The Villainous Family is Against Independence

r>It was a sight in which not even the slightest bit of loyalty to me could be found.

 

Suddenly abandoned by my exclusive maid, I entered the dining room alone.

 

It was natural for me to arrive last, staying alone in the annex.

 

“I’m sorry for being late.”

 

”It’s all right, Elodie.
It must have been dark since it is a lunar eclipse night, but you arrived safely without falling,” the Duchess congratulated me gently.

 

After nodding amicably to the Duchess who greeted me so graciously, I took my seat.

 

At the same time, the amuse-bouche came out. 

 

(T/N:-In French, “amuse bouche” means literally “it amuses the mouth.” The French were using “amuse-bouche” as a word for appetizers when English speakers embraced the culinary term almost a quarter of a century ago.)

 

While eating, I observed the mood of the people of Perdia.

 

The Duchess was not from one of the four major families and did not have that power, so she would pass the night without concern.

 

The Duke had great power, but he also had extraordinary control, so he would pass.

 

Carlot is……

 

“You’ve improved your control quite a bit, Carlot,” the Duke commented.

 

“Thank you, Father.
I haven’t only played around for three years.”

 

This year, Carlot confidently said that and laughed as if he had complete control over his power, unlike three years ago.

 

The Duke replied indifferently, without intending to be sarcastic or mocking.

 

“Yeah, I’m proud of you just destroying your bedroom this time.”

 

“Hmmm.” Carlot acted indifferently and enjoyed the taste of the food.

 

He was proud of himself, but ended up destroying his bedroom.
I resisted the urge to laugh.

 

And lastly, Jansi.

 

Jansi ate with a smile on his face as usual.
Although he was a little quiet, he kindly responded to the words of the Duchess and Carlot.

 

It was clear as day – I could clearly see that Jansi was trying hard, and that he seemed a bit overwhelmed.
And I wasn’t the only one who noticed.

 

‘You’re breaking out in a cold sweat.’ 

 

The Duchess took a sanguine sip of wine and then looked at Jansi, who was cutting steak with a smile.

 

“The food doesn’t seem to be decreasing today, Jansi.”

 

“Ah, actually, Mother, I ate a lot of snacks during teatime earlier.
I have no appetite.”

 

’

“How did you eat that much when you don’t even like sweets?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

Jansi, who had been talking with the Duchess with his usual kind smile, slowly put the tableware down.

 

“I’ll go wash my hands for a second.”

 

“Okay,” the Duke answered impassively. 

 

As soon as the Duke’s permission was given, Jansi stepped out of the dinner hall.
He seemed to escape as if nothing was wrong, but somehow it was a hasty step. 

 

I checked the atmosphere of the family while I sipped on my water.

 

The atmosphere of not having a conversation remained.
Everyone just put the well-cooked food in their mouths with grim faces.

 

No one noticed Jansi’s strange expression.

 

‘Why am I the only one who knows?!’

 

My conscience in my good heart was too pricked to just ignore it.

 

But I didn’t want to meddle in Jansi’s business, especially because he didn’t even like me.

 

My eyes, agonizing for somewhere to rest in the awkward atmosphere, touched the tableware Jansi had been holding. 

 

The knife was slightly bent from the strength he had exerted on it.

 

‘I can’t do it.’

 

As long as I knew Jansi’s pain, I couldn’t look the other way.

 

I wasn’t sure if I could help Jansi, but I couldn’t let it go.

 

I used Jansi’s same lame excuse and blurted out, “I’m going to wash my hands for a while, too.”

 

The Duke looked at me for a moment and then nodded.

 

“Go ahead.”

 

After leaving the dining room, I set out to find Jansi.

 

Due to Jansi Perdia’s gloomy and two-faced personality, he wouldn’t be in a place where people would come and go.

 

If so, the place where Jansi would be now, not even lit by moonlight, was easy to deduce.

 

He must be where he was 6 years ago on the night of the lunar eclipse, a secluded area near the annex where people never ventured.

 

After taking the lantern, I immediately started walking toward the garden.

 

The reason why I was looking for Jansi, who hated me while pretending to care for me on the outside, was because of a debt in my heart.

 

In the case of the Angellus military supplies incident, I took the credit for the solution that Jansi would have come up with in the future.

 

Jansi may not know, but it had been on my mind all along.

 

“Keugh…”

 

As soon as I entered the garden, I heard someone moaning.

 

It wasn’t necessary to see who the moans belonged to.

 

A large figure crouched among the bushes in the dark garden.

 

Jansi, whose powers ran wild, would not remember, but this was not the first time I had witnessed the crouching Jansi’s back.

 

The sight of his suffering brought back memories of the past.

 

Six years ago, it was entirely a coincidence that I saw Jansi crouching in the corner of the garden so that no one could see him.

 

It wasn’t far from the annex.

 

It was a moonless night, so I came out with a curious mind and opened my eyes wide when I saw Jansi in pain.

 

“Brother……?”

’

 

“Keu…..gh….“

 

“Jansi, are you okay?”

 

“……..go away.”

 

“What?”

 

“Get lost!”

 

I shrank in surprise at the sight of Jansi’s anger.

 

His blue eyes shone sharply in the light of the lantern I was holding.

 

Deep down, I had liked Jansi.

 

Unlike Carlot who hated me, Jansi treated me like family, like his little sister and called me Lili. 

 

“Please, get lost.
I’m begging you….”

 

“I’m sorry!”

 

At the voice that faded away, I dropped the lantern and ran to the annex as if running away.

 

I’d seen Jansi’s unpretentious bare face for the first time.

 

I realized then that this was Jansi’s authentic self.  

 

Surprisingly, Jansi’s attitude toward me after that day was not different from usual.

 

As if he didn’t remember what happened on the night of the lunar eclipse.

 

Now that I knew the contents of the original story, I realized why Jansi was like that….

 

‘Still, the fact that he hates me remains the same.’

 

Now that I found Jansi, it was time to pay off the debt.

 

I remembered the scene where Estelle was healing her brother with her female-lead-sunshine powers – you know, the power of unrelenting positivity and love? –  in the original. 

 

‘Didn’t you hug and comfort Jansi, who couldn’t control his power because his power was running rampant?’

 

Ugh.
That was a bit… 

 

There was a description that he opened his heart to Estelle’s sincerity, who gave herself up for Jansi even though she herself could be in danger under his power.

 

“There is no need to open the door to your heart to me for this,” I muttered.

 

If it was someone’s patting that calmed Jansi when his powers were on the verge of going berserk, then it didn’t matter if I was Estelle or not.

 

I stayed as far away as possible from the slumped over Jansi, and then stretched out my arm as hard as I could.
This was a precautionary measure, in case Jansi ran out of control and I was in danger.
And then I finally patted Jansi’s back.

 

“Heu, Heugh….”

 

“It’s all right.”

 

“….Ugh.”

 

“It’s all right.”

 

“…keugh.”

 

“It’s okay.”

 

“……..”

 

“It is going to be okay.”

 

I patted Jansi hard, telling him something that felt like it was okay.

 

In fact, I had a thought, which was that just as Jansi completely forgot what happened six years ago, he possibly wouldn’t remember what happened today anyway.

 

Surprisingly, Jansi’s body, which was trembling violently, began to calm down.