The Villainous Family Loves Me Too Much!

The extra character Colin from the original was merely meant to play a supporting role for your adorable back-and-forth with you, the supporting character Karena.

But the fragment of me reincarnated into Colin transformed her into a witch. If she hurt you in any way, allow me to apologize on her behalf.

Colin and Beatrice – those two I had found suspicious were indeed the fragmented souls that split off from me, the author.

If they are my reincarnated vessels… then they must also view me as suspicious.

For the original Karena wasn’t a character with a personality like my current self.

The crucial point is that Colin Piaget is now targeting me. I’m unsure if she realizes I’m the same kind of soul fragment as them.

However, if you truly wish to prevent this world’s destruction, you must seal or destroy those fragments in the ‘gap in space-time’.

And as I wrote, you need to amplify your power through the ‘Bonding Ritual’. In your current state, you can’t hope to face them.

So the reason the prophecy mentioned the ‘Bonding Ritual’ was because it amplifies my power.

Not that the ‘Bonding Ritual’ alone can prevent destruction.

Oh, and my apologies for the ambiguity. The Archduke of Felosite’s magic will amplify your power.

I wrote that the ‘possessor of the piece of God’ could grow stronger by absorbing me. But of course, that’s no longer possible.

No, this author is really too self-indulgent, isn’t he? If writing a prophecy, he should have done it properly.

If you wish to prevent destruction, maximize amplifying your power, then come find me in the imperial palace.

I’ll be hiding where no one can locate me. Together, we can surely defeat Beatrice and Colin.

Ah, also I ask that you look after Gebino. He’s a child I deeply cherish.

Until now, I had thought our ‘Bonding Ritual’ lacked sincerity, hence its lack of effect. But now I see the bonding was merely a process.

Then what has become of my power?

Closing my eyes, I extended both hands.

I felt the ability permeating my entire body, its power gradually intensifying.

“Karena!”

Likely thinking I was using my ability, Lucian bolted upright on the bed in alarm.

“I’m not using it, just feeling it out.”

“That’s not it, you’re currently…”

Opening my eyes, I found myself inexplicably floating mid-air.

Moreover, my entire body emanated a brilliant light from deep within.

The radiance was so blinding that Lucian couldn’t even look directly at me.

‘I was simply feeling it, not using it. How could my ability be amplified to this extent?’

Then Gebino’s words resounded loudly in my mind once more:

-The more sincerely the two undergoing the ritual share their hearts, the greater its power grows.

A giggle escaped my lips.

‘Well, just how sincere was this man with me?’

Gently descending to land lightly on the floor, I immediately ran into Lucian’s embrace.

“You… didn’t hit your head, did you?”

“No way, what are you saying!”

Though momentarily flustered, Lucian didn’t resist, pulling me into his arms.

“I’m sorry about earlier.”

“If you’re sorry, you can make it up to me properly later.”

Lucian flicked my forehead with a soft ‘pomph’.

“Ow! That hurt.”

“The price for doubting my sincerity.”

Lucian smiled radiantly – an innocent boyish expression I had never seen before.

Yes, perhaps with this man, it may be possible.

* * *

The next morning, I sat at my desk summarizing the letter’s contents.

Any references to reincarnation or novels that needed omitting, I deleted or rephrased accordingly.

For instance, the ‘author who created this novel reincarnating’ from the real world became ‘the deity who created this world was exiled from the divine realm, fragmenting into three pieces’.

Now aware that the bounding amplified my ability, Lucian constantly sought opportunities to strengthen my powers.

However, to approach Beatrice, I still needed to expand Roati’s wedding business, so I couldn’t solely focus on amplifying abilities.

The unconscious Gebino soon awoke, rapidly regaining his health.

Of course, having lost his divine power meant he could no longer serve as a priest, instead rejoining the knights under his Sir Conrad name.

Contrary to my expectations, he seemed remarkably unfazed by losing his divine abilities.

He even appeared happier about avoiding a return to the Julius Altar.

“As expected, the ‘piece of God’ was indeed the prophecy’s owner. I was blessed to have served it, if only briefly.”

I similarly shared only portions of the ‘piece of God’ author’s letter with Gebino.

“From now on, only call upon me when truly needed, Your Highness. I shall accompany you as a royal guard to the Empire.”

“Hey, you rascal. Protecting Sister is my job. How dare you covet my position.”

Sylonne too readily accepted the relayed information, though she deeply worried about me confronting ‘deities’.

“With that delicate body of yours, how could you fight gods? I should request the lab to develop a new medicine.”

Unsurprisingly, she showed no particular curiosity about the ‘Bounding Ceremony’.

“I don’t even want to imagine it. My frail Sister against gods… Just leave it all to Brother.”

Sometimes, it felt like Sylonne was my real sister rather than sister-in-law.

As if our family roles were reversed.

Of course, Sylonne got along splendidly with my blood relative Gabriel too.

They formed an unbeatable combo, especially when united against their shared foe – her brother Lucian.

“I witnessed that beast steal my sister’s lips, you know.”

“Such an outrage! Your Highness, shall we join forces to punish my brother?”

“Lady Sylonne, how you always say exactly what delights my heart.”

“It seems my grandson fails to impress you, Your Highness.”

Overhearing their exchange, my grandfather-in-law Heinrich Felosite cut in with a chuckle.

“Oh, no, not at all. My apologies if I gave offense, Lord Grandfather.”

The flustered Gabriel did his utmost to salvage the situation with honorific titles, but…

“Then I too shall join this alliance. To protect our lovely new lady from that lecherous scoundrel.”

…there was no need.

However, not everything proceeded so smoothly.

One afternoon, while discussing palace infiltration plans in Lucian’s study after lunch:

“Your Highness! An entire family has been massacred by beast attacks.”

“Around twenty beasts are swarming from the southern forest toward the town!”

Perhaps due to Gebino’s loss of divine power, beast activity had spiked alarmingly.

And the helpless commoners solely bore the brunt of those consequences.

“Your Highness, we must request a priest’s reinforcements from the Altar.”

The increasingly worried Felosite nobles even filed for an official audience with Lucian.

Whether of Felosite origin or not, there was no choice but to accept Julius Altar’s priests.

The risk was considerable, but with frequent beast appearances causing rising property and life losses, countermeasures had to be taken.

After much agonizing, Lucian grimly resolved to contact the Julius Altar.

But then, the beasts abruptly vanished without a trace.

“Whatever the cause, thank goodness we need not bring the imperial vanguard here.”

Yet the answer lay unexpectedly close at hand.