Ch.323323. It’s the life you chose, so endure it.

“It’s done.”

“…Pardon?”

“Why do you keep asking the same thing? Didn’t I tell you the position of family head is settled?”

I had honestly confessed to Evander as soon as possible because Leonard wanted to give up the position of family head, but…

Why is he suddenly refusing now?

Hiding my bewilderment, I spoke calmly.

“Weren’t you someone who wanted to become the family head, brother?”

“I was.”

“So when Leonard was getting closer to the position, you stepped back on your own.”

“That’s correct.”

“…Then why are you refusing when the position is being offered to you freely?”

Evander Alphonse let out a faint laugh at my question.

“Do you know what I’ve been doing during this visit to Lake Territory?”

“You visited the Miracle Forest and toured the Academy.”

“That’s the reason.”

“…Pardon? Ah, could you please explain so I can understand?”

Evander Alphonse twitched his eyebrows as he continued.

“Do you know what I’ve done all my life, since childhood, to ascend to the position of family head?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Of course you wouldn’t. Back then, you were too busy pretending to be a good-for-nothing and neglecting the family.”

While I felt somewhat wronged since these were the actions of ‘Selden Alphonse’ before my possession, I couldn’t exactly be honest about that.

Reluctantly, I nodded.

“That’s right.”

“Like the second son Jason, I gradually inherited all the duties my father performed. By the time I reached adulthood, I already had a complete grasp of everything related to the family.”

“That’s why I said it. You’re far more qualified to be the family head than Leonard.”

“But regardless of the circumstances, I gave up being the head, and at first, it was incredibly difficult. I felt like I had lost my purpose in life.”

I adjusted my posture with a rather serious expression.

“So to summarize based on what I’m feeling, you’ve become comfortable with your current lifestyle?”

“Yes, a life where I can freely go wherever I want… Now I understand why you were so reluctant to take the position of family head.”

Sigh…

This is a big problem.

Should I ask Leonard to take the position again?

I pressed my throbbing temple gently.

“Brother, now that you’ve enjoyed yourself enough, shouldn’t you return to your rightful place?”

“How amusing. You used to hide behind Leonard and try to pull me down from the position of family head.”

“T-that was because you kept trying to threaten me, wasn’t it?”

“Well, it was obvious you were supporting Leonard, so I had no choice, did I?”

He had a point.

Come to think of it, Evander Alphonse could have easily risen to the position of family head after Jason died because of me.

However, Leonard rose up fiercely.

He must have suspected I was behind it.

From Evander’s perspective, he would have known Leonard wasn’t capable enough.

Anyway.

I had thought Evander Alphonse would eagerly accept my proposal, but this is utterly perplexing.

I racked my brain as I continued speaking.

“Anyway, haven’t we cleared up our misunderstanding now?”

“We’ve cleared up the misunderstanding. But not all the emotions.”

“…You’re more narrow-minded than I thought.”

“I’ve always been the most narrow-minded in the family.”

A situation where even provocation doesn’t work.

I sighed briefly and deliberately slumped my shoulders.

“If you won’t take the position of family head, who on earth will lead the Alphonse family?”

“There’s Leonard, isn’t there?”

“Imagine Leonard as the head of the Alphonse family. Don’t you think a terrible future awaits?”

“You should trust Leonard now too. Perhaps because he’s married and matured, his handling of affairs is surprisingly neat.”

I pretended to whimper to break through this iron wall.

“No matter how neat his handling of affairs might be, could he ever match up to you, brother?”

“Then why don’t you inherit the position?”

“Haven’t I always said I have no desire for the position of family head?”

“…Anyway, it won’t work, boy. I’ve already made up my mind while exploring the nice places in Lake Territory.”

In that case.

Do I have to resort to the last remaining method?

I had wanted to avoid using it if possible, but no matter how I thought about it, Evander seemed more suitable for the position of family head than Leonard.

“Then I have no choice.”

“What do you mean, no choice?”

“Didn’t you try to betray your family and commit treason to sit in the position of family head? If father and mother were to find out about this… just imagining it, this youngest son’s eyes are blinded by tears of sadness.”

At that, Evander Alphonse laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! I knew you would try to blackmail me with that.”

“You’ve committed a grave mistake, so I hope you’ll contribute to the family’s development.”

“I was planning to tell father and mother the truth anyway when I return to the Alphonse family this time.”

“…Pardon?”

“Isn’t it better to be severely scolded than to hide it for a lifetime?”

“Ah, even if father might understand, mother could be greatly shocked, couldn’t she?”

“It’s better than being unfilial by living a lifetime of lies.”

“No, still…”

As I blinked with a dejected expression, Evander Alphonse rose to his feet.

Then, with a pitying look, he gently placed his hand on my shoulder.

“…Youngest, this is the life you’ve chosen. Endure it.”

*

“Kill me, pleash. Haven’t I told you everything honeshly…”

The once dignified attitude had completely vanished.

His face was barely recognizable, and his teeth had all fallen out.

Even his toes and fingers were completely gone.

I thought it was miraculous he hadn’t died from excessive bleeding, but Seri Familia had neatly stopped the bleeding.

It was truly horrific.

I folded my arms heavily as I looked at Rayleigh sitting in the wooden chair.

“I told you, didn’t I? That was your last chance back then.”

“Pleash… jusht kill me…”

Rayleigh was breathing heavily, gasping for air.

Even for someone like me, who doesn’t hesitate to kill, it was hard to watch.

“I heard something shocking recently.”

“…”

“I want to give it back to you. This is the life you’ve chosen, so endure it.”

Shuddering as if I’d seen something I shouldn’t have, I closed the prison cell door and was about to climb the stairs when—

“My, to think that Lord Selden Alphonse would visit such a humble place… Don’t worry and just wait quietly, I’ll gather the information for you.”

I turned my head to look at Seri Familia.

She must have just tortured another intruder, as her face and clothes were covered in bright red blood.

The smell of blood was pungent.

In her hand, she held an axe also covered in blood.

Hiding my startled expression, I spoke.

“I just came to see how you torture someone.”

“To see?”

“Won’t there come a time when I might need to torture someone too?”

At that, Seri Familia raised the axe in her hand with a meaningful smile.

“Then shall I show you? It might be more fun if Lord Selden Alphonse watches.”

Looking at Seri Familia smiling at me now, I feel like I’ve committed an unforgivable sin against Leonard.

I cleared my throat and spoke firmly.

“Have you obtained the information I mentioned?”

“I deliberately didn’t ask.”

“…Pardon?”

“I prefer to torture until they confess on their own. That way, they’ll reveal information more honestly.”

“Ah… I see. But you seem to be enjoying it quite a bit?”

“No, it’s just that since he’s clearly a trained knight, his vitality seems more tenacious than others. So I’m disappointed. That I can’t kill him…”

Seri Familia’s eyes welled up with tears as if she were truly sad.

Yet what made it creepy was that her mouth was smiling.

“Haha… Anyway, I hope you can find out the information quickly. I have a plan in mind.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Prince Leonis must have learned that the assassination failed, and I don’t think it’s wise to give him time to prepare a rebuttal or counterattack.”

“If that’s what Lord Selden Alphonse thinks, then regrettably, I’ll have to intensify the torture a bit more.”

“I would appreciate that.”

Seri Familia entered the prison cell with burning determination.

Screams immediately followed.

His voice sounded metallic, likely from how much he had been screaming.

Shaking my head, I went back up to the first floor.

“Whew…”

Why does talking with Seri Familia drain my energy so quickly?

As I was sighing repeatedly, Pedericks, who had been frantically running around the mansion, spotted me and made an urgent expression.

“Y-Young Master!”

Given the recent assassination attempt, I also ran toward Pedericks, raising my voice.

“What’s wrong!?”

Pedericks arrived in front of me and spoke without even catching his breath properly.

“Princess Etherian has arrived.”

What is he saying…

It’s not like it’s the first time Princess Etherian has come to the Lake Territory mansion.

“Making such a fuss over that…”

Then, Pedericks straightened his back and added one more thing with a pale face.

“…Princess Sairin is with her too.”