Am I the Villainess of this Story?

Interlude 11: A Siren's Wish

Selena Elyssa Ricafort. That is my name. Such an accursed name. Oh! how I wish that I wasn't born in the Ricafort family. Sure, my parents loved me enough to send me away for my own protection. But, although Chris' parents say that I am the daughter that they wished they have, I'll never be truly part of their family unless I end up marrying Chris.

It was such a scandal when an earth-aligned family produced a purely water-aligned child. My mother was even accused of having an affair. The only thing that convinced them that I was my father's child were my features. I look to much like my father to be the daughter of another man. When questioned about whether she had any strange encounters, my mother remembered an event where she saved a woman from mountain bandits when she was traveling around the country prior to her marriage. The woman, in gratitude, said that my mother will give birth to a blessed child. My mother wasn't superstitious so she took the woman's words only as a means of conveying gratitude and forgot about the event.

However, the woman seems to be of divine origin. And, upon accessing my magic, my desire to help my father, who has fallen ill, triggered my ability to heal. Furthermore, since my father's illness was supposedly fatal, his recovery became such news that people began to investigate. Soon, it was found out that I have the ability to heal. People began to clamor in our home wishing to be healed. Even my father's relatives, who have disowned him for marrying my mother, appeared stating that they're now willing to reinstate him as heir since he has borne a useful daughter. 

My parents refused to serve me up as some sort of sacrificial lamb both to the public at large to the greed of our relatives. Due to this refusal, kidnapping attempts were soon made. When one attempt was almost successful, my mother feared for my safety and asked her friend to foster me. And, that's how I became a part of the Henderson household. 

For my safety, I was no longer able to meet my parents. At first, I thought that it was alright. They love me. And, once my safety has been ensured, they'd come and get me. However, I was disappointed. Years have passed and they have never contacted me. In the end, I found myself laughing at my naivety when I accidentally saw them eating at a restaurant happily with another child at their side, a boy who was nine years my junior. They sent me away at the age of six. So, it only took them three years to forget my existence. After all, this child was normal unlike me.

I was really foolish to believe that my parents consider me a treasure. That they sent me away to protect me. Obviously, they've just had enough of the danger they were put in because of my presence. 

When I confronted the Hendersons about it, they looked at me in worry. Apparently, they had no idea that my parents conceived another child. After all, my parents stopped contacting them a year after I was fostered. They said that it would be unsafe if those who targeted me realize that I am staying with the Hendersons. What a load of crap. Obviously, they were just tired of pretending that they care about my well-being. After all, with an heir already, why would they need me?

Upon learning about the truth about my parents' so-called "love", I wanted to leave and set out on my own. However, Duchess Henderson stopped me asking where I was planning to go. In the end, I didn't leave their family. But, I asked them to help me get what was supposed to be my inheritance as a daughter of the Ricafort family. They wanted me out of their lives for good? Then, they have to compensate me for it.

So, with the help of General Henderson, my parents were forced to cough up half of their estate with the caveat that, although I bear their name, I would be disowned as their daughter. Of course, I accepted their condition. I have no interest in becoming beholden to them. Ha! What hypocrites! How dare they present themselves as loving parents when in truth, they're just cowards who couldn't bear the responsibility of raising me as their daughter.