Declared Dead, Exiled, and Betrayed— Now I Walk Away, but I'll Save One Who Cared - Chapter 35

Guest Room of the Riofendarl Manor (Eranda)

Heh.

Hehehe.

The look on Shifa’s face.

That shaking voice filled with resentment.

It’s delicious.

She thought I was dead.

She really thought I was gone forever.

How foolish of her.

According to the Horneld Duke, Shifa’s been soaking in her happy little fairytale.

Engaged to Lax?

Living her perfect life?

How does it feel?

Having all of it ripped away?

I will never forgive her.

For years, I worked for this territory.

And she just threw me away.

Watching her enjoy herself—watching her grow into the role that should have been mine—

Unforgivable.

Absolutely unforgivable.

But now—

This land is mine again.

I told Father that I acknowledge my so-called crimes.

But what does it matter?

The royal family will pardon me soon enough.

After all—

Phil needs his mother.

I was alone during my pregnancy.

I had no wet nurse.

I had to feed him myself.

This child is my lifeline.

He guarantees my place.

He guarantees my survival.

I should thank those adventurers.

The Arknights, was it?

Their manners are appalling, but they did save me.

And they’re strong, too.

They could become the top party in the guild.

I should have died in that forest.

A Forest Bear attacked me.

But when I opened my eyes—

It was already dead.

Something saved me.

I ran.

I didn’t stop running.

Even in the depths of the forest, I wasn’t attacked again.

Phil protected me.

Even as I starved, even as I thirsted, I never collapsed.

That was Mother’s strength.

That was his power.

I never stopped.

I didn’t stop in villages.

I didn’t stop in towns.

I had only one destination—

The Horneld Duchy.

I knew Alessandro was dead.

And Riofendarl?

It had to be gone.

There’s no way they could have survived a dragon attack.

Not even Lax could have done that.

And they kicked him out.

They were helpless.

Which meant—

That land should have been mine.

Maybe the royal family had seized it, but they wouldn’t have moved fast enough.

I would beg for protection.

I would have the Horneld Duchy rebuild the Riofendarl lands.

And my son would be its next ruler.

That was my plan.

That was my hope.

But when I arrived—

The Horneld Duke was gone.

He’d been removed.

And in his place—

Was Leonard Horneld.

Alessandro’s older brother.

The reason?

Lax returned.

Lax defeated the dragon.

Lax saved Riofendarl.

And the former duke had been ousted for interfering.

Lax is still alive.

And he’s even stronger.

I had no choice.

I swallowed my pride.

I begged Leonard for help.

“I will raise my child to reclaim Riofendarl. Please, aid me.”

And he agreed.

He needed me just as much as I needed him.

The deal was simple.

I would give birth.

I would raise my son.

And when he was old enough, I would return to reclaim Riofendarl.

Phil was born.

A boy.

His hair and eyes were black.

Not much like me.

Not much like Jekyll, either.

But he was mine.

I gave birth to him.

I suffered for him.

He is my son.

And he will rule.

The Horneld Duchy cared for us.

They provided servants.

They provided food, clothes, and shelter.

And one day—

I will repay their generosity.

But first—

I must reclaim my home.

They even erased my debts.

I was shocked when I learned that the loan agreements had been transferred from Alessandro to Leonard.

Right before my eyes—

He tore them to shreds.

With that, my sins are erased.

At worst—

All I did was steal from a commoner.

A nobody.

A man who should have remained insignificant.

Lax is nothing but a commoner.

And now—

I am a noblewoman once more.

I am the mother of the future Count of Riofendarl.

Nothing can shake me from that position.

Phil is strong.

He has never fallen ill.

Not once has he caught a cold.

Not once has he had a fever.

Not once has he suffered an upset stomach.

Even when I took him to the next town, he remained energetic and cheerful.

He played without issue.

He slept without trouble.

Leonard saw it.

And then—

He made a proposal.

“You should return to Riofendarl.”

It was better to return before the royal family solidifies Lax and Shifa’s control over the territory.

And the worst news?

Lax and Shifa got married.

Not only that—

Lax killed the dragon.

And then—

He gifted the dragon’s core to the royal family.

That meant a knighthood was on the table.

I see it now.

This isn’t just about Riofendarl anymore.

Lax himself could become a lord.

If that happens—

The entire succession plan crumbles.

If the land is no longer Riofendarl’s domain, then Phil’s claim to it disappears.

That cannot happen.

That is why I returned.

The look on Father’s face.

The horror in Shifa’s eyes.

Delicious.

The city—

It has been completely rebuilt.

Everything restored.

The only thing missing?

That filthy casino.

They did a good job.

Thank you, Shifa.

Thank you, Lax.

Now it’s all mine.