MPBAGS Chapter 90

"……."

"……."

Wow... So this is the kind of amazing silence that can pass between a father and daughter while eating. The only sound is the clinking of silverware.

Right now, I'm having dinner with the Count because he said he had something important to discuss before going to the banquet. So I took time out of my debutante preparations to come here, and this is what I get. I might choke on my food.

Even from my perspective as someone who just started learning etiquette, the Count had excellent dining manners. No wonder Evangeline's mother fell head over heels for him. Ugh. You can't judge a person by appearances alone.

Without realizing it, my mood soured, and I threw away all the etiquette Dolly had taught me, stabbing my steak repeatedly. It must have been cooked rare because blood was seeping out, spreading across the white plate. Ugh, I'm losing my appetite. I prefer it well-done. My appetite completely disappeared, so I just minced the meat without eating it.

Since I was clearly showing my displeasure, the Count finally put down his utensils. What? Are you uncomfortable because your daughter has terrible table manners? Well, do you think I'm not uncomfortable?

Of course, the ones who were most shocked were the kitchen staff who panicked when they suddenly heard we'd be dining in the dining room. The person serving the courses was trembling so much that when our eyes met, she almost spilled the wine. Today I was also watching to see what accidents the frightened servants might cause, so I nimbly caught the falling glass and set it upright. Phew, not a single drop spilled.

"You need to be careful."

"Yes, yes. I'm sorry, so sorry."

After that, all my dishes were served by Yulma, who got pushed into the job. I heard that Yulma had been in charge of cooking even at Daisy's orphanage, and here she was working in the kitchen too. I wondered why they were making a kitchen assistant serve food too, but apparently they sent her because she was the only one who would be safe.

"Yulma, you're the only one who won't tremble in front of the young lady."

"The hope of the kitchen! Go!"

"I'm so glad you came to the kitchen."

"It's not like the young lady kills people for making mistakes, so why is everyone so scared?"

"What's your heart made of, really?"

They should keep their gossip quieter - the sound was so loud I had to desperately pretend I couldn't hear it. I glanced over and saw the Count also pretending he couldn't hear while calmly eating. Well, pretending not to see what you see and not to know what you hear is a virtue of nobility.

Yulma finished serving and bowed her head. It felt like I hadn't seen her in a long time. Actually, since I had no reason to come to the dining room, it really had been a while. Still, since I was the one who rescued this child, I wanted to ask how she was doing.

"You look like you're doing well."

"Yes. Thanks to you, my lady."

At least with Yulma here, I didn't have to see other people break dishes and then cry and beg, banging their heads on the floor.

"Wasn't it to your taste?"

Yulma asked, glancing at the steak I had massacred. Oh right, I was being picky about food in front of the cook.

"I don't like it when blood flows."

"Pardon?"

"Why? Did you think I would like it?"

What, is there some rule that all villainess have to eat bloody meat?

"No. I'll definitely tell the head chef about your preferences."

Yes, yes. Please do tell her. Every time meat was served, it was always rare, so Kanna or Jelly finished it all instead of me. Come to think of it, I should have asked them to change the cooking method long ago. Far from being demanding, I just ate whatever was given to me out of old submissive habits.

"How about coming down here more often to eat?"

Are you serious? Don't you know what a commotion it causes every time Evangeline appears in the kitchen? You're only saying this because you didn't see how people knelt and begged for their lives last time, not caring that glass shards were embedded in them. For reference, that maid was well-treated with holy water and transferred to a different area.

And you want me to see that every day?

"You all would be uncomfortable."

"That's how those people will adapt too. How can a cook not even know the young lady's taste?"

"I'll consider it."

Yulma grumbled, already showing her professional spirit. But I couldn't really blame the cook - not knowing my taste was probably because I was a possessor. The real Evangeline might have liked rare meat since she was a true villainess. Since I usually ate with other people, my plates always came back empty, so they probably thought I enjoyed the food.

After giving Yulma a perfunctory response and sending her away, the Count, who had been quietly watching, finally opened his heavy mouth.

"You've become quite presentable, just as Phlox said."

What does that mean?

"You've become more human."

Ah. So he's saying Evangeline shed her beastly nature. Evangeline, just how rebellious were you before I possessed you? I'm acting pretty insolently right now, but the Count is saying I've become human.

He's making such observations just because I caught a wine glass from spilling and had a brief chat with a maid? I can't even imagine how terrible your temper must have been originally. No wonder everyone keeps figuring out I'm a possessor.

"If you're going to the banquet today, please behave properly. Just like you are now would be sufficient."

The Count finally got to the point. So this was about today's Crown Prince's birthday banquet. This damn Count, really. The first thing he says after seeing his daughter in a long time is to behave properly?

"Shouldn't you ask about my well-being first when seeing your daughter after so long?"

This is why Evangeline went astray and evolved into the villainess of the century. Even someone as well-behaved as me wants to cause trouble after hearing that. From my assessment, the Count is beyond redemption even in a family regret story. If you want to film a family regret story, you'd have to go to the maternal family now.

"Right... How long has it been?"

"Probably the first time since my funeral."

So just two months? You neglected your child for two months? Well, considering Evangeline's age, she's not exactly a child. Let me correct that - you neglected your daughter? And you still call yourself her father?

"Yes. It's been a long time."

The Count seemed to realize I wouldn't back down easily, so he avoided my eyes and made a conciliatory gesture. Still annoying.

"Is that what you called me for? Making us have dinner together for such a trivial thing?"

Kanna and Misha were so sad when they heard I had to eat with the Count. Of course, Kanna was upset she couldn't eat with me, and Misha was crying out for fasting, asking why I was eating when there was a banquet.

"No. There's something more important."

The Count built suspense like he was advertising something. Oh, just say it quickly.

"Duke Hosaquin will be attending the banquet."

Duke Hosaquin. The relationship between father-in-law and son-in-law is amazingly awkward too. Well, since he's the cause of the estrangement with his daughter, there's no way they could be on good terms.

"Try to improve your relationship with the Duke."

What? You're the one who caused the estrangement, so why am I supposed to clean up the mess? You should handle the aftermath yourself. Huh. Could this be the flow into a family regret story? But Evangeline is already grown up?

"Now? Why?"

Isn't it too late to start a child-rearing story now? Unless there's a regression, there's no answer.

"I hear his health isn't good. According to rumors, he doesn't have long to live."

Oh my. This man's ears are really thin, aren't they? If you believe rumors, I'm also a demon who makes dresses out of human skin. When you actually see the Duke, far from being frail, he'll probably be incredibly healthy.

"Old people become sentimental. Enough to miss their dead daughter. Your face is exactly like Amaranth's, so the Duke will be quite moved if he sees you in person."

Amaranth? Where have I heard that before?

"Amaranth is Evangeline's, that is, your mother."

The Count belatedly remembered I had memory loss and added an explanation.

Ah. So that was her name. The sound was somehow familiar, like I'd heard it somewhere before.

Come to think of it, when I recall the portraits I saw before, the face was similar to Evangeline's. Of course, Evangeline's mother had a warmer impression. If I had to compare, the atmosphere was similar to Kanna's - kind, like a heroine.

"You may not inherit the title, but you have the right to inherit the estate."

The Count finally revealed his true intentions. So he was telling me to go fawn over the Duke and earn some money since the inheritance would be distributed soon.

Wow, trash. Just like a villainess's father.

I was internally booing, but suddenly had a flash of insight. Is this an event too? Probably in the original story, Evangeline received similar orders.

So Evangeline approaches the Duke. The grandfather knows Evangeline is up to no good and instead of rejecting his granddaughter, he adopts someone else to inherit the estate. That's Kanna! While she doesn't look like Amaranth, the atmosphere is similar.

Our Kanna isn't lacking in anything, but for a romance heroine, her background is rather weak. The Duke takes her in as an adopted daughter to perfectly fill that gap! And he can get perfect revenge on the villainess at the same time. Isn't that a totally satisfying episode?

I suddenly became a little interested. As I was pondering, the Count added weight to the scales.

"If my proposal doesn't appeal to you, you can think of it as making a deal with me. Is there anything you want from me?"

"A deal..."

Hmm. What should I ask for? I don't particularly want anything material. There's also the money Evangeline's mother left behind. If I had to say, what I want is a comfortable future without being executed, but the Count doesn't seem likely to grant that. From what I can see, the Count will probably run away alone on the day the villainess is executed and get caught later for summary judgment.

I don't need anything, but I can't help the Duke approach for free. Of course, I have no intention of inheriting the estate or giving it to the Count.

"I hope it's something within my capacity to grant."

The Count added conditions, as if he thought I would ask for something tremendous. I have common sense too, you know? But I understand why the Count added that. Evangeline might have lacked some common sense.

Something I need... Something I need... Ah. Looking at the Count, I thought of exactly one thing to ask for.

A diary. I've been tearing out pages from Evangeline's mother's diary that insulted the Count to include with letters, so it's gotten quite thin. Since the original writers wouldn't have written just one diary, but I can't find any others in the mansion no matter how hard I look. Then maybe they're in the territory?

Plus, another summoning circle like the spirit summoning circle might pop up from other diaries.

"The young lady's presence muddles the painting's influence."

Gabriel's words to me suddenly came to mind. Of course, I'm someone whose affinity was officially recognized as rock-bottom by the male lead himself, but there might be summoning circles that can summon beings other than spirits!

"I'd like to visit the Count's territory once."

"The territory?"

The Count frowned slightly and asked about the timing. After today's debutante ball ends, I'll have to participate in social events in earnest, so at least a month or two later?

"In a month, or if you need preparation, about two months later would be good."

"Alright. I'll send word in advance."

When I told him that, the Count nodded and soon fell into thought before muttering to himself.

"Is there a room for Evangeline in the territory?"

Huh? What's that supposed to mean? Why wouldn't there be a room for Evangeline? Does Evangeline have some birth secret? Well, she looks too much like her mother for that. Then was she abused?

"Why don't I have a room?"

If you really did abuse her, I won't let the Count get away with it.

"You might not remember, but Amaranth disliked going down to the territory, so she always stayed in the capital with Evangeline. Only I went to the territory."

The Count explained again, considering my memory loss. Ah. She just disliked rural life. That's understandable.

"I'll have a room prepared. A month or two should be enough."

I'd prefer if they decorated it in cozy wood tones... But making such a request would only make the subordinates suffer, not the Count, so I didn't bother bringing it up.

"Is that all you require of me?"

"Of course not. If I need something else, I'll write to you."

You think I'll be satisfied with just that one thing? I'm a woman who doesn't know satisfaction.

"Do that. But don't send those nasty curses."

Hmph. I'm going to do it anyway. It's my choice.

"Why not? They're passionate love confessions left by mother. I only sent parts where mother called for father. Since mother can't come visit in person, I have no choice but to send letters. Or would you rather she actually came to visit?"

I said this while sipping the tea that came for dessert, and the Count shivered as if he had chills. Are you scared a ghost might appear? Hmph. Serves you right.

"You're quite considerate for someone who didn't even know Amaranth's name."

"Of course I didn't know. I have memory loss."

Plus, diaries are written in first person, so names don't come up. It's not like Evangeline's mother wrote 'Amaranth' on the cover!

"Are you going to keep acting like this?"

"Don't worry, father. I'll behave properly at the palace as you said."

The Count, who was about to say something, closed his mouth at those words.

"You should be careful too, father. Shouldn't you at least show some concern for your frail daughter who has memory loss?"

I think the Count is more of a problem. Since he has no interest in his daughter, he just ignores strange rumors. Then people will spread more false rumors that she's a villainess even her own father abandoned.

The Count had nothing to say, apparently hit where it hurt.

"Well, I'll get up first."

There was nothing more to discuss with the Count. Misha told me to come back early to prepare for the debutante ball, so I should probably head back.