BJ Villainess

I quickly picked up Cecilia to check if she was hurt. Upon closer inspection, there was blood on her fair cheek, possibly from a scratch.

Sure enough, a quest appeared.

Ding!

[Dungeon Quest: Expel the People of the Mintzberg family]

▸

Reward: Heirloom of the Rodrigo family

▸

Failure: Significant drop in parenting and reputation

Euges took Cecilia from me and held her effortlessly. “I said I would hold Cecilia.” Then he gestured to the nearby servants who were fretting. “One of you calls a doctor, and someone who can properly explain the situation comes forward and explains.”

Only then did the servants stop their disorderly behavior and immediately respond to the command. “The young ladies were playing with dolls and suddenly started fighting. We tried to intervene, but Lady Cecilia wouldn’t let go of Lady Abigail’s hair…”

Apparently, it escalated to this mess because they couldn’t simply cut the hair.

“So, what was the reason for their fight?”

“Lady Cecilia didn’t tell us, so we are not sure of the reason.”

That’s when Joanna approached with an extremely angry look.  “It’s astonishing, Madam Rodrigo. I trusted you with my Abigail, and now this happens.”

I calmly talked to Joanna. “I understand how you feel, but let’s talk calmly, Madam Mintzberg. Have you heard the whole story about what happened to Abigail?”

Joanna had been holding back her frustration since yesterday, but now that her daughter was hurt, she seemed to lose her temper. “The situation? Your daughter assaulted Abigail like a commoner. What more situation do we need?!”

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Dramania’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Pretending to be angry about her daughter but is just venting because she’s jealous of Theresa getting all of Euges’s affection.]

The children were crying, and Patrick was at a loss seeing his wife’s unexpectedly violent side.

“I don’t want to stay here any longer. We’re leaving right now!” Joanna pointed at Cecilia and blamed her. “I cannot allow such a barbaric child to enter my family! Consider the engagement with Henry null and void.”

That’s when it happened.

“Madam Mintzberg,” Euges called Joanna with his distinctive deep and heavy voice. His voice, filled with inherent dignity, made even the most hysterical person flinch.

Euges swatted away Joanna’s hand, which was pointing at Cecilia, as if swatting a bug, and then calmly tore her down. “You came in rags to my bedroom and kept taking it out on my wife because I didn’t let you in. I can’t watch this anymore.”

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Cider Pass’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[A perfectly aimed strike.]

A chilly silence followed Euges’s bombshell statement. Joanna’s face turned red with shame and humiliation. She had not anticipated being openly accused of trying to seduce him. Nor had she expected to be rejected by a nobleman, where notions of chastity were faint at best.

Joanna retorted with a trembling voice. “What… are you talking about? Now that you’re at a disadvantage, you’re making up nonsense to slander me.”

Then Euges, clicking his tongue in annoyance, called a servant. “You. Go to my bedroom and bring the hotel key. Check whose name the room is reserved under, and we’ll see what the situation reveals.”

“Yes, Milord.”

The atmosphere was rapidly heading towards a dramatic climax. Suddenly, Mary appeared, rolling up her sleeves.

“How shameless, Madam Mintzberg!” Though she acted angry, if you looked closely, you could see her lips twitching, barely holding back a smile. She seemed excited to have a legitimate reason to gossip about Joanna.

“Madam has been seeking our lord since the day you arrived until two days ago. It was such an embarrassing matter that everyone kept quiet, but now you deny it?”

The servants whispered among themselves, looking at Joanna with similar expressions. Before Joanna could explode, Patrick, who had been silent until then, spoke with an icy face.

“What is all this, Wife?”

Patrick did not take Joanna’s side. He looked at her with a face that seemed to have caught onto something.

“…It’s all slander! Now that they’ve assaulted our Abigail and find themselves at a disadvantage, they’re making up these ridiculous stories about me. Don’t you see?” Joanna cried like a tragic heroine, but Patrick’s expression only grew colder.

“Now I understand why I thought something was off about you.”

“What are you saying? You don’t believe me and trust them instead?”

I couldn’t find the right timing to intervene and was just observing when I finally chimed in.

“So, do you know why the kids were fighting?”

Being cornered, Joanna yelled out. “What does that matter now?!”

“It matters. Because Abigail was bullying Cecilia.”

Maybe it seemed out of the blue? Both Joanna and Patrick looked astonished and displeased.

The crux of this event was a ‘hidden picture’ puzzle. The problem was to find the clue to the incident.

I pointed to the floor. “This is the Mintzberg family crest on the carpet, isn’t it?”

Joanna and Patrick frowned, wondering why it was here.

“And can you look at the ribbon tied around Cecilia’s waist? It looks like it’s from Abigail’s dress.”

“…So what? Friends can lend things to each other.” Joanna desperately tried to defend her, but her voice trembled, seemingly understanding the situation.

“Let’s ask the person involved.” I turned to Abigail, who had just stopped crying.  “Abigail, what were you and Cecilia playing just now?”

Abigail murmured in a subdued voice. “…Cecilia said I have to listen to her because she’s marrying my older brother.”

Indeed, Abigail was honest.

“Abigail! Can’t you keep quiet?!” Joanna scolded her harshly, but the damage was done.

I issued the expulsion order to the Mintzberg family with a cold look. “I no longer wish to associate with such a base and vulgar family. Leave immediately.” I also ordered the servants. “Help the guests pack their things. And call a priest to sprinkle holy water in the house to cleanse any negativity.”

“Yes, Madam!”

“As you wish~!”

I was about to proudly walk to the bedroom arm-in-arm with Euges but then asked the stupefied Mintzberg. “What are you doing? Aren’t you leaving?”

Ding!

[Dungeon Quest: Expel the People of the Mintzberg family completed]

▸

Reward: Heirloom of the Rodrigo family

Cecilia didn’t say a word while applying ointment to her wound and changing into pajamas.

When bedtime approached, Winda appeared. “Milady, let’s go to your room.”

“Wait a moment,” and stopped Cecilia, who was about to go with Winda. “Do you want to sleep with Mommy and Daddy tonight?”

“…” Cecilia, still silent, nodded while hugging her doll.

Watching this, Winda called Mary to prepare the necessary things for bed.

“Then, I will leave you.” Winda left Cecilia with me.

When I was about to take Cecilia to our room, Euges, having just showered, appeared with wet hair. He looked as if he expected this, given Cecilia’s presence.

Unlike yesterday’s cozy atmosphere, there was a slight melancholy tonight. Cecilia lay in bed between me on the left and Euges on the right.

“Cecilia.”

“…

.”

“You did nothing wrong today.”

“…What about not getting to marry Henry?”

“That’s actually good. It’s weird to marry a person you’ve never seen, right? When Cecilia grows up and finds someone you love, then you can marry.”

Cecilia looked tearful. “What if I can’t become a duchess?”

“Then do something else. Is being a duchess really what you want?”

No child dreamed of becoming someone’s wife.

Cecilia shook her head. “I want… to become a navigator and discover new continents.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“I’ll travel far and collect beautiful flowers. Then open a flower shop to sell them.”

“Mommy loves flowers too. I hope your flower shop opens. Then I’ll buy them every day.”

“

. I’ll give them to Mommy for free!” Discussing her passions brightened Cecilia’s expression.

Euges, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. “Then we should practice before that.”

We both looked at Euges, puzzled by his sudden suggestion.

“Practicing sailing and being a flower shop owner.”

“

…!” Cecilia’s eyes widened.

“Should we try tomorrow?”

Excited by Euges’s proposal, Cecilia jumped up from bed and cheered. “

! I want to! I want to practice!”

“Then we should go to bed early.”

“Yes!”

Ding!

[The Constellation ‘Over Immersed Otaku’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]

[Knowing what kind of person Cecilia originally was, it hurts to see baby Cecilia like this

ㅠ

. Be happy, baby

…

]

Cecilia fell asleep in my arms, snoring softly.