"What do you mean by 'safety'?"

"It means that Emilia has been kidnapped, Charlotte!"

"Gasp! Shouldn’t we hurry to rescue my fiancée sister then?"

"She’s not my fiancée."

An uproar quickly spread through the room. I felt my insides boiling, desperately trying to suppress the disgust that was about to show on my face. This was the first time in four months since coming to my mansion that Charlotte was acting cute and wanting to sleep beside me. And it had to be interrupted at this moment?

The way it happened was absurd. They kidnapped someone whose name I can’t even remember, and they say if I want her back, I should come alone? Sorry, but I have no interest in what happens to that woman. It’s just a self-serving play for the puppeteer.

"Is the messenger you sent still here?"

"Yes. They are currently captured and restrained."

"Then tell them to inform my sister to wait until next week, and release them."

"…Huh? We’re not heading out right now?"

"Where would we go at this hour? I need to put the kids to bed, so that’s out of the question. The biggest asset in this operation is Charlotte, and if she goes out sleepy, that would be a disaster."

"Yes. I can understand that, but why next week and not tomorrow?"

"Because I have work piling up. Jacob has transitioned from a general small business operator to a special business operator, which means I have to handle his taxes. If I don’t finish it by the deadline, I’ll face penalties, so I need to get it done quickly."

"Oh. That makes sense. It will take a bit of time to finish that work."

"It’s your job, not mine. What are you talking about?"

"…Huh?"

Silvia’s expression went blank. Am I really going to go through every receipt in the drawer to handle the taxes? She had said she would wait until I finished, but now she suddenly says something strange.

"If you understand, then go start working."

"But it’s my time to sleep after finishing my shift."

"If you’re confident you can finish by next week even after going to bed now, then do that."

"I’ll get to work immediately!"

With her eyes tightly shut, Silvia turned around with a pouting expression. Since she was now diving into an all-nighter, she would likely finish quickly. In this critical moment where the engagement partner had been kidnapped, I couldn’t afford to dawdle.

Just wait a little longer, Emilia. I’ll be there soon. Probably in about a week?

"Silvia. And order a magic tool."

"Huh? What kind of magic tool?"

"That’s…"

Before heading out, there was a toy I needed to pack.

"What? Did I hear you correctly just now?"

"Yes…"

"Say that again. What did you say?"

"Um… Count Aslan Vermont said he’s very busy right now, so he thinks he can come around next week…"

"Very busy? Not tomorrow, but next week? And even 'around'? Are you sure about that? Hah…!"

Irene slapped her forehead in disbelief, letting out a laugh of absurdity. The messenger stood there, flustered, their face turning pale. They had just relayed what they had heard.

It already felt like they were guilty.

"Did you convey that properly?"

"I-I conveyed it correctly…"

"You’re lying. You must have left something out, right? Speak up! Say it!"

"Sis. From what I can see, the messenger is correct. Aslan Vermont, that man, doesn’t particularly like me or care about me. He probably thinks it doesn’t matter if I die, as long as he can marry another woman from the Tales family."

"This crazy…"

Aslan, that son of a bitch. I had known he wasn’t a human being long before, but I never imagined he would remain so indifferent upon hearing that the engagement partner had been kidnapped just yesterday.

I must have underestimated the depth of his scumminess. I had believed that he would have at least a shred of human decency left! Irene clenched her fists tightly, trembling at Aslan’s brutality.

"Still, he can’t not come at all. By now, the elders of the house must be pressuring Aslan. If he continues to show no effort in trying to rescue her, the engagement will fall apart, so at least some effort should be shown."

"Ha. Alright. Let’s just wait a little longer."

Irene swept her bangs back, managing to calm her anger. Although Aslan had reacted in a way that was far from my expectations, that was about it. It wouldn’t disrupt the plan.

"Aslan will definitely come alone…"

Does Aslan have any other choice? No. He can’t avoid it.

What do you think Aslan is thinking right now? Since Emilia is with me, it’s clear that the contents of the engagement discussion will be leaked through interrogation. Therefore, Aslan will have to believe that I’ve also found out about his plan to set up a black magic research institute on a deserted island.

What if Aslan doesn’t come alone and seeks help from the imperial family or other factions? In that case, all I have to do is inform the emperor about his black magic research plans. Aslan will be terrified of that and will ultimately have no choice but to comply with my demands.

"Don’t worry too much, sis. Once he comes, it will be our victory."

"That’s true, but…"

"When Count Vermont arrives, we’ll disarm both the guards and the Count, then Laura will quickly eat him up!"

The clone of Laura, smiling with a grin and giving a thumbs-up, was in miniature form, about the size of the teacup beside her.

It was clear that if Laura’s clone grew larger, it would definitely be destroyed. But I decided to take the plunge this time. Since I confirmed that even Aslan’s guards, who possess tremendous strength, couldn’t handle Laura’s clone. If they couldn’t win even while armed, there would be no chance when unarmed.

All I have to do is feed Laura. Then it’s over. Laura has that in her belly. By the way, I am a bit concerned about the wicked deity that’s attached to Aslan…

'But Kali is just a worthless wicked deity. I don’t need to worry about it.'

She couldn’t even create a clone and had never interfered in the human world up until now. She must be a deity of a much lower caliber compared to Laura. Irene firmly concluded this and decided to put her concerns about Kali aside.

As Irene took a deep breath and calmed her excitement, she noticed Emilia watering a rose planted in a pot, humming a tune.

"But why are you here, Emilia?"

"Huh?"

"You should be playing the role of the tragic heroine in the dungeon. Why are you out here?"

"Oh, well… Since he’s coming next week, can’t I just relax a bit?"

"What if that’s a deception? What if Aslan were to come in right now and see this cozy scene?"

"I don’t think anyone would think this looks cozy…"

"Stop arguing! Hurry and get back down to the dungeon!"

"I’m going. I’m going. Ugh, seriously. You’re so temperamental."

"Hey!"

"Oh, did you hear me?"

With that, Emilia quickly fled to the dungeon, as if to avoid being hit. Irene barely suppressed her anger, clenching her teeth.

"Hurry up, Aslan. Your sister is waiting."

I didn’t want to go this far either. Initially, I planned to snag a small leverage to take the position of the head of the house. I thought I could just give Aslan one of those generic farmlands in the Vermont territory to survive.

But Aslan, you keep escalating the situation. You had the audacity to drag in the imperial family and take the Northern Duke as your backing. Without even realizing that other factions were scared of you, you continued to increase your forces. And now, you are seriously engaged in black magic research.

If only you had stuck to the 'game' of black magic research I originally set out for you. Why are you so obsessed with true black magic?

'As if he wasn’t that human’s son…'

Knowing exactly what happens to those who cling to black magic, besides the ones crushed and killed by the oppression, many who were consumed by the power of black magic turned into horrific monsters.

No matter how much the Vermont family’s basic tenet demands strength without fear, at the very least, you should remain human.

In any case, whether it’s the father or the son, they’re both the same.

'I hold no malice. This is all your doing.'

This has nothing to do with the events from my childhood. It’s all Aslan’s fault. Irene loosened her clenched fist and let out a calm breath. She felt a bit more at ease.

[…!]

"What is it, Laura?"

At that moment, Laura’s clone frantically waved her arms, calling out to Irene. Laura had never called me so frivolously before. What could be going on?

[…!!!]

"Huh? The spirits that were lingering around the flowers suddenly fled through the window?"

[…!]

"Eh. They probably just got bored of that flower. Don’t worry about it."

[…!!!!!!]

Ignoring Laura’s clone, who was still flapping about, Irene turned to leave. She thought that there must have been some urgent situation.

Deciding to take it lightly, she moved on.