It was only with Sakayanagi's help that Amane gradually returned to a "human" life.
As a result, Takeru turned Sakayanagi, his friend, into an enemy.
He believed Sakayanagi had hindered Amane's growth.
Ayanokoji and Takeru were utterly scoundrels!
Just as Honden was still fuming.
A dignified and elegant woman bent down, picking up the scattered documents one by one.
Finally, she organized them and handed them to Honden.
"Father, why are you angry at brother? Isn't his stupidity obvious? His heart only holds his son; Amane has no place in it. Amane is nothing more than a breeding machine and an assassination tool in his eyes."
The woman's words made Honden frown.
"Rin, it seems you have a strong opinion of Takeru. Are you still upset that I gave the heir's certificate to Amane?"
Upon hearing this, Rin's expression froze. She was about to retort but, seeing Honden's fierce, tiger-like gaze, she could only nod unwillingly.
"My child, even if you don't want to pass it to my brother or me, your grandson, Ki, is perfectly qualified to bear the heavy responsibility of the family. He is also the eldest and fully capable of supporting the Miyako Family. Why do you favor Amane? How can she, a girl..."
Slap.
Before Rin could finish speaking, Honden slapped her hard across the face.
Rin, losing her balance from the sudden slap, fell directly to the ground, but she dared not look up and meet Honden's gaze.
Instead, she knelt there respectfully.
"Foolish. It seems you are just like your incompetent brother, completely unaware of Amane's value. Talent is the key to a family's rise and fall. How many families have soared to greatness because of an unparalleled talent? Although I am at the end of my road, what happens after I die? Who among you can take my place? None of you can, except Amane."
Honden let out a heavy sigh.
"The last time the Miyako Family produced a genius was four hundred and sixty-seven years ago. Amane's birth shows that Heaven has not abandoned the Miyako Family. You actually plan to marry off such a promising talent? Have your heads been flattened by an elephant? Marrying Amane off to another family to produce outstanding talents? What kind of idiot would come up with such a foolish plan?"
Honden's roar echoed through the hall.
This time, Rin finally couldn't help but look up.
"Then do you intend for her to never marry? What kind of woman doesn't bear offspring..."
"Are you jealous? Jealous that your father ruined your life, forcing you to live a destiny arranged by others, while Amane, though her future profession is set, can freely choose what women value most: 'love.' Is it because I gave Amane this power that you lost your rational judgment?"
Honden's sarcastic smile shattered Rin's psychological defense.
This old man, nearly in his grave, was practically a spirit.
"I understand your dissatisfaction. If you want to blame someone, blame your lack of ability. After all, very few people can understand geniuses. Who truly understands them? Is it ordinary people? Is it other geniuses? Neither! It is ordinary people who, through hard work, climb to a realm only attainable by geniuses, and from that glimpse, they understand the difference between ordinary people and geniuses."
As Honden spoke, he walked to the study, took out a childish booklet with a cute brown bear drawn on it, and threw it to Rin.
"See for yourself."
Rin tremblingly picked up the booklet and carefully opened it.
Her eyes immediately widened the moment she saw the content.
"Father! These are all the Miyako Family's trial questions..."
These trial questions were opportunities for each Miyako Family member, after turning twenty, to answer once every five years. Those who answered correctly would become reserves for the family heir.
The booklet Honden gave her was undoubtedly left by Amane.
But how old was Amane when she answered these questions?
The crooked, childish handwriting certainly didn't look like an adult's.
"These are Amane's answers written when she was six years old."
"Six years old! Are you kidding me?"
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 70 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!