🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 33
After returning home from work, I stopped in surprise at an unexpected sight.
My uncle was waiting for me.
“Sit down.”
He gestured with his chin in an authoritative manner.
‘What’s going on?’
Ever since rumors spread that I was “close” with Kaien, my uncle had been avoiding me for a while. Honestly, it was kind of nice having the peace and quiet.
I sat on the sofa as instructed, and my uncle spoke.
“I received a message from the lawyer. The succession process should be completed within a month.”
‘Ah.’
So that was it. The source of his regained confidence.
He must have thought I would interfere with the family succession procedure through Kaien, but since everything was proceeding smoothly, he seemed relieved.
“Don’t worry too much about it.”
My uncle said, trying to look imposing.
“No matter what, I wouldn’t just throw my niece out with nothing. I’ll give you a small allowance for independence, so be grateful.”
How generous.
Funny, I was planning to kick him out without leaving him a single coin.
“Oh, and I heard you recently refused Edward’s escort request?”
My uncle frowned in displeasure. That expression made it clear that Edward’s request had not been coordinated with him.
“Well done. You do know your place after all.”
“……”
“Edward will marry a daughter of a noble family. Just because you happened to get a good job once doesn’t mean you can take that spot.”
What…
I was utterly dumbfounded. I had never looked at Edward that way even once in my life.
Besides, we’re cousins. Even if marriage isn’t legally prohibited in the empire…
“Ugh.”
“What’s that? Suddenly? Such bad manners!”
When I covered my mouth, my uncle recoiled in disgust.
“Ah, sorry. It’s just that what you said was so absurd I nearly gagged…”
“What?”
“I’d rather die than become Edward’s bride. That’s how much I hate the idea, so don’t worry.”
The words just slipped out—it was a natural reaction, like screaming at the sight of a cockroach.
My uncle’s face twisted strangely.
“Huh…!”
He seemed confused whether to be angry that his son had been insulted or relieved that I wasn’t being greedy.
Not wanting to sit there a second longer, I took the initiative.
“May I go upstairs now if that’s all? I need to find a place to live soon.”
“Hmm, very well.”
He waved his hand dismissively, like shooing an annoying fly.
I sat arrogantly in the house my parents left behind, on the sofa my parents used to sit on.
‘…Endure it. Just endure it.’
My anger boiled inside, but now wasn’t the time to act. I didn’t need to raise his suspicion by arguing.
As I went upstairs, I felt the gaze of the servants.
Not all of them were just flattering eyes as before.
Some looked down on me, sneering as if I were a kite with a cut string.
‘Looks like they switched sides now that this house is back in my uncle’s hands.’
It didn’t matter. I’d never had proper service from them anyway.
Thanks to that, I grew up independent—able to wash my face, bathe, and change clothes on my own.
‘On the day I reclaim this mansion, all of you will be replaced too.’
As I made this vow, someone spoke.
“Miss, would you like me to help you bathe?”
It was a servant named Sally, who had joined a few months ago.
She seemed to be betting on me.
I shook my head.
“No, I’ll just wash quickly and rest alone today.”
“All right, then I’ll just bring water for washing your face!”
Sally smiled brightly and disappeared, soon returning with water at the perfect temperature.
…Maybe I’ll make an exception for one of them.
A little later.
Alone in my room, I sprinkled the powder I had prepared into the fireplace.
The flames turned purple, sizzling, then spit out a letter.
‘As expected. It’s arrived!’
It was a letter secretly sent by the lawyer I hired, Lloyd.
The magic powder I used temporarily transforms the fireplace into a mailbox. Normally expensive, but employees of the magic tower can use it for free. A kind of employee benefit!
The letter was simple. The preparations for an international marriage were proceeding smoothly, and in fifteen days, all that remained was to stamp the marriage documents.
‘Did he say a month?’
I’ll finish it in just fifteen days, Uncle.
Hehe.
Laughing at the thought of that day, I heard a flapping sound.
Pipi was clapping its little wings like hands.
[That was a truly villainous laugh, benefactor. You’re getting more wicked by the day!]
“Really?”
Pipi was so embarrassing.
I patted the yellow head no bigger than Pipi’s thumb, and it naturally raised its head, enjoying my touch.
A moment of old memories overlapped that image.
My first and only pet. My little dog, the real owner of the name ‘Pipi.’
After losing my parents, I had felt lonely as Felix and Lorena gradually changed their behavior toward me. Pipi was my only sanctuary.
After letting it go, I cried a lot, unable to accept the empty space.
I even wrote a paper about transplanting animal biometric data into magical devices.
‘Of course, I mercilessly got an F for it.’
Looking back, it was a completely absurd paper. One of my black histories.
[Benefactor?]
Pipi tilted its head, looking up at me.
[Are you okay? Suddenly, I sense sadness and longing on your face.]
“Ah, it’s nothing. Just a fleeting thought.”
Pipi’s emotional analysis was getting sharper by the day.
I smiled casually and patted its head.
The next day was a rare day off.
I sat with a solemn heart, practicing magic.
“Salazar.”
Even the most basic magic—creating a flame—wasn’t easy.
Tick, tick. The flame, barely sparking, flickered out weakly.
I hadn’t used magic in nearly ten years, thinking my mana had vanished, so it was natural. I just had to practice harder.
‘The more I restore my mana, the faster the mana Felix took will return too.’
Kaien had said it, so it must be true.
My goal was to fully recover my mana before the Knight Order entrance exam and leave Felix like a dried-out mummy.
Then he won’t be able to join a proper knight order!
“Hehehe.”
While imagining that day, I focused on my practice.
“Miss, Miss! Director Hestia has come!”
Sally hurriedly came to me.
“What? Who?”
“Director Hestia! Don’t you know?! She’s the most famous designer in the system right now!”
Sally’s face turned bright red, as if she had seen a famous actor.
I was dumbfounded.
“Why would such a famous designer come to see me?”
“I don’t know! Should I bring her up?”
“Uh, yes.”
A moment later, an extremely stern-looking beauty came up to this floor.
When Hestia and I made eye contact at the door…
“Oh my.”
Hestia gasped in surprise and approached me.
“Hmm. Ahem! Tsk! Good heavens!”
She came so close that she examined my face from every angle, sighing continuously.
‘…That much?’
Was it really that overwhelming?
I already knew I wasn’t particularly pretty.
[Flashback to Hestia’s advice as a child:]
‘Frill, your eyes are too big and look scary. Maybe cover them a bit with bangs and these glasses.’
‘R-Really? My mom always said my eyes were the prettiest…’
‘Haha, that’s just what your mom said. Don’t be too upset. Not everyone can be beautiful, right? But you must have other strengths. Hmm… what could they be?’
After hearing comments like that, I started covering my face with my hair and glasses.
It made it hard to see, but at least I felt secure—like putting up a shield.
“I’m sorry. Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Director Hestia, and by order of Her Majesty the Empress, I have come to style you, Violet.”
“What? By Her Majesty the Empress?”
