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Chapter 83 Part 5 – A letter from Rona. And the “Thunderbolt Polka”. Ironically, the dance that plunged so many young ladies into the abyss became the bridge between mother and Countess Rosenthal.

It is said that a wild-animal tamer can make a beast twice her size obey her will.

I’m …… so amazing. My talent as a tamer is terrifying.

This is certainly because my mother’s blood who has made that devil-like father fall into submission has finally awakened.

「…… C-Could it be that even Arnold is ……!? What should I do? Should I choose friendship? Or love? That is the question ……」

For some reason, Seraphy held his head in anguish and the worried Arnold got flustered and began to take care of Seraphy.

Why are you guys acting out a comedy skit …… This odd but funny duo ……

Seraphy’s bangs were disheveled and frayed because he tried to restrain the rampaging Arnold just now, revealing his beautiful emerald eyes that had been hidden. This made his usually inconspicuous beauty stand out. I realized belatedly that the sighs that escaped from the ladies who had been glancing at the slapstick play were not because they were dumbfounded, but because they were mesmerized. Come to think of it, even in the previous 「108 times」, Seraphy had a reputation for tickling the maternal instinct and was strangely popular. Arnold, who is overflowing with sharp and wild charm, can also be said to be a beauty with strong taste. He’ll be a hit with girls who have a preference for wild men.

And I, the lovely heroine, was under a barrage of animosity from these young ladies and madams. Their stares prickled and stabbed my entire body. If I were a faint-hearted young lady, I’d be in bad shape. This must be because it seems like I have both Seraphy and Arnold waiting upon me, isn’t it?

Well, sometimes misunderstanding is a good thing. Seraphy just wants to use my money-making knowledge and I am just a substitute for mother for Arnold. Leaving aside the case that they bullied mother, I have no intention of antagonizing these haughty aunts, whose state has returned to 14 years ago in both body and mind, over something like this. If they get too agitated, when they return to their original age, they will be bedridden as a reaction.

I, who was originally an energetic 4 -year-old girl, brushed off their jealousy with a composed smile.
Perhaps that composed look made me look even more hateful to them, but their whispered malicious gossip rose to the audible level.

「That little girl. She’s so short and yet she acts so pretentious. She’s like an ill-behaved small-breed dog.」

「It’s because gentlemen try to protect the weak. She misunderstood that as her own strength and grew up without fear. Even though she’s so short that she could die just because she can’t get out of a pitfall made by a child.」

「Humpty Dumpty would suit that girl better than those tall gentlemen.」

「I bet she stopped growing so she could wear child-sized clothes forever. After all, she looks like a cheapskate.」

…… I wonder if they’re done.

After listening for a while, I stared intently at them with no timidity. The ladies looked at me with incomprehension as I directed an archaic smile toward them. They were completely taken aback.

‘It doesn’t matter whatever you guys say. Do you know just how much I got verbally abused for my short stature both in this kingdom and foreign kingdoms when I was a queen in the previous 「108 times」? More importantly, do you ladies have what it takes to be worthy of that tall height you’re so proud of?’

I smiled and took a step forward, but the ladies got intimidated and took two or three steps backward. Even if I don’t look like it, I am an experienced queen after all. For opponents at this level, it’s a piece of cake to drive them into a corner without saying a word.

…… They’re no match against me. Those who are magnanimous in heart have a solid castle in their heart. With sturdy walls. That is why we don’t get hurt by the insults of those poor in heart. Their words are insubstantial. That is because there is almost nothing of their own that they have earned through their own efforts. A large river does not flow backwards even if a stream flows into it.

「…… Even though she’s just a flat-chested girl. How fitting of someone brought along by that duchess.」

「How appropriate of her social status, both her chest and education are shallow.」

「I’m sure she must have lost her reason and her breasts while running about in the fields and mountains.」

Because of their insults, the snide remarks directed toward mother, which had calmed down for a while, revived here and there.

「It looks like you guys want to become rust on my sword. I’ll grant you that wish.」

An eye for an eye. I was so furious that I pulled out an iron-ribbed fan from my pocket and flashed it at their throats. They probably have never met such a violent noble young lady before. The ladies who had spoken ill of me couldn’t even run away and their legs gave out on the spot. They turned pale and held their throats with both hands. They looked as if they really thought their throats had been slashed open.

「…… Don’t worry. This is not a sword, it’s just a fan.」

「……!!」

Perhaps feeling relieved after I unfolded the fan, they were about to flare up at me again.

「…… However, this is a specially made fan, so it can easily slash open your thin neck.」

Once they realized that there were a few strands of their hair fluttering in the air, the ladies completely lost their fighting spirit. As a finishing blow, I twirled the fan around with my fingertips, slicing the hair into tiny pieces in mid-air. It’s a trick that makes me feel a little embarrassed after remembering it later.

「Do you know? It is much easier to cut a fixed object than an unstable object fluttering in the air. For example, something like the face of a standing human. Well, it looks like it would be better suited for that lady and the lady there to swap noses with each other. Shall I do it for you?」

But the ruthless demonstration thoroughly shattered the pride of the ladies, who had been comfortably protected by their noble status.

「…… A …… Ah ……」

After letting out a grunt, their mouths opened and closed repeatedly. Their eyes were filled with tears as they begged for their lives. It was unconditional surrender.

The snide remarks directed toward my mother also completely subsided.

That’s good. This will make it a little easier for mother to dance.

Feeling better, I decided to tease the ladies who were still sitting flat on the floor.

「Oh my, did you forget how to speak? I wonder if my hand slipped and cut off your tongue. I’m sorry, I thought I was being careful enough. After all, I am someone brought along by ‘that duchess’. My hand moves faster than my mouth.」

After all, I have been trained through the bloody battle for the throne in the previous 「108 times」. I can crush these kinds of people, who can do nothing other than throw insults, with just a little bit of killing intent and sarcastic remarks. I merely held back because I’m a pacifist. But they dared to …… insult my mother and made me become furious.

「Thank goodness. I see that your tongue is intact. But it looks like your face is suitable to be made into a bamboo mat. You seem to like to pick fights with people, so maybe that’s more to your liking? …… By the way, who else has something to say to me?」

…… There’s no response. What a pity, I even specially created this character for them.