My In-laws Are Obsessed With Me

Chapter 11 - A Crime That Nobody Saw

Everything was as Sercia said.

Although Theodore and Selphius looked through all sorts of newspaper companies, they couldnt find a single person who knew anything about a reporter named Ash.

And the extras completely disappeared from the Capital the following day, as if it had never existed or been gossiped about.

Nobody mentioned the extras nor did they make sarcastic remarks to me.

I could feel firsthand the power of the Lapileon family.

Ive talked with every newspaper company to not write any more articles or extras about you, so something like this wont be happening again.

You talked with them? Are you sure you talked?

Im ashamed that you were hurt like this because of the Lapileon family.

Its fine. And I dont think I was hurt. If anything, I like it.

You like it?

Through this incident, everyone will clearly know that Im a person of the Lapileon family.

As I timidly laughed, Theodore gazed at me. Then, instead of talking, he offered me the pudding that had been set in front of him.

Eat it.

All of a sudden?

Theodore, youre not going to eat?

I dont like it.

Even though you devoured two of them yesterday?

My taste buds changed today. Eat.

So suddenly? W-Well, if you say so

T-Thanks. Ill eat it well.

Nodding briefly, Theodore chewed on the crumbly baguette and stared at Selphi.

Selphi.

Selphius, who flinched in surprise, gripped the pudding in front of him, alert.

This is my pudding.

Not the pudding Are you going to continue to stay in the Capital like this?

At Theodores question, Selphius dawned a shocked expression as if hed been struck by lightning and put down his dessert spoon.

Are you going to chase me away again?

Crumpling his face, Selphius looked down at the pudding in his hands. He passed it to Theodore and asked, If I give you this, will you not chase me away?

No.

Pushing Selphius pudding away with his hand, Theodore raised an eyebrow crookedly.

Its not about the pudding If youre going to stay in the Capital, well have to register you for the Academy.

The Academy?

As if he couldnt believe what he was listening to, Selphius pinched his own cheek.

Ouch This isnt a dream?

You kept talking about how you wanted to go to the Academy, so thats what I thought, but I guess not. Then Ill get you a tutor

No, no! No!

Shouting loudly, Selphius stood up from his seat. The childs face was full of excitement and thrill. As if he couldnt believe it on Theodores words alone, Selphius stared at me.

A-Am I really going to attend the Academy? Really?

Seeing him like that, I couldnt help but burst into laughter.

Yeah. You really are.

Wow!

At times like this, he really seems like a kid.

But Why so suddenly? Your Excellency the Grand Duke always opposed me attending the Academy.

To be honest, I still think like that. Selphi, if you make a single mistake by being careless, our whole family could meet disaster.

With a displeased expression, Theodore laid out his grievances.

Before, you almost killed the Grand Duchess.

T-That was a mistake.

And once, you couldnt control your emotions while arguing and bled at the entrance of the residence. This happened twice.

Th-That!

Selphius was at a loss for words. He, who had been happy, suddenly lost his spirit and his shoulders drooped downwards.

Since were sending him to the Academy, lets send him on a good note Selphi, the reason were letting you stay in the Capital isnt to create a new prison for you to stay in.

Locking Selphius up in the Capital residence was no different from the countryside.

.But.

Selphius slumped back into his chair.

Whatll happen if I hurt someone like His Excellency the Grand Duke said?

Yeah? Then Selphi, are you going to live the rest of your life without other people? Do you want to go off to some distant island where no ones around?

Selphius shook his head as he stabbed the salad in front of him with a fork.

Selphi, you didnt hang around others in the countryside until now. Thats why you need to learn how to live among everybody else from now on.

Are you going to live alone for your entire life because youre cursed?

Theodore, who had gotten angry while dissenting about sending Selphi to the academy, had eventually given way because of this question.

Since, regardless, we need to live together.

Furthermore, youre the heir who will continue this household. Thats why you, more than anyone else, need to learn how to endure and be careful.

I lightly tapped Selphius shoulder, who looked listless.

And in the rare case that an issue occurs and you bleed, its fine as long as they dont consume it. Normal people dont see blood and want to consume it.

Really?

Instead, promise me to always carry a handkerchief and styptic medicine with you. Also promise that in the case you ever bleed from an injury, to immediately apply the styptic medicine and wrap it with the handkerchief before coming back.

*TL/N: Styptic medicine is medicine that stops bleeding.

With a much brighter face, Selphius nodded his head passionately. Theodore, who was listening to the conversation with his arms crossed, massaged his forehead.

You heard her, Selphi? Be thankful to the Grand Duchess. Shes the one who actively pushed for you to attend the academy.

Theodores gaze, which was aimed towards me, was hot rather than stinging.

Ill really be careful. Ill be good! I wont run, and instead, walk very lightly!

Ignoring Theodores hot gaze, I looked towards Selphius plate, which was still far from empty.

Hurry and eat your breakfast for now.

And dont avoid the vegetables.

I put the vegetables that Selphius had pushed to the edges of his plate onto a fork. With pained sounds, Selphius began a staring contest with the vegetables.

Did you decide which academy Selphi will be attending?

Noble families usually attend Delfanil Academy, so itd probably be best to send him there.

So did you attend that academy as well?

At my words, Theodore stopped what he was saying and closed his mouth. His face was filled with affliction.

I didnt attend an academy.

Huh? Then

Suddenly, I thought of the past abuse Sercia had told me about. She said shed lived in a storage room with no light.

Oh yeah, Sercia said she was abused by her mother when she was young. Then did Theo too?

Seeing his face crumpling from recalling an unpleasant childhood memory, I quickly changed the subject.

Oh yeah, Im meeting the lawyer you introduced me to today.

The conflicted expression on Theodores face disappeared. After a moment of silence, he stared at me before briefly repeating.

Thats good.

So Im planning on going to the lawyers office today.

Going? Why?

Selphius furrowed his eyebrows, as if he couldnt understand at all.

If you need something from them, just tell them to come. Why would Your Highness the Grand Duchess go personally?

I wouldve never guessed that reply. You high-ranked, powerful heir.

It was obvious he couldnt understand. After all, others came to him his entire life, so he never had to move somewhere himself for work.

I wanted to go out with you to the office, Selphi

At my words, Selphius eyes widened.

With me?

Yup. I wanted to drop you off at the academy youll be attending so you could explore it beforehand. And I was planning on visiting once I finished my conversation with the lawyer.

It almost seemed like there was a tail wagging behind Selphius back.

Now that I think about it, sometimes its a good idea to visit people too. Check that the carriages wheels are in good condition while were at it.

Really?

Yeah. And since its dangerous to go out alone, Ill go with you.

Him being so easy to read was cute to death.

Then hurry and eat without leaving any leftovers.

Once I pointed at the plentiful vegetables left on his plate with my eyes, Selphius lips resolutely protruded before lifting his fork.

If its too much, you dont need to take care of Selphi. I can take him to the academy

Youre busy preparing for the festival. Its a festival happening in the Capital hosted by the Imperial family, so there must be a lot you need to prepare for.

Theodore didnt reply. That silence was an answer in itself.

Its fine, I feel reassured if I go out with Selphi.

Although we were a contract couple to an extent, I could do this much.

After I smiled widely, Theodore tightened his lips into a straight line, before handing a baguette to me.

Why a baguette.?

Eat it.

But isnt this your breakfast?

I dont eat baguettes.

Werent you happily eating a baguette earlier?

Pushing his own baguette and pudding to me, Theodore silently only ate salad.

* * *

Your Highness the Grand Duchess, this is so difficult. Im not sure what it means.

As soon as we left the lawyer office, Rebecca grabbed her head, shaking it.

To be honest, same.

I get that Im competent, but law terminology is just too difficult.

The part that I did understand was simple. There are three circumstances in which my step-mother and Reina can sue me for being ineligible for the inheritance.

The first was falsifying the will, the second was if Id used the will as a means to blackmail someone, and the third was if Id murdered my father.

Although all three circumstances were not true, I had no way of telling what the others would sue me for, so it was better to be safe than sorry by preparing beforehand.

Rebecca, please check on my family often. If somethings strange, tell me.

Yes, dont worry. Ill make sure to do that!

Looking at Rebecca burning with passion, I awkwardly laughed.

Rebecca had said that after one amasses a big fortune, even if you were on good terms with your family, your relationship with them could go astray. To Rebecca, whose familys wealth had declined rapidly, it seemed like she had experienced that before.

Now were going to meet Young Master Selphius, right?

Yup.

Then, should we go see His Excellency the Grand Dukes statue before we go to Young Master Selphius?

Statue?

There was a statue of Theodore here?

Seeing my widened eyes, Rebecca looked at me with an incredulous expression.

You didnt know? Since this festival is celebrating His Excellency the Grand Duke and His Majesty the Emperor, two statues were built in the plaza!

I-I see.

Did His Excellency the Grand Duke not mention it?

Theres no way we would talk to each other about something like that.

M-Maybe I did hear about it

His Excellency the Grand Duke will be sad! Youre still newlyweds!

Slyly laughing at me, Rebecca pulled my arm.

This way, Your Highness!

I have to act like I am Grand Duchess Lapileon to others, so I should go see it, shouldnt I?

Following Rebecca, I walked towards the plaza. Luckily, it wasnt far off from the lawyers office.

When I got there, there were floods of people in the plaza, and everyone was concentrated in one place.

Everyone must have come to see His Excellency the Grand Dukes statue since hes such a cool person!

To say thats the reason, isnt everyones reaction strange? And there are far too many people

I cant even see the erected statue.

Sensing the strange atmosphere, I made my way through the people. My footsteps stopped at the middle of the plaza, where the statue should have been standing.

What is this

My face hardened to stone. Rebecca, who was following behind me with a smile, quickly changed to an expression of shock, before shouting.

W-Who dares to do this to His Excellency the Grand Dukes statue?!

Shattered pieces of Theodores statue littered the ground. It was wrecked to a point that you wouldnt be able to make out who it was. It was obvious someone had destroyed it on purpose.

Is this the work of the person who wrote the extra about me?

Staring at the fragments underneath my feet, I told Rebecca,

Rebecca, call a worker right now and tell them to get rid of this mess.

Ah I got it!

And call the guard as well.

Yes, yes!

Rebecca was quick-witted. Without hesitating at my firm commands, she started running.

Those who had gathered to see the broken statue glanced at me and slowly started to leave.

Just you wait. If I catch you

Shortly after, the guard that Rebecca had called came running.

G-Greetings to Your Highness the Grand Duchess!

Since His Excellency the Grand Dukes statue is broken, make sure nobody can come near here.

Seeing Theodores broken statue on the ground, the guard was so surprised he choked.

I-It definitely wasnt like this when I was patrolling in the morning!

Then someone mustve broken it later in the day.

In such a large plaza, a place where masses of people pass through, they were able to break the statue without anyone knowing?

Feeling a strange sense of disharmony, I tilted my head.

Regardless of what the situation was, I had to dig further in what happened during that time frame.

You must find and arrest the criminal who broke the statue of His Excellency the Grand Duke.

Yes!

With a loud reply, the guard quickly set up a barricade so that no one would be able to enter the plaza.

After watching him do that, I returned to the carriage and headed off to the academy, where Selphius was waiting for me.

* * *

Children often lose their sense of time and forget appointments when having fun.

What am I doing here?

If you wait a little bit longer, theyll run out excitedly.

I heard they can start living in dorms starting from grade seven, right? Once they do, things might become more lax.

My daughter hates dorms, so I dont think Im going to send her to one.

I definitely only came to pick Selphius up.

I never thought that I would meet Grand Duchess Lapileon here. I heard rumors that the Young Lord had come to the capital Will he be attending Delfanil Academy?

Oh my, then he and my child can become friends.

I heard you received an incredible inheritance, as expected!

Why isnt Selphius coming to the place we promised to meet at

Everyone, calm down. Look at her, poor Grand Duchess Lapileon is trembling because shes overwhelmed.

Oh, youre right As expected, Her Highness Princess Dahlia is so thoughtful.

and why is Princess Dahlia here instead?!

Surrounded by several noble wives, I saw Dahlia who was smiling more delicately than usual.

As soon as we made eye contact, Dahlia covered her mouth with a fan before kindly smiling.

It seems youre wondering why Im here.

N-No, not particularly

The young princess goes to this academy, and I promised to come pick her up today.

Young princess She must be talking about the Seventh Princess, who Theodore married in my previous life.

Ugh, I just had to get stuck between these wives waiting to pick up their young children!

There was something Ive been wanting to give to you, Grand Duchess Lapileon, so things worked out.

But I want to reject it though?

Although Dahlias voice was kind, her eyes were full of poison.

As if she had been waiting for this day, she gave me something for everyone to see.

This is?

An invitation.

Pardon?

Seeing that I wasnt accepting it, Dahlia pushed it into my hand, smiling.

I wanted to invite you to the Palace.