A Family United for the Envoy

Rubbing her sleep-laden eyes, Marianne arrived at Bernard’s study in her freshly donned maid attire, where she witnessed a scene she would never forget for the rest of her life.

Lord Bernard sat behind his wide desk, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, striking an exceedingly solemn, almost theatrical pose.

‘My lord, you wished to see me?’ Marianne asked, bewildered.

Bernard’s low and grave voice cut through the silence.

“Miss Marianne,” he said, “You know about my son’s identity, don’t you?”

Bernard’s blunt revelation shattered any lingering traces of sleep from Marianne.

Narrowing her crimson eyes, her gaze became razor-sharp, and a palpable sense of danger permeated the air.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Her voice was icy, devoid of her usual reserve.

Confronted by Marianne’s hostile, even murderous reaction, Bernard, surprisingly, smiled with satisfaction.

“Excellent, Miss Marianne, you are indeed not an ordinary person. The butler and I have more or less surmised a few things about you. However, let us simply forget them.”

He rose to his feet and walked over to Marianne, his gaze complex.

“You are no longer the person you once were, and my son is no longer the scoundrel he used to be.”

“So that’s it; it seems you also know the truth.” Marianne finally dropped her pretense, her posture becoming confident and natural. “Did you call me here to take the Young Master away from me?”

Bernard, who had been maintaining his dignified composure, instantly lost it.

“What? Why would I need to steal my own son?”

Facing the lord, Marianne’s face no longer held her usual timidity; instead, she revealed a sly smile, tinged with a hint of provocation.

“My lord, I was the one who stood by Young Master Allen through countless crises. He allowed me to be by his side first, and you, it seems, are still behind me.”

Bernard’s smile froze instantly. “Uh… well then. Since that’s the case, let’s both be frank.”

He cleared his throat, attempting to reclaim his authority.

“Marianne, how much do you know about Allen?”

Marianne’s expression remained unchanged, her crimson eyes shimmering with an uncanny glow in the candlelight.

“Given my background, you know I’ve never studied the Holy Scriptures. However, staying by the Young Master’s side, I naturally came to understand his extraordinary nature. He is an envoy of God, not the false god I almost believed in, but the supreme Creator.”

“…Alas, it’s true; I’m old now, far less perceptive than the youth.” Bernard offered a self-deprecating smile, then his gaze sharpened. “Do you still resent him? For how he treated you in the past?”

“I love him.” Marianne answered without hesitation, her voice clear and resolute.

“Cough, cough, cough!”

Bernard was caught off guard by the directness of her declaration and burst into a fit of violent coughing.

He had never imagined that Marianne, stripped of her disguise, could be such an aggressive character!

This elderly father suddenly found the seemingly delicate, dark-haired maid utterly terrifying!

“Is that so…” Bernard calmed his breathing, then pulled a small pouch from a drawer and handed it to the butler. “Old Jean, give this to our head maid.”

Marianne accepted the small pouch from the butler; it felt heavy in her hand, containing at least several hundred livres.

She looked at Bernard in surprise. “You intend to dismiss me?”

“No, at this point, dismissing you is out of the question.” Bernard’s gaze turned shrewd as he countered, “Are you willing to leave my son?”

“Never, not even in death.” Marianne stated emphatically.

“That’s right,” Bernard said, a satisfied smile gracing his face. “This money is for your family. Bring them all to the Royal Capital. Now, they are also part of my de Laval family; do invite them to visit our home sometime.”

“You…” Marianne was stunned; she had never anticipated such a turn of events.

“Marianne, you will protect my son, won’t you?” Bernard’s tone grew solemn.

“Yes, I am willing to give my life for the Young Master.” Marianne replied without a moment’s hesitation.

“As am I.” Bernard looked to the butler.

The butler nodded as well, his voice steady and firm. “The Young Master is also my child.”

Bernard looked at Marianne meaningfully. “Marianne, do you know? Our de Laval family may very well find ourselves at odds with the entire world.”

Marianne nodded, not a hint of fear in her eyes; instead, a flicker of fire ignited within them.

“I know. When the Young Master and I left the Heretical Inquisition, he said something to me—” She mimicked Allen’s demeanor and tone with striking accuracy. “‘This world ought to fear me!'”

Even in mere imitation, Bernard and the butler sensed the overwhelming aura of Allen’s declaration, as if he could devour mountains and rivers.

They exchanged a glance, seeing both conviction and shock reflected in each other’s eyes.

“He… did he intend to face the world’s hostility alone from the very beginning? My son… why… why wouldn’t you tell us…”

Bernard felt a pang of intense remorse, his eyes growing moist once more.

“The Young Master intends to bear all of this alone, but I want to stay with him. He… is too lonely, too much in pain.”

Marianne’s voice carried a hint of heartache.

“I understand, I understand completely.” Bernard wiped the corner of his eye. “We cannot let him walk this path alone, do you understand?”

“Yes, I will always stay by his side.” Marianne promised.

“But… the butler and I…”

Both Bernard and the butler fell silent.

They knew that even if the de Laval family could weather the crisis, neither he nor the butler could accompany Allen indefinitely.

In this era, the average lifespan was merely thirty years; even nobles were susceptible to various unforeseen accidents.

However, Marianne was still young.

Bernard took a deep breath, as if having made a momentous decision, and looked at Marianne with a complex yet earnest gaze.

“Marianne, become my daughter. I wish to entrust my son to you.”

Marianne blinked, her expression seemed to ask, ‘My lord, are you entrusting your son to me, or do you intend for me to become your daughter-in-law?’

Bernard seemed to grasp her unspoken question and explained with a touch of awkwardness.

“Uh… you understand, don’t you? My son, he seems to have… lost interest in women.”

“Mmm,” Marianne’s voice held a subtle hint of bitterness and defeat, “I’ve tried, the Young Master… he truly seems to have transcended base desires.”

“So let’s become family then,” Bernard quickly interjected. “You can become his sister; that way, you can stay by his side as family, helping me protect him. We will keep this secret together; the three of us will be his only allies.”

“Do I need to change my surname?” Marianne asked.

“If you are the only one left by his side, then change it if you wish.” Bernard said generously.

Upon receiving Bernard’s promise, Marianne’s gaze softened considerably.

“Then,” Marianne curtsied slightly, her voice filled with solemnity, “Thank you very much, Father, I am willing to become your daughter.”

“Ah, Marianne, my dear daughter…” Bernard’s eyes welled up, his voice choked. “In the past, I wronged you…”

“No… Father,” Marianne lifted her head, her crimson eyes clear, “I, too, harbored resentment towards you once. I should be the one to apologize.”

The butler watched this ‘touching’ scene of father and daughter recognizing each other, a smile of satisfaction gracing his lips.

“From now on, our de Laval family shall sail through storms together… er, how should I put it?” Bernard was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Young Master Allen said we are a community of shared destiny,” Marianne prompted.

“Yes! A community of shared destiny!” Bernard slapped his thigh, beaming. “Truly my son! That’s an excellent way to put it!”

Bernard, feeling quite joyful, stepped forward and embraced both the butler and his newly recognized ‘daughter’ (though it was a bit of a squeeze), his voice gentle yet firm.

“No matter what, we must protect Allen. I believe he truly can save humanity. This is our redemption too.”

“Mmm.” Marianne and the butler responded in unison.

“Father,” Marianne asked softly, “What should I call you from now on? In front of the Young Master.”

“Hmm,” Bernard mused, “You should continue to play the role of a maid; ‘My Lord’ will suffice. Don’t let Allen discover what happened tonight. He probably wouldn’t want us to hold him back.”

“I understand.” Marianne nodded obediently, her heart, however, swelled with immense happiness.

She had truly become Allen’s family!

Not only were she and Allen connected by blood, but they had also become family in an ethical sense!

How blissful!

Young Master Allen had bestowed all happiness upon her!

“Right then!” Bernard clapped his hands, his fighting spirit rekindled. “I believe the de Laval family’s crisis might be resolved for now, but ultimately, we are the enemies of the entire world! I will die, but I am not afraid! My son will live forever, and so shall we! We will wait for him in paradise!”

“When the sun rises, forget tonight!”

“Yes, Father.” Marianne still felt as if she were dreaming.

“Old Jean!” Bernard called out with great fervor. “Paper and pen! I need to write to Archbishop Lucien! I will tell him! My son’s divine revelation is genuine! If he doesn’t follow us, we’ll go to the Imperial Church! My son is destined to become a king commanding countless armies!”

“Yes, My Lord, I’ll fetch them right away!” the butler immediately replied.

“Oh, and another sheet of paper!” Bernard added, a triumphant air about his face. “I also need to write a letter to the Border Count’s family! Before, we were the ones they looked down upon; now, I look down upon *their* family! If they don’t provide a sufficiently large dowry, I will not recognize this engagement!”

He looked at Marianne and asked somewhat cautiously.

“Regarding his engagement…”

“Father, you can arrange whatever you like!” Marianne, far from being jealous, smiled gleefully, her expression tinged with triumph and satisfaction. “I am Young Master Allen’s sister… A fiancée? A wife? They can never become the Young Master’s *family*.”

The fiancées and wives mentioned here did not include Livia.

Should Livia truly become Allen’s wife, Marianne would indeed welcome it.

If the three of them could become a family, staying together forever in this manner, all three would surely find happiness.

What a perfect ending that would be!

Alas, Marianne knew full well that Allen and Livia’s engagement would most likely fall through.

The Border Count’s visit to the Royal Capital was to seek political allies, not to provide aid.

The de Laval family’s crushing debts were enough to deter any rational prospective spouse.

Moreover, Marianne understood Allen and Livia’s personalities; the two were like oil and water, likely to clash the moment they met.

“Are you truly alright with this?” Bernard ran a hand through his hair, feeling something was amiss. “I always get the feeling you’re the type to do some… unsettling things to his fiancée.”

“Oh, would I?” Two sickly red blushes instantly appeared on Marianne’s cheeks, her eyes glinting with a dangerous light. “Isn’t it a sister’s duty to eliminate those pests clinging to her brother? As his sister, I naturally wish for my brother to find true love!”

This ‘true love’ naturally included the sister herself.

Bernard and the butler both shivered simultaneously.

Yandere. How terrifying!

And so, on this very night, the members of the de Laval family (excluding Allen) achieved a grand reconciliation in a ‘joyful’ atmosphere, truly becoming one.

An unknown alliance, dedicated to protecting the ‘Envoy of God,’ was silently born.

However, Allen, who was still tirelessly battling the air and plotting how to deceive the Church, remained utterly oblivious to the fact that he now had an additional ‘sister’ and that his family now revered him as an Envoy of God.