Chapter 21: A loving family

When Marianne rubbed her sleepy eyes and entered Bernard’s study dressed in her freshly changed maid uniform, she saw a scene she would never forget in her life.

Lord Bernard sat behind the large desk, fingers interlaced with his fingertips pressed against his chin, striking an extremely serious, almost theatrical pose.

(If Allen were here, he would definitely tease: “Dad, you really nailed the look of Commander Kiryuu Touji!”).

The butler stood beside him, wearing a gentle expression.

“Lord…do you need me for something?”

Marianne asked, confused.

“Miss Marianne,” Bernard’s voice was low and grave, “you know my son’s identity, don’t you?”

Bernard’s straightforward words completely wiped the sleepiness from Marianne’s mind!

She narrowed her crimson eyes, sharp as blades, exuding a dangerous aura.

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

Her tone was icy, without the usual restraint.

Seeing Marianne’s hostile and even murderous reaction, Bernard smiled with satisfaction instead:

“Good, Miss Marianne, you really are no ordinary person. The butler and I have guessed some things about you already. But let’s just forget about all that.”

He stood and walked over to her, his gaze complicated.

“You are no longer who you once were. And my son is no longer the bastard he used to be.”

“I see. So you know the truth as well,” Marianne finally dropped all pretenses, her demeanor confident and natural.

“You called me here because you want to take the young master away from me?”

Bernard’s previously stern expression instantly cracked.

“What? Why would I need to take my son away?”

Faced with the lord, Marianne’s usual meekness was gone, replaced by a sly smile and a hint of provocation.

“Lord, I’ve been the one accompanying Young Master Allen through one crisis after another. He allows me to be the first by his side, and you…seem to come after me.”

Bernard’s smile stiffened immediately.

“Uh…well…in that case, let’s just be frank.”

He cleared his throat and tried to regain his dignity.

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

Marianne’s expression remained calm.

Her crimson eyes flickered strangely in the candlelight.

“You know my identity. I haven’t read much of the Scripture. But by staying close to the young master, I naturally came to understand what sets him apart. He is God’s Messenger, not the false god I almost believed in before, but the supreme Creator.”

“…Ah, as I thought. I’m old; not nearly as sharp as the young ones,” Bernard chuckled self-deprecatingly, then his eyes sharpened.

“Do you still hate him? For what he did to you in the past?”

“I love him.”

Marianne answered without hesitation, her voice clear and resolute.

“Cough cough cough!”

Bernard was caught completely off guard by her blunt response and started coughing violently.

He hadn’t expected that beneath Marianne’s fragile appearance was such a fierce spirit!

This old father suddenly found the seemingly delicate black-haired maid terrifying!

“Is that so…”

Bernard composed himself, pulled a small pouch from the drawer, and handed it to the butler.

“Old Ren, give this to our chief maid.”

Marianne took the heavy pouch from the butler, feeling its substantial weight — at least a few hundred riyfers inside.

She looked at Bernard in surprise.

“Are you trying to dismiss me?”

“No, at this point, it’s impossible to dismiss you.”

Bernard’s eyes gleamed shrewdly as he countered, “Would you ever leave my son?”

“Not even if I died.”

Marianne answered decisively.

“Good.”

Bernard smiled with relief.

“This money is for your family. Bring them to the Capital. They are now part of the Laval Family. Invite them over to our house sometime.”

“You…”

Marianne was stunned, never expecting things to develop this way.

“Marianne, you will protect my son, won’t you?”

Bernard’s tone turned solemn.

“Yes. I would give my life for the young master.”

Marianne answered without hesitation.

“So will I.”

Bernard looked at the butler.

The butler nodded firmly, his voice steady.

“The young master is my child too.”

Bernard looked at Marianne meaningfully.

“Marianne, you know? The Laval Family will probably be enemies of the whole world.”

Marianne nodded, showing no fear, but a flicker of flame in her eyes.

“I know. When the young master and I left the Order of Heretic Inquisition, he said to me—”

She mimicked Allen’s expression and tone perfectly, “This world should fear me!”

Even just from the imitation, Bernard and the butler felt the overwhelming power Allen radiated at that moment.

They exchanged a glance, seeing certainty and shock in each other’s eyes.

“He…planned to face the world’s hostility alone from the start? Son…why wouldn’t you tell us…”

Bernard was filled with frustration, his eyes slightly moist.

“The young master wanted to bear all this alone, but I want to accompany him. He…is too lonely, too miserable.”

There was a hint of tenderness in Marianne’s voice.

“I understand, I truly understand.”

Bernard wiped his eyes.

“We can’t let him walk this path alone. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I will always be by his side.”

Marianne promised.

“But…the butler and I…”

Bernard and the butler both fell silent.

They knew that even if the Laval Family survived this crisis, neither he nor the butler could accompany Allen forever.

In this era, the average lifespan was only thirty years.

Even nobles could die from all sorts of accidents.

But Marianne was still young.

Bernard took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision.

He looked at Marianne with a serious, complicated gaze.

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

Marianne blinked, her expression seemingly asking, “Lord, are you entrusting me with your son or asking me to become your daughter-in-law?”

Bernard seemed to understand her doubt and explained awkwardly:

“Uh…actually, you know my son…has lost interest in women.”

Marianne’s voice held a faint note of bitterness and frustration.

“I’ve tried, but young master…really seems to have moved past those lowly interests.”

“So let’s become family.”

Bernard hurriedly said, “You become his sister, so you can stay by his side as family and help 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’re the only one left by his side, you can change it if you want.”

Bernard said generously.

With Bernard’s promise, Marianne’s gaze softened considerably.

“Then,” Marianne bowed slightly, speaking solemnly, “thank you very much, Father. I am willing to become your daughter.”

“Ah…Marianne, my dear daughter…”

Bernard’s eyes grew moist, his voice choked with emotion.

“I have wronged you in the past…”

“No, Father,” Marianne lifted her head, her crimson eyes clear, “I have also held resentment towards you. I should be the one saying sorry.”

The butler watched this touching reunion between father and daughter and smiled with relief.

“From now on, our Laval Family will weather the storm together…uh, how should I put it?”

Bernard was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Young Master Allen said we are a Destiny Community.”

Marianne reminded him.

“Right! Destiny Community!”

Bernard slapped his thigh happily.

“As expected of my son! That word fits perfectly!”

Bernard was in high spirits.

He stepped forward, pulling the butler and his newly adopted “daughter” into a hug (though a bit forced), his voice gentle but resolute.

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

“Indeed.”

Marianne and the butler responded together.

“Father,” Marianne whispered, “how should I address you from now on, in front of the young master?”

“Hm,” Bernard thought for a moment, “You should still play the part of a maid and call me ‘Lord.’ Tonight, I doubt we want to be a burden to him.”

“I understand.”

Marianne nodded obediently, her heart swelling with happiness.

She had truly become part of Allen’s family!

Not just by blood, but now ethically one family!

So happy!

Young Master Allen had given her all the happiness in the world!

“Enough!”

Bernard clapped his hands, reigniting his fighting spirit.

“I think the Laval Family’s crisis might be temporarily resolved, but in the end, we will be enemies of the whole world! I will die, but I am not afraid! My son will live forever, and so will we! We will wait for him in Paradise!”

“When the sun rises, forget about tonight!”

“Yes, Father.”

Marianne still felt like she was dreaming.

“Old Ren!”

Bernard shouted boldly, “Bring me paper and pen! I want to write to Archbishop Lucien! I want to tell him! My son’s divine revelation is the real deal! If he doesn’t come with us, we’ll deal with the Empire Church! My son is destined to become the king who commands the armies!”

“Yes, my lord! I’ll get it right away!”

The butler responded immediately.

“Oh, and bring an extra sheet!”

Bernard added, a triumphant gleam on his face.

“I want to write to the Border Count Family too! We used to be despised by them, but now, I despise them! They didn’t provide a sufficient dowry, and I reject that marriage contract!”

He glanced at Marianne, asking cautiously, “About his marriage contract…”

“Father, arrange whatever you want!”

Marianne showed no jealousy at all, instead smiling happily, with a trace of pride and satisfaction.

“I am Young Master Allen’s sister…fiancée? Wife? They cannot become his family.”

The fiancée and wife here obviously did not include Livia.

If Livia truly became Allen’s wife, Marianne would even be pleased.

If the three of them could become a family, always together in this way, they would all find happiness.

What a perfect ending!

Unfortunately, Marianne knew well that Allen and Livia’s marriage contract would most likely fall apart.

The Border Count came to the Capital looking for political allies, not to provide relief.

The heavy debts of the Laval Family were enough to deter any reasonable suitor.

Besides, Marianne understood Allen and Livia’s personalities—these two were like fire and water, probably ready to fight at their first meeting.

“Are you really okay with this?”

Bernard scratched his head, feeling something off.

“I always feel like you might do…um, scary things to his fiancée.”

“Eh, would I?”

Marianne’s cheeks flushed a sickly red, her eyes flickering dangerously.

“Getting rid of the pests clinging to my brother is what a sister should do, right? As his sister, of course I want him to find true love!”

That true love naturally included herself.

Bernard and the butler shuddered at the same time.

So, on that very night, the Laval Family (except Allen) achieved a great reconciliation in a “joyful” atmosphere, becoming genuine yandere — truly terrifying!

A real family.

An unknown alliance quietly formed to protect the “God’s Messenger.”

Yet Allen, still struggling with the air and plotting how to outwit the Church, was completely unaware that he had gained a “sister” and was now worshipped as God’s Messenger by a whole family.