I Became the Villain’s Lost Daughter Chapter 85

That was the end of the past story for that part.

 

It was about the seven years of the sixteen years before I met my family.

 

“…”

 

The sun, which had been shining at the zenith of the sky, was now leaning toward three o’clock.

 

My father and Aaron were silent for a moment, as if to give me time to think.

 

‘…So, what’s the past?’ 

 

Neither did I open my lips. I knew if I did, it would come out in a quivering voice.

 

From the accident sixteen years ago to the time I met my father nine years ago.

 

‘I can’t believe that, after all I’ve been through, he’s just an expendable villain.’

 

If I had the original story in front of me, I would tear it to shreds in a heartbeat.

 

It was before I even opened my eyes in this place, but somehow my heart felt like it was crushed by a stone.

 

Was this Erita’s emotion or mine?

 

It didn’t really matter. I let out a long, shallow breath, feeling sick to my stomach.

 

After a few more breaths, I regained my composure.

 

‘…So Serbia’s death wasn’t an accident.’

 

What I thought was just a carriage crash was actually a premeditated crime.

 

Linked to the curse and nothing else.  I understood why my father had refused Callian’s request for help.

 

And that it was now my turn to speak.

 

I clenched my fists and spoke, “Why, my father joined hands with His Highness the Prince.”

 

My voice trembled a little.

 

The accident with Serbia and Erita sixteen years ago, and the death of Queen Ayla eight years ago.

 

“…Because the same people were responsible for the deaths of your mother and the Queen. 

 

Because the forces responsible for both were the same.

 

‘That’s right.’

 

With that thought, the whole puzzle fit together.

 

‘The traces of the curse in Serbia were also the work of the Empress, or at least connected to her.’

 

Still, I had a lot of questions.

 

Why did the Empress kill Serbia, and why didn’t she kill Erita?

 

Did my family in the original know about it, and if so, why did they side with the Empress?

 

Was there some kind of unspoken threat? The question trailed off.

 

‘…This time will be different, because I won’t let my father and brother die.’

 

But for now, I decided to put all questions aside and think only of that fact.

 

Pushing my thoughts away, I looked straight into my father’s red eyes.

 

The piercing eyes slowly receded and reappeared.

 

“…Yes.”

 

My father affirmed slowly. His voice was tinged with an indescribable depth of emotion.

 

“You were right.”

 

Regret for the past and longing for the dead.

 

And anger that hadn’t been dulled by the passage of time.

 

“Father, brother, I have something to tell you, as well.”

 

Now it was my turn to stand side by side with my family.

 

They had yet to hear how I had come to meet Callian, but for now, I wanted to tell my father, who had lost his wife and daughter, what I had discovered.

 

“…There’s something I’ve been hiding from my father and brother for a long time.”

 

The words that came out of my mouth were a clunky confession.

 

There was no need to add any platitudes.

 

“Something you’ve been hiding.”

 

Aaron repeated the words quietly. I nodded and smiled weakly.

 

“I was going to tell you someday when I was sure, but I guess now is the time.”

 

Eight years of researching dark magic and what I found out at the Debutante Ball.

 

What I couldn’t say was how I learned about black magic or why I started researching it.

 

‘I can’t tell them that I had seen the story behind the original at the Queen’s funeral.’

 

Even if I could explain it, I wouldn’t be able to say it out loud.

 

It involved a secret I would carry with me for the rest of my life.

 

“Can you believe everything I’m about to tell you?” I asked, lacing my fingers together nervously.

 

“I will believe you always.”

 

“I’ll believe you even if it’s raining today.”

 

At Aaron’s words, I glanced out the window. The sky was cloudless and blue.

 

“I really do.”

 

Aaron said, smiling again.

 

Somehow, I felt my heart lighten a little at his answer.

 

“…And you too, brother.”

 

Part of me felt a little embarrassed because I knew he was being lighthearted for my benefit.

 

“Hmph. Anyway, thanks for believing me.”

 

After a couple of unnecessary coughs, I began my story.

 

“First of all, I’ve been researching black magic for the past few years.”

 

Eight years, to be exact.

 

“Of course, I didn’t do it, so I could dabble in black magic!”

 

I added hastily, not wanting to mislead anyone, even for a moment.

 

“I know you haven’t dabbled in the black magic.”

 

His tone was sweet as he replied. 

 

I was clearly pleased that he believed me.

 

But…

 

“…You knew?” I repeated, my voice filled with doubt.

 

My father’s body stiffened in response.

 

I felt a strange sensation. Not that he knew I wouldn’t do anything, but that he knew I didn’t…?

 

There was an awkward silence between the three of us.

 

Unsure of what to say, I opened my mouth.

 

“…Did you know about it?”

 

“Ha…”

 

When I said that in a trembling voice, Aaron, who was next to me, let out a deep sigh.

 

At his sigh, my father looked at me with an oddly expectant expression.

 

“It’s…, dear.”

 

The hesitation in my father’s voice convinced me once again.

 

He and Aaron knew I was researching black magic.

 

“How long have you known?” I asked, dumbfounded.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

Neither Dad nor Aaron had any answers.

 

“How on earth?”

 

That’s what I wanted to know.

 

Everything I’d ever collected I’d kept in my subspace, in case anyone should ever see it.

 

Nothing about the black magic was ever spoken of in the manor, lest a passerby overhear.

 

‘Besides, I didn’t even tell Mary, let alone the family wizards…’

 

Suddenly, the blue-haired wizard’s smirk appeared in my mind.

 

“…Lord Fern?”

 

Up until now, I had kept my research into black magic to myself. But I had only asked Fern about curse magic once before, eight years ago.

 

At the time, I was only ten years old, and he was the only wizard around to ask.

 

‘Did Fern tell my father about it?’ 

 

Fern had told my father, despite my warning that he shouldn’t, but he was my father’s man.

 

It would not be strange if he told my father what I asked him.

 

“Father, did you hear it from Lord Fern?”

 

“Um, yes.”

 

My father paused for a moment, his eyes narrowed, and then he nodded. There was something suspicious about that answer, but I accepted it anyway.

 

It wasn’t until a few days later that I realized my father had sold Fern.

 

“…I asked him not to tell you.”

 

While I understood, my eyes widened as I realized that my father hadn’t said anything to me.

 

‘I’ll have to ask him to help me with my research later, and I’ll have Fern do all the menial tasks.’

 

It was when I vowed to myself that one day I would get to serve Fern.

 

My father and Aaron looked at each other and exchanged a glance.

 

From where I was sitting, it looked like they were just trying to pass the buck. 

 

In the end, it was my father who won out.

 

“I, Erita, are you offended?”

 

Aaron, his brow furrowed slightly under my father’s gaze, asked me in a rare moment of genuine recognition.

 

“Um…”

 

For a moment, I pretended to consider.

 

To be honest, I didn’t feel all that bad or anything.

 

After all, I knew I was going to tell them at some point, and the whole research was for my family anyway.

 

But I did feel a little resentful.

 

Little did I know of their alliance with Callian, which they had kept from me all this time, and now they’re the only two who know my secret.

 

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised.”

 

“Mm, right.”

 

“I tried so hard to keep it from you.”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

I said it a little bluntly, and Aaron’s eyes drooped a tad lower. He must have known I had a weakness for that face.

 

“I’m sorry I kept it from you.”

 

My father, sitting next to Aaron, had a puzzled look on his face.

 

“Phew…”

 

He sighed, and Dad’s gaze flinched. 

 

To see two people who didn’t seem to have a care in the world…

 

‘I wonder if this is what it’s like to own a large dog.’

 

I couldn’t help but laugh at the thought.

 

“Erita…?”

 

The two of them looked at me in confusion.

 

“It’s nothing, I just thought of something…”

 

I managed to steady my quivering shoulders and wiped the tears from my eyes.

 

“…I see.”

 

The grudgingly affirming faces wondered what I was thinking, but I kept my mouth shut and laughed softly.

 

Looking at my father and brother, I could not say that I was reminded of a long, fat tabby panda.

 

“Hmph. Anyway, since you knew I was researching black magic, I’ll start with what I found out.”

 

Clearing my throat, I pulled out a book and a clock from the subspace first.

 

“Subspace magic…?”

 

They muttered, with a hollow laugh, but I didn’t let that stop me as I held the book out in front of them.

 

“This is a book I found a month ago.”

 

It was a book I had found in a bookstore one day when I was out on the streets, not long after arriving in the capital.

 

Glancing at the title, the father’s gaze sank.

 

His reaction was understandable, given that the accident that killed his wife and daughter at the same time was related to black magic.

 

“A book about black magic, I see.”

 

“Yes, it is, but this is the one I want to show you.”

 

I flipped open the well-worn pages.

 

“…The artifact that distinguishes warlocks.”

 

Aaron muttered in disbelief.

 

‘Well, yes. I was pretty surprised at first, myself.’ 

 

Thought it was a test. Having seen the power of the artifact, it was only natural that their gazes would turn to the clock next to the book.

 

“So this watch…”

 

My father took one look at the watch, or more precisely, the jewel in the middle of it, and then shifted his gaze to me.

 

“That’s right, an artifact made according to the instructions here.”