# Chapter 25 – I Possessed the Villain’s Daughter #
As soon as morning broke, I prepared myself thoroughly to help my brother and headed to his room.
“Good morning,”
Eddie greeted me as he saw me. I looked at the flowers beside his bed and felt relieved that his face didn’t look too bad.
“Did you sleep well through the night?”
“Yes, I slept very soundly.”
“That’s a relief.”
We chatted away quietly.
Knock knock—just then, I heard a knock on the door. I turned my head to see Lloyd walking in with a stack of documents in his hands.
I nearly clicked my tongue in disbelief. The sheer quantity and weight of the documents he brought were no joke.
“…You handle all of that every day? By yourself?”
“Lloyd helps me a bit,”
Only then did I understand why things couldn’t function properly in the duchy without Eddie. Seeing the documents stacked high on his desk, I could only think again, “Everyone in the Roschahil family really are monsters…” As soon as Eddie saw the documents, he focused with terrifying intensity, signing them one after the other regardless of what I was doing.
Well… I guess it can’t be helped.
Sighing, I sat beside him to help read through the documents. One was about a relief project for the residents. Another one said a levee had collapsed and aid was needed. Another was related to the merchant guild, so I passed it to Eddie…
I sorted through them one by one. As I went through them, it felt like a social studies lesson, and I even started to find it a little fun and picked up speed.
Then suddenly, I came across an important document.
It was related to the imperial palace.
It said the Roschahil family and the imperial court would co-host a hunting competition, followed by a banquet.
Ah, this must be what Thea was talking about yesterday.
“Oh, you saw that?”
Eddie looked at me and said.
“This year’s hunting competition is going to be quite large. The First Prince has already confirmed he’ll attend. I haven’t heard from the Second Prince yet, but word is he’s leaning positively this time.”
“I see.”
I read through the document. Nobles from the provinces would also be coming up for the hunting competition scheduled for about two weeks from now. It would be held over a week at a royal hunting ground. As I read on, something piqued my curiosity.
“…What kind of person is the Second Prince?”
I had met the First Prince before, but never the Second. I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of person he was if he was said to rival the fierce, beast-like Altheo.
“Well…”
Eddie seemed to choose his words carefully.
“I haven’t met him much myself. He doesn’t engage much in public affairs. But I’ve heard he has remarkable scholarly talent. All the scholars who’ve taught him praise him without exception.”
“I see…”
I tilted my head. Would I be able to meet him at the hunting competition? Just then, Eddie asked me something else.
“Come to think of it, didn’t you go to the capital yesterday to meet the First Prince? What did you two talk about?”
“Ah, well…”
I hesitated for a moment. Should I say it or not…?
After a moment of indecision, I said it.
“The First Prince asked me to enter a relationship with him.”
At that moment, the scratching sound of pens on paper stopped dead. Even Lloyd froze.
“…What did you say?”
“Well, he asked to court me…”
“…”
“…Where’s my sword.”
Eddie muttered, rubbing his head as if he had a headache.
W-Why is he looking for his sword!?
As he looked around and tried to get up, he suddenly felt dizzy and had to sit back down. A flash of embarrassment crossed his face.
“A-Are you okay?”
“…Lala. You’re still young.”
“…”
“Even if he’s a prince, and there’s only a two-year age difference between you, you’re still only fourteen. It’s too early for you to date…”
“Ah, no—”
I quickly cut in.
“I turned him down.”
“You… rejected him?”
Eddie stared at me.
“Like you said, I’m still too young. And besides, I don’t have feelings for him.”
Eddie must have been aware of my former self’s obsession with the First Prince. No wonder he was surprised. He studied me carefully as if to judge whether I was sincere. Finally, he smiled.
“That’s good. Honestly, I didn’t want to say anything, but I’m not particularly fond of the First Prince.”
“Why not?”
“Call it a merchant’s intuition. Betting on him feels too risky.”
“Hehh…”
As I listened quietly to my brother’s words, I said:
“You know… can’t we just stay neutral?”
“Neutral?”
“Yes. Does the Roschahil family really have to side with anyone in the battle for the throne?”
“…”
He seemed to be pondering for a moment.
“Yeah, that wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
“…!”
I was thrilled.
“So we’re staying neutral, right?”
“I’ll bring it up with Father. But like you said, Roschahil isn’t a weak family that needs to pick a side.”
Then he looked at me gently.
“Succession battles get messy. And you already know there’s nothing good in getting involved. I wish more people realized that.”
I just smiled in response.
After working hard to assist my brother, it was already evening.
After dinner with the family, I spent my free time reading a book on alchemy. Though it was filled with difficult terms, it was starting to make a bit more sense than when I first picked it up. After reading for a while, I finally closed the book and lay down on the bed.
The imperial hunting competition is in two weeks.
I wonder what kind of person Thea really is?
Whatever happens, I need to be prepared—not to be too shocked when I find out.
With those thoughts, I slowly drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile
A long journey had been made.
Her father had thrown a fit when he heard that Lupe was going out. He couldn’t understand why such a young girl insisted on wandering outside so much. But when she told him, “I’m going to the Peregrin Ducal House,” he immediately calmed down.
Sweat soaked her hands. She quietly wiped them on a handkerchief as she waited for someone to come down.
It was a moment of extreme tension. How this meeting went would determine her future—and her revenge.
Perhaps because of her desperation, the wait that seemed to stretch endlessly was finally broken by the sound of clicking heels.
Lupe jumped to her feet without realizing and bowed her head. The first thing she saw was a pair of high heels.
“Raise your head.”
At the cool and elegant voice, she lifted her gaze—and saw the only daughter of the Duke’s household, Eveharun.
Flowing lavender curls fell down her waist. With long eyelashes and pale violet eyes blinking at her, Eveharun offered a soft greeting.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
Eveharun Peregrin.
The eldest daughter of one of the Ulysses Empire’s two ducal houses, and a blooming rose renowned in high society.
“Thanks to your concern, I’ve been doing quite well. My lady, you look even more beautiful today.”
Lupe laid on the flattery. It didn’t seem to move Eveharun much, but at least it wasn’t a bad start.
Yes, this is how I should’ve done it from the beginning, Lupe thought.
She knew it wouldn’t be easy to win over someone called the “little queen of the social world.”
But the other route—through Laila Roschahil—had already failed long ago.
Lupe still remembered it clearly. The once quiet and timid girl had looked down at her for the first time, with pity in her eyes. Just recalling how she walked out of the hall with the prince, casting that condescending gaze, made Lupe grind her teeth.
When did Laila change like that?
Ever since that day she humiliated Lupe in front of the clique, they had started treating her differently. And once Lady Sern became friends with Laila, they all began flocking to her.
Idiots. They all hated her before. Do they really think things can go back to how they were?
The more she thought about it, the more she blamed Laila.
Lupe recalled how easy it had been in the beginning. Because of her cold appearance, Laila had few friends. Born as the second daughter of a marquess, stuck between her older sister and younger brother, Lupe was adept at reading people—and Laila had been easy prey.
She approached her with smiles and cheerfulness, and Laila had opened up quickly. They laughed and chatted over trivial things, and their bond deepened.
“I think I like the First Prince… No, I’m sure I do.”
That’s why it was such a shock when Laila confessed that.
Lupe had been in love with the First Prince at first sight.
Unaware of that, Laila confessed her feelings to her face.
“…Is that so?”
It felt like her heart was bleeding. But she smiled.
“You make a great match.”
“You… really think so?”
“Of course. But…”
Then Lupe began to manipulate her.
“I think the First Prince already has someone he likes. Do you know Lady Via? The one he escorted last time?”
Laila’s expression stiffened—and Lupe felt nothing but pleasure.
She used Laila to drive off the noble ladies approaching the Prince. Laila, unaware of her intentions, drove them off just as instructed. Her cold demeanor and noble status made the others retreat. Maybe they thought she was a fitting match for the Prince—Lupe didn’t know. Or didn’t care.
“No—damn it. No.”
Lupe swore like a commoner in her mind.
The one who suits the First Prince is me.
She was the daughter of a marquess. With striking red hair and eyes that perfectly complemented Altheo’s golden locks and golden eyes. She had bled herself dry learning court etiquette and refinement just for him.
It had to be her.
“And what brings you here today?” asked Eveharun.
“Oh, it’s nothing really…”
Lupe smiled sweetly, hiding her true intentions.
This time, she’d use Eveharun.
Her foolish arrogance told her that if the first one was easy, the second would be too.
As Eveharun watched the younger girl—only a year apart—she thought she could see right through her.
But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Among the things Lupe rambled about, there were useful tidbits. Eveharun lazily blinked as she listened. Lupe mostly talked about Lady Laila.
Laila Roschahil was someone Eveharun had a mild interest in. She’d recently turned fourteen. Though Eveharun hadn’t been able to attend the party due to health reasons, rumors of her blossoming beauty had spread across the social circles.
“And so, Lady Laila is… well, she’s quite arrogant. Completely different from you, Lady Eveharun.”
Lupe worked hard to tear Laila down and flatter Eveharun. The transparent flattery was tiresome—but still…
This is going to be fun.
Eveharun decided to take Lupe’s hand—if only for her own amusement.
The fun of the future lies in the unexpected. If something unforeseen happens, that too is the joy of life.
She set her teacup down.
“I see.”
A refined and charming smile—one that had crowned her queen of the social scene—curved across her lips.
“Tell me more.”
Color returned to Lupe’s sweat-drenched face.
