To be the Villainess

O7.

Chapter 7

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“EVEN IF her mother is a prostitute, she’s still my daughter,” the Grand Duke began, his commanding presence filling the room as he strode towards us. Darious’ smug expression crumbled as he heard his father’s declaration, the enjoyment vanishing from his face.

Kyle hastily zipped my dress, his fingers trembling with urgency, and stepped aside the moment the Grand Duke reached me, his towering figure casting a shadow over us.

“Greetings, Your Grace,” I greeted him immediately, bowing deeply. I struggled to maintain my composure, berating myself for not locking the door properly. Inside, a wave of panic surged through me.

“You see, am I impudent too because I raised this child, hmm... Darious?” Grand Duke Daryl spoke without glancing at his son, his voice dripping with cold authority.

Darious’ eyes dropped to the floor as he responded, “No, Father,” his voice barely a whisper.

The Grand Duke nodded, satisfied with his son’s submission. “And, Arthemice, you had better explain yourself. Why would your personal knight commit such an insolent act?” His gaze, sharp and unyielding, turned to Sebastian, who stood unflinching, unfazed by the intimidation.

“I believe the young lady will explain it to you, Your Grace,” Sebastian muttered, bowing with unwavering calm.

“I did force him to help me, even if he didn’t want to,” I replied, meeting the Grand Duke’s eyes with a serious expression.

“And why is that?” he demanded, his tone carrying a hint of suspicion.

I heaved a distant sigh before answering him. “Father, please, with all due respect, replace all my servants. I feel uncomfortable with all of them. They don’t seem like my servants anymore,” I said. Though my response was indirect, I knew he would understand. He isn’t called the Grand Duke for nothing.

I saw him smirk at my remark, his stern expression softening a bit. “I see,” he mumbled, but I heard it clearly. “I get it now. Please don't do such things again, so no one can misunderstand, okay?” he continued, gently patting my head.

I froze at his touch. I thought the Grand Duke hated Arthemice, but I was wrong. The Grand Duke didn’t appear in the game, so I didn’t know much about him. The system described him as stern, but now, I could see he favored Arthemice more than I expected.

“T-Thank you, Father,” I replied, giving him a faint smile. I saw his lips curve into a soft smile as well.

“This is your first time calling me ‘Father,’ and I hope you get used to it, my dear,” he muttered, pinching my nose playfully. I was stunned, caught off guard by the warmth of the gesture. I hadn't realized that Arthemice had never called him ‘Father’ before.

“But now, we need to hurry. Time is slipping away, and I need you to endure the sight of your personal maid for now.” The door swung open as Stella and the other servants nervously entered, their eyes wide with apprehension. Stella, in particular, seemed especially anxious, her hands trembling slightly as she clutched a bundle of garments.

“I will work on this matter once your coming-of-age ceremony is done, if that is okay with you,” he added. Within moments, his soft demeanor transformed into a stern, authoritative presence. He stood tall, exuding the dignity of high nobility, his eyes commanding respect from everyone in the room.

“Make my daughter the most beautiful lady today,” he commanded, and all the servants bowed deeply in response. “I forgive you for assisting my daughter on her special day, Kyle,” he said, casting a glance at Sebastian. “Enjoy your day, my dear. I have prepared something special just for you.” With that, he exited the room with Darious. I saw the bitterness etched on Darious’ face, realizing why he despised me.