I Am the Heiress of the Villain Family - Chapter 25

The Duke’s hands, which had been roughly tidying up the messy desk, stopped as if in a painting. Then he slightly bent down to check my expression.

 

The Duke easily caught on to the meaning behind my dark expression. 

 

He subtly dragged out the end of his sentence. 

 

“Well…” 

 

“This is an important, hiccup, matter.” 

 

“If you ask me if I think of you as my daughter, of course not.”

 

A cold response followed immediately. It was something I had expected, but my heart still aches a little.

 

“Um… daughter, hic.” 

 

“But that’s actually the same for you, right, Orange? Isn’t it that you need your grandfather more than your father?” 

 

“That’s…!”

 

Well, it’s not exactly like that… 

 

“Even so, if I were to add an explanation for this ugly Halloween pumpkin…” 

 

The Duke crossed his arms as if he was trying to hide a strange smile on his lips.

 

“Money, demon sword. Those things aren’t really important to me. I already have money, and I have no desire to become the world’s strongest swordsman with a demon sword. I’ve already done that without it. Besides, my heir, Werner, is growing up steadily.”  

 

“…But?” 

 

“So, it’s not like I want to adopt you because I’m particularly greedy for my father’s legacy or Giost.” 

 

“Then why…?”

 

“I’m curious about you.”

 

It was an unexpected remark. 

 

I blinked blankly and looked up at the Duke. I could see the childish expression on his face slowly fading away. 

 

“What is it that my father saw in you that he cherished you so much? Why did he never contact Blasco even once? Why, at the moment of his death, did he leave behind such a troublesome situation?” 

 

“….”

 

“I wonder what he wants to teach me through you.”

 

The Duke no longer had the usual tired, annoyed expression or sarcastic, sly look. Behind his cold, solid expressionless face, there was a deep and dark shadow that I couldn’t guess. 

 

It seemed both bitter and resigned… In a way, it almost felt like he was deeply longing for someone. The emotions were so complex that it was difficult to pinpoint exactly what they were. 

 

However, the Duke soon curled his lips up into a frown as usual.  

 

“That said, don’t get ahead of yourself, Orange. I still don’t know whether you’re worthy of becoming my daughter or not.” 

 

It was truly an amazing attitude change no matter how many times I experienced it. It seemed like he became a different person every moment and then came back.

 

The Duke added irritably.

 

“To become my child, you at least have to be on par with Werner and Arnin. If you can’t even reach their level, you’re out without a second thought.” 

 

“…What happens if I say no?” 

 

“You don’t want to? That can’t be. Your grandfather, your ‘real’ grandfather, would be the one becoming it. There’s no way you’d say no.” 

 

His face, smiling as if he knew everything, was so handsome it was annoying. I had no rebuttal, so I felt a bit sulky. 

 

My mouth opened without me knowing.

 

“This sneaky… cough, Uncle… Using Grandpa as a bargaining chip is unfair.”

 

“Why am I an Uncle?” 

 

“Then why am I Orange?” 

 

“You keep acting up because I’m letting you off.” 

 

“Earlier, Elder Gespa said that I’m the boss in this house.” 

 

“Tsk, if only you could keep your mouth shut.”

 

The Duke clicked his tongue and gestured for me to come closer. As I hesitated and approached, he suddenly grabbed me and strode toward the window. 

 

The aura surged and he suddenly threw open the window. The Duke’s aura was a clearer and more beautiful shade of blue than Werner’s. It was exactly the same color as his eyes. 

 

The warm early summer night air blew in through the open window. The tower of the spirits that stood out like a spire in the distance, the annex where Arnin’s blacksmith shop was, the training ground, and the right wing of the mansion sparkling like a galaxy on the ground. 

 

The Duke gestured with his chin toward the beautiful night view of the mansion. 

 

“Do you want it?”

 

“Can I be honest?”

 

“It’s even more ridiculous that you were planning to lie. Tell me.”

 

“I want it.”

 

Honestly, I want it.

 

I want to live here. A nice house, delicious food, a luxurious lifestyle, and above all, kind people. Blasco has everything I longed for in my previous life. Even my only family, Grandfather Herzen, is here. And perhaps, I might even gain more family members… 

 

As if he had been waiting for me to answer like that, the Duke gently pinched my cheek and let go.

 

“Yes. So try. Prove it.”

 

The Duke put me back on the floor. His eyes dropped sharply. He returned to his tired face and waved his hand. 

 

“Now go pack your things, pumpkin. Tomorrow, we’ll leave for the capital for the first test. We have to leave early in the morning to go to the moving station, so go to bed right away and get a good night’s sleep. If you’re late, you’ll be disqualified.” 

 

“I’ll never be late.” 

 

I looked up at him resolutely and then bowed my waist deeply.

 

“Good night! See you tomorrow.” 

 

“Okay. Good night.”

 

I stared at the back of the Duke as he returned to his desk, then headed out into the hallway. 

 

As I was about to close the study door, my lips moved without me realizing it. 

 

“I hate poverty.”

 

Before I knew it, the Duke, who had been sitting at his desk organizing a pile of documents, raised his head. Tilting his chin slightly, he replied monotonously. 

 

“Is that so?” 

 

“Yes. I want to be wealthy. And I don’t want to part with Grandpa Herzhen either.” 

 

The feelings I hadn’t been able to express in the conference room before burst out.

 

And I want to have a family.

 

I want to live here too.

 

I held back those words and looked at the Duke solemnly.

 

“So, I won’t give up halfway. I absolutely won’t.” 

 

Moreover, now I was certain. I was certain that Grandfather Herzen had foreseen all of this.

 

At least, I wouldn’t die. If my name appears in Chapter 168 of <NW, LM>, it means I’ll be safe until Niela reaches adulthood, doesn’t it? 

 

I grew up under my grandfather’s care for 10 years. Moreover, I’ve already survived over ten days under the direct line of the Blasco family, who are known as the continent’s greatest villains. How could something as trivial as an inheritance test be a big deal! 

 

‘And if I pass all these tests, that entire fortune will really be mine!’

 

Even the mansion in the capital!

 

It was a golden opportunity to claim the inheritance not by taking someone else’s, but by truly earning it through my own efforts. 

 

I clenched my fist.

 

Okay, let’s do it.

 

The goal has changed now. No matter what, I will thrive in this house! 

 

“Now, have a really good night’s sleep!”

 

I said that and quickly closed the door. I couldn’t tell what kind of look the Duke was giving me.

 

* * *

 

The next day, Arnin knocked on my door early in the morning. 

 

“Catyshia Ainsley, are you all ready…” 

 

Arnin found me standing at the door as soon as she opened it. 

 

I was already fully prepared. My luggage was packed perfectly, I followed Werner’s advice to wear clothes in matching tones, and I even put on a hat. 

 

Arnin laughed as if she was amazed.

 

“Are you going to war? Your gaze is full of determination.”  

 

“With a million gold and everything else at stake, of course I have to be determined.” 

 

“Good posture. Give it to me.” 

 

Arnin held out her hand. 

 

I quickly placed my hand on her palm.

 

“…No, not this.” 

 

Arnin trailed off at the end of her sentence, then quickly snatched my suitcase with the other hand. It seemed like what she wanted wasn’t my hand, but the bag.  

 

However, Arnin didn’t shake off my hand. So, I was able to fully enjoy the joy and honor of holding the beautiful sister’s hand. 

 

Indeed, this world is still a happy world! 

 

However, the feeling that I was about to fly away was completely deflated before I even got on the carriage. 

 

Unfortunately, as a representative of the collateral family who opposed my adoption, someone followed the group. It was none other than Sibel, the son of the psychotic child abuser Chen Blasco.

 

Sibel was also the one who made a fuss about my unknown bloodline and called me a ‘b*stard’s bloodline.’ 

 

Aside from the fact that I didn’t like him, I really liked his name.

 

‘Sibel, Sibel, Sibel’s b*stard.’

 

In a strange way, this young man, who is now 28 years old, even tried to ride in the same carriage as me.

 

“Shall we sit next to each other, Ainsley?”

 

“I don’t want to…” 

 

“Even if you don’t want to, it can’t be helped. I’m the supervisor sent to monitor whether Ainsley commits any misconduct. I have my job to do.” 

 

He was speaking softly and using polite language, giving me a lecture, and for the first time, I realized that even kind formal speech could feel so nauseating. 

 

Even Sibel didn’t stop there, and started to give me serious advice.

 

“Sit properly, Ainsley. I saw yesterday that you have terribly bad manners. Your frivolous speech, your disheveled posture, your rude eyes, and your irritable temper. You are a typical uneducated commoner.” 

 

“Ah…” 

 

“While His Excellency the Duke, the young master, and the young lady might have endured it because they are kind people, I am not. I cannot tolerate actions that lower the dignity of the Blasco name.” 

 

“Aah…” 

 

Aaargh, I felt like I was going to break out in hives from how unlucky I was. What’s with that noble tutor concept? 

 

Sibel looked me up and down in displeasure. 

 

“Remember, the more rude Ainsley behaves, the more it tarnishes not only the Blasco name but also the honor of the late Duke.” 

 

“….” 

 

“The capital is not an easy place like Artem. Most people are just waiting for an opportunity to make a mistake and drag you down.”

 

It seemed like you were the one trying to find fault with me even more.

 

You even called me an uneducated commoner. Sibel was really poking fun at my precious sense of entitlement.

 

‘Is he saying I’m ignorant right now, or what!’

 

It seems like he’s trying to discipline me, but he picked the wrong person. If it’s about getting under someone’s skin, I’m confident I can handle it too.