Reborn as an Yandere : Yandere X Yandere-Chapter 266: Esdeath Is Not So Innocent

"Nothing much," Lortell replied. "I just opened a new company under your name. You’re the special guest here to cut the ribbon and make the first entry."

Esdeath went quiet. She didn’t know whether to be surprised or disappointed. Deep inside, she had really wanted to do her secret work first. But since this was a surprise from Lortell, she forced a happy expression on her face. Her eyes widened a little, and she smiled like someone who had just received a thoughtful gift.

"I’m amazed!" she said softly, trying to sound excited.

"Come with me," Lortell said and gently held Esdeath’s hand. The two of them walked together toward the entrance. There, two people were already waiting for them — a woman with a sharp and confident face, and a blue-haired man with a relaxed smile. These were Tracy, Lortell’s secretary, and Edward, the leader of the management team.

As soon as Lortell arrived, both Tracy and Edward gave a polite bow.

"You didn’t mention you were bringing your wife," Tracy said with a cheerful smile. "But that’s good — she should get to know other nobles too!"

Esdeath stared at Tracy, clearly confused and a little annoyed. She wondered who this woman was to talk so casually with Lortell. There was a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

Lortell noticed this and chuckled softly.

"I didn’t introduce you to them, did I?" she said, then pointed toward the man. "That’s Edward. He’s the leader of the management team and also a former adventurer from the Dwarf Kingdom."

Edward bowed his head respectfully.

Lortell then turned toward Tracy and smiled. "And this is Tracy, my secretary. She’s also the cousin of my head maid, Lorraine."

"Secretary?" Esdeath repeated the word slowly, then gave Tracy a long, focused look. Her eyes especially paused at Tracy’s chest, which was large and impossible to ignore. Without meaning to, Esdeath glanced down at her own chest and saw the clear difference.

A strange feeling rose inside her. Her expression tightened slightly. She wasn’t angry, but there was definitely a sting of unease deep inside her heart.

But she quickly shook her head and told herself, "No, size doesn’t matter. But she better not get too close to Lortell or else... I’ll kill her."

Even though all of this went through her head in less than a second, her face stayed calm.

Tracy smiled and bowed politely. "I greet the mistress. You’re just as quiet as I heard," she said in a slightly playful tone.

"Should I take it as a praise?" Esdeath asked in a calm, flat voice, her expression blank like always.

Tracy laughed lightly and nodded. "Of course!"

Then her eyes moved to Selene, who was standing quietly next to Esdeath. Selene had grown a bit taller, and now her head reached up to Esdeath’s shoulder, making her look like a cute little sister.

Tracy’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oww\... So cute! Is she your sister or cousin? You both really look alike!" she said with a wide smile as she leaned in and gently pinched Selene’s soft cheeks.

But then, Tracy noticed something that caught her attention—Selene’s tiny silver horns.

"Are those horn clips? Let me see!" Tracy reached out to touch them.

But Selene quickly stepped back and hid behind Esdeath, peeking out shyly with her cheeks puffed up like a pouting child.

"Only mother can touch my horns!" Selene said, her voice full of pride and a little bit of irritation, like someone guarding something precious.

"Mother?" Tracy blinked, a bit confused, and looked at Esdeath for confirmation.

"Yeah. She’s my daughter," Esdeath replied without changing her expression, as if she just said something as normal as the weather.

Tracy froze for a moment. It looked like time had stopped for her. She stared at Selene, then back at Esdeath. Their faces did look similar... but the idea of Esdeath being a mother was still hard to believe.

Still, without asking more, Tracy let out an awkward laugh. "Hahaha... My lady never said anything about having a daughter!"

"You never asked me to," Lortell replied casually, stepping in to end the topic. Then her eyes went to the ribbon waiting at the entrance.

"Let’s go. We’re already late," Lortell said as she walked forward.

After greeting a few people standing nearby, Lortell handed a shiny golden scissor to Esdeath. But right before Esdeath could cut the ribbon, Lortell hugged her from behind, gently placing her hand over Esdeath’s hand.

As the ribbon was cut, their hands moved together, like both of them were opening the company side by side.

Esdeath’s cheeks turned a light shade of red, but she didn’t say anything. Meanwhile, Lortell, always so bold and romantic, smiled sweetly as if everything was perfect.

Clap!... Clap!... Clap!...

The sound of applause echoed all around. Everyone clapped as Esdeath took the first step inside the building, followed closely by Lortell and Selene. After them, the rest of the guests began to enter, along with a few guards who came for security.

Inside, the hall was grand and beautiful. Colorful murals painted the walls, expensive antiques filled the corners, and tables were perfectly set for a large banquet. Everything sparkled under the warm lights.

Lortell, remembering the promise she had made to Esdeath before, leaned closer and softly said, "Once we finish the banquet, I’ll show it to you. That place is just below us... in the basement."

---------------

The banquet was lively and full of colors. Soft music played in the background as nobles in fancy clothes danced gracefully with their partners. Laughter echoed, glasses clinked, and everyone looked cheerful. Lortell stood confidently on the small stage and gave a heartfelt speech about her dreams for the future and the new company she had just opened. Her voice was calm but filled with passion.

Once her speech ended, everyone raised their glasses and shouted cheerfully, "Cheers!" They drank their wine with bright smiles, and Esdeath joined in too. She stood beside Lortell and sipped her wine, her face showing elegance and poise.

Many powerful nobles and rich business people came up to Esdeath, trying to make a good impression. They introduced themselves politely, and Esdeath smiled back gracefully, keeping her back straight and voice gentle. She knew that being Lortell’s wife meant people expected her to behave in a certain way — calm, elegant, and noble — and she did her best to meet those expectations.

Selene, their little girl, was left to play with the other noble children. Esdeath kept a small eye on her from a distance, just to make sure she was safe and not lonely. Time went by slowly, and before they knew it, the sky had started turning golden with the late afternoon sun.

When most of the guests had left, Lortell took Esdeath by the hand and led her to a balcony for some fresh air. The cool breeze blew gently, making Esdeath’s long blue hair flutter softly around her shoulders.

The balcony wasn’t very high, just on the first floor, but the view was still beautiful. Trees swayed in the breeze, and the golden light made everything look peaceful and warm.

Lortell rested her arms on the railing and looked out with a soft smile. Esdeath stood quietly beside her for a moment before speaking in a slightly serious voice.

"Can you start a non-profit group under our company?" she asked slowly. "One that helps people... like giving food, clothes, free education... maybe shelter too?"

Lortell turned her head and looked at Esdeath with mild surprise. But it only took a second before she smiled softly and nodded.

"Of course. Do you want it in your name? Or your parents’?"

Esdeath’s expression changed. She looked away and took a moment to answer. Her voice was quiet, almost trembling.

"Maruti Vanara."

Lortell was caught off guard. Her smile faded a little, and she looked at Esdeath silently. It seemed like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just gave a small nod.

"Alright," she said gently, though there was a faint sadness hiding behind her voice. She turned her gaze back to the horizon, lost in thought.

After a while, she gave a short laugh and looked back at Esdeath with a tired smile.

"Isn’t this kind of boring?" she said in a low voice. "It’s been a whole month since we got married. Except for sleeping together every night, we haven’t done anything fun. No honeymoon, no dates... not even a picnic."

Esdeath turned to her and shook her head gently. Her eyes were calm and her voice was soft.

"It’s okay. You’re busy with work, and I understand. We can always do those little things later when things settle down."

Lortell stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Esdeath gently. Her hug was warm, like she didn’t want to let go.

"I love you with all my heart, but I don’t really know how to show it properly," she said with a faint smile. "I just remember what you told me ten years ago... to let it flow like the ocean."

She took Esdeath’s hand in hers and slowly intertwined their fingers, holding them tightly. Esdeath didn’t resist. She simply stood still, allowing Lortell to express her feelings in her own quiet way.

Then Lortell leaned closer, her breath brushing against Esdeath’s ear. Her voice turned soft, but there was something heavy in it.

"I’ve been noticing your strange requests lately," she whispered. "But I decided to trust you anyway. I always will."

Her hug tightened, and her fingers gripped Esdeath’s a little harder, as if she was scared of something.

"But shouldn’t you trust me the same way?" she continued. "Why is there something you’re hiding from me?"

Her voice began to tremble slightly as she went on, filled with raw emotion.

"That’s not even the real problem... what scares me is that I want to be better for you. You are my greatest treasure, Esdeath. I can’t bear lose you.",

Esdeath didn’t panic. She had already realized that Lortell was suspicious of her actions. Of course she was. How could someone like Lortell not notice something was off?

She was the daughter of Arthur Mariette—yes, that Arthur Mariette. The man who once stepped into the demon realm, tricked two demon lords, and robbed them clean. A living legend of cunning and boldness.

Lortell wasn’t someone who could be fooled so easily, and Esdeath knew it well. Still, she didn’t want to talk about her secret plans just yet. It was too soon. So she gave a little awkward laugh and tried to steer the conversation away.

"Why would I ever leave you? I’m yours forever," Esdeath said, forcing a sweet smile.

"I know," Lortell replied, her voice turning colder, "but... I’m not quite normal in the head. Even if I know you and that girl are just friends."

Her words clearly pointed at Maruti. But how could she possibly know that there was truly nothing going on between Esdeath and Maruti? Not now. Not ever.

Suddenly, Lortell’s grip on Esdeath tightened. So tight that it made Esdeath struggle to breathe.

Crack!

A sharp sound broke the silence. Their fingers had been gently tangled together—but in a flash, Lortell bent Esdeath’s fingers like one would bend a piece of metal. A horrible crack echoed.

But the moment she heard the sound, Lortell’s eyes widened. Realizing what she’d done, she quickly pulled her hand away.

"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I’ll heal it right away!" she panicked, moving closer.

But before she could cast any healing magic, Esdeath gently hugged her. Her arms wrapped softly around Lortell’s body.

"No... I should be the one saying sorry," Esdeath whispered, holding her close. "I should’ve told you everything from the start."

Then, without giving Lortell the chance to interrupt, Esdeath waved her fingers and cast a silent spell around them. A layer of silence wrapped them in a bubble, where no sound could escape.

Only then did Esdeath begin to speak about her true plans. She explained how she and Maruti were working together. Of course, she didn’t reveal the whole truth. She left out the fact that she knew the future. Instead, she made up a story that Maruti could hear the voice of Goddess Seraphine and that Maruti was someone truly special—chosen.

She mixed lies with truth, weaving her words carefully like a spider spinning a web.

After listening to it all, Lortell stayed silent for a moment. Then she narrowed her red eyes and let out a long sigh.

"That’s it?" she said, as if everything Esdeath said was a simple little matter.

"You want to become queen, right?" she continued, her tone becoming casual, almost bored. "Should I just kill the king’s entire family and anyone who supports him? Or do you want me to destroy the whole kingdom instead?"

She sighed again, running her hand through her silver-white hair.

"Come on... you’re my wife. I told you I’d give you anything you ask for. But you have to wait till my father dies. I promised him not to cause any large-scale bloodshed while he’s still alive... But if you really want me to, I’ll break that promise."

Esdeath’s eyes widened. She quickly shook her head.

"No! You’re misunderstanding everything," she said, her voice firm. "What would I even do with the throne like that? If we kill everyone and take it by force, we’ll become enemies of the world. We’ll have to keep running forever. Never able to rest. Never able to live peacefully."

She paused and looked Lortell in the eyes.

"And the royal family isn’t stupid. If they even get a hint of trouble, they’ll hide their treasures and protect their bloodline. Someone will definitely escape."

Esdeath stepped back slightly, letting her words sink in.

"And if we grab the throne by force, it’ll lead to chaos. Civil war inside... and the other kingdoms might use the chance to attack us."

Lortell looked at her silently for a few moments, her red eyes thoughtful.

"...That’s true," she finally admitted with a deep sigh. "So... you’re after the treasure, then?"

She tilted her head slightly, strands of her hair glimmering in the light.

"Well, from what I’ve heard, they have a divine-rank essence stone... ’Familial Love.’ But for the past three generations, no one’s been strong enough to use it."

Then she looked at Esdeath with curious eyes.

"You have a clear plan, don’t you?"

Esdeath smiled, her eyes glinting with a quiet confidence.

"I told you before... I’m not as innocent as you think."

Lortell chuckled and leaned in close, brushing her fingers lightly along Esdeath’s cheek.

"My innocent Esdeath has turned quite naughty. Both in bed... and in life."

Her voice was teasing, proud, and a little seductive.Esdeath couldn’t help but smile too, feeling her heart beat a little faster.

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