I Became the Villain’s Lost Daughter Chapter 80

 

In the garden, just after midnight, Callian told me the truth.

 

It was my father, Aslan Krovachatz, who had saved him from going to war at the age of twelve.

 

‘…My father prevented it. What kind of development was this?’

 

Dazed, as I tried to wrap my head around the sudden, unexpected twist.

 

Then I managed to speak, “…Are you saying that my family stood behind your Majesty?”

 

As for whether Grand Duke Krovachatz supported this Imperial Prince Callian Lewin Elbert.

 

That was all I could take from his words.

 

When I asked that question with a bewildered face because I didn’t realize it yet, Callian looked straight at me and answered me calmly.

 

“Technically, I was the one who reached out to the Grand Duke for help. I reached out to him first.”

 

“…And my father decided to take your hand.”

 

I pursed my lips at his answer for a moment, then muttered my conclusion in a small voice.

 

It was obvious that my father and Aaron were in league with Callian, no matter the exact words.

 

“Yes.”

 

Callian nodded, his expression unflinching.

 

A moment ago, all I could think about was feeling sorry for him, but now a million thoughts were claiming their place.

 

“Since when…”

 

My brain was creaking like a well-oiled machine in this unbelievable situation. I hadn’t felt that way at all.

 

“Since when has my father been helping you?” I asked, starting with what I wanted to know most.

 

If Callian was bringing it up, then my father, who had kept it from me all this time, must have agreed.

 

“Eight years ago.”

 

But I couldn’t help but feel another wave of disbelief at his answer.

 

Eight years ago.

 

It was also eight years ago that he and I first met, and where we met…

 

“It was at my mother’s funeral, yes.”

 

As I stared at him in disbelief, Callian confirmed in a hushed voice.

 

It was the first time the original story was twisted, and the first time I met him.

 

We stayed in the capital for another week or so after the Empress’s funeral, so it wouldn’t be surprising if there was contact in between.

 

‘…What a crazy turn of events.’

 

The disappearance of Ayla’s existence was not enough, so now the situation itself as I knew it had changed.

 

In the original, my family and Callian were enemies until the very end.

 

However, despite the development of the original story, my family has been on the side of Callian for a long time.

 

To be honest, it’s safe to say that this was a different world from the original.

 

‘…That’s a good thing, I’m sure.’

 

The fact that my goal had already been accomplished made me happy.

 

Yeah, I was definitely happy, but…

 

‘What’s the point of all the hard work I’ve done?’ I thought to myself.

 

It’s probably safe to say that I have a good relationship with Callian, so it’s unlikely that things would go as planned.

 

Although it could be called a good coincidence, it was also true that I was feeling a little down.

 

‘…No. Let’s not get our hopes up.’

 

I shook my head to steady myself. Putting my feelings aside and looking at the situation, this was a good development.

 

‘I should be grateful that things are going my way.’ I thought to myself and let out a deep sigh.

 

“…Are you offended, by this?”

 

My silence was apparently not lost on the person next to me, who took a moment to think.

 

“What?”

 

I asked, surprised by his suddenness, and  Callian hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly.

 

“…The Grand Duke and the Young Master  wished for you to learn of this mud quagmire as late as possible, hoping to keep you in the dark until the end, but that is impossible.”

 

His words that spilled out were a defense of my family.

 

It seemed to him that I was upset that my father and Aaron had kept the truth from me.

 

I didn’t bother to say otherwise.

 

“The mud…”

 

For some reason, the word stuck in my head and I mulled it over.

 

It wasn’t a very good word.

 

Not a good word to begin with. I looked into Callian’s blue eyes and shook my head.

 

“For now, my connection to your family remains hidden, but one day… no, it will come to the surface in the not-too-distant future.”

 

When that time comes, you too might be forced to step into an ugly fight.

 

Callian’s soft voice flowed into my ear. There was something self-help in his tone for some reason.

 

“…Because of the Crown Prince?”

 

“Yes, because of the Crown Prince, because I can’t give up the throne, and neither can my brother.”

 

At my question, which I already knew the answer to, Callian let out a wry laugh and nodded.

 

His words were true.

 

Moreover, Callian’s life was in danger if he did not become the Emperor.

 

‘Even if Callian renounces the Emperor’s seat, the Imperial Prince’s side will try to eliminate him in order not to leave any remorse.’

 

At first glance, the Empire was stable.

 

The Emperor made the Empire the conqueror of the continent, and its glory was still there.

 

Further, the Emperor appears to be young and healthy, and the two Princes have grown up strong.

 

On the surface, the empire looks strong and seemingly in control.

 

‘The problem was that both Callian and Thesis want the throne.’

 

In the original the empire, Thesis should have been declared Crown Prince long ago.

 

But somehow, the Emperor did not choose a successor until the two Princes had grown up, and the result would be a battle for the throne that was about to begin.

 

‘…That’s one thing that’s not so different from the original.’ 

 

There was a moment of silence. I was staring at the grass, dimly lit by the moonlight.

 

“I think someone’s coming.”

 

Callian, who looked back for a moment, got up with a stiff face. I heard nothing, but on a whim, I followed him.

 

“I think we’d better talk about this another time… no one should know.”

 

I was disappointed to be interrupted, but his words were true.

 

He didn’t go into detail, but I got the gist of the situation, and there would be time to talk to him later.

 

We were hurrying to get out of the maze garden.

 

“Wait.”

 

Callian stops me, and I hear footsteps stomping across the grass and rushing into the garden.

 

Before anyone could say anything, we both stopped walking and stood against the bushes.

 

True to his word, I had to avoid being seen with him.

 

It was only after a while that I realized that the distance between us was quite close due to the situation.

 

‘…Is anyone coming this way?’

 

I hoped not, but the footsteps grew closer until they were behind us. To the other side of the tall bushes, to be exact.

 

“Oh, my gosh! What if we get caught at this rate?”

 

“Trust me, no one comes this far, my beautiful lark, you have nothing to worry about.”

 

And the voice of the woman, so sweet, and the voice of the man, so tinged with feeling.

 

…Something about this situation feels familiar.

 

I quickly cast a silent spell around me and Callian. It was a good automatic reflex.

 

“You’re sure about this, right?”

 

“Yes, I’m sure, and now let me close those pretty lips of yours!”

 

“Ahh, you pervert!”

 

Soon after, I heard a grating sound I didn’t even want to imagine.

 

Rustling—

 

How passionate and violent that the bushes behind my back rustled.

 

‘…Oh, no.’

 

The two beyond the bush, engrossed in their act of lovemaking, would never imagine anyone else was here.

 

‘Do they have some kind of windpipe or something? I remember the first time I met Callian, we were in a similar situation…’

 

Of course, there was no such nasty sound then, and it wasn’t a night like this, but whatever.

 

I twisted slightly in unbearable embarrassment.

 

‘Ugh.’

 

Unlike warmth from above, the cool scent that wafted from Callian’s body, thanks to the removal of his uniform jacket, was distinctly his.

 

Realizing this, I quickly straightened up.

 

‘…I must be crazy.’

 

Even without looking, I could feel very vividly that my face was going to turn into a burning sweet potato.

 

In the bloody original, they used the phrase ‘the scent of the night sky at dawn’ to describe Callian’s scent, and now I know exactly what it was… No, not this.

 

I quickly cut off the thought that was trying to take over my stream of consciousness.

 

As I froze in my place, I heard a chuckle from overhead.

 

‘…I am at peace now. Peace like a river, peace like a river.’

 

Trying desperately to turn my attention back to the figure behind me, I tried to think of something else.

 

Like how to get out of here without being seen.

 

Thankfully, my efforts seemed to be working, and my flushed face cooled.

 

‘Given what I saw on the way in, I think the exit and the entrance are the same…’

 

Even with my invisibility spell, it felt rude to see those two.

 

Teleporting was also a risky proposition. What if I teleported to an uninhabited area and ran into someone?

 

“Hah…”

 

I sighed in frustration, realizing that there was nothing I could do.

 

All I could do was cast another layer of magic to block out the sound from the other side.

 

‘At least I can’t hear them.’

 

Heat rises on the nape of my neck at the embarrassment and frustration of this situation.

 

Slowly, I craned my stiff neck to make eye contact with Callian, who was holding his breath beside me.

 

“Well, I didn’t see this coming, and I’m kind of stumped.”

 

He muttered in a low voice.

 

“I know…”

 

I smiled awkwardly and tilted my head.

 

There was a refreshing smile on his face when we met, but when I looked at him again, he just looked confused.

 

‘Was I mistaken?’

 

The seriousness of our conversation had long since evaporated, and all that remained between us was an uncomfortable silence.

 

‘No, but what am I supposed to say in this situation?’

 

The silence was so awkward that I felt like saying something.

 

‘How bold are kids these days?’

 

It sounded so dumb. The only thing I could think of to say was something stupid.

 

“Excuse me, Your Highness.”

 

The magic had dissipated, but not the embarrassment, so I called out to him in a low voice.

 

“Yes, Miss Erita.”

 

“Um, so…”

 

Callian replied sweetly, then glared at me as I stared back. I felt uncomfortable in this situation, and his gaze was somehow embarrassing.

 

No, just shameful! His scent and warmth, which I’d tried so hard to block out, came back to me.

 

‘…I shouldn’t have been so sure I was immune to his handsome face.’

 

A hint of mischief lurked in the shimmering gaze, but I tried to ignore it.

 

“Well, there’s no way out of here without being seen, was there?”

 

I asked, hesitating for a moment before dropping my gaze downward.

 

Of course, there was no way out without being spotted by the couple behind the still passionate bush.

 

“Uhm, I’m afraid not, there’s only one way in and one way out.”

 

I cried silently at the reply of Callian, who folded his eyes beautifully and smiled.

 

Doesn’t that mean we’re stuck here until those two finish and leave?

 

“They’ll be leaving soon, so please wait a minute. Thanks to your magic, I can’t even hear them.”

 

So he said in his sweet voice.

 

“Yeah, I guess I’ll have to…”

 

In the end, unable to find a way, I answered helplessly and buried my face between my knees.

 

💫

 

To my great relief, Callian was right.

 

Five minutes of me stroking the grass with a defeated expression.

 

“Looks like they’re leaving now.”

 

Callian whispered in a low voice, sitting two steps away from me.

 

“Oh dear, it’s already time, come on, it’s almost time for the Emperor’s announcement.”

 

“Oh, no. Time flies so fast when I’m with my love.”

 

When I lifted the spell, I could hear them leaving at the right time.

 

It had been five minutes, but more like five hours, really. The distant voices grew fainter and fainter until I couldn’t hear them at all.

 

“Finally…!”

 

I cheered inwardly and jumped to my feet.