Married into the enemy family - chapter 4

While Callion, along with his loyal subordinate Baldwin, was digging into the Alistairs, Ronin was sitting in the drawing room.
Not in a cramped, dusty room, but in a vast and antique drawing room easily large enough to accommodate over ten people.
Of course, Ronin was not alone.

“Let’s see, shall we check the items brought from the dressmaker’s?”

In the drawing room were the Madame, who had once been in charge of Ronin’s education, and the servants.
Ronin, who had been sitting quietly in a chair, stood up. Turning to the left and then to the right according to the Madame’s orders, Ronin remained completely silent. The Madame as well, having met Ronin for the first time in two years, didn’t offer a single word of conversation.
After Ronin had become a ‘useless card’, the Madame had abandoned his education. There was simply no need for it anymore.
When he was told that he no longer needed to meet with the Madame, Ronin had vaguely thought to himself,

‘I suppose when a hundred bad things happen, at least one good thing comes along.’

The Madame, who had been measuring Ronin’s dimensions with a businesslike touch, finally put down her tape measure.

“You are even thinner than the measurements I remembered. These days, Alphas prefer Omegas with a bit more flesh on their bones.”

Even though Ronin could no longer be an Omega, the Madame spoke in such a manner.
Her tone was laced with an annoyance she couldn’t hide, and for the strictly educated Madame to let it show meant the feelings she harbored inside were truly immense.
Ronin lowered his head like a sinner. No, when it came to this issue, Ronin was a sinner.

The Ermengard Imperial family knew nothing but exploitation. Whether it was the lifeblood of their citizens or the beauty of the Alistairs, they only took.
The 27th Emperor, Charles Ermengard de Charlemagne, was no different.
Despite consistently producing Empresses and helping to establish a powerful imperial authority as maternal relatives, the Imperial family had left the Alistairs as mere Marquises.
And to that damned Leofric, they had granted a Dukedom just because they were founding contributors!
The Alistairs waited and waited. Someday, absolutely. To become Dukes! To wash away the stigma of prostituting themselves to Ermengard! They solely awaited the day they would proudly become a Ducal house and wipe out those bugs!
And finally, the opportunity had arrived.
As Ronin was born and grew to be exceptionally beautiful, the Alistair family had a premonition. That this child would fulfill the long-standing desire of the Alistairs.

‘But I miserably betrayed the family’s expectations.’

His chest felt heavy, as if something were weighing down on it. His sorrow-tinged face boasted a unique beauty, much like a flower blooming near a lake. Even the veteran Madame felt her heart waver for a moment.
Fortunately, her turbulent feelings were quickly settled. It was after she encountered the scars adorning Ronin’s pale back.
A resilient cane, sharp pieces of glass, a scabbard engraved with the Alistair crest…
Even a cursory glance revealed the marks of long-term abuse inflicted by various implements. The Madame unconsciously clicked her tongue.

‘Tsk. With this, he won’t be able to wear clothes that expose his back.’

Of course, those with nasty tastes might actually delight in it, but she didn’t bother speaking that truth aloud. Instead, she focused on what she had to do.

“You there, redhead! Come here and hold this.”
“Y-Yes, yes ma’am!”

Pam, who had been tense the entire time, approached with a start. Moving as the Madame instructed, she let out a deep sigh inwardly.
Originally, Pam was one of the many maids assigned to Ronin. A large number of personnel was required to groom the precious, golden child Ronin.
However, after Ronin manifested as a Beta, many of those people were reassigned to other duties. Pam was the only one left by Ronin’s side. It was entirely against her will.

‘I shouldn’t have been there at that time!’

Still, her body had an easy time over the past two years. It was just that the wenches who giggled whenever she showed up disgusted her.
She had gone out of her way to enter as a servant of the Alistair family, yet she was angered by how far she had drifted from success…

‘What is this! Absolutely nothing is going my way!’

Realizing her own feelings right then, Pam’s hands grew harsh. As she intentionally pulled Ronin’s corset much tighter, Ronin let out a small moan, “Ugh…”
It was only then, as Pam felt a little better and was about to tie the corset’s ribbon, that it happened.

“My Lady! What brings you here…”

The mistress of the house, Jainar Alistair, appeared.
With fiery red hair and an attractive mole on her lip, Jainar stepped lightly into the drawing room.

“Ah, be at ease. I merely came to see if the preparations for my son’s wedding are going well.”

Saying that, she took the seat of honor without being offered it. In this house, there was nowhere she couldn’t go, nothing she couldn’t do. The Madame, recovering her wits first, gave instructions.

“If that is the case, we shall continue the preparations. You there, hurry up and tie the corset’s knot. And the rest of you…”

Preparations continued as if nothing had happened, but Pam, lacking the Madame’s refined education, cast a brief glance at Jainar’s swollen belly.
Jainar, with not much time left until she was due, had a belly that was massively swollen. Usually, one would recuperate in bed around this time, but she moved about even more actively. As if to boast to everyone.

‘What does she mean “son”. She didn’t even give birth to him from her own womb.’

Inwardly mocking Jainar, Pam tied the knot of Ronin’s corset. Thanks to her pulling it tightly out of personal spite, Ronin’s already slender waist appeared no bigger than a handful.
Jainar’s gaze lingered on Ronin’s slim waist, his clear skin, his silver-like hair. For a very long time.
After admiring Ronin for a while, Jainar stood up, unable to hold back. At the same time, the servants grooming Ronin also paused their work.
Jainar stepped lightly toward Ronin. She wore a smile on her face.

“Let’s see, Ronin… Dressed up like this, you truly are beautiful.”
“Thank you, Mother.”
“Yes… Truly beautiful. Don’t you look just like an Omega?”

Even as she said those words, Jainar was smiling.
The quick-witted Madame took the servants and exited the drawing room. Before closing the drawing room door, Pam unwittingly glanced back over her shoulder.
Ronin was bowing his head low before a woman who was several heads shorter than him. For some reason, that sight left a strong impression on her.

Thud—

The drawing room door closed, and Jainar and Ronin were finally left alone.
Having gotten her wish, Jainar whispered. Exactly like one would when seducing an Alpha.

“Ronin, my son. Although you are not the child I birthed with my own pain, let me give you a piece of advice as a mother.”
“……”
“A political marriage is done for mutual benefit, so do not expect love. Much less from that Leofric.”

Jainar herself had entered a marriage that was the epitome of a political union. Even more so than Ronin’s biological mother, Sasha. At least Sasha had been childhood friends with Richard.

‘But what does that matter. The one who became the mistress of Alistair is none other than me, Jainar.’

Jainar smiled languidly.
Not only did Sasha’s idiotic son manifest as a Beta, but he was being sold off to Leofric. To those black wild dogs who wanted to chew up even an infant if they belonged to Alistair!

“It means that even if you leave this Alistair household, you will still fall right into the middle of hellfire, and the hottest part at that. Hahaha.”

Jainar simply could not hold back her laughter. All the more so when Sasha’s son submissively responded, “…I shall engrave your advice deeply in my heart.”