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Chapter 05
Leblanc stared at the man standing before her with a blank expression. He was her biological father—and the very man who had cut her down and killed her in her previous life—the head of the House of Arnetio: Duke Gate Arnetio. Astonishingly, he looked almost exactly like Leblanc herself. After summoning her to his study, he had spent a full hour attending to his own work without so much as a glance her way.
Disgusting bastard…
If Verti had tormented and harassed Leblanc incessantly, Gate had done the opposite—he treated her as though she didn’t exist, giving her not the slightest attention. The old Leblanc would have been so flustered just standing before him that she wouldn’t have known what to do with herself.
But the feelings she felt now as she looked at Gate were remarkably simple and clear-cut: revulsion, hatred, and resentment. Nothing more, nothing less.
When Erkis had fallen gravely ill without warning, Leblanc had poured everything she possessed into trying to cure him, but nothing worked.
In the end, she knelt at the feet of Gate—who had all but abandoned her—and begged him to help. If the request came from Gate Arnetio himself, the imperial court physicians and even the priests would surely intervene.
Yet Gate treated her pitiful pleas as a nuisance, had her thrown out, submitted fervent petitions to the imperial court declaring that neither he nor the Arnetio family had anything to do with Leblanc’s dark magic, and finally went so far as to lead knights with his own hands to cut off his daughter’s breath.
Strictly speaking, the Gate seated before her now had not yet committed all those deeds—but the emotions carved deep into her heart were beyond her control.
“What on earth happened while I was away that your mother has taken your side?”
By the time her legs began to go numb, Gate finally spoke in a flat, emotionless voice. Though he was clearly addressing Leblanc, his gaze remained fixed on the mountain of documents piled before him. Because he hadn’t spoken in so long, his voice came out hoarse, and Leblanc had to clear her throat softly.
“Perhaps Mother had a change of heart. And besides, in this mansion, am I really the only one who wants me gone as soon as possible?”
At her unusually barbed reply, his hand paused for a moment. Still, Gate continued speaking without lifting his eyes.
“I hear your younger sibling returned from a hunt with an injured ear, yet you’ve gone and locked eyes with a man from a fallen house so insignificant it doesn’t even have a proper name. At the very least, you should have chosen someone on a comparable level—like the Relton Marquisate you were formerly engaged to. How pathetic.”
An injured ear from hunting, huh. It seemed Verti had put some thought into his excuse. As expected, Gate’s reaction was exactly as Leblanc had anticipated.
“No matter how incompetent and worthless you are, you are still an Arnetio. Do not make a mockery of the Arnetio name.”
“And what if this marriage were more valuable than a marriage to the Relton heir?”
“What nonsense is that?”
At last, Gate’s gaze slowly lifted to Leblanc. His eyes were so cold that it was impossible to believe he was looking at his own child—but Leblanc didn’t blink once as she met his stare head-on.
“I mean it exactly as I said. It’s not something that will happen immediately, of course—but Father, you know what kind of family Trisvan is.”
“Royal blood of the Lirephe royal family that fell decades ago. Are you saying you plan to make that child royalty again? With your meager abilities?”
“That would be impossible. But if Trisvan’s power were to grow, the imperial family would have no choice but to pay attention. That’s precisely why the late emperor went to such lengths to drive the Trisvan family into ruin. And as you said, it would be difficult with my abilities alone—but I am an Arnetio.”
The corner of Leblanc’s lips lifted confidently. No one knew Gate’s ambitions better than she did. Even in her previous life, he had spent years trying to elevate the ducal territory into an independent principality. All she needed to do was lightly prod that all-too-obvious desire.
“So you’re telling me to lend my strength to raising the Trisvan family.”
“And at the same time, I’d be placing another card in Father’s hand—one that could be used to keep the imperial family in check.”
Gate stared intently at his daughter. Her speech, her mannerisms, her expression—nothing about her resembled the Leblanc he had known until now. And yet, ironically, it was in this very moment that Gate realized, for the first time, that Leblanc truly was his blood.
If the number of solid allies supporting him increased, independence as a principality would be that much easier. And if that ally happened to be the Trisvan family, who once reigned as royalty, there could be nothing more desirable.
It was an idea he hadn’t even dared consider under the late emperor’s strict surveillance—but now, with a change of generations, it was no longer impossible.
“Very well. Suppose I do lend my support to the Trisvan family. If they gain power and become another card to counter the imperial family, then independence as a principality wouldn’t be impossible. But what do you gain from this? Don’t tell me you’d be satisfied with just that.”
“If you feel that my role in Arnetio’s independence has been sufficient, then grant me the position of heir. I’ll prove my worth that way. Compared to Regasian, I’ve been insignificant until now, so even if you were to appoint him as the junior duke immediately, I wouldn’t complain. All I ask is a single chance.”
“And that chance is marriage to Baron Trisvan.”
Leblanc nodded instead of answering. Gate rested his chin in one hand, deep in thought. At the same time, he realized that this was the first time he had ever spoken with Leblanc at such length—or been led into such serious contemplation by her. He found her boldness rather pleasing.
“There’s no need for an engagement ceremony or a wedding. Instead, grant me a count’s title and the territory of Feronto.”
“The Feronto territory as well? You’ve shown no results yet, only an empty plan—and you’re asking for quite a lot.”
“If I fail, the family will pass to Regasian anyway. In that case, as your only daughter, you would have granted me at least a title and a territory regardless—so consider this receiving it in advance. Besides, most of Feronto is practically abandoned land. You don’t even use it. All things considered, it’s a profitable deal.”
Gate rose from his seat and approached her with slow steps. Looking at her unwavering posture before him and the golden eyes burning with ambition, he felt as though he were gazing into a mirror. Without realizing it, the corner of Gate’s lips curved upward.
“This is very different from the incompetence you’ve shown until now. I like it. But since you’ve boldly borrowed my strength, you must not disappoint me.”
“Whether this proves my incompetence or my ability will become clear with time.”
Gate gave a short chuckle and returned to his desk.
“I’ll send a marriage proposal to the baron’s house soon. As you said, all ceremonies will be omitted—handle the rest yourself.”
“Thank you.”
Leblanc offered a gentle smile, bowed politely, and quietly left the study. The moment the door closed, her legs gave out and she sank to the floor.
“My lady, are you all right?”
“I’ve just been standing too long. I’m fine.”
Leaving the butler—who pretended concern—behind her, she made her way to her room. Even after walking for quite some time, her heart continued to pound violently, and her palms were slick with cold sweat. What had just happened felt almost like a dream.
It really went exactly as I planned…
The exhilaration of clearly stating her position before Gate and obtaining everything she wanted was beyond words. She couldn’t tell whether her racing heart was from tension or from pleasure.
I only threw it out there on a whim, but I never thought he’d even accept the idea of naming me heir. When Regasian finds out one day, he’ll be livid.
Leblanc still had no real interest in the Arnetio succession. But the fact that she now appeared to desire the position became the most convincing leverage in this negotiation—and, more importantly, it placed yet another option into Gate’s hands.
Even after appointing Regasian as junior duke, Gate would inevitably compare him to Leblanc, keeping her in mind as another card. If she could slip into that small crack—Gate’s inability to fully trust Regasian—then even the formidable fortress known as Arnetio could be brought down.
Her face flushed red with exhilaration, Leblanc lifted her chin toward the empty air with a radiant smile. In this moment, she missed Erkis more than anything.
Several days later, at the manor in Feronto territory. Leblanc, her face pale as a sheet, stared helplessly at the man before her. Without even giving her a proper glance, he spoke in a cold voice.
“No matter how much of a noble in name only I may be, I’m not so lacking in pride that I’d share marital affection with someone from the family that destroyed my country.”
“Ah, that is…”
This reunion with Erkis—one she had imagined countless times—was nothing like this. Silence settled heavily between them.
