Chapter 90
Flower of Evil
Tilda, who had entered the Dandolo family as a bride-to-be raised in her future husband’s household, was dissatisfied with everything.
The reason was simple.
The mansion did not belong to her.
Unable even to act as mistress in a house that was not her own, Tilda found the entire place irritating.
“Hmm~”
Yet today, she sat on the sofa, humming cheerfully.
There was only one reason she looked as though the whole world delighted her.
The ring on her finger.
Its band was crafted from polished silver, with a large diamond set in the center.
But it was no ordinary diamond.
It was a red diamond that could only be mined by laborers who ventured beneath the boundary of hell in the Tomb of the Gods, located in the western reaches of the continent.
Because it had claimed tens of thousands of lives, it was called the Blood Diamond. It was one of the rarest treasures in existence, something that could not be obtained through wealth alone.
Tilda was delighted that such a rarity, something others could never possess, now rested on her finger.
But her pleasant smile lasted only a moment.
“My love, did something good happen?”
The instant she heard the voice, Tilda’s happy mood vanished.
The one who had poured cold water over it was Henri Dandolo, the young heir of the Dandolo estate.
He was her fiancé—and the man who had given her the ring.
Tilda turned her head.
A theatrical smile appeared on her face.
“I was thinking about you.”
“What a coincidence. I was thinking about you as well.”
Henri smiled brightly, completely unaware of her true feelings, and kissed the back of Tilda’s hand.
He squeezed himself into the seat beside her.
Even the sensation of his body touching hers through their clothes irritated her, so Tilda subtly shifted away and asked,
“How has business been lately?”
“Business? It’s going wonderfully! I heard that the western dwarves discovered a vein of rare earth minerals used in magical materials. Money will quite literally start raining from the sky.”
Henri clapped his hands and rocked his body in excitement.
But all that escaped Tilda’s lips was a sigh.
The smile on Henri’s face gave way to confusion.
“What’s wrong? That’s good news, isn’t it?”
“It is. Of course it is, for now. But why can’t I see any future for us?”
“You can’t see a future? From where I stand, it seems obvious that we’ll only continue to prosper…”
“That’s because you’re an optimist. I don’t see it that way. I have no idea how we’re supposed to live going forward. Those beasts are still trying to rush in and devour what belongs to me.”
“Do you mean your brothers?”
Tilda nodded.
“Those two are far more vicious than you can imagine. Do you know how much I suffered because of them when I was young?”
A surge of emotion rose inside her.
Tilda continued in a passionate voice.
“Those beasts even believe that I only entered this family because I intended to use you. They want to paint me as the most wicked woman alive and turn me into a powerless fool who cannot influence anything!”
Tears rolled down Tilda’s cheeks.
At the sight of even a single drop, Henri’s heart sank.
“Tilda, my love. Do not be afraid. My love belongs to you and you alone.”
Henri gently took her hand.
“Look at this diamond. It is your favorite jewel, is it not?”
“…”
“When I placed it on your finger, I made a vow. I swore that I would make you happier than anyone else in the world. So you no longer have any reason to feel afraid.”
“…Truly?”
“Of course.”
Henri kissed the back of her hand again and spoke softly.
“My love, for you, I would even pluck the stars from the heavens.”
Only then did Tilda, who had been shedding enormous tears, finally smile.
‘This idiot is so easy to control.’
All men became simple when it came to women, but Henri was especially bad.
That was simply the kind of man he was.
Unlike his father, who had expanded the business through aggressive investment and methods, Henri was gentle and preferred a slow, relaxed approach.
He lacked meticulousness and acted on impulse.
‘Still, he is capable.’
His instinctive talent had made it possible for him to pioneer the western region.
He was ugly and old, but that one ability made him tolerable.
At the very least, she needed to keep using him until he had resolved every troublesome matter for her.
Just then, a servant approached and whispered into Tilda’s ear.
“We succeeded in setting the fire.”
It was good news.
“That was faster than expected. Understood.”
“What was faster?”
Henri asked.
“It’s a secret.”
“A secret between fiancés?”
“It has to remain a secret. I’m preparing a gift for you.”
“Oh, f-for me?”
A smile spread across Henri Dandolo’s face.
He casually placed a hand on Tilda’s shoulder.
“Could you perhaps show me just a tiny glimpse of this gift for me?”
Tilda smiled innocently in return.
“No. I’ll show it to you later, so be patient for now.”
“Come now, can’t you show even a little to your fiancé?”
“I like surprises. If you notice beforehand, I’ll feel as though all my effort has gone to waste, and that would make me sad.”
She lowered the corners of her mouth and puffed out her cheeks.
Henri beamed at the sight.
“Fine. Even if I see it with my own eyes, I’ll pretend I didn’t notice anything.”
“If you’re pretending not to know, that means you already know.”
“I may not look it, but I’m a good actor.”
“Oh, please. Hohoho!”
Tilda laughed brightly.
Seeing that her mood had improved, Henri looked relieved.
“I should get going now. It’s almost time for Father to eat, isn’t it?”
“You could simply leave that to the maids. Isn’t it bothersome?”
“I did neglect him a little while I was sightseeing in Halim, and he is no one other than your father.”
“Ha! Goodness. Both Father and I are far too fortunate to have a daughter-in-law like you!”
Henri scratched his head and grinned foolishly.
He hummed a song about what a happy man he was, and Tilda laughed as she watched him.
That laughter lasted precisely until she stepped outside and the door closed behind her.
Tilda’s face immediately turned cold.
She followed the red carpet toward the family head’s room.
As she walked, a maid quietly moved up beside her.
“His condition?”
“The same as usual.”
“Is that so? Understood. Everything is properly prepared, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Give it to me.”
Tilda took the tray from her.
The door opened.
“Father, it’s Tilda. I’m coming in.”
Tilda entered the family head’s chamber.
Inside, the wallpaper chronicling the history of the Dandolo family and an extensive family tree immediately caught the eye.
Having maintained its lineage for over two hundred years, the family took immense pride in its history.
The person who expressed that pride most strongly was Henri’s father, Rico Dandolo.
Among all the heads in the Dandolo family’s history, Rico Dandolo had been the most aggressive merchant.
To keep Herman Pascal’s relentless expansion in check, he plunged into high-risk, high-return ventures. Yet talent and extraordinary luck followed him, allowing Rico Dandolo’s business to grow until he forged the reputation the family enjoyed today.
But no matter how much wealth a merchant accumulated, none could escape the passage of time.
Rico had become an old man with little time left.
He no longer possessed the strength to lift a spoon. Breathing was nearly all he could manage, and he looked as though he might die at any moment.
“Good afternoon, Father. How are you feeling today?”
Tilda asked him.
She knew no answer would come.
Even so, she continued speaking to herself.
“The weather is lovely today. Perhaps going outside for a brief stroll would be nice.”
“…”
“Of course, in your condition, even sitting somewhere must be difficult. How unfortunate.”
“…”
“Still, doesn’t it give you some strength to hear your daughter-in-law speaking to you?”
Tilda pushed a spoonful of porridge into Rico’s mouth.
“I heard that one of the places Henri signed a contract with recently discovered a vein of rare earth minerals. Apparently, they respond wonderfully to mana, so he’s about to make a fortune.”
“Isn’t that impressive? Only a few years ago, you called him useless trash and lamented that the Dandolo Trading Company would collapse if someone like him became its chairman.”
“And now that very son is about to bring the company yet another period of prosperity.”
“Who do you think turned your worthless son into such a man?”
“…”
“No one else.”
“It was me. That achievement belongs to me.”
Tilda smiled deeply, intoxicated by herself.
“I am an extraordinary woman.”
She slid the wooden spoon into his mouth.
“I am not some harbinger of ruin who will destroy this company, as you called me.”
She stirred the spoon inside his mouth.
“Everything belongs to me. The Pascal Trading Company, the Dandolo Trading Company, this mansion…”
Her movements became slightly rougher.
She pushed the wooden spoon deeper into his mouth, far enough to make one wonder whether it should be inserted so deeply at all.
“And even the life of a vegetable like you.”
Ghk. Ghk—
Rico began choking, his complexion gradually turning pale.
Tilda watched with delight.
Just before he suffocated, she pulled the spoon out.
His blocked breathing returned.
“You still have to live, though. It benefits me more for you to survive a little longer than to die right now.”
“Apparently, you must remain alive if I want to alter that will you hid away. Why did you have to make such a pointless secret and put me through all this trouble?”
Tilda stroked the old man’s chin with one finger.
For a moment, she savored the pleasure of dominating him.
Then her finger stopped.
“My?”
The smile froze on her face.
Rico Dandolo, who should not have been capable of moving even a finger, had moved.
His eyes rolled toward Tilda.
They trembled violently, becoming so bloodshot that he looked ready to turn into a vengeful ghost.
Murderous intent.
A hatred difficult to imagine from a mute, helpless old man was directed at her.
Tilda looked down into his eyes and muttered coldly,
“It seems the dose was a little too weak…”
She quietly took a small vial from inside her clothes and let another drop fall into the porridge.
Without even mixing it, she scooped it up and placed it in Rico Dandolo’s mouth.
The strength drained from his eyes once more.
He returned to being a frail old man capable of doing nothing but breathing.
“Rest, Father. You do not have much time left anyway.”
Tilda smiled brightly again and whispered into the ear of Rico Dandolo, who had once more become little more than a plant.
“When you pass away, I’ll send your son along with you so you won’t be lonely.”
Tilda left the room carrying the now-empty bowl of porridge.
Several servants were waiting outside.
“You’re certain we successfully framed Merchant’s mercenary company?”
Tilda asked as she handed over the tray.
“Yes. Merchant went to Valdrova Castle late at night to speak with Stephan, but he left again after only two hours.”
“They sent him away in the middle of the night… It seems the discussion did not go well.”
Tilda smiled with satisfaction.
“Now we can start setting them off one by one. One by one.”
“Yes.”
“Proceed. Let us take everything for ourselves.”
“Yes.”
The servant hurried away.
The plan had begun.
‘Soon, everything will fall into my hands.’
Merchant Pascal and Stephan Pascal.
They were her blood relatives, but to Tilda, who desired the Pascal Trading Company, they were nothing more and nothing less than obstacles.
Tilda raised her hand toward the light.
The exquisitely cut Blood Diamond gleamed beautifully.
“It would be perfect if only it weren’t an engagement ring.”
Despite voicing that complaint, she was pleased.
The title of engagement would last only a moment, while the diamond’s beauty would remain forever.
Merchant left that very day.
It was late at night, and failing to offer him a place to stay was no different from throwing him out at the door.
That alone was enough for the public to conclude that the conflict between Merchant and Stephan had deepened.
Afterward, Merchant began showing signs of separating from the family.
He transferred every business he had developed under the mercenary company and began preparing for independence.
The intention was to provoke an obvious reaction.
And the bait was taken exactly as planned.
Herman Pascal moved.
Knowing that the family’s strength could not be divided, he attempted to stop Merchant from becoming independent. At the same time, he sought reappointment as a director so that he could drive Stephan out.
‘Exactly as Stephan predicted.’
Herman had no idea what was truly happening.
He knew only that the two brothers had fought and that the family was beginning to fracture because of it.
The finest actor was one who charged onto the stage while knowing nothing at all.
Herman played the crucial role of erasing everyone’s suspicions.
Their father, Herman Pascal.
The elder brother, Merchant Pascal.
And Stephan Pascal himself.
A three-way struggle had begun between the three men beneath the name of the Pascal Trading Company.
It was all intended to make Tilda believe that everything was moving according to her plan.
That was when it happened.
“Regent.”
Isabella entered Ferda’s office.
Instead of her usual mountain of documents, she held a single thin handkerchief.
“A carpenter says he found this while organizing the construction materials. He could not read the writing, so he brought it to me…”
What Isabella handed over was a neatly folded black scarf.
When she unfolded it, words written in an ominous shade of red were revealed inside.
‘No. It isn’t blood. It’s dye.’
Blood would not have remained such a vivid red.
Whether it was blood or dye did not matter.
As far as Ferda knew, there was only one organization that wrote messages in red dye upon black scarves.
‘Black Bandana.’
A secret organization whose reach extended across the entire Cerdes continent.
It was an underground group that operated beneath the provocative slogan:
‘There is nothing we cannot find, and nothing we cannot obtain.’
Fitting for an intelligence organization of that nature, the contents of the message were equally provocative.
—Lord Ferda Valdrova.
—We are aware of the recent events surrounding the Pascal Trading Company.
—We will meet with you soon.