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Chapter 71 Part 4 – Mother and Countess Rosenthal. The destinies of two people who had misgivings with each other are intersecting again after time had passed.

「…… Don’t worry about it. Cornelia-san, the star of this evening, has made her decision. We’ll do our best to support her intuition. Just to be on the safe side, we should send a carrier pigeon to the duke’s mansion and the royal castle. Hey, Seraphy. I’m talking about you. I’m sure you’ve made preparations for it.」

Seraphy nodded at Bradd’s words.

「…… Of course. It’s about time for the Transportation Corps of the Orange Privateers to arrive from the road in front. They’re fully equipped with pigeons, replacement dresses, and carriage repair equipment. Of course, there’s a separate carriage for the ladies to change their clothes. There is also a beautician. It is a ball after all. I want them to be fully prepared for the challenge.」

「As expected from my best friend. It’s almost scary how thorough you are. Ohh, I can see Orange Privateers’ carriage. Leave the lookout from the sky to me and my partner. No one can escape from the owl’s eyes. There’s no one lying in ambush ahead of them, so don’t worry.」

The white owl once again flew into the night sky, and Arnold, who shares its field of vision, gives his assurance.

For some reason, I had a sense of déjà vu looking at the backs of those three reliable people that were having a conversation.

What is this soothing sense of security?

How strange.
Three of the 「Five Heroes」 who killed me in the previous 「108 times」 are now my allies.
As long as I can ignore the trauma of being killed, which pops up from time to time, Bradd, Seraphy, and Arnold are all people capable of turning the tide of the war single-handedly.

And it’s not simply having my allies added by three.
It’s actually a plus six since my terrifying enemies have been reduced by three.

Ohh, I thought my life was in crazy-hard mode because I got attacked by the demon dog Gallam right after I was born, but maybe I’m on the winning side!?
My life is going to be stable from now on!!
Everything is going well!!

Ohohohoho. I can let bygones be bygones here for all three of you.
In exchange, please work like a horse for my become-a-shut-in project.

「…… *Sniff sniff*, I can smell the scent of a nasty vermin on Scarlet-sama’s body. I have to mark it as well so that Alisa can take the lead and not lose.」

I felt completely at ease and tried to laugh like a villainess for once, but Alisa squirmed around inside my skirt and licked my inner thighs and caused me to writhe.

「…… Ahahaha …… hey …… Alisa ……!! Stop it!! Stoppp!! It tickles!!」

「Okay then. Let’s bring back the victory flag as proof that Alisa has subjugated this place.」

「…… Ahahaha ……!! !? H-Hey!? That’s not a flag!! That’s my panties!! Don’t take it off without my permission!! Stop it!! You stupid girl ……!! Do you want to get punched!? Hyaaahh!? Don’t sniff aroundddd!! Stop sticking your face there!! Nooooooo!!」

…… My cheerful mood was washed away in an instant as if flushed away by a flood.

「Hehehe, it’s so nice to see girls joking around with each other.」

「I-Is that so? To me, it looks like she really doesn’t like it …… But I don’t really understand the sense of distance between girls …… and I don’t want to be treated like a guy who can’t read the situation …… what should I do ……」

「She seriously doesn’t like it!! We should help her out!!」

The three of them rushed over and tried to pull Alisa off me, but she acted like a snapping turtle that had bitten its prey and just wouldn’t come out of my skirt.

「Wait!? Stop!! Bradd!! My panties are going to come off!! Alisa!! Stop biting my panties!! Let go of it!! Gyaaaahh!! Don’t look at me, all three of you!!」

Stop, strip.
It’s already a mess.

I had a realization.

As long as there is the super troublemaker called Alisa who is a nuisance no matter whether she is an enemy or an ally, even if there are some plus points, my life will be full of twists and turns with headwinds flying all over the place. There seemed to be no doubt about it.

Someone, please do something about this rampaging, stupid girl ……
I really feel like I’m about to cry.

◇

Countess Rosenthal was standing still in a small, dimly lit room with a rose corsage on her bosom, which was a gift from the young Wendell.

The room was crowded with countless jewels, furs, and furnishings.
Those were all treasures.

The only exception is this old rose corsage.
It’s worthless to anyone other than Countess Rosenthal.
But it’s an irreplaceable treasure for her.
It was only when she touched it that she felt like she could remember the young girl’s kind heart.

「…… Wait just a bit longer. Ronny, Teddy. I will be there soon ……」

After murmuring so to her deceased younger brothers, she sadly chided herself.

「I guess that’s impossible for me. A woman like me is more suited to go to hell. I can’t go to heaven where you two are …… I wish I could have seen you two just one more time ……」

The countess coughed violently.
Blood spilled from the fingertips that were covering her mouth.

The power of the 「evil eye」 that covered the entire mansion was rapidly devouring her life as the caster.
Tremendous pain and lethargy attacked her entire body.
As Solomon had warned, at this rate, she would die in the near future.

She has no regrets.
However, she can’t die just yet.

「At least until I see Wendell-sama and that person …… Cornelia standing on the grand stage ……」

Countess Rosenthal gasped as she leaned her back against the wall, then she mustered her strength and stood back up again.

Countess Rosenthal, who reigns as the flower of high society, lives in solitude.

Having lost her two beloved younger brothers to an authoritative 「witch hunt」, she truly hated political power.
Yet, having no choice but to live as the personification of political power, the Countess’ heart is torn apart with sadness and self-loathing. The sight of her clinging to a small rose corsage and choking back her sobs in the privacy of her room would be unbelievable to those who are aware of her power in high society.

But without power, she could not achieve her goal.
No matter how hard it was, she could not stop.

The previous king of Hydrangea was a tyrant that hated the legend of the True Emperor.
Because it could overthrow the absolute monarchy that he desired.

Wendell, Scarlet’s father, who has red hair and red eyes and was rumored to be the second coming of the True Emperor, was an obstacle that the previous king wanted to get rid of at any cost. That’s why he made unreasonable demands and sent him to extremely dangerous places many times. Ironically, the fact that he kept coming back alive caused Wendell to be called a hero.

If things continue as they were, Wendell-sama would one day be killed.

And so, the flustered Countess Rosenthal resorted to forceful means.

Using all sorts of dirty tricks, she overthrew her rivals and weakened the power of the previous king’s queen who was renowned as a wise consort and drove her into a situation close to an abandoned consort.

That is the reason why Countess Rosenthal is said to be a wicked beauty.

Having risen to the position of the most favored consort, Countess Rosenthal has become an influential person behind the scenes of the imperial court.

She made use of her beauty and extravagance to conquer the previous king of Hydrangea. Putting on a smiling mask so that her love for Wendell would not be known, she risked her life to captivate the previous king. And every time the previous king thought of giving Wendell a harsh assignment, she seduced him, drowned him in lust, and distracted his attention.

All for the sake of Wendell’s happiness.

The Crimson Duke Wendell didn’t know about this.

He had no idea that the little girl he once saved had risked her life, threw away her pride and heart, and got covered in dirt and blood in order to protect him from the intrigues of the royal palace.

Behind her back, she was called the poisonous scorpion of the imperial court and a filthy prostitute dressed in gold and jewels. But she had to remain a wicked woman because she was driven by a love more wholehearted than anyone else’s.

Every time she had to stand by the previous king’s side and look down at Wendell with a stern and overbearing countenance, she had to desperately suppress her desire to cling to his feet and cry out loud.

There was a reason as to why even the keen-eyed Wendel couldn’t notice it.

The simple-minded Rona he knew and the arrogant Countess Rosenthal had little in common other than their brunette hair and hazel eyes. And above all, Wendell thought that Rona had passed away.

His memories of Rona, a girl that was like a wildflower, was treasured inside his heart, but it was impossible for him to connect Rona to Countess Rosenthal.

And then, Wendell came to hate Countess Rosenthal after mistaking her for the main culprit that caused the bullying of his wife Cornelia.

For the next 14 years after that day, every day was hell for the Countess.
Even so, she maintained her political power so that she could be of help to Wendell if something happens.

But those hard days are coming to an end.

If Cornelia had grown into the kind of spouse she had hoped for, Wendell would no longer need her help.

「…… That’s why, if you betray my expectations, Cornelia, I will curse you to death.」

Despite her words, her tone and expression were soft.

Countess Rosenthal believes in it.
She believes that this time Cornelia will show her the miracle that was supposed to happen at the scene of the gruesome bullying 14 years ago.

That’s why she put her life on the line to activate the 「evil eye」.

And she heard some things about Cornelia from Solomon.

「…… Well, even though it will be immediately obvious to you if you look at her with the 「evil eye」, but it’s better not to go against『her』for your own safety. Even I am in danger of dying if I make her angry.」

He then revealed some secrets to me.

That there is no boy named Rufus and that that name is just a pseudonym for a girl named Scarlet.
And that Cornelia is pregnant.
And that『she』is trying to kill her because of it.

「…… To think that there is someone that Solomon is afraid of. There are some unbelievable beings out there.」

An ordinary person like herself cannot possibly imagine that there is an existence that is superior to Solomon who can only be thought of as a demon. But,

「So, what? I am not afraid of any opponent.」

Countess Rosenthal smiled brightly.

Fear is nothing compared to the heartache of being hated by Wendell for 14 years.

「…… I’m just recreating what I wanted to see. And, Cornelia, if you could show me that ……」

Countess Rosenthal thought back to the scene inside her memories.

14 years ago, she didn’t take that one step forward to help Cornelia who was being bullied.

But this time, this time for sure ……!!

「I will risk my life to protect them from any opponent. After all, the two of them are the beloved wife and child of Wendell-sama. I’m not going to let anyone snatch them away.」

Then Countess Rosenthal proudly walked away.
The silhouette of Rona who is wholeheartedly devoted to Wendell could be seen overlapping over her back.

Cornelia and Countess Rosenthal have been deeply wounded by a sad misunderstanding.
Transcending the past, the time is about to come again when the wheels of fate of these two women will interlock.