I wasn’t sure exactly what, but I assumed the muscular maid sisters agreed with my words as well.

“Well… Lord Matthias might not, um, cry.”

No. I shook my head firmly once again. They made an indescribable, strange expression. Perhaps the muscular maid sisters could be different.

‘Everyone disrespects our father like that… But the sisters are different. As expected, they must recognize father’s potential for growth?’

Slightly moved, I opened my mouth again.

“Just remember those guys’ names.”

“You’re planning to write a death note, aren’t you…?”

“Mm-hmm. I’m gonna punish them all later.”

It’s called a death note, a hit list, or something similar.

‘Just wait. You evil bastards, I’ll soon turn you all into a bloody mess!’

I clenched both fists tightly and glared into empty space.

“We’ll keep it in mind!”

From then on, the maid sisters and I resolved to carry small notepads.

It was to write down a list of people who badmouthed our father.

“Phew, let’s try walking again slowly now. But why can’t I go to the succession ceremony…?”

The maids rolled their eyes.

They carefully discussed among themselves.

“According to Lord Matthias, there are ba-a-ad people, very rarely, in this Mirmode who could have a negative influence on Lady Sien’s education.”

“So, during the succession ceremony time, um, take a walk! He said to take a walk or read a book in your room!”

It would be better to see the family members on the day of the Viscount succession ceremony, which was regrettable. I said with my eyes slightly narrowed:

“Mmm…”

The muscular maid sisters comforted me as I looked a bit gloomy.

“Walking will make your body even stronger.”

Just as I was shaking my body with both fists tightly clenched for a while.

Finally, I saw the large mansion wall covered in roses before my eyes.

But, but, but!

Surprisingly, wasn’t that father standing in front of the mansion door?

Was it because of my prejudice? Father seemed paler and more haggard than usual. His face had turned cold, looking like a terrifying and fierce potato king.

‘I wonder if our father might lose his health at this rate.’

Feeling depressed, I tried to run proudly towards father.

“Father!”

“Sien!”

Fortunately or unfortunately, father smiled brightly at me as I approached.

Just like the green roses that freshly filled the front of the mansion.

‘Thankfully, our father doesn’t seem to be sick!’

I could also look at father happily with relief.

“Father, congratulations!”

“Thank you, Sien.”

Was it because he couldn’t hold a grand succession ceremony? Or perhaps father had also heard other people whispering.

“Let’s go inside, quickly.”

Seeing father who somehow looked gloomy, I stopped in my tracks.

And I whispered quietly so only father could hear.

“Father, you know what?”

“…Yes?”

“Remember when I saw puppies fighting each other a long time ago?”

“…Yes, what about it?”

“Well, the puppy that always lost suddenly won one day! People clapped really loudly when they saw that!”

“…”

“Winning at the end is what really matters! If we win at the end, everything will be good!”

“Sien…”

Father looked at me with trembling eyes.

‘How was that, father?! A great speech, right?!’

Look at those moist eyes in that kind face. He must have been deeply moved.

I smiled triumphantly, about to say ‘I’ll protect you so we can win gloriously, father!’

But before I could open my mouth, father grabbed my shoulders tightly and said:

“Did you go to a dogfighting arena? I told you not to go. Dogfighting arenas are dangerous, my daughter.”

Feeling sulky that he had nothing else to say to my brilliant speech, I quietly glared at father. Then father started to nag as he stretched my cheeks.

Ack, I made a mistake!

Sensing father’s impending nagging bombardment, I jumped through the crack of the open mansion door and shouted:

“Wow! What a wonderful house!”

But I didn’t regret what I said to father.

Anyone can see that we are the underdogs now.

The kind father who was exiled.

The daughter attached to him like a lump.

And the dead mother with ominous rumors, whose identity I’m not exactly sure of…

An extremely disadvantageous situation.

But I know.

‘The rebellion of the underdogs is usually the scariest.’

I stepped inside quickly, swinging my arms.

Finally, we have a pretty house.

I needed to become strong quickly so that this house could be my sweet home forever.

***

On the day Matthias Mirmode, the Grand Duke’s son, was enthroned as Viscount. There were no noticeable changes.

The Holy Knight agonized day and night between his sacred duties and family, Sien learned how to use offensive artifacts by persuading the Duchess, and Matthias was handling his work inconspicuously.

At a glance, amidst peaceful times, night finally fell.

The hunting competition was traditionally held for the successor, and it was also a place for the successor’s close associates to build friendships. Mirmode often held hunting competitions, which were events to show off their family’s power.

However, for Matthias, the hunting competition was an effective bait to provoke the Council of Elders.

It was an opportunity to indirectly warn them by showing the power of the newly appointed successor and his inner circle.

…Of course, there were other ulterior motives.

Demonstrating skills through the hunting competition was actually just an excuse.

Matthias and his closest associates met at an abandoned building on the border of the family estate and territory.

A massive barrier created by a dark mage enveloped the abandoned building. Not even a mouse could infiltrate the place.

Inside the vast, silent meeting hall filled with floating dust from the abandoned building.

Seated at the head, Matthias looked at those who had sworn allegiance with a gaze that was half sharp and half languid.

‘Only those who are already loyal.’

His true purpose was clear.

Usurp the Duke’s position and control the family’s power.

And to break the necks of the empire’s leadership by leading a rebellion to obtain the necessary truth.

That’s all.

All of this was for Sien’s happiness and safety. He hoped that Sien would not die like Yuella, and above all, he hoped for the day when he could properly tell Sien about his mother.

“We greet Lord Matthias.”

Those who thought nothing of murder, robbery, and threats had gathered.

Matthias had won their loyalty. He saved their lives pretending it was by chance, or subdued them with overwhelming force.

So far, everything had been too easy, as if walking a predetermined route.

“Delphia should arrive soon.”

“We killed the spy Delphia sent. They were trying to approach Lady Sien.”

“It’s fine to kill them. Do as you please. Anything.”

Those who dare to lay hands on his daughter can die for all he cares.

“However, not in front of one person.”

His languid gaze sharpened.

“If you do…”

“Act nice in front of Sien.”

“What do you mean…”

“To be precise, I mean grovel like an obedient dog.”

At that moment, not even the breathing of his followers could be heard.

Matthias laughed softly and said:

“Sien will also participate in tomorrow’s hunting competition.”

“…”

“Be very careful then. Evil actions-”

In the silence, Matthias, who was the most villainous person in this place, spoke languidly.

“Are bad for child education, you know.”

Matthias didn’t want to disturb his child’s emotions with a hunting competition that was just a pretext.

Everyone gathered here was Matthias’s inner circle.

But they were also faithful hounds he had tamed.

Ex-convicts who had hobbies of murder, robbery, and threats began to prepare for the hunting competition in a somewhat strange direction.

On the morning of the hunting competition, the villains became very busy.

For example:

‘The Mad Dog of the Hessian Continent’, Mele, was devoted to Matthias who had saved his life before.

So he resolved to properly carry out Matthias’s latest order as well.

However…

“How’s this ribbon?”

‘The Cold-hearted Dragon Slayer’, Mont, who was watching Mele carefully put on a red ribbon with tattoos all over his body, quietly remarked:

“It looks hideous.”

The Dragon Slayer who said that had glitter sparkling on both cheeks.

Following Matthias’s orders, the villains under him were dressing up to look as unthreatening as possible. At a glance, their appearance was quite hideous.

“What should I do? I’ve never pretended to be nice before.”

A man with a hideous expression raised his finger and poked his cheek.

“I heard this is a cute pose, how is it?”

Another hideous man next to him coldly remarked:

“Disgusting.”

“…Damn it. I don’t want to be culled!”

At the word ‘culled’, the complexion of everyone present immediately turned grim.

Matthias Mirmode had told them…

Anyone who shows an ugly face to Sien will be ‘culled’.

“I think this looks nice enough…”

Those with low ethical standards began to flounder about.

***

Unaware of the villains’ situation even in my dreams, I was busily preparing for the hunting competition day.

A happy and meaningful hunting competition day!

I neatly packed the delicious ham lunchbox that the maid sisters had prepared into my bag.

‘I will become incredibly strong!’

With the body protection artifact that grandmother gave me, I was naturally energized.

I busily ran around the room like a flying squirrel. The maid sisters, who were standing firmly like knights in front of the door, clapped and said:

“You’re so agile, Lady Sien!”

Agile?

I stopped in my tracks and walked slowly towards them.

“…Can you see me?”

“Yes!”

Tsk, grandmother said that teleportation was moving to the point where your feet couldn’t be seen.

“Still, you’re really fast for a six-year-old baby! Congratulations!”

“No,”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, um. Never mind.”

It wasn’t nothing.

I had to become strong within a month.

I clenched my fists and glared.

This won’t do. I had to show outstanding skills at today’s hunting competition.

I recalled the offensive artifact that grandmother had slipped into my pocket during a recent lesson.

‘Grandmother said she would help me use artifacts well even without magic!’

Grandmother had handed over various expensive artifacts under the pretext of educational materials, and this offensive artifact I brought was one of them.

Although I lacked magic power and hadn’t learned much about artifact utilization from grandmother, so my ability to use them would be inferior to others, it would be meaningful just to have tried using it.

‘Alright, it’s time to use the power of the offensive artifact grandmother gave me!’

I said to the maids in an enthusiastic voice:

“Let’s go quickly! We have so much to do!”

“Yes. I heard Lord Matthias’s close associates who will participate in the hunting competition together are gathered in front of Lady Sien’s carriage!”

“Wow, you mean father’s friends?”

“Fr-friends. Ah, yes! That’s right! Friends!”

Mirmode was clearly a villain family, so it was surprising that father already had close associates here. So it was somewhat strange.

But the thought flashed through my mind that there might be people with pure natures like our father in this family too.

“We’ll help you get dressed right away!”

I excitedly ran out to the carriage waiting in front of the mansion.

But…

But you see…

The state of father’s friends, no, close associates…