Ch.103103. The more you resist, the more strongly you’re drawn in.

“My sooooooon!!”

Ellaria.

Her voice had quite a nasal quality to it.

Before I could even see her appearance, her chest pressed against my nose.

I had wondered who Miria Alphonse took after, and this moment gave me the strong conviction that she resembled her mother.

“L-let go of me before you cry!!”

“Son, why have you become so handsome and dignified?”

The more I resist, the more strongly I’m pulled in.

I feel like I might suffocate if this continues.

I pushed away the chest pressing against my nose with all my strength and bent over, taking a deep breath.

“Hoo… ha!!”

“Son, are you feeling unwell?”

This… only the title changed from “sister” to “mother,” but her speech and behavior are identical to Miria Alphonse.

I straightened my bent waist.

Brown wavy hair and skin without a single wrinkle.

Like Miria Alphonse, she didn’t appear in the original work, but her three-dimensional presence was vivid.

Especially her eyes—clear and bright like the blue sky—gave me the feeling that I could be drawn into them just by looking.

“I-I’m fine. Have you been well, Mother?”

“How could this mother be at peace when her beloved youngest was sent into exile!?”

“I apologize. You must have suffered greatly because of your unworthy son.”

I bowed my head and raised it again, only to find Ellaria looking at me with a bewildered expression.

Everyone around us had the same reaction.

However, Miria seemed to have anticipated this situation and carefully spoke up.

“Mother, our youngest has changed a lot, hasn’t he?”

“Y-yes, it seems so.”

“Not just his physique, but he’s also perfected his inner training. I saw it with my own eyes when I visited Lake territory!”

“…I’d only heard about it, but seeing it in person, he really has changed a lot. Did something happen?”

“Mother, shall we go inside and talk with our youngest?”

At Miria’s words, Ellaria startled and continued speaking.

“Oh my, look at me. I’ve been keeping my youngest standing out of excitement. If you catch a cold in this weather, it would be terrible!!”

Thanks to Miria, I was able to safely enter the Alphonse family mansion.

When we entered the reception room, Baron Byron was already seated on the sofa.

I bowed with utmost courtesy.

“Selden Alphonse, greeting Father.”

“Yes, sit down.”

Before sitting on the sofa, I turned my gaze toward Ellaria and Miria.

“Mother, Sister. I have urgent matters to discuss with Father, so I apologize, but I ask for your understanding.”

Ellaria and Miria first looked at each other in confusion, then smiled brightly at me and vacated the room.

Baron Byron also slightly furrowed his brow at my unexpected behavior.

“Did something happen on your way here?”

“Yes, it did.”

“Well, what happened?”

After confirming once more that Miria and Ellaria had left the reception room, I sat on the sofa and let out a short sigh.

“Hoo… we were attacked on the way.”

“A-attacked?”

“All the knights escorting me, except for Lightner, are dead.”

BANG-!

Baron Byron slammed his fist hard on the desk.

Having anticipated such a reaction, I continued speaking carefully with a calm face.

“Mother or Sister might hear us from outside.”

“Kugh!! If all the escort knights died, this can’t be dismissed as mere bandits.”

“That’s right, most of them were quite skilled.”

“Did you find out who was behind it?”

“I investigated the traces, but found nothing.”

The reason I lied even to Baron Byron is simple.

From my interactions with him so far, I know he has a fiery temper.

If he learns that even his subordinates betrayed him, he wouldn’t care about Leonard’s wedding.

I’ve decided to track down the mastermind on my own.

Tok-! Tok-!

Baron Byron tapped the table with his fingernails while grinding his molars.

“I’d prefer not to create unnecessary discord based on suspicion without evidence. Leonard’s wedding is coming up soon, isn’t it?”

He must be thinking of the first and second sons.

Though I wanted to create discord, I put on a fake smile to avoid causing worry.

“I understand what you mean. However, I’d like to keep this matter secret for now. I have some investigating to do myself.”

“Alright, I understand. By the way, the eldest is deep in the mountains for training, in a place where we can’t contact him. We haven’t even been able to inform him about Leonard’s wedding.”

The evil hand has already reached Baron Byron’s subordinates, yet he excludes someone in the mountains from suspicion?

No, I should consider the possibility that this provides a perfect alibi.

“…I see. But, why don’t I see the protagonist anywhere?”

“Protagonist?”

“Brother Leonard. Isn’t he the protagonist of the wedding in a few days?”

“Haaa…”

Baron Byron let out a long sigh.

Pretending to know nothing, I tilted my head.

“Is something wrong?”

“Actually, there’s an incident I haven’t told anyone about.”

“An incident?”

“Before the marriage arrangement with the Familia family, an assassination warning letter arrived, threatening to kill me and Leonard.”

Having been possessing “Selden Alphonse” for a full year and six months now.

Acting surprised was as natural to me as breathing.

“W-what kind of person would dare send an assassination warning to my father and brother?”

“We’re investigating, but there’s nothing concrete yet. The warning mentioned poison.”

“Haaa… so where is Brother Leonard now?”

“We plan to keep him hidden until the wedding.”

“…Why are you telling me something you haven’t shared with anyone else?”

Baron Byron stroked his chin thoughtfully before continuing.

“I’m telling you because you witnessed the incident between Leonard and Seri Familia at the Familia estate.”

“Rather, you’re suggesting that the person who sent the assassination warning letter might be the same one behind the carriage attack, not my first or second brothers, right?”

I picked up a teacup leisurely, and Baron Byron gave a bitter smile.

“Haha… you’ve become quite perceptive. However, remember that what I said wasn’t solely to deflect discord among my children elsewhere.”

That’s right.

If I hadn’t sent the letter, the person who sent the assassination warning would have been a sufficient suspect.

Well, the problem is that I’m the culprit.

“By the way, do you have any suspicions about who sent the assassination warning?”

“I believe it’s likely one of the butlers or knights from the Familia family.”

“Why?”

“The warning letter explicitly stated it was from someone who likes Seri Familia. It also mentioned wanting to prevent the marriage. Of course, this could also be a disguise to hide their true identity…”

As expected, things are moving according to my plan, which makes it easier.

Anyway, seeing that Leonard Alphonse is still alive, sending the assassination warning letter was successful.

Seri Familia must have made a wasted trip.

She came to greet father before the wedding?

That doesn’t make any sense.

It’s obvious she only intended to kill Leonard.

From what I’ve seen, her synchronization with the original character is nearly perfect.

Is that actually more convenient?

Characters like Luna or the Etherian Princess sometimes feel unpredictable when they differ slightly from the original work, but Seri Familia’s actions are as clear as day.

“I understand. But I don’t see my second brother anywhere?”

“These days, he seems to have developed a taste for monster hunting and is out leading knights. He should return by sunset.”

“Monster hunting with knights…?”

“No need to worry. I’ve assigned some capable men from my subordinates, and they’re hunting in large numbers, so he won’t be in danger.”

Monster hunting with knights…

And even including Baron Byron’s knights—what if the hunting is just a pretext, and he’s trying to win them over to his side?

‘Hoo…’

Right.

It’s too early to judge based on that alone.

I clearly have no intention of inheriting the family.

My thoughts haven’t changed, but I definitely plan to take revenge on whoever threatened me.

This will tip the previously balanced scale between the first and second sons.

Therefore, I must act even more cautiously.

I can’t let the person who tried to kill me become the head of the family.

At first, I didn’t care who became the family head.

However, since they threatened my life first, it seems appropriate to leave a nice “gift” before I depart from the family.

Wouldn’t it benefit the family to dispose of trash quickly?

Knock-knock!

Just then, there was a knock, and the door opened.

I turned to see Ellaria and Miria.

Were they waiting outside?

“Darling, are you finished talking?”

At Ellaria’s question, Baron Byron looked at me with pity before speaking.

“Yes, we’re done.”

Then, Ellaria grabbed my right arm and Miria grabbed my left, forcibly lifting me up.

“W-where are we going?”

In response to my question, Ellaria pulled my arm more strongly and smiled brightly.

“Our lovely youngest, you should take a bath with your mother and sister after such a long time!?”

I’ll try to do a continuous update today.

Chapter 104 will be uploaded at 10:33.