Chapter 136
Chapter 136: Blooming Beautifully but in Vain
Since we were standing around talking, the clan leader’s family settled onto the sofa.
However, Lumiafia was left awkwardly on a small wooden chair between us— the painfully uncomfortable “Seat of Self-Reflection.”
I guess every family has one of those…
“Ugh…”
Whether it was shame, humiliation, or simply a sore behind, Lumiafia’s face twisted in half-tears.
“—So, getting back to the topic—”
But immediately, she paled under Platy’s icy glare.
“The idiot from the Dios family— that presumptuous fool got his horns broken and deserved his punishment, so let’s consider that settled.”
Waving a fan gracefully, Platy glared at Jijiivart.
“—But uncle. That girl didn’t pay any price for causing this ruckus, did she? She just bowed her head.”
“…That’s true,” Jijiivart nodded gravely, acknowledging the point. Lumiafia was sweating profusely, unable to follow the conversation over her head.
“………”
Jijiivart fell silent, glaring at Platy with crossed arms. His eyes said more than words could; it was almost as if he was asking, “Aren’t you one of our bloodline?”
Meanwhile, Platy maintained her cool smile, unfazed by his stare.
…As the clan leader, this must have been a headache. Lumiafia had rushed to apologize before the news of her being the troublemaker reached us, intending to settle this quietly.
‘But, it seems like it won’t be so easily forgiven after all.’
Did she think a simple “I’m sorry!” would suffice because we were family?
Sorry, but with Platy in the picture, things wouldn’t end that simply.
“This matter requires a serious approach from us too, uncle.”
Platy spoke in a slow, persuasive tone.
“No matter what, rumors will circulate that the girl was the cause. That’s not good; once that’s established as a precedent, we cannot let it go. If it gets out that she was let off without punishment because she was the cause of the trouble, it would be a real slap in the face.”
With a smile frozen on her face, Platy’s grip on her fan creaked ominously.
“If this reaches the Demon Lord’s Castle, do you know what will happen? They’ll come after her, thinking that little girls can get away with anything.”
…Just thinking about it makes me feel irritated.
“Of course, since my Zilbagias can handle it without issue. But the more we respond to this, the more chaotic the situation becomes. We don’t have the luxury to be dealing with such things.”
It’s not about the threat level, but the resources it would consume.
“So, I’m sorry, but we must deal with this strictly.”
We need to make it clear we won’t be taken lightly.
“…Are you suggesting we break her horns, then?”
At Jijiivart’s growling question, Lumiafia looked shocked and visibly began to tremble. I couldn’t help but think how much more painful it would be for her to shiver on that self-reflecting chair.
Jijiivart glared at Platy, while Zikvart beside him wore an expression like iron. Aijivart, standing behind the sofa, shot me a pleading glance—
“……”
I silently shook my head. There was no way I could stop Platy in her current mood. And indeed, while I didn’t have any special feelings for Lumiafia, I wasn’t about to throw myself in front of her either…
Aijivart dropped his shoulders as if completely out of ideas—
“Break her horns? No way. I’m from the Vart family too, I wouldn’t wish for such a thing.”
Was that genuine or just pretense? Platy smirked.
“An overly harsh punishment would implicitly acknowledge the Dios family’s claims. Even someone like that girl needs to have someone who will marry her, right?”
With a condescending glare, she looked at Lumiafia like she was a bug. Having to endure the sticky pressure of the powerful duchess who spends her days battling other formidable women in the Demon Lord’s Castle, Lumiafia was nearly on the brink of hyperventilation.
“—So I’ve thought of a good solution.”
Snap! Platy folded her fan and smiled sweetly.
“………”
Every one of us in that room probably shared a single thought.
—This isn’t going to end well.
“You will engage Zilbagias in a duel with spears.”
Leaning in to look at Lumiafia, Platy declared.
“Eh…!?”
Lumiafia’s eyes bulged, and I did a double take at Platy.
Why!?
“Regardless of the truth— the rumor of a clan leader’s family inciting the men of a rival clan’s former leader is unacceptable. It would be criticized as a cowardly and despicable act uncharacteristic of a clan leader. That would be troubling.”
Platy’s artificial smile disappeared entirely, her eyes now coldly scrutinizing Lumiafia.
“While it may be fine now, who knows what might be said with a change of leadership? And if you start a petty internal quarrel over who should lead the clan next, other clans that have suffered at the hands of this chaos will likely intervene, thinking this is their chance.”
That same icy gaze turned towards her own clan leader’s family.
“We aspire to restore the honor of the Reiju tribe. While we are contending with other factions at the Demon Lord’s Castle, we cannot afford to have our backs become unsteady.”
“That’s… understandable. But how does that lead to a duel?”
Jijiivart asked. Good! Keep asking! I want to know too!
“‘Dissatisfied with the prince, Lumiafia left the feast abruptly and resolved to openly flaunt her abilities against him.’”
Platy began to recite the script as if rehearsing lines.
“‘And the wayward Germadios attempted to sabotage the prince’s reputation to win Lumiafia’s favor descends from his own selfish desires. Thus, while the breaking of horns was ultimately the subject’s own doing, the Dios family distorted the truth and undermined the Vart family out of embarrassment.’”
Ah…
I can see it now…
“‘Germadios’s misconduct was driven by his own desires, and the Vart family had no connection to it. However, it is indeed true that Lumiafia’s careless whispering partially contributed to the trouble. To rectify this responsibility and resolve the discontent between the two parties, as well as for the sake of honor, Lumiafia Reiju shall challenge Zilbagias Reiju to a duel with spears.’”
It was true that Lumiafia said she found me displeasing… Recognizing that Germadios had provoked me was simply the result of him losing control.
And since it was a fact that she bore resentment against me, resolving it through a direct confrontation would…
Wha-… Barbaric…
Jijiivart grumbled, “Hmmm…” while Zikvart nodded in apparent understanding, saying, “I see.”
Aijivart looked lost in thought, and the only two genuinely shocked were Lumiafia and me, whispering, “Seriously?”
“Don’t worry. I won’t kill you.”
Platy soothed with a smile at the now pale-faced Lumiafia.
“You’ll endure an unbearable amount of pain but won’t die. Sure, you’ll lose a significant amount of face, but you’ll be able to recover. Considering who you’re fighting, it’ll be surprisingly lenient.”
As Lumiafia began to tremble again, Platy peered at her with eyes gleaming fiercely.
“【You should be grateful】”
In a voice draped in ominous tones.
“【Before you marry, you will learn what it means to ‘pick a fight.’】”
Like pouring curses into her ears.
“【If someone displeases you, strike them down with your own hands. If you cannot do that, then just humbly crawl away. Know that you should truly reflect on how you behaved above your capabilities.】…If you learn from this, perhaps you’ll do fine elsewhere.”
With a soft huff, Platy reclined on the sofa.
“…What’s your answer?”
Her voice cold as ice.
Lumiafia squeezed out a reluctant “Y-yes…” as her response.
Platy nodded in satisfaction, while the clan leader’s family appeared to come to terms with the situation.
Uh, um…
I feel sorry to interrupt this resolution…
What about my intentions!?
