DGTVAA CH 03

“It’s about time the young lady began to show the qualities of a proper successor. I thought you had no interest in the position since you never paid any attention to family affairs… but I suppose I was wrong. That’s truly a relief.”

The Empire’s inheritance laws were different from those of other nations. Even women, even those who were not the eldest, could inherit a family based on ability.

Even if one did not inherit the family itself, the wealth was divided equally, so many young nobles chose to ignore the burdensome responsibilities and simply inherit the money.

The Novelita family was no exception.

The three children who held inheritance rights had no interest in the family’s affairs.

The two sons were consumed by their own greed, and the youngest daughter, Erensia, was indifferent to everything as long as it didn’t inconvenience her.

Duke Novelita was deeply worried.

With no clear successor, even the servants were uneasy.

Anes, too, had been concerned that perhaps Elvers or Evan might inherit the family.

But today, Erensia had shown behavior worthy of a successor!

Compared to someone who groped women as if they were dolls, or someone who went mad at the sight of blood and lashed out wildly, Erensia was far better.

‘Even making that comparison is unpleasant.’

“No, Anes.”

Erensia’s face turned pale at Anes’s ridiculous misunderstanding.

“You even planned out your entire day before having breakfast. Such a diligent and sincere mistress—how admirable.”

Erensia looked down at the paper she had been writing on.

On it was a list of bad deeds for the day.

For example: buying things she would never use and throwing them away without even opening them, or bullying incompetent servants until they quit on their own.

How on earth did that turn into a virtuous plan?

Come to think of it, maybe she should come up with a few things that would earn her some enemies too?

“Young lady, the master will be so pleased. You’re even taking an interest in the servants.”

Good grief, now Anes was even dabbing at her tears with her sleeve.

All she had done was pick fights with the servants!

“Young lady, you’ll be coming of age soon. You don’t have to hide your true intentions anymore. A few decades ago, noble ladies didn’t step into succession battles regardless of imperial law, but that’s no longer the case. You don’t need to hide your desires and ambitions.”

Anes’s eyes were serious.

Erensia didn’t have the courage to tell her the truth. She didn’t even know where to begin, and more importantly, it felt like too much trouble.

“That’s enough. Stop.”

Instead of correcting Anes’s misunderstanding, Erensia simply shut her up.

Anes gazed at Erensia with eyes full of affection. Unable to endure the gaze, Erensia crumpled the paper she had been writing on and tossed it into the trash.

Feeling strangely conflicted, Erensia ordered a salad with thinly sliced beef and threw herself onto the bed.

At that point, she thought Anes would be the only one to misinterpret her actions.

That afternoon, after meeting Duke Novelita, she realized things had gone terribly wrong.

---

“Erensia, you want to take charge of the family? That’s wonderful news. How about starting formal successor training from tomorrow?”

Duke Novelita spoke. Erensia froze, teacup in hand.

“If I had known you were interested, I would have—”

“No, Father. I have older brothers, so perhaps you should reconsider—”

“As it happens, Elvers and Evan contacted me this morning. They said they would gladly yield the position to you.”

What a perfectly functioning family.

Servants who were happy without even realizing they were being scolded, and brothers who handed over the successor position without hesitation because it was bothersome.

Erensia hid a sigh by taking a sip of tea.

Shouldn’t the successor be someone who could bring prosperity to the family?

That certainly wasn’t her.

“Father, I have no intention of becoming the successor—”

“Erensia, don’t feel pressured. It simply means doing a bit more family-related work in addition to what you already enjoy.”

Hmm?

Doing family work?

Family work could succeed or fail. What if she completely ruined a major family business?

Erensia’s mind began racing.

‘Ruining things quickly wouldn’t be that hard, would it?’

A blessing in disguise!

‘Right, this is perfect. If I cause trouble as the successor, things will end much faster.’

Erensia was quick to decide and act.

“Yes, Father. I’ll attend the successor training.”

And so, the next day, Erensia began attending the successor education program held jointly by the Empire’s ten major families.

---

“Young lady, you’re going to ride a horse there?”

The entrance of the Novelita estate was noisy from early morning.

“Yes. Why?”

Erensia stroked the horse’s mane with a perfectly casual expression.

“Young lady, do you dislike the carriage? If the white one doesn’t suit you, shall I have the new golden carriage prepared?”

Anes was on the verge of panic at the thought of Erensia actually riding out on horseback.

“There’s nothing wrong with the carriage. I just feel like riding a horse.”

“Young lady!”

Anes practically begged in tears.

What noble lady rode through the city on horseback?

It was unheard of in the Empire’s history.

Though women had relatively broad rights and career freedoms in the Empire, the noble society remained rigid and old-fashioned.

And now, of all people, Erensia of the prestigious founding family Novelita riding through the streets?

The city would be in an uproar that afternoon.

Anes didn’t want Erensia to become the latest gossip over tea tables.

But unlike Anes, Erensia was in a good mood.

She could tell from the servants’ expressions that choosing a horse over a carriage had been the right decision.

Weren’t they all looking at her like, ‘What a disgraceful young lady,’ or ‘How lacking in dignity’?

‘Finally, success!’

Lowering her reputation was the first step toward the family’s downfall.

If public opinion favored the Novelita family, it would be harder for anyone to openly oppose them.

To ensure everyone would unite against them, she had to make sure no one would take their side.

If even the servants reacted this way, the nobles would be even more shocked—and hate her more.

Erensia smiled brightly and mounted the horse.

“Anes, you can follow in the carriage. Or don’t—it doesn’t matter.”

With that, she kicked the horse’s flank.

The horse shot forward like an arrow.

Anes stood frozen for a moment before scrambling into the carriage and shouting,

“Follow that horse, now!”

---

“Who’s coming?”

Sharp eyes narrowed slightly.

“The successor of the Novelita family.”

There was no way he hadn’t heard. He simply asked again because it was so unexpected.

Frederick, Euclid’s aide, answered dutifully.

“What kind of person are they?”

“A member of the Novelita family.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Euclid smiled at Frederick’s answer.

Despite the gentle curve of his lips, his sharp gaze sent chills down Frederick’s spine.

“You should ask them yourself. What kind of person they are. Ah, and not ‘guy’—it’s not a man.”

Frederick quickly opened the carriage door.

The salon “De Edu,” located in the center of the city, was famous as a gathering place for renowned scholars.

Recently, it had also been used as a tutoring venue for the successors of the Empire’s ten great families.

Though called tutoring, it was essentially a place to build connections with influential figures and strengthen ties among the ten families.

Each family would handle actual training on their own.

As Euclid stepped out, passersby stopped and turned to look at him.

He smiled gently and greeted those whose eyes met his.

People of all ages flushed red.

‘He truly is born for this. His looks, his showmanship.’

Frederick silently admired his master.

Euclid Gredellos.

The Gredellos family had produced multiple empresses.

Though not a founding family, during times of peace, an empress from Gredellos was always by the emperor’s side.

As a result, their reputation among both citizens and nobles was excellent.

A family of both wealth and honor.

And Euclid was its future head.

Tall, with a body honed through years of training, a sharp jawline, full red lips, a high nose, a smooth brow, long eyes framed by thick lashes, and jewel-like black irises…

His pale skin made him look like a scholar, but his large, calloused hands revealed him to be a genius knight.

“Why is Novelita coming here?”

Euclid didn’t hide his displeasure.

At that moment, a young girl with braided brown hair approached him.

“It’s a prince, a prince!”

“Oh my, Sophia! You mustn’t.”

The woman who appeared to be her mother tried to stop her, but children were always quick to act.

In an instant, Sophia was close to Euclid.

“Prince, prince!”

Perhaps she had seen it in a picture book—there were no princes in the Empire.

Euclid smiled beautifully at her innocent repetition.

He liked children’s pure and honest praise.

“Then if I’m a prince, where is the princess?”

He bent down.

Frederick watched with a warm expression.

His master’s courtesy toward all, regardless of age, was admirable.

Though sometimes, that very politeness could irritate people.

“The princess is… um…”

Sophia hesitated.

“Move! Get out of the way!”

A loud shout rang out.

A woman came charging forward like a storm, her dress and golden hair flying as she rode a horse straight toward them.

---

“Move! I said move!”

The powerful horse charged directly toward Euclid and the child.

The woman atop it shouted repeatedly, warning them to get out of the way.

She held the reins tightly, clearly trying to stop it, but the horse was too agitated to listen.

‘An idiot brought a horse into the city.’

Euclid frowned deeply.

The horse drew closer.

There was no time to move the child to safety.

Euclid grabbed her.

For a moment, he hesitated.

Should he use magic?

His ability to use magic was a secret.

He was already drawing too much attention as a genius knight.

If it became known that he could use magic as well…

Complications would arise.

Still, he couldn’t hesitate any longer.

Just as he began to cast the spell—

“Watch out!”

Before he could finish, the horse leapt over his head.

Euclid, still holding the child, looked up.

Seeing the underside of a horse midair was a new experience.

The horse ran quite a distance before finally stopping, kicking up dust.

Who would be foolish enough to ride an uncontrollable horse through the city?

Euclid’s brows shot up.

“Are you alright?”

“Bring that idiot here.”

After coldly ordering Frederick, Euclid looked down at the little girl in his arms.

His fierce expression had vanished, replaced by warmth.

“Are you alright, my lady?”

The girl, perhaps comforted or simply delighted, blushed but smiled.

“Yes! But the princess…”

She was still thinking about his earlier question.

As he set her down and patted her head—

“Are you alright?”

A voice interrupted him.

He turned.

A woman stood there, holding the reins.

The black mane, the brown coat—it was the same horse.

“So it was you? The idiot who rode recklessly through the city—”

“Yes, that’s me! Ah, I’m sorry, that really was an accident.”

She cut him off again.

Frederick was relieved the “idiot” had come on her own.

Though he hadn’t expected it to be a woman.

Her riding skills were impressive—when she leapt over Euclid, even he had been impressed.

“Little one, are you okay? I’ll compensate you properly.”

Still gripping the reins, she bent down.

“Oh! It’s the princess! The princess flew through the sky!”

The girl pointed at her, beaming.

Despite the danger, she seemed utterly unafraid.

The woman chuckled.

“My, look at you. I am pretty, but that’s not the important part right now. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

She carefully checked the child for injuries.

“Even if you’re fine now, something might appear later, right?”

She looked at the child’s pale-faced mother, still sitting on the ground.

“Not all harm is physical. Please file compensation under the name Novelita.”

“Novelita?”

Euclid’s eyes sharpened.

“Sorry for the late introduction. I’m Erensia Novelita.”

Covered in dust, sweat on her brow, Erensia extended her hand to Euclid.