RYL Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Emma hesitated before reluctantly leaving the study with the bouquet in her arms.

Once she was gone, I turned my attention back to the documents in my hands.

They were the compensation papers I had received from the Duke of Laurentino after our broken engagement.

It wasn’t just some random land in the countryside—it was property and buildings in the capital. Not exactly in the city center, but still in a prime location on the outskirts.

My father, the Count of Devonshire, had told me that this compensation rightfully belonged to me and that I could do whatever I wanted with it.

In other words, I now owned this land and these buildings.

“I could sell them right away and make a good profit…”

But cutting open the goose that lays golden eggs just for quick cash would be foolish.

It wasn’t like I needed a large sum of money immediately.

“It’s better to hold onto it for now.”

If I was going to keep it, I might as well increase its value.

Some of the buildings were vacant, so renting them out could be an option.

I needed to visit the property first, but maybe a restaurant or café would be a safe bet?

Or perhaps a dress boutique?

Wait a minute… Since I’m inside this novel, maybe I should use my knowledge of the story to my advantage?

What kind of business would become famous or increase in value later?

Now that I think about it…

The crown prince in this novel only cared about politics and had no interest in business.

The female lead didn’t know much about trends—she only attracted men with her looks.

“Damn it… Of all the novels, why did I have to end up in this one?”

The only thing that appeared frequently in the story was social clubs.

Usually, noble social clubs were held in luxurious salons.

But my property wasn’t in the city center, making it unsuitable for such gatherings.

Looks like I need to think this through a bit more…

As I was lost in thought, planning how to make money, a familiar voice called out.

“Claire, can I speak with you for a moment?”

It was my stepmother, Ophelia.

Sighing, I dragged myself out of the study.

When I entered the drawing room, Sophia was already sitting with her legs crossed, glaring at me with a displeased expression.

“What are you going to do with all these flowers?” Ophelia sneered. “You were engaged not long ago, so how on earth have you been behaving for all these men to come running to you like this?”

Her words dripped with jealousy.

I responded bluntly, “I haven’t done anything. I don’t even know who these men are.”

Ophelia, taken aback by my sharp tone, quickly spoke again.

“You might not remember, but you must have been smiling at them, leading them on!”

Sophia scoffed, chiming in, “So cheap. What are you, a woman selling her smiles? Just because you look different now, you think you can flirt with every man you see?”

My patience was wearing thin.

But then again, did I even need to hold back anymore?

Now that I was the heir to the Devonshire estate, I couldn’t be thrown out of this household.

“Smiling at them, huh…”

My eyes landed on a bouquet of flowers sitting on the table. I had no idea who had given it to me.

I picked up one of the flowers, twirled it between my fingers, and then—snap—broke the bloom right off the stem.

“Meanwhile, despite all the smiles you and my dear stepmother hand out, neither of you has received a single flower.”

I tossed the broken flower onto the floor and smiled sweetly.

Ophelia and Sophia stared at me in shock.

Before they could recover, I grabbed a handful of flowers from the vase and dumped them onto Sophia’s lap.

Water dripped onto her dress as she shrieked and jumped up in horror.

“Ahhh! My dress! What the hell are you doing?!”

I strolled over to her, still smiling, and said,

“You looked upset about not receiving any flowers. I thought I’d help.”

“W-What?!”

Sophia’s face turned red with embarrassment. Furious, she shoved my shoulder roughly, trying to make me stumble.

I staggered slightly but quickly regained my balance.

Then—SLAP!

I slapped her across the face with all my strength.

“Sophia!!”

The force sent her reeling back onto the sofa.

She clutched her cheek, looking utterly stunned.

Ophelia rushed to her side, holding her as she screamed at me.

“Claire!! How could you do something so cruel?! Are you showing your true colors now, growing up without a mother?!”

Sophia sniffled in Ophelia’s arms, looking like a pitiful child.

Meanwhile, Ophelia glared at me, furious.

I simply replied, “Growing up with a mother didn’t seem to teach Sophia any manners either.”

“W-What?!”

Ophelia, unable to hold back her anger, stood up and raised her hand.

She was going to slap me.

But I didn’t even flinch.

Instead, I stepped closer and stared her down.

“Are you really going to hit me? The heir of the Devonshire family?”

Her hand froze midair.

I smirked.

“I wonder what would happen if you laid a hand on the future head of the family.”

Ophelia’s face turned pale.

I leaned back into the sofa, crossed my legs, and smiled.

“You and Sophia created this version of me, stepmother. I was perfectly fine before.”

I sighed dramatically, resting my chin on my hand.

“I really tried to be a good person, you know.”

That was how Claire used to be.

But now that I didn’t have to care about my stepmother’s opinion, I saw no reason to tolerate her anymore.

“If you keep acting like this, I’ll only get worse.”

I flashed them a sweet smile.

Sophia trembled, whispering, “Y-You monster…”

A monster? Well, she could call me whatever she wanted.

If they kept provoking me, they’d soon learn what true cruelty looked like.

Ophelia made one last desperate attempt, shouting,

“I’ll tell the count about this! How can a two-faced brat like you inherit the family?!”

I calmly adjusted my nails, unfazed.

“Go ahead.”

Ophelia hesitated, her expression doubtful.

I didn’t even look at her as I continued.

“I’m curious too—who do you think my father will believe?”

Her shoulders flinched.

I had spent years being the perfect, obedient daughter.

Meanwhile, Ophelia had never bothered to hide her selfish ambitions.

The count may have been distant, but after this broken engagement, he must have realized that Ophelia was not the right person to raise his heir.

Would he really believe her over me?

As I watched Ophelia’s face turn pale, I smiled lazily.

Like a cat playing with a trapped mouse.

“From now on,” I said sweetly, “please don’t enter my study without permission. And be more careful with how you treat me.”

I casually added as if I had just remembered something.
“Oh, and this isn’t a request. It’s an order.”

At my indifferent words, Ophelia’s face twisted in anger.
Sophia, on the other hand, looked completely stunned.

I calmly glanced at them before delivering the final blow.
“If you want to continue living in this mansion peacefully after I become the head of the family, you should keep that in mind.”

Ophelia looked at me with a horrified expression, as if she was getting chills. In the end, she grabbed Sophia’s hand and dragged her out of the room with a frustrated look.

“Ah! Mom! Are you just going to let her talk to us like that?”
“Shut up!”

When Sophia still didn’t get the situation and tried to protest, Ophelia forcefully pulled her along.

Only after they disappeared from sight did I lean back into my chair with a satisfied expression.
Ah, that felt so refreshing!

It was a smooth start to living life exactly how I wanted.