Chapter 30

Welcoming the family (8)

“From the temple?”

“It was originally scheduled to arrive before the meal, but the wheels of the wagon fell off, so it was a little late.”

“Why now of all times…”

When Marquis Abedes replied nervously, the servant replied urgently.

“The priest told me it was a correspondence that I had to see with Miss Annabelle.”

‘…With me?’

I was looking at the window close to the thought of spitting out the lines I had prepared after eating all the dessert.

I didn’t mean to get involved with this shady family for more than a delicious meal.

Because I wanted to settle down safely in the capital.

No matter how I was in second place, why would I give up my reputation?

I didn’t want to suffer in a faraway place without connections.

That was why I didn’t go abroad after recalling my past life.

‘Especially Richard, he’s a man who’s going to get paid back many times for what he has done, so I just have to jab him a few times and get out of here.’

‘I mean, I felt dirtied, but I don’t have to take revenge..to the point of annoyance and absurdity.’

Wasn’t  it my specialty to do small, annoying things?

Judging from the look of it, I thought he’d give me a few pennies if I asked, but I didn’t want to rip it out more than needed.

But what kind of letter did the temple send to me and these people?

Marquis Abedes frowned, pulled out the letter, and began to read it slowly.

“Dear Marquis Abedes, I heard you’re having a very meaningful family meal today.”

I rolled my eyes and fiddled with my hair for nothing.

My light purple hair was slightly reddish unlike the Abedes.

“I’m going to give you a gift in such a meaningful place of agreement.”

If the High Priest’s letter came a little later, he could have made a meaningful mess.

“Miss Annabelle is my benefactor who saved me with a clean and pure intention.”

There was not a word in the sentence that was true, but it was also not necessary to be pointed out.

I picked up the fork again thinking it would be just a letter of appreciation and congratulation, and stopped at the end of the sentence.

“I have a retirement ceremony in a week, and I’ll run a paternity test then.”

‘…A paternity test? He’s going to do that?’

The paternity test required a great deal of strength.

Once it would be done, the priest would be out (t/n: unconscious/needs rest) for a few days, and he never had a replacement.

That was because it was obvious that a demand would be poured out if a precedent was set.

‘That’s why you’re doing the retirement ceremony.’

The next substitute might want to cry at the sight.

“As you know, the procedure requires the four permissions.”

If there were four, it would be the family, the god, the priest himself, and the royal family, besides the temple.

“Since the temple has already been cleared, I think the Marquis and Ms. Annabelle should gather their opinions at the dinner table. And I don’t know, but according to rumors, Prince Robert would grant it?”

Richard, an expert in managing his facial expressions, could not help but open his mouth.

Marquis Abedes finished reading the letter in a trembling voice.

“That would be a very meaningful retirement ceremony. The temple will also inform the public that it will always return their favor. Then I look forward to your positive response.”

The retirement ceremony of the High Priest would be held at Eilas Square.

Eilas Square was the largest square in the capital where many people could gather.

And his retirement ceremony was a large-scale event in which the royal family, the high nobles, the temple people, as well as interested commoners, gathered.

So he meant to do a paternity test in front of everyone.

The contents of the letter were over, and there was silence at the table.

‘Now I get a family name that’s been treating me like garbage to steal money?’

It had been a while since I decided to be a new person who didn’t have to hang on to such things.

It was true that I didn’t have money now, but I still had my own skills and pride.

But…

‘I’ll help you, because we’re a family.’

I didn’t think they were brazen enough to wish they had not said that.

I vowed not to accept a jewel in this house, but the right to inherit was a different matter.

With that amount of money and status, it was well worth just trying to steal money to the end.

Even if I didn’t try hard, I didn’t have to be a rich nobleman if I just breathed and stayed still.

I, who was originally full of the properties of a lame villain, made an easy decision.

Even if the family disowned me, I would have to be disowned after receiving the right to inherit.

I would eat well and live well after I received everything without giving a penny to Reid.

“Uh, uh, hahaha.”

Marquis Abedes smiled awkwardly. He didn’t seem to expect things to turn out like this.

To reject the High Priest’s favor here was literally ignoring the temple. Besides, it was a choice that pushed him to the brink.

So far, he had acknowledged that everything I said about Robert even though it was a lie.

“…I can’t believe it…”

Eventually, as Elburn tried to grit his teeth, Richard abruptly cut him off.

“What a good thing this is!”

As expected, he was quick witted, so he seemed to have suppressed his instinct.

Now there was no one in society who didn’t know my relationship with Marquis Abedes. It wouldn’t be easy to deal with if they refused the favor of the temple.

‘And as long as everyone thinks that I’m Robert’s…’

I’d rather have the right to inherit and safely use it as Robert’s spy.

‘Besides, what you’re doing right now is a very bad thing… You must be afraid that Robert will find out.’

I then spoke with a smile.

“Then we should send a reply to the temple immediately.”

The Marquis of Abedes was forced to say, ‘thank you for the kindness of the temple. The Marquis of Abedes and Annabelle Nadit will gladly accept’. He wrote that and sent the answer.

Since the consent of the parties had been obtained, there was now only one procedure that required a paternity test.

It was the permission from the royal family.

The people of Marquis Abedes had no choice but to consent to the paternity test.

So I hit the jackpot.

“I will take care of the permission of the royal family.”

If I left it to them, there was a greater chance that things would go wrong.

“You know, between Prince Robert and I.”

And because something so shocking happened, our dinner ended without even finishing on the topic of Robert’s crackdowns.

~*~

While Annabelle was having dinner, the Duke and Duchess of Wade were also having dinner and talking about Annabelle.

“Things have taken a turn for the worse since Annabelle started to get involved with Prince Robert.  That’s why she’s tired of being entangled in a relationship with the imperial family.”

Braden hesitated.

“Well, Leslie. The two have only met a few times. To say that they are entangled in a male-female relationship…”

“A couple of encounters is a relationship.”

“If that’s the case, Ian meets Annabelle almost every day…”

“Ian is a little different. Those two have a very bad relationship.”

“No, but maybe the two of them can get along well…”

“Why? Does Ian like Annabelle?”

“That’s not true… it’s just my feeling…”

“Dear, do you have any problems with your eyes and ears? Or the head?”

Leslie grinned absurdly as if that topic wasn’t even worth discussing.

“Are you comparing Prince Robert with Ian now? Look at it objectively. How does it compare to Ian, who has been fighting with her, to the prince who was approaching her with all kinds of sweet things?”

Braden began to feel frustrated like when he seduced Leslie for the first time a long time ago.

It was more frustrating that he couldn’t give a proper answer to that.

And it was obvious that their son, who looked exactly like her, would also think like her.

He, sadly, had no evidence, only his own surprising sense, so he couldn’t even refute it.

‘Is there such a tragedy? I am the only one in this world who knows the heart of my son.’

Braden swallowed his dry saliva, foreshadowing that his heartache would become more severe in the future.

It was already difficult to bring in his wife, but to bring in a daughter-in-law will be several times more difficult.

‘At that time, I only had to deal with Leslie, now I have to deal with Leslie, Ian, and Miss Annabelle…’

As Braden sighed sadly, Leslie tapped him on the shoulder.

“It’s okay, dear.”

She smiled warmly and spoke kindly.

“I’m sad if you’re so discouraged just because your gut feeling is wrong. It’s not a sin to be ignorant.”

Braden couldn’t deny the words of his daringly beloved wife, so he took a deep breath.

Leslie, completely unaware of the meaning of that sigh, added as if comforting.

“And I understand what you think. There has been no case of an imperial family marrying a commoner. No matter how much they can be attracted to each other, it might be a difficult ending.”

She tilted her head for a moment and then added.

“I wonder if Miss Annabelle will be recognized as a member of the Marquis of Abedes… But I think that would be difficult.”