My Slain Dragon Bride

Chapter 90: Chapter 90

Chapter 90 - The Flower of Evil

Tilda, who had entered the Dandolo family as their future daughter-in-law, was dissatisfied with everything.

The reason was simple.

Because the mansion did not belong to her.

Unable to act as the mistress of a house that was not hers, Tilda found the entire estate nothing but irritating.

"Hmm~."

Yet today, she sat on the sofa, happily humming to herself.

There was only one reason she seemed so delighted.

The ring resting on her finger.

A ring crafted from lustrous silver, with a large diamond set at its center.

It was no ordinary diamond.

It was a red diamond that could only be mined by miners who ventured beneath the Boundary of Hell in the God’s Tomb of the western continent.

Having claimed the lives of tens of thousands, it was called the Blood Diamond, a treasure so rare that money alone could never obtain it.

The fact that such an extraordinary jewel—one unattainable to almost anyone else—rested on her finger filled Tilda with immense satisfaction.

However, her pleasant smile lasted only for a moment.

"My love, what’s got you in such a good mood?"

The instant she heard that voice, Tilda’s happiness vanished.

The one who had poured cold water over her mood was the young master of the Dandolo household, Henri Dandolo.

Her fiancé, and the very man who had given her this ring.

Tilda turned her head.

A theatrical smile adorned her face.

"I was thinking about you."

"What a coincidence. I was thinking about you too."

Completely oblivious, Henri laughed cheerfully and kissed the back of Tilda’s hand.

He squeezed in beside her and sat down.

Even the touch of his body through their clothes irritated her, so Tilda subtly shifted away before asking,

"How’s business these days?"

"Business? It’s going great! The dwarves in the west discovered a rare-earth vein used for magical materials this time. It’ll practically rain money from the sky."

Henri clapped his hands excitedly, unable to contain himself.

But all that escaped Tilda’s lips was a sigh.

Henri’s smiling face quickly turned to confusion.

"What’s wrong? That’s good news, isn’t it?"

"It is. Of course it’s good news—for now. But why is it that I just can’t see a future?"

"You can’t see a future? From where I’m standing, it looks like we’ll continue prospering without a problem..."

"That’s only because you’re an optimist. I don’t see it that way. I can’t even imagine how we’re supposed to survive in the future. Those beasts are still trying to steal what’s mine, aren’t they?"

"You mean your brothers-in-law?"

Tilda nodded.

"Those two are far more vicious than you can imagine. Do you know how much they tormented me when I was little because of those two men?"

The emotions she had been suppressing suddenly surged up.

Speaking in a voice filled with passion, she continued,

"Those beasts think the only reason I came into this family was to use you. They want to turn me into the greatest villain in the world, then make me into a fool who can’t do anything!"

Tears rolled down Tilda’s cheeks.

Seeing even a single tear made Henri’s heart sink.

"Tilda, my love. Don’t be anxious. My love exists for you alone."

Henri gently took her hand.

"Look. This diamond. Isn’t it your favorite gemstone?"

"..."

"When I placed this on your finger, I swore that I’d make you happier than anyone else in this world. So you don’t have to be afraid anymore."

"...Really?"

"Of course."

Henri kissed the back of her hand once again and spoke softly.

"My love, for you, I’d even pluck the stars from the heavens."

Only then did Tilda, who had been crying rivers of tears, smile.

This idiot really is that easy.

People said every man became simple-minded around women, but Henri was especially bad.

That was simply the kind of man he was.

Unlike his father, who had expanded the business through aggressive investments and bold strategies, Henri preferred gentle and relaxed methods.

He lacked meticulousness and acted on impulse.

Still... he does have ability.

The development of the western region had only been possible because of Henri’s instinctive talent.

His appearance was ugly, and he was much older than she was, but his ability alone made him worth tolerating.

At least until he had solved all the troublesome problems she faced.

At that moment, one of the servants approached and whispered into Tilda’s ear.

"The arson was successful."

It was excellent news.

"Faster than I expected. Understood."

"What was faster?"

Henri asked.

"It’s a secret."

"A secret between fiancés?"

"It has to be. I’m preparing a present for you."

"Oh? F-For me?"

A smile spread across Henri Dandolo’s face.

He gently placed a hand on Tilda’s shoulder.

"Could you just give me a tiny peek at... that present for me?"

Tilda smiled innocently in return.

"No. I’ll tell you later, so be patient for now."

"Come on, you can’t even give your fiancé a little hint?"

"I like surprises. If you figure it out, I’ll feel like all my hard work was for nothing."

She puffed out her cheeks and drooped the corners of her mouth.

Seeing that expression, Henri chuckled.

"Alright. I’ll pretend I’m completely clueless."

"If you’re pretending not to know, then that means you already know."

"I may not look like it, but I’m a pretty good actor."

"What are you even saying? Hahaha!"

Tilda laughed brightly.

Seeing her apparently cheerful again, Henri sighed in relief.

"I should get going now. It’s almost time for Father to eat, isn’t it?"

"You could just leave that to the maids. Isn’t it troublesome?"

"I’ve already neglected him while sightseeing in Halim. Besides, he’s not just anyone—he’s your father."

"Haha... Honestly, both Father and I are far luckier than we deserve to have a daughter-in-law like you."

Henri scratched his head awkwardly, grinning from ear to ear.

He hummed happily to himself about how fortunate he was.

Watching him, Tilda laughed along.

That laughter lasted precisely until she stepped outside and the door closed behind her.

The warmth vanished from Tilda’s face.

She walked down the red carpet toward the head of the family’s room.

While walking, one of the maids quietly approached her side.

"His condition?"

"The same as usual."

"I see. Everything’s prepared properly?"

"Yes."

"Give it to me."

Tilda accepted the tray.

The door opened.

"Father, it’s Tilda. I’ll come in now."

She entered the family head’s room.

The room was decorated with wallpaper depicting the history of House Dandolo, along with the family’s ancestral genealogy.

Having preserved its lineage for over two hundred years, the family possessed immense pride.

The one who had expressed that pride more than anyone was Henri’s father, Rico Dandolo.

Rico Dandolo had been the most aggressive merchant in the entire history of House Dandolo.

To keep Herman Pascal’s relentless expansion in check, he had thrown himself into high-risk, high-return ventures.

His exceptional ability, combined with extraordinary luck, caused his business to grow ever larger, eventually creating the prestige House Dandolo enjoyed today.

But no merchant, no matter how wealthy, could escape time.

Rico had become an old man with very little time left.

He no longer possessed the strength to lift a spoon.

Simply breathing was all he could manage.

He was a man lingering at death’s door.

"Good afternoon, Father. How are you feeling today?"

Tilda asked him.

She already knew no answer would come.

So she continued speaking to herself.

"The weather is beautiful today. It might be nice to go outside for a little while."

"..."

"Of course, in your condition, even sitting up must be difficult. It’s truly unfortunate."

"..."

"But doesn’t it give you strength when your daughter-in-law talks to you like this?"

Tilda gently fed him spoonfuls of porridge.

"I heard the place Henri signed a contract with discovered a rare-earth vein this time. Apparently it has excellent mana resonance, so they’ll be rolling in money."

"..."

"Isn’t it amazing? Just a few years ago, everyone mocked him as useless trash and lamented that House Dandolo would collapse if someone like him became chairman. Yet now, that very son is about to usher in another golden age for the Dandolo Trading Company."

"..."

"Who do you think made your pathetic son into the man he is today?"

"..."

"It was me."

"My achievement."

Tilda smiled with complete self-satisfaction.

"I’m that remarkable."

She pushed the wooden spoon into his mouth.

"I’m not the woman you treated like some ghost who would destroy this trading company."

She stirred the spoon around inside his mouth.

"Everything belongs to me."

"The Pascal Trading Company."

"The Dandolo Trading Company."

"This mansion..."

She shoved the wooden spoon in a little more forcefully.

So deep that it seemed impossible for it to go any farther.

"And even your life... which is no different from a plant’s."

Ghk... Ghk...

Unable to breathe, Rico’s face gradually turned pale.

Tilda watched with delighted eyes.

Just before he suffocated completely, she pulled the spoon out.

His blocked breathing returned.

"But you have to stay alive."

"Right now, it’s more profitable for me if you keep living a little longer instead of dying."

"..."

"They say you have to stay alive first before that hidden will of yours can be changed."

"Honestly, why did you have to make such a pointless secret and put me through all this trouble?"

Tilda gently stroked the old man’s chin with her finger.

She enjoyed the feeling of controlling him.

But only for a moment.

Her finger suddenly stopped.

"Oh?"

The smile disappeared from her face.

Rico Dandolo, who shouldn’t have been able to move even a finger, had moved.

His eyes slowly turned toward Tilda.

Both eyes trembled violently.

They became so bloodshot that he looked as though he might become a ghost.

Killing intent.

The hatred directed at Tilda was far too intense for a feeble old man who could no longer even speak.

Looking down into those eyes, Tilda murmured coldly,

"It seems the medicine wasn’t quite enough..."

She quietly took out a small vial from inside her clothes and added one more drop into the porridge.

Without even stirring it, she scooped it up and fed it directly into Rico Dandolo’s mouth.

The strength gradually faded from his eyes once more.

He became nothing more than a frail old man capable only of breathing.

"Rest well, Father."

"You don’t have much time left anyway."

Smiling brightly again, Tilda leaned close to the ear of the now plant-like Rico Dandolo and whispered,

"When you pass away, I’ll send your son to accompany you so you won’t be lonely."

Carrying the now-empty bowl of porridge, Tilda stepped outside.

Several servants were already waiting there.

"Are you sure everything was planted properly on the Merchit Pascal Mercenary Company?"

Tilda asked as she handed over the tray.

"Yes. Merchit went to Castle Valdrova late at night to speak with Stephan Pascal, but he returned after only two hours."

"So they sent him back in the middle of the night..."

"It seems the discussion didn’t go well after all."

Tilda smiled in satisfaction.

"Now we can start setting them off."

"One by one."

"One by one."

"Yes."

"Proceed."

"Let’s make everything ours."

"Yes."

The servants hurried off.

The plan had begun.

Soon, everything will be in my hands.

Merchit Pascal and Stephan Pascal.

Though they were her own blood relatives, to Tilda—who coveted the Pascal Trading Company—they were nothing more than obstacles.

She raised her hand toward the light.

The exquisitely cut Blood Diamond sparkled brilliantly.

"It would be absolutely perfect... if it weren’t an engagement ring."

Even while voicing that small regret, she smiled happily.

After all, the title of fiancée lasted only for a moment.

But the beauty of the diamond...

Would last forever.

***

Merchit returned that very day.

Although it was already late at night, the fact that he had not even been offered a place to stay was no different from being thrown out at the door.

Because of that, people naturally assumed that the conflict between Merchit and Stephan had grown even deeper.

After that, Merchit began showing signs of breaking away.

He transferred every business he had established to the Pascal Mercenary Company and began preparing for independence.

The intention was to force him into making his move openly.

And just as planned, he took the bait.

Herman Pascal made his move.

Knowing that their strength could not be divided, he attempted to stop Merchit’s bid for independence while simultaneously trying to drive Stephan out by seeking reappointment as a director.

Just as Stephan had predicted.

Herman had no idea what was truly happening.

All he knew was that the two brothers had fallen into conflict and that the family was beginning to split apart.

The best actor was someone who barged into the stage without knowing anything.

Herman became the crucial piece that erased everyone’s suspicions.

His father, Herman Pascal.

His older brother, Merchit Pascal.

And himself, Stephan Pascal.

Under the banner of the Pascal Trading Company, a three-way struggle between the three men had begun.

It made everyone believe that everything was unfolding exactly according to Tilda’s plan.

Just as he was thinking that—

"Your Highness."

Isabella entered Ferda’s office.

Instead of the usual mountain of documents, she carried only a single thin handkerchief.

"A carpenter found this while organizing the construction materials. He said he couldn’t read, so he brought it to me..."

What Isabella handed over was a neatly folded black scarf.

When she unfolded it, words written in an eerily vivid crimson covered the fabric.

No... that’s not blood. It’s dye.

If it were blood, it wouldn’t have remained such a bright red.

Whether it was blood or dye didn’t matter.

As far as Ferda knew, there was only one organization that wrote messages with red dye on black scarves.

Black Bandana.

A secret organization whose influence extended across the entire Cerdes Continent.

It was an underground organization that boldly proclaimed the slogan:

"There is nothing we cannot find, and nothing we cannot obtain."

True to its reputation as an intelligence organization, the contents of the message were equally provocative.

—Lord Ferda Valdrova.

—We are aware of the recent events involving the Pascal Trading Company.

—We shall be meeting you soon.