I’ll Use a Reverse-Edged Sword

“You’re arrogant, Eden. You might be proud of defeating Andrew, but you should know that your lazy and pathetic behavior up until now doesn’t just wash away in an instant.”

After confirming that Andrew couldn’t handle me, Adrian, who had been maintaining his seriousness, started to step in.
Cordelia and her sons were desperately struggling not to appear to be losing in this psychological battle with me in front of Father.
I wasn’t unaware of their displeasure at my drastically changed behavior in less than a month, when they had never considered me a competitor in the family’s line of succession before.
However,
I, who had regained some memories and now wielded the reverse-edged sword,
was in a position where I could not return to being the previous Eden who just foolishly took everything.

“Mind your words, Brother Adrian.”
“What? What did you just say… Did I hear wrong?”
“You bastard, have you really gone crazy!!”

Andrew, who had been crushed, raises his voice again seeing how I’m treating Adrian.
Until now, I had been a pathetic figure who couldn’t even raise my voice in front of Andrew and just stared at the floor,
but I was much more afraid of Adrian than Andrew.
It was inevitable that Adrian, who sent cold gazes with his serious atmosphere, was somehow more difficult and cautious than Andrew, who openly bullied and tormented me.
The biggest reason why I gradually avoided family dinners or meetings and eventually became completely reclusive was precisely because of Adrian.

“What’s all this commotion at the dinner table?”

A heavy and deep voice
As neither side backed down in our psychological battle, the dining room became excessively noisy
and finally, even Father opened his mouth.

“I… I’m sorry, Father.”
“I apologize.”

Andrew and Adrian became meek lambs as if they had never been otherwise and bowed their heads, and Cordelia subtly defended them from beside Father.

“Yes, you were too harsh in front of your father. Andrew, Adrian. You shouldn’t push your brother who has been through a big ordeal too much. Eden, you’re showing an uncharacteristically ill-mannered appearance. Although you’ve done countless lazy and foolish things, you’ve never shown disrespect in front of family members… Quickly apologize to your brothers and let’s continue the meal.”

It sounded like quite a plausible admonishment.
As if scolding all of them – her own children Andrew and Adrian, and even me, someone else’s child.
However,
if you actually listen to the content, you could tell that the rebuke was directed only at me.
Although I had clearly felt this fact all along, I couldn’t help but laugh as I thought again how shameless they were.
And, ignoring her request for an apology, I cut another piece of steak and put it in my mouth.

“……”
“……”
“……?”

They were looking at my series of natural actions with faces that couldn’t understand.
Me, leisurely chewing the steak and slowly gazing at each of them one by one.

“Why are you all looking at me like that?”
“Eden, didn’t you hear what I said? Didn’t I tell you to quickly apologize to your brothers?”
“What exactly should I apologize for?”
“What? What… De-Dear, did you see how that child just… did you see how that child is talking?”

Cordelia shakes Father’s left arm, even making an expression as if she’s about to cry, as if she’s suffered a terribly unfair treatment.
It seemed that my not bowing down as she intended was an unbelievable thing for her.

“Enough, my wife, that’s enough.”
“No, dear! Did you not see how that child is behaving? Are you not bothered at all that I’m suffering such humiliation?”

Now tears were about to fall from Cordelia’s eyes.
What on earth was so unfair?
Was it so unsatisfactory and unfair that an illegitimate child who couldn’t even make a peep
suddenly one day confidently expresses his own opinion?
Just how worthless and pathetic of an existence was I in their minds?

I can see the faces of Andrew and Adrian across from me.
They had looks as if they would draw their swords and cut off my head right now, regardless of this being a family dinner.
I didn’t avoid their gazes.
And then
slowly, and gently
I threw another log onto their flames of anger.

“If you want to engage in low-level power struggles or psychological warfare using the dinner table as an excuse, I would ask you to give me advance notice in the future. I came here thinking of a comfortable evening among family members, not to grovel listening to the forced rebukes of my two brothers and Lady Cordelia.”

“Are you done talking, you bastard? You crazy-”
“Brother Andrew. If you keep showing such low-level behavior unable to maintain your dignity as a noble, it becomes difficult for me to treat you as my brother.”
“You little shit, do you think the world is all yours because you luckily won one sparring match? Do you think you’ve suddenly become something?!”
“Dear! Are you really just going to watch what that child is doing? Andrew is clearly his superior, how can this situation make any sense?!”

The gentle woman, the good image of maintaining neutrality between her own children and an illegitimate child
Cordelia was so excited that she instantly dropped even that image she had been struggling to maintain for a long time.

“Andrew, Eden is right. Make sure you don’t lose your dignity as a noble.”
“Father!”
“Dear!”

At Father’s calm words, Cordelia, Andrew, and even Adrian who was keeping his mouth tightly shut
all turned pale.
For them,
Father had always been on their side.
There was no way Father didn’t know about things like me suffering from Andrew’s blatant bullying or missing family events because I was afraid of Adrian…
So far, as if they had received tacit permission,
the two brothers and the wife had been running wild for a long time.
Now that Father, who had been such an observer, took my side for the first time
as if an immediate anomaly had occurred in the line of succession
the minds of the three people became incredibly complicated.

“I… I thought you weren’t feeling well today, you must be angry because it’s too… noisy? I… I should have been more careful…”
“Father! Why are you suddenly taking that bastard’s side-”
“Andrew!! Didn’t you hear Father? Can’t you maintain your composure?!”

Realizing that the atmosphere was not normal, Cordelia tried to somehow smooth over the situation.
It was clear that she was feeling just as wronged and angry as the brothers,
but she must have judged that there was nothing to gain by making more of a scene here, right?
I found it quite amusing watching the three of them beating their own drums.
And then, as if nothing had happened
I calmly continued eating.
The family members who had already put down their forks and knives.
I was the only one in this dining room now cutting meat and sipping wine.

“The atmosphere has changed a lot, Eden. It’s as if you’ve become a different person.”
“Is that so, Father.”
“Come to my study after you finish your meal. There are still words I need to hear.”
“Th-That’s right, dear, it’s not good to have such deep talks at the dinner table, right? Andrew, Adrian, you heard that too? After finishing the meal, to Father’s study-”
“No, my wife. I only called for Eden.”
“Ah… no, dear… why…”
“Let’s all finish our meal.”

At Father’s last words, the three people also forcibly picked up their forks and knives.
They kept alternately scanning me and Father while cutting their meat with expressions like they had eaten something bad,
but I, not caring about their gazes,
fully enjoyed the steak that was still not cold.

“You’ve come.”
“Yes.”

After finishing the meal and entering Father’s study, I naturally took a seat on the sofa opposite him.
Seeing me, who used to always fidget and not know what to do, showing no signs of being intimidated even in a private meeting with him,
Father put down the tea he was drinking and met my eyes.

“So, I hear you got caught up in an unfortunate incident during the Wydro family trade journey and were cursed with a terrible curse?”
“It’s nothing special.”

Father’s eyes wavered for a moment.

“A letter arrived from Wydro Hanson. He says he was moved by your unhesitating sacrifice for his daughter. He says he’ll increase the scale of financial support he promised in exchange for the marriage. And that too, without any conditions.”

“If you’ve already received as much as you needed, is there any need to receive more? We’re not beggars, but proper nobles, aren’t we?”

Father clenches his fist tightly and glares at me.
But I didn’t avoid his gaze for even a moment, and surprise settled in his eyes.

“Wydro Luna… do you like that girl?”
“It’s just a political marriage. It’s not like I chose the match, is it?”
“Then why did you take such a risk?”
“As I said earlier, it was nothing special. If you have nothing more to say, may I leave? I have unfinished preparations for my academy admission.”

Even though Amy had already finished the preparations anyway
I thought that my father and I weren’t the kind of relationship to have warm conversations,
so I wanted to leave this study as soon as possible.
Just a month ago, this was something I couldn’t even imagine.
Father wanting a private conversation with me, and me finding it too bothersome.