Saiki was somewhat nervous, but she got down as quietly as possible.
“…”
She calmed herself quietly.
They probably never thought she would be here. They concluded that Psyche's influence in Alastair's territory had completely disappeared, and saw this as an opportunity to exploit her absence.
Even though Psyche became the Duchess, they were constantly plotting against her. Now, with no news of her, they might have considered it a good time to move.
Because they lived far away from Huangwu, they were almost ignorant of the rumors circulating there. They had no reason to contact them, especially since they had not dealt with Huanghuo.
Moreover, they had no concern for Saiki's well-being. At first, when she left for Huangwu, the branch family didn't pay much attention to Alistair's lands.
They knew that there was nothing left of the inheritance of Psyche's father, the Viscount. Above all, the Alastair lands were not the easiest to farm, and they found them troublesome to manage.
But as time went by, it also seemed unfortunate. Moreover, they began to move precisely when Saiki's term as acting governor was about to end.
“However, it is fortunate that such a thing happened while you were here...”
Claude was coming down the stairs and talking.
“…”
Saiki couldn't say anything in response. She felt remorse, and wondered if she could have taken advantage of them if she had been in the Duchess' position.
“Since the Duke hates disturbances...”
Then I thought of Clint and suddenly felt a sudden realization.
“Well, it's a good thing. I can't keep relying on his shadow forever… This is my family's matter, so I have to be the one to deal with it.”
With these thoughts, Saiki smiled, and the corners of her mouth raised. She was no longer the frightened child she once was.
❖ ❖ ❖
Visitors were very surprised to find Psyche inside the castle.
Their expressions looked like they saw someone they shouldn't have seen. Saiki smiled gracefully, like a ghost they were shocked to encounter.
“Why are you so surprised? Shouldn’t the owner of the castle be inside the castle?”
When I first spoke to them, they laughed awkwardly, surprised.
Since they only remembered the little girl Saiki from the old days, her current appearance seemed completely unfamiliar to them.
When she was left alone in the castle, before she met Clint, she was young, malnourished, and afraid she would be assassinated.
This fear was one of the reasons Clint became obsessed with plants, fearing they would die. She didn't want to die like her parents.
At that time, she was just a weak and unremarkable young woman in the eyes of the castle's inhabitants. So, just like Johnny, everyone looked down on Psyche.
But not anymore.
How could people from the subsidiary family, who were just part of the castle, be so scary after the days she spent with the Duke?
Then and now were completely different.
When they saw Psyche, Cain, who was the leader, tried to respond to the situation indifferently.
“Haha, how did you get here?”
“Shouldn't I be interfering in family matters? Isn't that right?”
Saiki commented condescendingly, creating an air of somewhat surprise.
They, accustomed to her submissive behavior in front of Johnny, hesitated on how to respond.
“I am interested in the answer to why you sent a messenger to me, Cain.”
By calling Cain, who was much older than her, by his name without hesitation, Psyche's gesture raised everyone's eyebrows.
"Ha-ha-ha. Why are you so bitter, Saiki? You left this place and married another noble. Why would you send a messenger to someone like me?"
“Tighten your flaccid tongue!”
Suddenly, Saiki interrupted, and Ken's eyes widened in surprise at the booming sound.
Psyche took it a step further.
“How dare you say something like that? Do you think you can say what you want? Have you forgotten your status? It seems you have forgotten. Should I teach you how a noble knight should address someone in Huangwu, even if it is a representative of the Duke? Claude.”
She pointed to Claude, who was standing next to her, and nodded, so Claude walked towards Cain with majestic steps.
"Oh, no! Claude, when did you get here? Tell me... Oh."
In an instant, a sword came out from his waist and was pointed at Cain's throat.
Still not understanding the situation, Cain pretended to be indifferent, but suddenly, the blade at his throat made him swallow nervously.
What...what are you doing?
“Mr. Assignment, show some good manners.”
Claude spoke dryly, still holding the sword. There was no trace of amusement in his eyes. When Cain hesitated, Claude spoke again.
“If you don't, I'll do it for you.”
He hit Cain's stomach, and he heard a strong sound.
“Oh!”
Cain screamed, bending over in pain.
Those who were with him were surprised and astonished. Screaming sounds echoed everywhere. It was a completely unexpected sight. Claude spoke in a low voice, as if warning.
“إذا كنت لا تريد أن تنتهي بهذه الطريقة، أظهر بعض الأخلاق الحميدة أيضًا.”
Once again, Cain bowed his head awkwardly, and the others followed suit, forcing themselves to lower their heads. Although this was not a proper greeting, Saiki shrugged her shoulders, openly mocking them.
“It is difficult to receive such a thing from people who do not even know the rules of proper behavior.”
Saiki laughed lightly.
“In the face of these people who don’t know how to show respect.”
She openly mocked them, believing that Ken, who still did not understand the situation, could get the message. Although Qin wanted to fight back, he was afraid of Claude's sword. He was aware that Claude had become a sword-wielding mercenary in Huangwu.
Even if he had traveled with some knights, they were just a name. Compared to Claude, who was used to fighting, they were not on the same level.
Claude deftly sheathed his sword, sending a menacing glance towards Cain. In response, everyone lowered their heads awkwardly. It wasn't a proper greeting either, but Saiki waved it off with a click of the tongue.
“It is difficult to expect decent morals from these fools.”
She muttered to herself, feeling very disappointed after meeting her relatives.
Psyche has spent several years with the Duke, living as a Duchess in Alister's territory. The Duke was in the highest rank even among the nobles.
Moreover, there were rumors that he could kill with just one look. It wasn't easy to ignore the time she spent with him.
In the past, when the adults of the Branch Family gathered around Little Saiki, they felt like terrifying beings.
She could only bear the thought of maintaining the dignity her parents had left her.
However, those that seemed so frightening at the time now seem so trivial.
Clint and his group had a completely different demeanor.
They were so calm that any tension seemed irrelevant.
Thinking she could easily reject them, Saeki spoke again.
“Are we getting to the main point now?”
She had no intention of letting them inside any further.
Cain and his companions, including him, were standing awkwardly, looking blankly.
They, who were expecting a bloodless entry, were now in a state of confusion and unable to deal with the unexpected appearance of Psyche.
“With the authority bestowed upon me by my father, I intend to become the Official Lord from the Acting Lord. Do you have any objections?”
“…”
Cain squinted his eyes.
“Well, even if you have objections, what can you do? You didn’t have any authority from the beginning.
Just invading my castle without permission is enough for you to have no right to speak, you know?”
“…”
Cain couldn't think of anything to say.
"Oh, and one more thing. I plan to strip Johnny Allister of all his powers as my parents' killer."
"What! How could you do that! Oh!"
Cain protested, but Claude hit him on the other side of the thigh.
He had no choice but to bend in pain.
“No, Claude. He seems curious about what Mor is talking about. Kane, go on.”
“...Now the person who used to lick my father’s shoes is acting arrogantly and arrogantly...”
“Interesting, keep going.”
“He won't keep quiet about this in front of my father!”
“Your father will be silent. Cain.”
"What!"
Cain's face reddened from embarrassment.
But Psyche didn't back down.
“Then, you are no longer part of Alistair’s family. Do whatever you want outside; it doesn’t concern me. Otherwise, you might end up dead here.”
"What!"
Then it happened.
The old door creaks as it opens again.
“No, what's all this noise about... oh...”
When the door opened, the person who appeared was “Johnny Allister.” Johnny smiled strangely when he saw Saiki.
Psyche's enemy.
Who killed her parents.
When she saw him, Psyche felt like something broke in her head.
'How dare he set foot here!'
"You're crazy! How dare you even think about entering this place!"
Her voice rose, but Johnny, who was leaning on a stick, crossed his legs, and his expression did not change.
“My niece, Saiki… it's been a long time! Nice to see you, nice to see you!”
He acted as if he had become a beloved uncle to Saiki.
Unable to bear it, Saeki grabbed whatever she could find and threw it at him.
As Johnny had difficulty moving properly, the vase that Saiki threw accurately hit him on the forehead.
Everyone's faces were filled with astonishment.