Bring Justice to those Who Dare to Harm my Beloved Daughter (The Villainess)!

A few days later, I accompanied Lulu to a children’s tea party. The hostess of the event was none other than the Marchioness Fischer.

Lulu and the Fischer family’s younger daughter, Emma, are the same age. The Marchioness had been a close friend of my late wife, Katy, and even after Katy’s passing, she continued to show great kindness toward us. I appreciated her generosity more than words could express.

That said, my presence at such an event was highly unusual. The other attendees were all noblewomen, and I felt like a lone cactus in a rose garden. My cheeks ached from forcing polite smiles.

In attendance were the Marchioness Fischer, the Marchioness Müller, the Countess Becker, the Countess Feucht, and me—Earl Zonta. I was woefully out of place.

I had already greeted Marquis Fischer earlier. Originally, the plan was for us to discuss some business matters separately. But his wife had other ideas. “Oh, you simply must stay to see Lady Luise!” she insisted, effectively leaving me stranded. The Marquis had given me a brief, sympathetic glance before disappearing. Thanks, buddy. Truly.

“So, I hear your younger brother Markus is about to inherit the Ducal title,” the Marchioness Fischer began. “Lord Zonta, your reputation precedes you! Even in our neighboring lands, we’ve heard about your remarkable governance. My husband could certainly learn a thing or two from you.”

“You flatter me,” I replied, mustering a modest smile.

“Oh, it’s no flattery! My husband was particularly impressed by the reforms you implemented regarding the wells.”

Ah, yes. The wells. That project.

Unlike the capital, which enjoys a sophisticated magical infrastructure for water and sewage, rural territories like mine can’t afford such luxuries. Magical tools are prohibitively expensive, even if the townsfolk pool their resources. On top of that, maintaining those tools requires regular infusions of magic and skilled labor—both of which are costly.

Traditionally, people outside the capital relied on manual pulley systems to draw water from wells. Even with simple mechanisms like hand cranks, it was labor-intensive and time-consuming. That’s when I recalled a hand-pump mechanism from a certain film in my past life.

The concept was straightforward: a wooden piston inside a cylinder created a vacuum when pushed, allowing atmospheric pressure to draw water upward. With the help of local craftsmen and some trial and error, we successfully implemented the design across my territory. The response from the townspeople had been overwhelmingly positive, and it seemed word had spread to other lands.

“Ever since Lady Cassandra passed away, we’ve been worried about you and Lady Luise,” one of the noblewomen remarked. “Your bond as a couple was truly inspiring.”

“Thank you,” I replied with a small smile. “It’s been two years now, and while the pain hasn’t fully faded, things have started to settle.”

The nights I spent crying into my pillow had become fewer, and even Lulu, who once clung to me for comfort, no longer insisted on sleeping in my bed. It was heartwarming to know that others had seen Katy and me as a loving couple.

“And yet, even at six years old, Lady Luise must still feel the loneliness,” another noblewoman commented, her tone laced with genuine concern—or so it seemed.

Ah, here it comes. Even I, a novice in social maneuvering, could see where this was going. They were steering the conversation toward remarriage. Their eyes gleamed, a mix of curiosity and ambition. It was unnerving.

“Lulu has found solace in my paintings,” I replied smoothly. “She seems comforted by them, so for now, I’ll continue to focus on her well-being.”

“Paintings? You paint, Lord Zonta?”
“A mere hobby,” I said modestly.
“Oh, I’d love to see your work someday!”

Great. They weren’t letting up.

Katy would have breezed through this with her effortless charm. Meanwhile, I was barely managing to tread water.

Just as I lifted my teacup to sip the now-cold tea, a sudden scream pierced the air.

“Ahhh!!”
“Help!!”

The children’s panicked cries turned every head toward the garden. My heart sank as I spotted a large, bird-like monster swooping down, clutching Emma in its talons. Her distinctive drill-styled hair made her easily identifiable.

“Emma!”

The Marchioness Fischer’s scream echoed across the chaos.

Guards were present, of course, but they hadn’t anticipated an aerial attack. Any magical counterattack risked harming Emma.

But my Mystic Eye was perfectly suited for this.

I set my teacup down—perhaps too forcefully, as it clattered—and ran toward the garden.

“You! The black-haired guard!” I shouted, pointing to one of the knights. “Position yourself beneath the monster and catch the young lady when she falls!”

“Y-yes, my lord!”

I removed my glasses—ordinary corrective lenses—and activated my power.

Stopping in my tracks, I extended my arm toward the monster. My magic surged, gathering in my eyes. The creature seemed to sense the danger and turned its attention toward me.

Burn.

I snapped my fingers.

In an instant, flames engulfed the monster’s upper body. Screeching in agony, it released Emma, who fell directly into the waiting arms of the knight below.

The monster, still ablaze, crashed to the ground. My fire, precise and controlled, left the surrounding grass and trees untouched.

“Lulu!” I called out, scanning the area frantically.

A tug at my waist drew my attention downward. There she was, clinging to me, her chestnut-brown hair—a perfect match for Katy’s—slightly disheveled.

“Lulu! Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine,” she replied softly.

“Good. It’s over now. The monster won’t harm anyone anymore.”

“…Father,” she said, her cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

“You were so cool!”

Her heartfelt exclamation, loud and unrestrained, broke all etiquette but filled me with pride.

“Thank you, Lulu,” I said, smiling.

Later, as I carried Lulu home and exhaustion set in, a sudden thought struck me:

Wait. That event… That was totally a pre-main story event, wasn’t it?

The realization lingered as I drifted off to sleep that night.