Chapter 83

Chapter 83

The Heroine of the 1st Playthrough Remembers My Training.

Episode 83: A Rascal, Villainous Young Lady, And Stepmother (6).

“Once today is over, we can truly become brothers.”

Cale patted my shoulder as he stood at the door.

Knowing that Cale was only thinking of stabbing me in the back, I found it absurd, but I nodded and entered the room.

“You’ve arrived.”

Garcia, with her long green hair tied up, sat with an enchanting presence.

Although Garcia’s outfit was quite revealing, the noble aura she exuded made it look more elegant than lewd.

“How have you been, Mother?”

The word ‘mother’ felt awkward on my tongue.

Garcia seemed to feel the same, as she wore a somewhat uncomfortable expression.

“…Yes, sit down.”

As soon as I sat down, Garcia gestured to a maid.

“Bring the tea.”

“…Yes.”

Garcia was a woman who knew exactly how to project an aura of authority with the slightest gesture.

“This will be a long conversation. Drink up. It’s brewed from tea leaves grown by the Maisha family.”

“…I’m fine. I already had something to drink before coming here.”

Although I came to form an alliance, this was still enemy territory. One cannot simply accept food from the enemy.

Cale, flaring up, shouted.

“Yujin! Are you rejecting Mother’s hospitality?”

“…Brother, it’s not that…”

“If it’s not that, then what is it! If you don’t trust it, I’ll drink it first!”

Cale took a sip of the tea and then spoke again.

“How is it! Yujin, do you trust it now?”

“It’s not like that. I never doubted it from the start, Brother.”

“Then drink it! If we’re to form an alliance, we need to build at least a minimal level of trust!”

“…Alright.”

As I took a sip of the tea, Garcia and Cale’s mouths curved into faint smiles.

“Do you like it?”

“…It’s excellent.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

Garcia, elegantly crossing her smooth legs, spoke.

“Well then, let’s get to the point without wasting time. I’ve heard you support Cale as the next head of the family. What do you want in return?”

“Please, wait a moment.”

“….”

Though she seemed displeased at being interrupted, she restrained herself, knowing she couldn’t treat someone here for an alliance disrespectfully.

I bowed gently and looked at Cale.

“How do you feel right now, Brother?”

Cale frowned as I smiled at him.

“What nonsense are you… Oh…? Why… suddenly… two of you…”

Thud–

Cale collapsed onto the table, unconscious.

“…It seems Brother was very tired.”

“Cale! Cale! Get a hold of yourself! Cale! …You! What did you do!”

“Well, wasn’t it Mother who did something?”

Garcia gritted her teeth and pulled out a small vial to feed Cale, but I grabbed her wrist faster.

“Let go!”

“It’s pointless. Do you think I would use the same poison Mother prepared? Isn’t that right?”

When I looked at the maid who brought the tea, she trembled.

“I, I…”

“Are you mad! How dare you betray me! Do you think you’ll survive this!”

“Sob.. I’m… sorry… Madam… please spare me…”

Though the maid crying and bowing seemed pitiful, I had died by her hand several times, so I felt no sympathy.

‘Emma did a good job.’

I entrusted Emma with the task of intimidating the maid. She revealed Garcia’s plan to poison me and warned that she could kill not only her but also her family.

Half out of her mind, Garcia shouted.

“You! Do you think you’ll get away with this!”

“Yes, I will. Rather, shouldn’t you worry about Brother Cale?”

I lightly threatened, but Garcia defiantly shouted.

“Guards! Arrest this insolent man immediately!”

Garcia trusted the guards outside the door, but it was useless.

Creek–

The door opened slightly, revealing Alfredo’s kind smile.

“…Why… you!”

“…I’m sorry, Madam. No one can enter here without the young master’s permission.”

Seeing the guards at Alfredo’s feet, Garcia’s face turned pale.

“Ugh…!”

Garcia had her guards, but unfortunately, Alfredo was stronger.

Of course, if the White Wolves of Calliope, loyal to Father and my eldest brother, were here, the situation would be different. But Garcia couldn’t trust them.

I handed the tea Cale drank to the maid.

“Drink it.”

“M-Master… Please… forgive me…”

“If you don’t drink it, you’ll die.”

The following conversation was not for others to hear.

“Sob… sob… gulp…”

After the maid fainted from drinking the tea, I slowly crossed my legs and called Garcia.

“Mother…”

“Don’t call me that with your filthy mouth!”

A mother’s protective instinct was sharp, but a toothless old dog’s bark was futile.

“Then, Garcia…”

“How dare you…!”

Garcia, who was called by name, spoke with veins popping in her neck.

I sighed briefly and shook my head.

I didn’t like calling her ‘Mother,’ nor did I like calling her ‘Garcia.’

She was truly a woman who wanted many things.

Thud─

I struck the desk and spoke in a low voice.

“…If you want to save that idiot, you’d better pull yourself together right now.”

[Telekinesis (Rank D)]

I spread my telekinesis thinly to make the air physically heavy.

This was to mimic the pressure caused by a killing intent or strong magic through telekinesis.

Of course, it’s a skill that wouldn’t work against the real deal, but it’s effective enough for someone powerless like Garcia.

It was only then that Garcia seemed to regain some composure, taking a deep breath before speaking.

“…What do you want?”

“Now you’re making sense.”

“Shut up and tell me what you want!”

“It’s simple. Hand over the position of the next head of the family to my eldest brother.”

“Was this Erden’s doing! He pretends to be so noble on the surface, but in the end, it’s all like this!”

As Garcia glared at me with bloodshot eyes, I sighed, feeling pathetic.

“My brother has nothing to do with this, nor does he even know about it. You know, if my eldest brother were to officially receive the family’s support, the Maisha family would be crushed at any time.”

“You…!”

Garcia bit her lip so hard that blood began to trickle down.

For Garcia, the Maisha family was like her Achilles’ heel, so her reaction was understandable.

“Even so, I’m being quite generous. Accept it.”

The note I handed over detailed Garcia’s assassination plan perfectly, including the costs, the hired organization, and the operation time.

“…How did you…?”

Realizing she had inadvertently confirmed the plan, Garcia shut her mouth, but it was already too late.

“If not you, then think about who else would know about this plan.”

Other than me, this plan was known only to Garcia and Reika.

“That can’t be… That can’t be true.”

“Deny it all you want. But how will you deny what’s written there?”

It was only natural for Garcia to suspect Reika.

It was more realistic for her to think that Reika had joined my side than to believe I knew the future.

…Honestly, it didn’t matter to me whether Garcia believed it or not.

Just planting distrust between them was enough.

‘Shall I start opening the path now…’

A cornered rat would bite the cat.

It was best to leave an escape route, even if it led to hell.

Retracting the telekinesis I had spread, I smiled kindly.

“Mother, I don’t plan to push through unreasonably. I am open to negotiations.”

“…Are you playing with me right now?”

“Let’s be honest. The root of your lust for power stems from the humiliation suffered by the Maisha family.”

It’s never easy for a noble maiden to sneak into a man’s quarters at night.

Despite that, Garcia did so because her weak family was severely humiliated by other nobles.

If she had failed, Garcia Maisha would have disappeared without a trace, but if she succeeded, she could reclaim the dignity and respect she had lost.

The gamble was only half successful.

Garcia became the mistress of Calliope but failed to gain power.

As a result, the number of people who disregarded the Maisha family increased.

They said she didn’t behave like the mistress of Calliope, accusing her of selling herself to enter the family.

That’s why Garcia is so obsessed with becoming the next head of the family.

To gain real power and avenge those who humiliated her and her family.

“I will help the Maisha family. Not to the extent of Calliope, but at least in the North, no one will be able to disregard your family.”

“…How can you help me?”

She had a point.

I was neither the head of Calliope nor did I have the support of my fallen maternal family.

…Therefore, the power I had left was…

“I have a deep relationship with Lucia Uruella.”

“…”

Although it was a bombshell statement, Garcia didn’t seem too surprised, as if she had suspected it.

If she had been sending letters to my father for 10 years, someone like Garcia by his side would have noticed.

But that’s not my only card.

“And with the princess as well.”

“…What do you mean…!”

Garcia’s eyes widened, seemingly caught off guard.

I showed Garcia the princess’s letter.

“…Is this a letter written by the princess?”

I understood Garcia’s feelings.

It was hard to believe that the princess, known as the Sun of the Empire, would send such childish love letters.

“…Whether you believe it or not, it’s true.”

“…That’s… unbelievable…”

Retrieving the letter, I brushed my hair back and glared at Garcia.

“Do you understand? I have the backing of both Uruella and the Royal Family. With their power, supporting the Maisha family wouldn’t be a problem.”

“…How can I trust someone who poisoned my son?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Garcia’s words.

She had tried to poison me first, yet she was now blaming me for it.

“You can also hold something over me, Mother. In fact, that’s what I want.”

“…What nonsense is this?”

I leaned forward slowly and whispered into Garcia’s ear.

“…Have a physical relationship with me, Mother.”