“Railey is still young and a bit slow-witted… Do you really think she can handle such a task?”
At his wife’s doubt, Viscount Vitence scowled.
“Of course, normally she wouldn’t be capable! But that’s exactly why the other side will let their guard down.”
“Ah… I see.”
“The key is creating a situation where no one would ever suspect her of acting like a spy.”
“That’s what it’s about…”
“First, we need to start by uncovering the bid amount for the Core Ruby Mine.”
“Yes, I’ve already relayed the instructions to Margaret. She’ll take care of it.”
“Even if she doesn’t succeed, once she naturally blends into the Duke’s household, there will eventually come a time when she can be useful.”
“I suppose I was worrying unnecessarily.”
“Well, normally, anyone would think that way. But think about who the Marquess of Malvern is. He took all that into account when he gave the order.”
Viscount Vitence dropped the name of the Marquess of Malvern as if that alone elevated his own status.
In reality, Viscount Vitence was not a man of great ability.
He was not the kind of man who could pull off the daring act of marrying off his young daughter to the Duke’s family just to use her as a spy.
The only reason he took such a high-risk gamble was because he had the powerful Marquess of Malvern backing him.
Because he had secured ties with the Marquess, who wielded significant influence in the central political sphere, Vitence firmly believed that his future was secure.
And hadn’t he already succeeded in marrying his daughter into the esteemed Elestine Ducal family under the Marquess’s direction?
“To think that useless girl would actually prove to be useful one day.”
“Hmph, I guess raising her with all that wasted money paid off after all.”
Their cold-hearted attitude toward Railey stemmed from the fact that she was not their real daughter.
Viscount Vitence narrowed his eyes, recalling the events from years ago.
Over a decade earlier, the newborn daughter of his wife had died shortly after birth.
Originally, they had planned to use the daughter for a strategic marriage alliance, and losing her meant a huge business loss.
Since there was already a male heir, the daughter was intended merely as a political tool, nothing more.
Desperate not to lose the business advantage, he secretly brought home a baby abandoned in the slums.
Since he only intended to use the child as a pawn, he had no qualms about taking in a girl of low birth and raising her as his own daughter.
To prevent leaks, he never told Railey she was not truly his child.
Instead, he minimized spending on her and treated her entirely as a tool.
Despite all this, the crucial political marriage he had so carefully planned had recently fallen apart.
If things continued like this, all the money and effort he had spent raising Railey would be wasted.
Viscount Vitence hurriedly sought a place to ‘sell off’ Railey.
That opportunity came in the form of the elderly Count’s search for a second wife.
When considering the time and money he had invested in Railey, it wasn’t exactly a profitable deal—but it wasn’t a loss either. He considered it a fair trade.
In the midst of all this…
“Viscount Vitence.”
“Yes, Your Excellency, Marquess Malvern.”
“I was thinking… your daughter might be just right for the position…”
The Marquess of Malvern informed him that the prestigious House of Elestine was looking for a young daughter-in-law.
Admittedly, the immediate benefits he would receive from aligning with the Duke’s family were far smaller compared to marrying into the elderly Count’s family.
However, the political gain of currying favor with the influential Marquess of Malvern was much greater.
Furthermore, if Railey could continue to provide intelligence for the Marquess afterward, Viscount Vitence’s standing within the faction would grow even stronger.
‘Hmph, even that wretched girl turned out to have some use after all.’
Of course, the Marquess of Malvern never had any grand expectations for Railey to begin with.
Her role was simply to blend naturally into the Elestine household, lower their guard, and, when the time was right, secure a decisive advantage for their side.
Viscount Vitence stubbed out his cigarette with a satisfied smile.
It finally felt like he was about to reap the rewards of his long-term investment.
***
Meanwhile, after finishing their meal, Walter strolled alongside Railey, his face beaming with a wide smile.
Railey tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
“Isn’t Father-in-law’s quarters in the other direction?”
“Well, we’ve just eaten, so I thought we could take a little walk while I see you back. Unless you mind?”
“No, not at all! I’m happy you’re being so thoughtful.”
“Hehe, that’s a relief…”
As Walter chuckled foolishly and looked down at her, Railey smiled back.
‘Maybe he’s just happy because he feels like he’s gained a daughter…’
The unconditional affection from her father-in-law felt both unfamiliar and ticklish.
It was a stark contrast to her own parents, who had been consumed only with using and exploiting her.
“Come to think of it, I feel like I’ve been doing all the talking… Isn’t there anything you want to ask me?”
“Ah…”
A question that had been lingering in her mind suddenly slipped out.
“Why did you choose me to be your daughter-in-law? Honestly, our family isn’t… prestigious enough to be connected to a ducal house like yours.”
The House of Elestine was somewhat removed from the political center and considered part of the minority faction.
Nevertheless, their standing was far from low.
It was an ancient house, long respected for serving as the shield protecting the North from monstrous threats.
Though not widely known, the ducal house appeared to have accumulated enough wealth to maintain its dignity and status.
Given all that, surely there must have been many families eager to form ties with Elestine.
Even if they needed to be discreet in choosing a daughter-in-law to protect their secret—that they were part beastfolk—it was still puzzling why they would settle for a relatively insignificant family like Viscount Vitence’s.
Walter’s eyes briefly flashed at her question before his expression darkened.
“Hmm… Yes, it’s something you ought to know.”
He slowly began to explain.
“Our family tends to choose our partners very carefully.”
“Yes.”
“You see, it’s a rough region, having to deal with monster waves directly… and it’s also a location prone to military conflicts. If your partner isn’t someone you can trust enough to watch your back, it could be dangerous.”
“I understand.”
A bitter smile flickered across Walter’s lips.
It almost seemed like a sneer, but the expression quickly vanished without a trace.
“But in our family’s history… there have unfortunately been instances where the Duchesses of Elestine betrayed the family.”
“…….!”
“Especially daughters from high-ranking noble houses were more prone to it.”
Railey was slightly surprised at his words.
Until now, she had thought that the tradition of bringing in and raising a daughter-in-law from a young age was solely to protect the secret that they were beastfolk.
But apparently, there were political reasons as well.
“It’s not something we’ve made public, but… Serge’s mother—my former wife—was one of them.”
“…….!”
“It’s a tragic thing.”
Railey stiffened at those words.
It was completely different from the story she had heard through the fairies.
[The Duke loves Rima!]
[Rima loves the Duke too!]
[They both love each other so much!]
She had assumed it was a simple tale of mutual love, with the wife sadly passing away before her time…
But to hear that the previous Duchess had actually betrayed the House of Elestine—this was an unexpected truth.
“Well, even aside from that, if someone truly doesn’t want to stay in this family, there’s not much we can do.”
“………”
“So, if you ever feel that you don’t belong here, you can tell me anytime.”
Walter offered her a kind, fatherly smile.
“You still have plenty of time before you come of age. Think about it carefully. If you decide you want to leave, we’ll let you go peacefully.”
“…….!”
“You’ve already met Serge, so you must know—he’s a difficult one. I understand that the two of you might not be compatible as partners. In that case, I have no intention of forcing you to stay.”
There was a note of resignation in his voice.
His words should have been welcome news to Railey.
After all, she had always planned to eventually leave this family.
And yet, instead of feeling happy, her heart grew heavy, as if weighed down by a stone.
“You’ve only just arrived at this castle, and here I am burdening you with such heavy talk… Anyway, remember, above all else, the most important thing is for you to live healthily and happily, my dear daughter-in-law. Please don’t forget that.”
“…Yes.”
As the somewhat somber atmosphere settled around them—
“Woof!”
A sudden bark broke through, shattering the heavy mood.
Railey turned toward the sound.
There, looking up at her, was a small black-furred fox cub with bright golden eyes.
