Chapter 66 ??

Still, having Yulma around is nice. At least I don’t have to watch other people break plates, cry, and beg for forgiveness with their heads down.

“Was the meal not to your taste?”

Yulma glanced at the steak I had butchered and asked. Oops, I was being picky in front of the chef.

“I don’t like it when blood flows.”

“Pardon?”

“Why? Did you think I would?”

What, is there a rule that says a villainess has to eat meat dripping with blood?

“No, I’ll make sure to inform the head chef about your preferences.”

Yes, yes. Make sure to let them know. Every time meat is served, it’s always cooked rare, so Kanna or Jelly had to finish it for me. Now that I think about it, I should’ve asked them to change the cooking method earlier. Instead of complaining, I just ate whatever was given to me, stuck in the habit of accepting whatever I got.

“Would you like to come down and eat here more often?”

Are you serious? You have no idea how chaotic the kitchen gets whenever Evangeline shows up. Last time, there were glass shards everywhere, and despite that, a maid was begging on her knees for her life. For reference, that maid was treated with holy water and moved to a different assignment.

You want me to watch that every day?

“Wouldn’t that be uncomfortable for you all?”

“Well, they’ll have to adapt. How can the chef not know the young lady’s preferences?”

“I’ll consider it.”

Yulma, as professional as ever, grumbled. But I couldn’t exactly blame the chef for not knowing my tastes, since I’m possessing her. Evangeline might have liked cooked rare meat for all I know. Since I always eat with someone else, the plate always returned empty, so they probably thought I enjoyed it.

After giving Yulma a vague answer and sending her off, the count, who had been quietly watching, finally opened his mouth.

“You’re looking much more presentable, just like Phlox said.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

“You’ve become more human.”

Ah, I see. He’s saying that Evangeline is finally shedding her monstrous nature. Evangeline, how rebellious did you have before I possessed you? I’m being quite rude now, yet the count’s acted like I’ve turned into a decent person.

Do I get this kind of reaction just for catching a wine glass and chatting with a maid? I can’t even imagine how bad your temper must have been before. No wonder people suspect I’ve been possessed.

“I hope you’ll behave yourself at the banquet tonight. Just keep acting the way you have been.”

The count finally got to the point. I wondered what he was going to say, and it turns out it was just a warning about the crown prince’s birthday banquet tonight. Honestly, this count… After seeing your daughter for the first time in ages, all you have to say is to behave?

“You haven’t seen your daughter in a while, and that’s the first thing you say?”

No wonder Evangeline went astray and became the villainess of the century. Even someone as mild as me feels like causing trouble after hearing that. Just from what I can tell, the count is beyond redemption, even in a family redemption story. If there’s going to be any redemption for him, I’ll have to go to my maternal grandparents family house.

“Right… How long has it been?”

“Probably since my funeral.”

So, isn’t it exactly two months? You left your child unattended for two months? Well, given Evangeline’s age, she’s not exactly a child. Then let’s change it to ‘daughter’. So, you left your daughter unattended? And you’re claiming to be the child’s father?

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

The count, perhaps sensing I wasn’t going to back down easily, averted his gaze and conceded slightly. Ugh, I still don’t like him.

“Is that why you called me? To say something pointless and make me sit through dinner?”

Do you know how sad Kanna and Misya were when they heard I had to eat with you? Of course, Kanna was upset that she couldn’t eat with me, while Misya cried out for fasting, saying how could there be a meal when there was a banquet.

“No. There’s something more important.”

The count paused dramatically like he was in some kind of advertisement. Oh, just say it already.

“Duke Josaquin will be attending the banquet.”

Duke Josaquin? Wow, you really have a distant relationship with your father-in-law, huh? Well, considering he’s the reason for the estrangement with his daughter, it’s no surprise the relationship isn’t great.

“Strengthen your ties with him.”

What? You’re the one who got cut off, and now you want me to clean up your mess? Shouldn’t you be handling this yourself? Wait, is this the start of a childcare genre? But Evangeline’s already an adult, isn’t she?

“Only now? Why?”

It’s too late to start a childcare story now. The only solution is if someone goes back in time.

“I hear his health is failing. According to rumours, he doesn’t have much time left.”

Oh, wow. This man has such thin ears. If you listen to rumours, I’m a demon who wears human skin for dresses. So if you actually see the duke, he’s probably in incredibly perfect health.

“People tend to become sentimental as they age. He might even miss his late daughter. You look just like Amaranth, so it’ll shake the duke if he sees you in person.”

Amaranth? Where have I heard that name before?

“Amaranth is Evangeline’s, in other words, your mother.”

The count added an explanation as if he had suddenly remembered that I had amnesia.

Aha. So that’s her name. It sounded somewhat familiar, like something I might have heard before.

Now that I think about it, recalling the portraits I had seen earlier, she did resemble Evangeline. Of course, Evangeline’s mother’s side had a warmer impression. If I had to compare, her aura seemed similar to Kanna, who, as the heroine, had a kind demeanour.

“You may not inherit the title, but you are still entitled to the inheritance.”

The count finally revealed his true intention. In other words, soon the inheritance would be distributed, so he was telling me to go and cosy up to them to get some money.

Wow, what trash. He really is the perfect father of a villainess.

As I was mocking him in my mind, a sudden thought occurred to me. Could this be an event too? In the original story, Evangeline probably received similar orders.

And so, Evangeline approaches the duke. Her grandfather, knowing Evangeline’s shady background, adopts another person to inherit the family instead of disowning his granddaughter. That person is Kanna! Even if Amaranth doesn’t look like her, their atmosphere is similar.

Our Kanna lacks nothing, but for a romance fantasy heroine, her background is a bit weak. The duke adopts her as his granddaughter to fill that gap! While also exacting revenge on the villainess. It’s a totally satisfying storyline, isn’t it?

I suddenly became a bit interested. While I was pondering, the count added more weight to the scale.

“If you’re not tempted by my proposal, you can think of it as a deal. Is there anything you want from me?”

“A deal…”

Hmm. What should I ask for? I don’t particularly want anything material. I already have the money Evangeline’s mother left behind. If I had to say, what I want is a future where I don’t get executed, but it doesn’t seem like the count can make that happen. From what I can tell, the count looks like the type who would flee when the villainess is executed, only to be caught and summarily judged.

I don’t really need anything, but still, I can’t just approach the duke for free. Of course, I don’t intend to inherit his fortune, nor give it to the count.

“I hope your request is within reasonable limits.”

The count, assuming I’d ask for something outrageous, added a condition. Hey, I have common sense, you know? But I understand why the count felt the need to say that. Evangeline might not have had much common sense.

Something I need… something I need… Ah. Looking at the count reminded me of something I could ask for.

The diary. In Evangeline’s mother’s diary, I had ripped out the parts where she cursed the count every time I sent a letter and sent them with it, so the diary was now quite thin. Considering she was a person who originally kept a diary, it’s unlikely they only had one. But no matter how much I looked, I couldn’t find any in the mansion. Could there be one in the territory?

Besides, there might be another spirit-summoning circle in one of the other diaries.

[ “When the young lady is present, the influence of the painting becomes muddled.” ]¹

Suddenly, Gabriel’s firm words to me came to mind. Of course, the male protagonist even publicly acknowledged that I have no affinity, but there might be a summoning circle for something other than spirits, right?

“I want to stop by the count’s territory.”

“The territory?”

The count frowned slightly and asked when. After today’s debutante, I’d have to start attending social events, so probably one or two months later?

“A month, or two if you need more time to prepare.”

“Alright. I’ll inform them in advance.”

With that, the count nodded, lost in thought for a moment, then muttered to himself.

“Did Evangeline have a room in the territory?”

Huh? What’s that supposed to mean? Why wouldn’t Evangeline have a room? Does she have some secret about her birth? But, she looks too much like her mother for that. Was she perhaps abused?

“Why don’t I have a room?”

If she was really abused, I wouldn’t leave the count alone.

“You wouldn’t know, but Amaranth was reluctant to go to the territory, so she and Evangeline always stayed in the capital. I was the only one who went to the territory.”

Once again, the count explained, considering my amnesia. Aha. So she just didn’t like the countryside. That’s understandable.

“I’ll have them prepare a room. A month or two should be enough time.”

I wish they’d decorate it in a cosy wood tone… But saying that would only make the servants suffer, so I didn’t bother mentioning it.

“Is that all you’re asking for?”

“As if. If I think of anything else, I’ll send a letter.”

Did he think I’d be satisfied with just that? I’m not someone who knows satisfaction.

“Do that. Just don’t send any more of those curses.”

Hmph. I’m going to, though. It’s my choice, after all.

“Why? It’s a heartfelt love letter from mother. I only sent the parts where she addressed you, Father. Since mother can’t come in person, I had no choice but to send her words. Or would you prefer her to visit for real?”

As I sipped the tea that came with dessert, the count shivered, as if a chill had run down his spine. Is he afraid of a ghost showing up? Hmph. Serves him right.

“Quite the care for someone who didn’t even know Amaranth’s name.”

“Of course I didn’t know. I have amnesia, remember?”

¹: please refer back to chapter 44 if you’re confused. I wrote an explanation there.