Ch.283283. Are You Frustrated Because You Can’t Take Revenge Yourself?

“What do you mean by that…?”

I crossed my arms heavily as I faced Madeline Belcatri, whose pupils were shaking as if an earthquake had struck after I briefly explained the situation.

“It means exactly what I said. Everyone in the Belcatri family except you will be punished.”

“…But why…? Did I perhaps do something wrong to you during our private meeting, Sir Selden Alphonse?”

Since it was clear she wouldn’t understand even if I explained everything in detail, I decided to show her through action first.

I half-raised my body, grabbed Madeline Belcatri’s hand, and rolled up her sleeve.

As expected, there were traces of abuse remaining on her forearm as well.

I sat back down on the sofa.

“No, it’s because your father abused you.”

At that, Madeline Belcatri quickly pulled down her sleeve and spoke.

“Th-this happened while fighting with friends…”

“Which friends?”

“…I have friends. We fought before I came to this territory.”

She’s good at hiding her feelings, but apparently not at this kind of lying.

Well, she must be quite confused.

“Won’t the Imperial Family be the judge of that?”

“The Imperial Family…?”

“The Imperial Knights have probably already arrived at Belcatri territory and are investigating.”

“Wh-what about my father?”

“By now, he’s probably in a carriage heading to Lumestia territory.”

Madeline Belcatri clutches her long hair with her fingers and then raises her head.

“What if I wasn’t abused?”

“It doesn’t matter if you lie. The Imperial Knights will find evidence of abuse anyway.”

Madeline Belcatri stares at my calm expression and opens her mouth wide.

“…You knew I was abused by seeing the bruises?”

“Yes, I’m rather perceptive.”

“I-I just don’t understand why you would go this far just because I have bruises. It might not be abuse, and I might not want this…”

“…Are you upset because you couldn’t take revenge yourself?”

At my words, Madeline Belcatri flinches in surprise, her fingers trembling.

“…What are you saying?”

“Didn’t I tell you before? That the end of revenge is nothing but emptiness. Don’t you remember?”

“I remember.”

“So I took revenge for you. So you wouldn’t have to feel guilty.”

Madeline Belcatri clenched her fists and gradually raised her voice.

“…Why would I feel guilty for taking revenge? I’m the one who suffered!”

“Oh, now you’re being honest.”

“I’ve only been suffering all this time. And you’re saying I should feel guilty for taking revenge!?”

I adjusted my posture and put on a serious expression.

“That’s because of who you are.”

“…What?”

“Madeline Belcatri, it’s because your heart is too tender.”

How many people would actually feel guilty about taking revenge, as she suggested?

However, in the original story, Madeline Belcatri’s trampled and crushed heart was never healed even after her revenge.

She felt resentful watching happy people.

Because their lives seemed so contrary to her own, where she had to tenaciously endure her father’s abuse just to survive since childhood.

Madeline Belcatri looks at me with bloodshot eyes.

“Then what will happen to my father?”

“That would be up to His Majesty the Emperor. Given how much he cherishes the princesses, it could be a death sentence.”

“…And my family?”

“Once you graduate from the academy, the confiscated property and title will be restored. Only to you, of course.”

Madeline Belcatri remains still for a while, seemingly with many thoughts crossing her mind, then slowly rises.

“I won’t attend the academy.”

“Why not?”

“Because the reason for me to attend is gone. I told you during our private meeting. I took the exam because my father told me to attend the academy.”

“I believe I mentioned that the confiscated property and title would be restored only if you graduate from the academy?”

“I don’t need them. Having wealth and a title never made me happy anyway.”

I hid my surprise at Madeline Belcatri’s unexpected response and raised my head.

“So you’re saying your reason to become stronger is gone?”

“Yes, Sir Selden Alphonse, you’ve taken away my only goal.”

How frustrated she must be—the once timid Madeline Belcatri now articulating her thoughts so clearly.

I leaned back against the sofa and spoke.

“Then you can take revenge on me.”

“…What?”

“Since I made you lose your only goal, you can study hard at the academy and take revenge on me, right?”

“On… on you, Sir Selden Alphonse?”

“Yes.”

Madeline Belcatri grinds her molars.

“…Are you saying you’ll become the goal in my life?”

“Well, think of it however you like.”

Madeline Belcatri stood still, thinking for a long time.

Then, still with bloodshot eyes, she looked straight at me and continued.

“You’ll… regret those words.”

*

“At Lake Academy, you will build your knowledge, hone your skills, and prepare for your future.”

At the academy’s opening ceremony.

Looking at the students from the podium, I could see them fidgeting with boredom.

Before my possession, I found the principal’s speeches so tedious, but now that I was standing there myself, I felt like I was talking too much.

“The academy is not just a place of learning. It is a place where you can realize your dreams and passions. The friends beside you now will become your comrades, growing together. And as Lake Academy’s guardian, I will do my best to help you achieve your goals.”

I placed my palm on the podium and continued.

“I hope you all write a new history at Lake Academy!”

As the speech ended, loud applause erupted from below the podium, and I immediately headed to Lake Manor to rest.

“Young master, when will you be departing?”

As I entered the study, Jawill Wilson, who had followed me, asked.

He seemed to have heard from Pedericks that I would be going to Alphonse territory after the opening ceremony.

“Hmm, I plan to rest today and leave tomorrow. But why do you ask?”

Jawill Wilson scratched his cheek with a troubled expression before finally speaking.

“I heard that Pedericks will be accompanying you. Will I be joining as well?”

I tilted my head at Jawill Wilson’s question.

“That’s strange.”

“Wh-what’s strange?”

“You used to beg me to take you along, but now you look like you don’t want to go?”

“…What?”

“Ah, I see. Back then, you were awkward with Clara and wanted to leave Lake territory by any means, but now things are going well, and you don’t want to leave?”

“Th-that’s not… Clara and I aren’t in that kind of relationship yet…”

Having hit the mark, I smirked as Jawill Wilson rambled incoherently.

“Well, then, would it be alright if I took Clara instead of you?”

“…What?”

“I promised to train Clara anyway. Training her on the way would be time-efficient.”

“What about me?”

“Oh, so you want to go instead of Clara?”

Jawill Wilson looked like his brain was overloaded.

Then, as if giving up on thinking, he sighed.

“Clara and I haven’t developed into a romantic relationship yet, but it’s a work in progress.”

“In other words, you want to be with Clara, right? You could just say it honestly. Why do you keep making me think crooked thoughts by beating around the bush?”

“I-I’m sorry. I was shortsighted.”

“Then I’ll take both you and Clara when we go to Alphonse territory.”

“Will we both be training…?”

Seeing Jawill Wilson’s expression darken rapidly, I continued nonchalantly.

“The journey to Alphonse territory might be tough because of the training, but in exchange, you’ll have time alone together, won’t you?”

“Time… alone together…”

Jawill Wilson’s face reddened as his voice trailed off, then he straightened his back.

“Knight Jawill Wilson will accompany you wherever you go, young master.”

“Oh, and after visiting my parents in Alphonse territory, we’ll also go to the Western Continent.”

“The Western Continent?”

“Yes, I have business there. When we go there, I’m thinking of taking just you and Clara, without Pedericks.”

“May I ask why we’re going to the Western Continent?”

“Because of Lucien.”

Jawill Wilson’s eyes widened at the mention of Lucien.

“O-our Lucien? Why? Is there a problem?”

“No, Principal Rupert mentioned he has a friend who knows a lot about dragons.”

“Ah… and that friend is in the Western Continent?”

“That’s right.”

Jawill Wilson stroked his chin and nodded.

“If that’s the reason, we must definitely go. Fortunately, relations between the Eastern and Western Continents are friendly, so there shouldn’t be any issues with travel.”

Knock-knock!

Just then, Pedericks entered urgently after knocking.

He glanced at Jawill Wilson once before turning his gaze to me.

“Young master, a letter has arrived from Cataria territory.”