I Became the Master of the Devil

Ah, as expected from the female lead, she recognizes him at the first glance.

 

I only introduced him as Norma, but I didn’t say he’s Redian. However, seeing that Luna immediately recognized Redian, I wondered if there was an instinctive attraction.

 

“He’s the strongest Norma, even His Grace, and my brother can’t treat him recklessly… right?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“Wow, I see. Thanks to my brother, I’ve seen Norma sometimes when they train on the training ground.”

 

Luna’s eyes twinkled when she thought of Redian.

 

“But that person felt so different…”

 

That’s inevitable. I didn’t know the reason either. A robe would be useless to him. As soon as Redian came out to the world, he showed off his presence as the male lead.

 

“I heard that he’s so strong that he can only be controlled by using the restraint.” Luna continued curiously. “But I don’t think that’s the case for Older Sister.”

 

“You don’t think so?”

 

“Um, how should I say it? It was nice to see.”

 

Her eyes bent gently.

 

“You both seemed to get along well, and Older Sister too…”

 

Her smile suited her cute face.

 

“It was my first time seeing Older Sister make that face. So I thought, ‘Ah, the two of you must be close’.”

 

“Really?”

 

On the other hand, I had nothing else to say. She said Ash had a special affection for me earlier, but I didn’t expect Redian, and I looked that close.

 

Is she originally a meticulous person? It felt like she was watching everything around me carefully.

 

“Did I see it right?” Luna asked again with her eyes wide open. It seemed that she wanted to hear from me how close Redian and I were.

 

“Did we look like that? I’m just trying to do my best because father gave me the key to the underground castle.”

 

“Ah…”

 

I had no choice but to reply to Luna with an ambiguous answer. I have to watch my mouth.

 

I never intended to intervene between the main leads.

 

Luna and Ash’s first meeting.

 

Luna and Redian’s first meeting.

 

Everything was different from the original. In other words, there would be situations that even I couldn’t predict.

 

I just need to take care of my future. Whether they saw each other or they fell in love, it was their fate to deal with. It was enough for me to play the role of a rich older sister living leisurely in the capital.

 

“Oh my, the time has passed like this. Now that I see Older Sister is okay, I will go back.”

 

Luna greeted lightly, putting her hands together as if trying to go. “Older Sister must be tired, so take a rest.”

 

“You too must have been tired from getting ready in the morning, so take a rest.”

 

“Yes. Thank you.”

 

I was already exhausted today and didn’t have the energy to deal with Luna. I should treat her kinder next time.

 

“By the way, Older Sister.”

 

Luna, who was moving, suddenly stopped there.

 

What else?

 

But her gaze passed over me, looking behind me.

 

“As expected… The things Older Sister has.”

 

Luna’s eyes became strange as she carefully looked around the interior.

 

“I think everything is really colorful and beautiful.”

 

* * *

It was the next day. As soon as I finished breakfast, I was called by the duke.

 

“I’ve heard of it, Siani. Did you run into Ash Benio?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I see. Hmm.”

 

There was a moment of silence in the office. The duke, who had been glancing awkwardly at me, opened his mouth again. “I’m sorry for what happened yesterday with the vassals. I called you because I thought you must have been very surprised.”

 

“It’s okay. It’s not something I’ve been through a day or two.”

 

“…Right. Hmm.”

 

Another silence came again.

 

Why is he like this? The duke was usually a person who only said what he had to say. He was used to answering like a robot because he hated lengthy words.

 

He’d have told me to get out by now. `Maybe it was annoying for him to tell me to get out. If so, I should give him an excuse for me to leave.

 

“Is there anything else you want to say? If I’m taking up Father’s time, I’ll leave now.”

 

“No, it’s not like that. Siani.”

 

I tried to go out, but the duke even waved his hand.

 

“As far as I can see, the vassals crossed the line yesterday. So, um, I’m going to give you the right to punish them.”

 

“Punish?”

 

“Yes. They dare to insult Princess Felicite, so I’d let you judge them yourself.”

 

“…”

 

The right to punish. Was he offering me a knife to cut his own vassals? What a good opportunity.

 

“Um, if Father decides so, then I will.”

 

I managed to press the corners of my mouth that was about to twitch.

 

“But.”

 

I wanted to do the sword dance right away, but there must be a better way to use this opportunity. For example…

 

“I’m sure the vassals were also surprised by the sudden letter from His Majesty. I will watch them a little longer.”

 

“Watch?”

 

“I need to give them a chance to make up for their mistakes. They’re also those who have followed our Felicite family for a long time.”

 

Putting a leash on them instead of slitting their necks would be nice.

 

“Is that so? I thought you would kick them out and deprive them of their status and property.” The duke muttered as if he was surprised by my calm reaction. “You’re getting more mature, Siani.”

 

I smiled dignified instead of saying, ‘It’s not like that though? I’m going to put them under my feet.’

 

“By the way, how did you get information about Belleng District?”

 

At that time, the duke’s eyes changed as if he remembered the main point.

 

“Didn’t you say you heard it from someone? Who are they to know information about the imperial family?”

 

He stroked his chin with a serious face. “Surely, His Majesty will ask you about the source of this information.”

 

It was natural. The reason why the emperor was trying to meet me ‘in person’ was probably to question the source of the information. He would ask how I knew about the top-secret business plan of the imperial family.

 

“Actually, I didn’t hear it. I predicted it, Father.”

 

“What?”

 

I couldn’t say that I knew the original story, so I made up a proper excuse.

 

“Most of the districts around the capital are owned by the imperial family. Because the land was purchased by the imperial family, the area was able to develop that much.”

 

“Yes. Because nobles scrambled to invest huge sums of money.”

 

When the imperial family bought land, the nobles invested money in that land. It was the same logic as all sorts of speculators flocking to the land owned by a certain company chairman. Why? Because even if it fails, they can recoup their investment.

 

“Then why was no member of the imperial family interested in the Belleng District?”

 

“If the imperial family doesn’t touch it, the answer will come out. Isn’t it because that district has no potential for development?”

 

“Father.”

 

I took a moment to catch my breath. If I pass this well, the duke would have no choice but to trust me.

 

“The imperial family is the Rixon family. They will get information from whom to buy the land?”

 

“Of course, His Majesty…”

 

The duke paused.

 

“That’s right. In the end, His Majesty didn’t just give the imperial family information about the Belleng District.”

 

When the emperor threw information, the imperial family and nobles followed. Information turned into money calling for more money in return, following a rule. The Belleng District was a land completely excluded from that rule.  

 

“His Majesty’s goal has long been the Belleng District.”

 

Precisely, to prevent anyone from paying attention to Belleng District.

 

“Wait, so are you saying that His Majesty deliberately left the Belleng District behind?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Why?”

 

“It would be a place where the imperial family will conduct massive business, and no one should intercept it.”

 

Ah, of course, I intercepted it by purchasing all the land

 

“If His Majesty had purchased the Belleng District from the beginning, the imperial family and nobles would have stuck around it.”

 

In the end, everything was done under the plan of the emperor.

 

“That’s why he’d rather push it out of the spotlight.”

 

It was like the proverb ‘Out of sight, out of mind.’

 

“Oh my god.”

 

The duke exclaimed as if he was finally understood.

 

“How could you…”

 

“I will meet His Majesty at the grand prince’s welcoming party. I’ll tell him what I think, so don’t worry.”

 

“You’re going to attend the welcoming party?”

 

“Yes. The grand prince himself came with an invitation.”

 

“He’s truly a madman.”

 

The duke, who was opening the drawer if he wanted to smoke a pipe, hesitated momentarily.

 

“Will you be okay? You haven’t been in society since your engagement was annulled, right?”

 

Then he closed the drawer again.

 

I can’t believe the day has come when you’re looking at me.

 

“I was looking at the right time to slowly return to society anyway.”

 

The welcoming party would be Siani’s first social appearance in years since the annulled engagement.

 

“But of all things, Ash’s welcoming party? How are you going to handle all the gossip?”

 

The nobles’ society was, in short, a gunless battlefield. The duke was even more concerned because he knew that.

 

“Father.”

 

“…Y-yes.”

 

He seemed to be surprised by my gaze, so the duke flinched uncharacteristically.

 

Whoops.

 

I couldn’t remember how many times I’ve possessed someone. Then, how many times did I participate in the debutante, imperial ball, tea party, social gathering, and someone’s birthday banquet, which were essential in every life?

 

“Don’t worry.”

 

In other words, even if I wake up from my sleep, I could throw a knife-like remark with a mask on my face.

 

“What… Okay. You’re smart, so you’ll do well on your own.”

 

Smart? The duke seemed to have spit out his inner thoughts without realizing it. He only praised me for being smart when it was about bringing shame to the family.

 

“Ah, Father. Instead, I have a favor to ask of you.”

 

“Favor?”

 

The duke’s eyes glistened at my words.

 

“Tell me. Anything.”

 

It’s burdensome. I pretended not to know the duke’s reaction, which had softened quite a bit.

 

“Because I accepted the invitation late, all the representative designers from the famous salon have already been booked.”

 

“I suppose so. All the families will be in the midst of preparation by now.”

 

“I consider this welcoming party very important.”

 

Because I would be the main character at this welcoming party, not Ash. In order to achieve that…

 

“Please send me all the representative designers of each salon.”

 

I smiled.

 

“By all means.”

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