Even Though I Defeated the Demon Lord, My Wife and Daughter Treat Me Like Trash ~ I Found Out My Wife's Child Isn't Mine, and When I Confronted Her, She Got Mad and I Was Exiled. The Country's in Trouble Because the Demon Lord Came Back? Sorry, I'm Getting Remarried to a Princess, So I Can't Help.

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Chapter 12: The Day Her Father Left (Emilia’s Side)

“Emilia, this man is your… real father.”

A year ago. While Van was away on business, Emilia’s mother introduced her to a man. It was someone she already knew—the prince of the country, Albert.

“Hello, Emilia. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you earlier. There were… certain circumstances. But you’re old enough now to understand.”

And so, they began explaining these “circumstances.”

During their journey to defeat the Demon King, they had developed feelings for each other.

However, the prince had been privately engaged to a princess from the empire for the sake of the country’s peace, and he couldn’t turn down the arrangement.

The princess was only eight years old at the time, and it was expected to take ten years before they would marry. Meanwhile, it wasn’t possible to welcome Emilia’s mother as a concubine.

“Even so, we both wanted proof of our love—so we had you. But because your mother was a saint, she couldn’t bear a child out of wedlock.”

That’s why Van had been chosen to play the role of “father.”

It seemed that Van had agreed to the arrangement as well.

Emilia couldn’t believe it.

After all… it was too unfair for Van.

Even from Emilia’s perspective as his daughter, Van was an attractive man, and surely could have found a woman if he wanted to.

In fact, whenever Emilia walked with him in town or accompanied him to church, she had seen many women, including the mothers of her friends, casting him longing glances.

“Why did Dad—”

“Emilia. It can’t be helped in front of Van, but when your real father is here, you should call him ‘Mr. Van’.”

Her mother smiled warmly, but there was a sharp glint in her eyes as she warned Emilia.

Emilia knew that smile—it was the expression her mother wore to suppress her temper.

Reluctantly, Emilia changed how she addressed him.

“Why did Mr. Van take on such a role?”

As soon as she said it, Emilia was surprised by how much it hurt to call her father “Mr. Van.”

It made her feel like a traitor. She was part of the betrayal now.

Albert and her mother exchanged glances, and her so-called real father awkwardly began to explain.

“Well, you see… adults have their reasons for things like this.”

A shallow lie.

Did they really think they could fool her with that?

She could press them further, but—

Emilia glanced at her mother.

She still wore that calm smile, but if Emilia pushed any harder, her mother’s temper would likely explode.

It wasn’t worth it, not yet. Emilia knew the real trouble would come after Albert left.

“I understand. Sorry for asking so many questions.”

“No, it’s alright. By the way, Emilia… what do you think?”

Her real father’s words were vague, but it was clear he was looking for some kind of reaction from her.

However, there was nothing for Emilia to say, so in the end, she just asked in return.

“‘What do you mean… by that?’”

“Haha, maybe it’s hard for a child to grasp? Let me make it simple. Your real father is the prince of this country, which means he’ll be the future king. So, uh—doesn’t that make you happy?”

Albert’s face seemed to say, “How about that?”

Emilia felt an urge to slap that expression off his face, but she held back.

If she were younger, she might have done it without thinking.

But now, she understood too much.

She knew what kind of answer this man and her mother wanted.

And she knew what she had to say to protect herself.

“Yes! I’m very happy!”

But with each word, she felt as though her heart was being worn down, betraying Van.

The two in front of her smiled, clearly pleased with her response.

“Well done, Emilia. You did great. Remember, you must keep Albert pleased.”

After the prince had left, her mother seemed satisfied.

Apparently, Emilia’s performance had passed her mother’s expectations.

After that, her mother began explaining their “plan.”

“It would have been ideal if I could have married Albert back then. That way, I could have quickly increased the church’s influence. Like I’ve always told you, I believe this country should be ruled by the church.”

Yes, her mother always said it.

Everything her mother did was for the sole purpose of “increasing the authority of the church.”

Going to fight the Demon King, becoming Albert’s lover, and plotting to become his second wife in the future—all of it was for that goal.

“Listen carefully. One day, I’ll become the true queen of this country, and after me, it’ll be you, Emilia.”

Once again, her mother forced an answer out of her.

If Emilia didn’t give the desired response, her mother would throw a terrible tantrum and lash out at her.

“Yes, Mother. I’ll become a great queen!”

“Fufu, Emilia, you’re such a good girl.”

Suppressing her will and becoming a puppet was the survival skill Emilia had learned in a home where Van was no longer around.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

And now, today.

The day had finally come.

Van was heading to the castle.

He hadn’t yet realized the betrayal of his family, but once he arrived at the castle and heard the rumors about her mother, it would all become clear.

Emilia knew well that they had kept Van away from the castle by sending messengers to distract him.

There was a way to avoid disaster.

Emilia could make an excuse, throw a tantrum, and keep him from going to the castle.

If she did that, this false family could continue just a little longer.

—But.

She couldn’t keep Van tied to a place like this.

She had already made up her mind.

That’s why, for the past year, she had acted in ways that would make Van dislike her.

So that he could leave here without any regrets…

In the end, there was one unexpectedly pleasant moment.

She and Van had talked about magic.

It was Emilia’s favorite time.