I Regret The Kindness I Gave You - Chapter 63

“Merche Benenum.”

The situation is chaotic. Something is flowing strangely. Merche sensed it.

The man who approached right up to her nose and glared at her had the status of a prince behind him.

Even the name of Fondo. It wasn’t easy for her to shake off such a person.

“I must test whether you are truly a criminal, or if there is even a slight possibility you are royalty.”

“I…”

She couldn’t say she wasn’t royalty.

If she said that? He was the type to swing a sword and execute her on the spot for impersonating royalty.

Merche calmly regulated her breathing, then faced Alonso directly without averting her eyes.

“What do you wish to test?”

“There’s only one thing. The power of royalty!”

As expected. So that’s what it was.

Though her heart sank, she tried hard not to show it.

−It would be better to spread rumors that you being royalty is just a baseless rumor. If anyone tries to induce or order you to use your power at the competition, just pretend to use it but don’t actually do it. You understand what I’m saying, right?

Mariette’s warning came to mind. But if she followed that advice, she would be accused of impersonating royalty.

“Now. Look around. The perfect conditions are set here. Can you see it?”

Alonso spread his arms wide, acting all high and mighty.

“Divine beasts! There are plenty here to prove your power!”

Unfortunately, he was right. The hall was filled with various types of divine beasts accompanying the successors.

Of all things, they were all successors’ divine beasts.

If the head of the family’s divine beast is the leader, the successor’s divine beast is next in rank.

In other words, the divine beasts gathered here are the most powerful after the leaders.

Alonso’s gleaming eyes scrutinized the divine beasts of two successors in particular.

Fondo and Aquila.

Thanks to them, a threatening kelpie and a giant eagle that could spread its wings to almost the size of the kelpie drew attention.

Bothered by the stares, the eagle made a clacking sound by hitting its beak.

“Merche Benenum. Watch carefully what I do.”

With confident words that he would demonstrate first, Alonso approached the two divine beasts without hesitation.

The eagle was the first to show discomfort at the approach of someone other than its master.

The threatening clacking of its beak grew louder, and its neatly folded wings twitched, showing signs of fully spreading.

Even Alonso, who had approached with confidence, flinched when the yellow pupils glared at him.

−As long as you wear this ring, the divine beasts won’t attack you, Your Highness.

Right. I have this. I have this ring.

He anxiously rubbed the ruby ring that his capable new servant had obtained.

They said it was a relic of the first king. Something of that caliber would surely work.

“Fold your wings and turn around!”

He commanded with strong will. For a moment, the ruby ring’s red light seemed to glow even more vividly.

Surprisingly, it worked. Perfectly, without room for denial.

The successors of each family exchanged confused glances among themselves.

This was unprecedented. The diluted royal blood over a long time should not exert such control. That should be correct. And yet…

The eagle quietly folded its wings and turned around.

“You too, turn around.”

At the next command, even Diego’s kelpie obediently turned around.

Diego, frozen like a statue at the impossible sight, opened his mouth.

Clap! Alonso clapped his hands as if to draw attention, then gave his final command.

“Now. Face this way again and return to normal.”

They might as well have been puppets on strings. It would be more believable that way.

That’s how smoothly the kelpie and eagle turned to face Alonso again.

“Did you see well? Just do exactly what I just did. If you’re royalty, you can do this, Merche Benenum.”

“……”

“Hurry, prove your innocence. If not, you’ll be immediately executed for impersonating royalty!”

Biting her lip, Merche slowly blinked once.

Her eyes, tinged with faint determination, took on an even deeper, clearer blue color.

[This is the timeline separator]

The woman, unable to withstand his pressure, finally takes a step.

Even though not a breath of wind blows inside the spacious building, her fine golden hair, like silk thread, sways gently.

Alonso grinds his teeth.

Don’t make me laugh. What is that wench?

He was not overwhelmed. Not for a single moment. He does not cower before a wench who is clearly a fake royal.

He dug his nails hard into his slightly trembling fist and endured.

−Make the divine beasts go wild.

The whisper of his new servant seeps into his ear. Yes. That is the best move. The optimal move to bring down that wench by his own hand.

The ring emitting a red light flickered maliciously again.

What happened next occurred simultaneously with Alonso giving the mental command.

‘Kill that wench!’

Thud! The kelpie stomped its hoof. Also, the eagle spread its wings, preparing to take flight. It was to kill the woman.

A snicker escaping from the corner of his mouth flows weakly.

Alonso barely suppressed and endured the urge to throw back his head and laugh wildly.

It’s over. This is the end for that wench.

He held his breath, imagining the horrible tragedy about to unfold.

However, the next situation that befell him was truly his worst nightmare and downfall.

The woman didn’t say anything. Nor did she make any gestures.

Yet, the divine beasts that should have obeyed his ring bowed their heads without taking a single breath.

It wasn’t just the kelpie or eagle. As expected, even Benenum’s snake and Ardor’s pegasus.

All the divine beasts gathered in the hall uniformly lowered their heads. Right in front of Merche Benenum, that woman.

‘Kill her, I said kill! Kill that wench, I tell you!’

He gripped the ring and injected commands as if brainwashing.

As the jagged edges of the occasional mineral touched his skin, hot liquid trickled down.

He was one who despised blood. But now was not the time to care about such things.

…No. This can’t be. Something’s gone wrong!

Those who had been shocked and appalled at him were now admiring Merche.

Among them, the Ardor successor was looking at Merche with moist eyes, almost as if worshipping her.

A hand full of murderous intent grasped the ruby ring again. With this ring, surely…!

“Kuheok−!”

At that moment, something like a black ball of fur flew in from somewhere and bit his waist.

Sharp teeth crunched through bone with a chilling sound, digging into him.

Aak! Sa, save me! His mind reeled from the horrific pain he had never experienced before. Even as he struggled, the huge beast didn’t let go of him.

“What kind of ridiculous mess is this?”

His side was torn to shreds, feeling like his body would be split in two at any moment.

As consciousness faded, the last thing that brushed Alonso’s ears was the voice of some sarcastic man.

Stupid fool. Just die already.

Such blatant criticism, unbelievable that it was directed at him, stabbed at him.

However, Alonso had no spirit left to rage about someone daring to insult royalty.

His body, having lost consciousness, went limp while still in the wolf’s jaws.

[This is the timeline separator]

“…It overcame the ring?”

Mixed in with the murmuring crowd of servants, Magnus tilted his head slightly.

He lowered his eyes lazily and scratched his neck. This is an unexpected turn of events.

“That one’s about to die…”

He had long since lost interest in Alonso, who had been bitten by the black wolf. That’s already a discarded card.

If he survives with those injuries, that’s another story, but like that… Tsk… He clicked his tongue quietly so those around him couldn’t hear.

As the servants were whispering among themselves again, and the sound of footsteps of the heads of each family approaching could be heard from afar, Magnus decided to stop observing and left his seat.

The ring can be retrieved, that’s all. But was it really not a coincidence that it overcame the ring?

He had thought killing the basilisk was mere luck.

Rude Lupinus, his role must have been significant. Wasn’t he the ruthless one who forcibly succeeded the family head position, even suppressing his own father?

…But it wasn’t him. The one who defeated the basilisk and overcame the ring was Merche Benenum. That woman.

“…Is she really a direct descendant?”

This is troublesome.

His green eyes narrowed slightly.

It seems I’ll have to change the plan a little. Preferably in the direction of eliminating the variable.

[This is the timeline separator]

The meeting was suspended, and the competition among successors was also postponed.

It took well over half a day just to clean up the chaotic situation, so the damage is severe.

Bang! The table he struck with his fist couldn’t withstand the force and cracked with a splitting sound.

“What on earth happened?”

“…Alonso caused a disturbance.”

“Your explanation is too brief. More details!”

At Verner’s thundering, Diego swallowed dry saliva.

“He said he would test if Merche Benenum was a real royal and ordered her to control the divine beasts. The control succeeded and while the divine beasts were obeying, suddenly a black wolf appeared and attacked Alonso.”

“…Succeeded? Merche Benenum managed to control the divine beasts?”

The fact that Alonso had suffered serious injuries and lost consciousness had long been erased from Verner’s mind.

He focused solely on the name Merche Benenum.

“Which divine beasts did she control?”

“……”

“Why aren’t you answering? Answer my question, Diego.”

“…She controlled all the divine beasts.”

“What? …All, the divine beasts?”

For the first time, Verner’s iron-like demeanor wavered.

He paced around the office muttering to himself, then with changed eyes, closed the distance and gripped his son’s shoulders tightly.

Ugh−, Diego let out a suppressed groan.

“You said you saw Merche Benenum when you went to Lupinus Castle before.”

“…Yes.”

“Do you have a fiancée?”

“No.”

“Good. Seduce Merche Benenum.”