When I returned to the mansion with the bitch in tow, the first thing that greeted me was—
I stand corrected. The first thing that rushed toward me was the foolish fox.
Before I had even set foot in the mansion’s entrance, I’m not sure how she knew, but she immediately dashed toward me. She leaped at my face, only to be caught by the back of her neck.
"Ah, this scent! These sharp eyes! This electrifying feeling! This must be Lucy...!"
While the foolish fox drooled and muttered, I stretched my arm back and—
"Huh? Lucy? What the hell is this!?"
With that, I tossed the foolish fox into the air.
If she were an ordinary creature, she would have fallen to her death from that height, but as the lord of the forest, she wouldn't die that easily.
Pity. I kind of wish she would just die already.
"Our daughter! You’ve returned?!"
"Yes, I’ve returned, you useless, stupid father."
I was about to scold myself for failing to restrain the foolish fox, but I was taken aback by her sharp tone. Realizing how agitated I was, I paused. Was it the aftereffects of reading Lucy's memories on the island?
"Lu... Lucy?"
The moment I opened my mouth, I knew criticism would come pouring out, so I said nothing and entered the reception room instead.
From behind, I could hear Benedict crying as he grabbed Karia, but there was nothing I could do about it.
If I opened my mouth to explain, he'd probably jump at me like a teenage girl in the middle of a tantrum, and if he heard those words, he would cry for three days straight, passing out from exhaustion.
It's better to let him misunderstand and leave it at that. After throwing the bitch I had captured aside, I took my place on top of her, propping up my chin and thinking about the confusion in my mind.
It felt similar to when I talked to Benedict during winter. My emotions, yet not quite mine.
"The hero said that what you saw at the end of the dungeon was your inner voice. Isn’t that the reason you're confused?"
My inner voice.
In my case, it would be Lucy’s voice.
Judging by how strong her voice is, Lucy must not be gone, right?
Is she just in a deep, deep sleep?
I haven’t faced the Lucy inside me, so I can't say for sure.
However, if Lucy is still with me, I would be happy. It means everything can return to where it was meant to be.
"Seems like Benedict wasn’t such a great father back then."
"No. He was a good father. I was just a bad daughter."
Lucy would probably say something like that. Thinking about it, I noticed a sharp gaze through the crack in the door.
A foolish fox, in human form, was glaring at me. Was it because I tossed her that she was angry?
From my perspective, it was a merciful response. After all, it was you who broke the agreement first.
"...Jealous!"
Ah. So, it wasn’t that she was mad at me.
She was jealous of the bitch lying under me. Truly, some things never change. As I looked at her with cold eyes, a rough hand grabbed her away.
"Let go! Let me go! I need... I need more of Lucy’s essence!!"
"Shut up! Because of you, Lucy... Gahhh!"
After some commotion outside the door, the ones we had been waiting for returned to the Allen household.
Joy. Arthur. And Rene. Faces that had been difficult to face just days ago now brought a sense of familiarity from the memories of Lucy I had seen on the island.
"Gloomy Prince. Where are you going, wandering around?"
No. It’s more complicated than that.
"The one who used to live like mold in a corner is out and about now. The sunlight will purify you if you keep wandering."
The words I had said without thinking made me embarrassed. The loneliness that had clung to me was uncomfortable, and the past things that I should consider dark history resurfaced, making Rene himself feel awkward. Despite that, I was happy to see him again and wanted to talk.
"Sorry I’m late, but what’s with the woman lying under you?"
"She’s the bitch who slandered our boss, a piece of trash who only knows how to make accusations."
Lucy had surely valued Rene. That was why she pushed him away. She prioritized his future over her own desires.
"...What? No. Wait. You’re not serious."
"You think I’ll forget about a moldy human so easily?"
The emotions coming from Lucy were warm.
"Didn’t you forget about it?"
"How naïve. Do you really think that makes sense?"
"But you..."
But the emotions coming from me were hot.
Simply put, I was irritated by this bastard who would probably whine about losing the woman and lament his incompetence.
"Heh, so you were just throwing a tantrum? Honestly, you’re very honest."
"...What?"
Lucy had intentionally pushed him away. Rene must have known that.
He couldn’t have missed it!
This bastard, as frustrating as he was, was truly competent!
Yet, Rene, instead of coming to meet Lucy again, had been holed up in the palace, whining.
If you’re a man, don’t you at least try to clear up misunderstandings!?
Why give up so easily!? Was Lucy only worth that little to you?
"You should have just been honest. But you came here to throw hints instead of talking, so pathetic. Are you even a man? Gloomy Prince."
I wouldn’t allow it!
Not from anyone else, but not from you!
I won’t allow a man like you, lacking persistence, to be with Lucy!
No! Absolutely not!
"Did you expect a pet who would wag its tail even after years of neglect? Did you expect me to bark for you? No. That’s something that only happens in the dreams you have when you’re asleep."
As I continued to mock him, Rene, now pale, staggered back, losing his balance. Arthur quickly caught him, shocked, and spoke.
"Stop! His mental strength has reached its limit! If you keep going, he might die!"
"Well, it’s fine. I really wish he would die. It’s so creepy that someone like that cares for me."
"...Yeah. You’re right. I should just die."
"Brother! Calm down! I don’t know what happened in the past, but we need to talk first!"
As Arthur desperately tried to persuade Rene, Joy hurried over to my side and tried to cover my mouth. Naturally, I stopped her.
"You’re a pervert, huh? Did you want to touch my skin that badly?"
"Th-That’s not it!"
"Then what is it? Are you taking that idiot prince’s side instead of mine?"
"No! I’m always on Lucy’s side! I don’t care what happens to the 1st Prince!"
"Joy!? What are you saying now?!"
My thoughts weren’t much different from Arthur’s. I didn’t expect Joy to say something like that.
"Honestly, I wish the 1st Prince would disappear too! Lucy is mine!"
"...What?"
"But please wait until everything is over before you get rid of him! Now is not the time!"
Wait. What? Did Joy just say she’s mine? When I replayed her words in my head, my bewilderment quickly turned into anger.
"Now that’s some interesting information. I never expected the Patran lady to have such tastes."
As Karia chuckled beside me, Joy seemed to realize how her words sounded, her face turning bright red as she stepped back.
"No, no! That’s not what I meant! I just meant I want Lucy to be there for me as a friend!"
"It’s okay, Patran lady. There are quite a few nobles with such interests, you know."
"No, I don’t mean that!"
"Don’t worry. This will stay between us..."
Joy, whose reason had completely evaporated, began to draw several magic circles, and Karia hurriedly changed the topic.
"It was just a joke. I was trying to lighten the mood since it was so heavy."
"There’s a limit to everything!"
"I’m sorry, Patran lady. I failed to read the situation because I was too comfortable with the boss. If you want to punish me, I will accept whatever you give."
Karia lowered her head solemnly, and Joy, realizing her mistake, began to erase her magic circles one by one.
"It’s fine. I got a little too excited."
"Thank you for your mercy, Lady."
Once again bowing her head, Karia approached Rene and whispered something to him.
I didn’t know exactly what she said, but as Karia spoke, Rene’s complexion improved, and by the time the conversation ended, he had regained his former self.
"Sorry. I showed you such an ugly side of me."
"Heh? That was ugly?"
"Boss, let’s stop here. We have much to discuss."
Under Karia’s lead, we all sat around the table, quietly waiting for her to take charge of the conversation.
"I’ve just heard a story. Is it true that the 1st Prince has hidden the King’s death, and the 1st Queen is covering it up?"
"Yes. The Fairy Queen and I saw it with our own eyes."
What? What? The King is dead?
Already? Isn't that event supposed to happen much later!?
Why is it happening already, when it was supposed to happen in the 3rd year?!
No, wait. The 1st Queen was hiding it? Why!?
"The 1st Queen has clearly lost her mind, so we are moving quickly."
"We’ve secured the cooperation of three major dukes."
"Then we’ll handle the smaller tasks by working with the Newman family. Does that work?"
Excuse me, but I think the conversation is moving too fast! Could you slow down and explain it so even outsiders can understand? I don’t get any of this right now!
<Just stay quiet. They’ll explain later.>
‘But it feels like I’m being left out!’
<That’s what being an adult means, just brushing things off.>
Following my grandfather’s words, I stayed quiet, and Karia reached under my armpit, lifting me up.
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"Aunt."
"Haha. I always wanted to try this. Boss, why are you so light? Where did your muscles go?"
"Do you really want me to beat you?"
"Sorry!"
Apologizing, she placed me back on the chair and grabbed the bitch's hair beneath me.
"Good luck. This bitch is a direct member of the 1st Queen’s intelligence division. She’s got a high position and probably knows a lot."
"You managed to catch her. She’s the type who only cares about her own well-being."
"Well, I have someone who can erase that."
Laughing slyly, Karia slapped the bitch’s cheek and made her stand up.