F-Rank Puppeteer!! But I'll be Queen, and I'm not a narcissist!!!!!-Chapter 116: Complex Meeting…

Chapter 116: Complex Meeting...
I’m in a beautiful white dress with black roses embroidered on the lower part, below my waist. The dress is simple but very pretty and fits me perfectly.
Eve is also in a beautiful black dress with elegant white lace and some basic ruffles to accentuate her appearance. Syl’Vyr is somewhere in the castle, exploring the place, as I arrive at the door to the main hall.
My other siblings are already here. I look at Marie and try to wave, but she turns away, still angry. I look at Laplace, and he seems tense, while Augustus has a look of complete disinterest.
’It’s incredible... Ever since I appeared in this world... I HAVEN’T MOVED AN INCH FORWARD IN MY RELATIONSHIPS!’ Except for Esther, my favorability hasn’t changed at all with the others; in fact, it seems to have gotten worse with some of them, like Marie, who is obviously angry with me.
I look at Esther, who gives me a slight nod, though she has a somewhat strange, almost mocking smile as she looks at me.
"...S-So, does anyone here know what we’ll be discussing in this meeting? What’s the main topic..." I ask, while some look at me as if I’m an idiot.
"You fool, obviously it’s about that attack on the fortress city of Pristion," Marie says, already insulting me.
’Tsk, I know that...’ Of course I know that, but normally when our father gathers everyone, there’s more than just the main topic, and I’d like to know what other subjects will come up.
I see that no one here is going to answer me, so I just lean against a corner and start waiting. Eve stays nearby as I watch everyone to see how they’re reacting to the situation.
My heart is beating a little fast, but I try to calm down. I don’t think it will be that bad, right? After all, what’s the worst that could happen?
...
...
...
"Demon King, we are ready to begin at any moment," Tsuki says respectfully, bowing before me. Since that irritating angel attack happened, I decided to gather my children and already inform them about the marriage I will arrange between Evelyn and Esther.
This will also increase the competition, since others will feel pressured, especially by Esther, who is already stable in her position and, with her family’s influence, can become even more threatening.
"Let them in... Besides, has the contract already reached both of their families?" I ask, interested.
"Yes, Demon King, I am a professional. They have already received and replied! Esther’s family is excited to see their little girl get married and accepted all the terms without resistance!"
"And Evelyn’s family also accepted everything, although they were dissatisfied with having to pay, but they decided not to fight it and just signed the contract," she says playfully.
’See them get married? What a joke.’ They’re obviously more interested in what they can gain from this marriage, since they will now be officially presented to the public as members of the royal family, able to use that authority.
"..." Tsuki goes to the door and opens it, telling them to enter. I watch my children enter, and I immediately see who has made the most progress now that they no longer need to limit how strong they can become.
’Marie has made impressive progress...’ All my children are on average Adventurers of Rank S, near Rank X, and some are already at Rank X, like Marie, Esther, and Lucien.
Augustus and Laplace, who are weaker, are still at Rank S, and within a month they should reach Rank X if they maintain the same evolution, showing the absurd potential that comes from the royal demon bloodline.
But then my gaze falls on Evelyn... and frankly, I’m disappointed. She’s still the same weak girl as always; honestly, nothing about her has changed, except that she now has more magic in her body.
’She has magic comparable to Augustus and Laplace... but that’s the only good thing about her... the rest of her attributes are complete trash.’ I look at that thing Evelyn created and named Eve. It’s gotten a little stronger, but nothing surprising.
’It seems I placed too many expectations on my weakest daughter...’ In the end, the only way Evelyn can be useful to me is through this marriage. Otherwise, she is just a useless burden that generates expenses.
’Well, at least this burden will now be carried by Esther and not by me...’ After the marriage, Evelyn will be entirely Esther’s responsibility as the dominant party in the marriage.
I watch them all bow before me. I decide to stop analyzing their progress. Some surprised me, others were within expected range, and then there are those who only disappointed. I don’t need to see any more of that.
"As all of you here must know, we were directly attacked, and the attack was very close... The reason for the attack was that a spy leaked information, but I have already dealt with him." The angels knew about the shipment Laplace was carrying and attacked before it was moved from the city.
"The reason for the attack was a shipment that stopped in the fortress city... However, that shipment arrived 3 days late and took longer than it should have to leave the city... Laplace, what do you have to say about this?" I know it was his fault; he wanted to take some adventurers with him and delayed the delivery just to wait for them.
"I-I’m sorry, Father... I admit my guilt... I should have delivered it earlier..." he says, his voice trembling.
"Because of your mistake, you will be sent to the battlefield for the next 4 weeks..." When he hears this, he shudders.
"U-Understood, Father..." He just accepts it as must be done.
"Because of this attack, I have changed my plans... Some of you will have to be more active in missions for me. Lucien, we will have a conversation later about your duty in this, as it is more complex."
"As for Marie... you will be tasked with assisting in the reconstruction of that city. And Augustus... you will be sent to the frontier to deliver another shipment I have... do not fail like your brother," I say in a severe tone.
"..." All of them accept without complaint, while Marie looks at Laplace as if she wants to strangle him right here.
"As for you, Evelyn... I will be removing you from the guild." When I say this, she looks at me in shock.
"Y-Yes? N-No!! You can’t do that!! It’s not fair! I know I was near the city, but there was no way for me to notice the attack and—"
"Then why did you flee the city?" When I ask this, everyone looks at her.
"...W-Well..." She swallows her words, unable to find an answer that won’t irritate me. She was found far from the city, and magic revealed that she fled the city in a hurry a few hours before the attack.
"R-Regardless! What does me being an adventurer have to do with Laplace’s failures or the fact that I didn’t warn anyone? I’m getting stronger and not causing problems in the castle! I-I even managed to earn a good amount of money!" She presents her meager achievements as if they should impress me.
"Evelyn... stop disappointing me..." I say in a cold tone, and when she hears this, her hands tremble. She seems to want to speak, but no sound comes out as tears form on her face.
She bites her lips to keep from crying while lowering her head so I won’t see her face.
"Evelyn, the guild belongs to me. As of today, you have lost your adventurer license indefinitely until further notice, and your companions will also lose theirs..."
"B-But, F-Father..." She interrupts me to try to speak, but my gaze silences her.
"Group mascot... that’s how you registered your two creations in the guild records... How long will you continue to disgrace me? You are a noble; you should know that reputation matters... Do you know what the nobles are saying? You only tarnish my reputation..."
"You have no right to complain about my choices... Besides, you won’t have time to waste on foolish adventures with these things you create, because you and Esther are going to get married." When I say this, an awkward silence falls over the room.
Everyone looks at Evelyn, then at Esther, who has a strange, victorious smile on her face. Evelyn looks at her in shock.
"M-Marriage? B-But no one told me anything! I-I don’t want this! I don’t want to get married! W-What about my right to choose? I don’t want to marry anyone!!!" Gathering courage, Evelyn tries to refuse.
"What you want doesn’t matter, Evelyn. Your only use is your family; without it, you are complete trash, unworthy of even being in this room... Do everyone a favor and, for once in your life, do something truly useful." The tears in her eyes increase when she hears this.
"Besides, the marriage is already scheduled. Both families have been notified, and this marriage will happen whether you want it or not. You should be grateful that, for once in your life, you are useful to me in some way, and even more grateful that Esther has agreed to take you as her partner for the rest of your life."
"As soon as both families come to the castle to see you, the marriage can take place. That gives a window of about 1 to 2 months until you are both eternally united in matrimony."
"I want to make it clear that this will not negatively affect your positions in the fight for the throne. Both of you will continue to compete equally for the throne with all the others, with the only extra being that your families can provide some degree of support." When I say this, the hatred in some of them immediately surfaces.
Marie looks at Esther with resentment, while Esther gives a cruel smile to Marie. Everyone has already realized that Esther has become an even more solid and powerful opponent for the position of future Queen of Demons.
Evelyn, however, is ignored. No one even expects anything from her, and the fact that she is in tears over the criticisms I gave only shows how she isn’t even a cause for concern. She is too weak in every possible sense.
’What a disgrace to have a daughter like this...’ Crying over a few words is ridiculous. She should accept everything with a smile, like a true noble.
"I want to keep this meeting brief, so I will allow Marie, Augustus, Laplace, and Lucien to leave. Esther and Evelyn will stay to talk with Tsuki about how the marriage will work and the matrimonial duties of both." I end this by giving them permission to leave.