Chapter 1554: Spreading Rumours

When I suggested that, Lisa actually sobered up and said that she did not want to make that decision for me and suggested that I bring that up with the other girls instead.

Thus, after all of us were gathered in the empty room we had now claimed as our own, I told them about the idea to spread a rumour that I was the only child of the Nilm Family instead.

All of my girls just stared at me when I suggested it, as though I had just told them that I was going to give up sweets or something.

Katsuki gave me a concerned look, "Are you sure about this, Mistress? This might potentially lead to the revelation that you are truly the child of the Nilm Family..."

I didn’t get to answer before Emilia chuckled, "That’s what you’re worried about? I’m more worried that some people might take it seriously and then they start treating Boss like the actual child of the Nilm Family... There might be people who want to hurt the Nilm Family by hurting you..."

I tilted my head at my girls, "I mean... This is just a rumour right? They shouldn’t think that this is real?"

Emilia wagged her finger at me, "For most people, sure. But there might be some crazy ones who might decide that they would just take the risk anyway instead of ignoring it. After all, the worse case for them is that they hurt someone who isn’t related to the Nilm Family and the best case is that they actually did manage to hurt the only child of the Nilm Family."

Delmare hugged my arm possessively, "Why would they even want to do that? Don’t they know that if they were to actually harm Aster... Mother in law would not let them go?"

Oh? Don’t think I didn’t notice that, Delmare. Trying to sneak in calling Mother your mother in law over there are you? So cute~

Katsuki was the one who answered her question though, "It does not matter. There are groups who want nothing more than to hurt the Madam and the family in any way possible even if it means the loss of their lives. They would see their sacrifice as something that is worth it. That is why I do not think it is a good idea to do this, Mistress..."

I smiled at her, "That’s why I have you girls around me, right?"

Odeta punched her fists together, "Wahahaha! That’s right! Don’t worry, Sister Aster! I’ll definitely protect you!"

Ira scoffed, "After what you have managed to achieve these past few days, I don’t think you need people to protect you. I think it’s more of a case where you are protecting us instead."

I giggled, "Ehehe~ I’ll always protect all of you, don’t worry!"

Tsara inclined her head slightly, "It should be us that is protecting you, Aster. After all, you are the one chosen by the Gods."

...

Why do I have a feeling that the rumour that I was chosen by the gods was spread by Tsara herself?

Minnera spoke up from the side, looking up for a moment from where she was sketching in her sketchbook, "I’m in favour of spreading the rumour that Aster is from the Nilm Family, actually."

A ripple of surprise spread throughout the room, which was emphasised when Lilith also raised her hand meekly.

"I... I agree as well..."

Katsuki narrowed her eyes at the two of them, "May I ask why?"

Minnera looked back down at her sketchbook, "Think about it... The Madam definitely wants to come and visit Aster at the Academy and participate in events where the parents are involved. If the Matriarch of the Nilm Family, who has never visited the Academy on her own, suddenly decided to show up for every event for the next few years, don’t you think people would start making the connection anyway?"

Ah... I guess that’s also possible...

There’s no way I could convince my Mother not to come here during important events like my graduation or something... So people would probably be able to draw the conclusion that she started visiting the school because someone important to her was attending the Academy.

And if they were smart enough, they would probably figure out that the person was most likely within the first years since that would be the reason why she started coming here.

Katsuki narrowed her eyes even further, "You seem to have forgotten about the fact that the Madam possesses artefacts that would help her hide her identity if she really wished to remain anonymous."

Oh right... Like Mother’s [Mask Of Impossible Identity] which should stop her from being recognised if she were to come here.

Minnera scoffed, "I’m not saying that it’s an impossibility... But you’re standing in the one place where people who specialise in magic studies are gathered... And you assume that the possibility of them figuring out she is in disguise to be anything but above zero percent. I don’t know about you but I won’t bet on those odds."

I scratched my cheek, "I don’t know about that though... I think Mother’s enchantments are pretty solid."

Tiara also nodded, the princess currently seated on my lap, "I cannot imagine anyone being capable of seeing through Madam Nilm’s enchantments either. If they could, they would have to be stronger than she is and that’s practically an impossibility."

Minnera shrugged but made no other comment.

I then turned towards Lilith, "What about you, Lilith? I’m curious why you would also agree with me?"

She poked her fingers together, "Well... I mean... You were already going for the noble villainess persona anyway, right? We can just spread the rumours for it and it would seem too outlandish to be true which would help us eliminate other people thinking about it further down the line if we were to control the rumours well enough. It would be much better than someone else thinking it up and then spreading it around uncontrolled. At least this way, we have control over the narrative if we’re the ones spreading it. We just need to make it sound as ridiculous as possible."

Huh...

I almost forgot about this but Lilith used to run an entire city so she’s used to political manoeuvrings.

Emilia gasped, "Oh!! I can use this! I definitely can use this! The sales we could get just by playing into this! She’s right! We just need to make it sound as ridiculous as possible! Then Boss can just play the part like she’s taking advantage of that fact and people will just think she’s pretending!"

I blinked at her, "What do you mean?"

"Nyahahaha! Think about it! What if you just go out and start bossing people around and yelling ’don’t you know who I am?!’ whenever they try to stand up against you? People might think that you were delusional in thinking you were actually the real child of the Nilm Family and not take you seriously!"

Lisa giggled, "Ehehehe~ Especially since no one will believe they are in the same space as the only heir of the Nilm Family. If you were to play it up, I think this might even work in the long run~"

Ira tilted her head, "And what about her reputation once it comes the time to reveal the truth? I assume that you do not intend to carry on this farce forever, are you?"

I considered it for a moment, "Hmm... Well... I can just do what I’m already doing but just raise it by another level. That way, it would look like I’ve always thought of myself as Aster Nilm from the very beginning and this was how I’ve always behaved. Then when the truth comes out, people will see that I behaved like that specifically because of the way I was treated and everything would make sense to them."

Tsara clasped her hands together, "That is a wonderful idea, Lady Aster. There would be people who would still believe this and show you the proper respect out of fear that there is truth in those rumours, just like how they should have been from the very beginning."

Katsuki bowed her head, "In that case, I shall make sure that you are always protected, Mistress."

Odeta punched her fists together, "Me too, Sister Aster! You can count on me!"

Tiara turned to give me a wry smile, "I suppose that would also mean we have to be a little bit more obvious in our preferential treatment of you, Big Sister. That way, people will never be able to tell the real reason why we follow you."

I’m not sure if that would really work but... I guess I’m just happy that I can be myself for once.

For some reason... I just have a feeling that either myself, my girls or Mother would end up revealing the fact that I was a real child of the Nilm Family accidentally somehow... I just don’t know how.