiest child from touching the medicine cabinet.
Reassured, Ibel paused in the flowing silence, reviewing if she'd missed anything.
"Oh, and… if Lady Genevieve tries anything against me, just let it happen first. Catching her red-handed will be easier."
After Ibel left the room, Victor sat in contemplation and realized something anew.
Ibel truly didn't give a single speck of thought to Cecily Bethel.
And he… in the opposite situation, would be terribly, awfully, exceedingly, profoundly preoccupied.