Roxana
Chapter 9
Chapter 9
The Way to Protect
the Female Lead’s Older Brother
Chapter 9
* * *
The Grand Banquet, held once a month, was a gathering between Lant, the head of Agriche, and the top three children who had achieved the best results in that month’s evaluation.
Though grandly packaged in one way or another, simply put, it was just a time to gather in one place, share dinner, and converse.
During the Grand Banquet, conversations mainly revolved around the tasks Agriche had accomplished or had yet to achieve, the current state of affairs in the outside world, as well as each person’s educational achievements, future potential, and prospects.
At times, Lant Agriche would ask something as if testing us, requiring an answer.
Yet there were also times when utterly useless topics found their way onto the dining table.
Just like right now.
“Those dog-like Pedelian bastards.”
As my father, Lant Agriche, ground his teeth and muttered those words, I thought to myself, ‘Here it goes again.’
In truth, what had made me certain that this place was the world inside a novel was none other than Lant Agriche badmouthing the Blue Pedelian at every Grand Banquet.
“Why? Are they barking at you again, Father?”
Jeremy must have shared my thoughts, as his reaction was rather nonchalant. Having placed third in the Monthly Evaluation, he was seated here today.
Unlike first and second place, which had been fixed for years, third place saw a fair bit of turnover.
The undisputed first place belonged to one of my half-brothers, Deon Agriche.
Currently, above me were two half-brothers and one half-sister who had survived without being discarded, and Deon was the second son among them.
Currently nineteen years old, he was absent today due to official duties. Ever since I first began receiving invitations to the Grand Banquet, Deon had consistently held first place.
Of course, recalling the events of the novel, Jeremy would eventually take the top spot, but perhaps because he was still young, Deon and I currently held first and second.
I suspected that in about three years, Jeremy—the novel’s bona fide male villain—would become the strongest among us.
Since I did not like Deon, I was glad he was not here today.
Having to dine while looking at that man’s face at every Grand Banquet always made me feel as if I were suffering indigestion.
“All those bastards do day in and day out is bark until my ears bleed. I won’t feel at peace until I rip Richel Pedelian’s mouth open one day.”
Richel Pedelian was Cassis’s father and the current head of Pedelian.
Naturally, on terrible terms with Lant Agriche, the two were said to fight whenever they crossed paths.
Even so, to kidnap someone’s child out of retaliation and go so far as intending to kill him—
the rift between them had to run extraordinarily deep.
“Still, you seem in better spirits today than usual.”
I placed my cutlery onto my plate. Then, offering a subtle smile toward Lant Agriche, I broached the subject first.
“If I had to guess, I’d say it’s because of the prey you captured this time, Father. Am I right?”
Lant Agriche’s gaze turned to me. Chilling red eyes stared as if piercing straight through me.
Soon, he curled the corner of his mouth in approval.
“Roxana, you’re quick-witted as always. You take after me.”
I don’t need such pathetic praise.
Still maintaining a smiling face, I thought coldly to myself.
“Why? What is that toy’s identity anyway?”
Having eaten with a bored expression, Jeremy showed curiosity at the conversation between our father and me.
Like a predator satisfied after a successful hunt, Lant Agriche leaned back languidly in his chair with a sated expression.
“Seeing them today, Pedelian was in quite a frenzy.”
As he spoke, his face wore the expression of a true villain.
Wow, how could a person smile with a face that looked so wicked and vile?
That, too, was truly an extraordinary talent.
Didn’t it look as if he had ‘Villain!’ stamped across his forehead?
“No matter how frantic they become or how much they struggle, it’s useless. How could the likes of them ever find someone locked away in Agriche’s dungeon?”
“Just who is down in the dungeon for Pedelian to be looking for them?”
Jeremy wore a look that seemed on the verge of figuring it out.
Lant Agriche looked at me. His eyes gave permission, as if prompting me to say what I knew, and I gladly seized the opportunity.
“The Young Lord of Blue, Cassis Pedelian.”
The moment I said it, Jeremy’s mouth fell open in a daze.
“Really?”
A probing gaze flew toward Lant Agriche.
He was looking at me with a satisfied smile, as if commending me for guessing Cassis Pedelian’s identity.
“Whoa, Father. Wow…….”
Jeremy let out a hollow laugh.
He seemed quite impressed by Lant Agriche’s outrageous feat of kidnapping the heir of Pedelian.
“Father, have you decided on the training method for this prey?”
Reading Lant Agriche’s mood and expression, I asked casually.
When mention of the toy imprisoned underground came from my lips, Jeremy looked at me. Father’s gaze was directed toward me as well.
Like a beast savoring its leisure after a hunt, he slowly rested his chin on his hand, the corners of his mouth relaxing.
“Roxana, if you have a good method in mind, speak.”
Lant Agriche was unusually generous today.
Having witnessed Richel Pedelian frantically searching for his son, his mood seemed far more magnanimous than usual.
“I have an interest in this toy as well.”
I already knew what proposal would catch his ear, and how I needed to phrase it to make him pleased.
“Pedelian is known as an upright and immaculate arbiter. Among them, I heard the Young Lord of Blue possesses an especially upright and unyielding character, earning him the title of the Pedelian of Pedelians.”
The surroundings had grown quiet.
Lant Agriche was listening intently to my words.
The moment to cast the die was now.
“That noble Cassis Pedelian…….”
I curled the corners of my lips, painting a deep smile across my face that likely resembled Lant Agriche’s, and whispered in a singsong voice.
“I think it would be entertaining to see him broken beneath my feet, barking wretchedly like a dog in heat.”
* * *
In conclusion, Lant Agriche liked what I said immensely.
Though he said he would consider it, judging by the look in his eyes and his expression, having Cassis in my hands seemed to be only a matter of time.
On my way back after the Grand Banquet ended, I recalled the words I had spoken before Lant Agriche, feeling a bitter taste in my mouth.
To think I would utter such villainous lines.
Of course, I did not have the slightest intention of actually tormenting Cassis Pedelian.
If I did that, even if I succeeded in safely getting Cassis out of this house, he might later grind his teeth in humiliation and seek revenge against me.
This was strictly spoken with Lant Agriche’s tastes in mind.
Because what he desired was to see a noble Pedelian broken in the most miserable manner possible.
Besides, corrupting both the unbending Pedelian’s mind and body would surely be far more amusing than merely inflicting pain through simple torture.
“Sana noona, are you really going to discipline that toy yourself?”
Just then, Jeremy, who had exited the banquet hall and was walking side by side with me, asked.
He seemed somewhat downcast.
He had been like that ever since I spoke to Father about Cassis Pedelian back at the Grand Banquet.
Even though he already knew I was interested in Cassis, he seemed displeased now that I had actually asked Father for him.
Childish boy.
I realized he was acting this way out of fear that the toy would steal all my attention.
“Yeah. I’m thinking of playing with this toy for a bit.”
Just then, I felt someone’s presence behind us.
Jeremy and I stopped talking and turned around at the same time.
“What are you talking about? Unnie is going to discipline the toy in the dungeon?”
It was my half-sister, Charlotte.
Now thirteen years old, Charlotte was a standoffish-looking girl with vivid red hair and green eyes.
She hated her appearance for bearing no resemblance to our father, Lant Agriche, but I was rather slightly envious of her for that.
Having overheard the conversation Jeremy and I just had, Charlotte was contorting her cute face in a scowl.
I could guess why she had been lingering near the banquet hall.
So, smiling faintly, I spoke.
“Yes, Charlotte. I just told Father exactly that at the Grand Banquet.”
