Translator and Editor: Maru and Aki

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Chapter 2

Ravia roughly combed her fingers through her disheveled blonde hair and stepped out of the room. The eyes that followed her every move was clearly filled with astonishment.

No one could reach out to talk to her, but she was doing something very unusual right now.

Because she went outside the room in messy pajamas.

‘What’s wrong with this?’

As she strode across the corridor, Ravia hovered around despite being pierced by their cold gazes. It was funny to see people glance at her as if saying ‘Are you allowed to do that?’ without actually saying anything to her.

In fact, walking around in pajamas at her own home was a very trivial act.

As the successor, Ravia had never behaved against the conduct so far. Plus, the people around her were eager to undermine her, so it was beyond words how much she had to suppress herself.

Every look that watched over her was as sharp as an ice pick.

A life in a single strand of rope.

She mustn’t fail. Because she was the successor of Leontine. Ravia had to be more than perfect to not tarnish Leontine’s name.

‘What’s so great about all that?’

But not anymore. Ravia walked down the stairs with light steps. She walked without slippers, but it felt like she stepped on soft fur.

Her heart was also so light. She was about to be kicked out from her spot. Which means she didn’t have to suppress herself on those useless stares anymore.

But it also meant something else at the same time.

“….Welcome back, father.”

She was terribly dejected.

Ravia stopped at the stairs. About three spaces below, two men stood on the path leading up to the parlor and front door.

The novel barely did the narrative for the villain, so it was impossible to know what kind of feeling Ravia had when she first met Tidwell, but Ravia could feel it as soon as she saw his unfamiliar face.

‘Ah.’

It was such a hopeless feeling.

Her eyes met with his blue eyes. His silver hair was as alluring as his blue eyes.

Since he was the male lead, no word was needed to describe his extraordinary beauty.

He looked like he shaved off. Although it was slightly desolate and decadent, his face itself was strong.

Even if she didn’t hear much about his prominence, she could feel it just by facing him. He was extraordinary.

Even though she just made eye contact, she knew he was more of a perfect successor than Ravia, who spent her entire life to become a perfect successor.

Not to mention, he had Leontine’s silver hair. Its existence itself meant a lot.

Therefore, the Ravia in the novel who lived her life counting the days until she became a successor was hit by a great deal of despair when she met him. She knew everything, but somehow, it was still suffocating.

The hand that held the railing was tightened. Having a breakdown right here was not helpful at all.

‘Get a hold of yourself.’

Ravia struggled to lift her waist and went down the stairs. Eyes followed her every step down, but her steps did not stagger.

Of course, there was a reason why she came all the way down.

If Ravia in the novel could have survived simply by stopping Tidwell’s assassination attempt, then she could simply turn her attention away from Tidwell and live on.

But that wasn’t enough to change her future.

Because Tidwell had no intention to leave Leontine alone from the start.

‘It’s a brood parasite.’

The cuckoo’s brood parasitism.

Dropping the chicks of other birds out of its nest, which will kill them, and become the owner of the nest.

That was Tidwell’s goal.

‘In the novel, he killed me and even my father.’

Tidwell was a man without mercy. He was someone who could stretch his two legs apart to leave no room for people who threaten his position.

He deliberately approached Leontine to take it over, meanwhile, the survival of other people with the Leontine bloodline beside himself was a threat for him.

Thus, Ravia’s death was prophesied. Whether Ravia tormented him or not. Since her existence itself was a potential threat for Tidwell.

The baby cuckoo already settled among the eggs.

By stepping into this nest, Leontine’s residence.

There were not many ways for Ravia to survive in this nest now.

Either become friends with the cuckoo or run away before the cuckoo drops her off the nest and kills her.

‘Maybe it could be both.’

Ravia went down the stairs and stood before Duke Leontine. To be exact, in front of the two men.

Seeing her still in her pajamas, Duke Leontine creased his forehead.

“Ravia, why are you dressed like that? What if a guest comes here?”

“He has already come, hasn’t he?”

Ravia cut Duke Leontine off. It meant that she didn’t care even if a guest did come.

Was he feeling unfamiliar with his daughter talking back to him? Duke Leontine looked visibly surprised. No, more like she just hurt his pride.

He was thinking of choosing the right word to rebuke Ravia since he couldn’t just scold her harshly to save his dignity as the Duke.

How obvious. Who cares about manners and one’s family name anyway? So, Ravia opened her mouth first as she had no time nor willingness to listen to such a thing.

“This guest looks like a Leontine.”

The way she worded it felt so distant as if she was talking about another family. Duke Leontine, who could feel it, opened his mouth. His voice sounded like he was embarrassed for no reason.

“Ahem, ahem. He is the grandson of a man who was dismissed from this family last time. He’s two years younger than you. I decided that he’ll stay in our family from now on.”

“I see.”

Ravia gave a calm answer as if she had expected it.

No further question.

She knew already, so nothing could surprise her anymore. But since she might have appeared too calm, she decided to add an explanation.

“I thought this day would come someday.”

“What do you mean?”

The question didn’t come from Duke Leontine, but Tidwell. Ravia was a little taken aback that he, who seemed to be silent, asked the question first.

He was looking at Ravia with his deep, dignified, and persistent eyes. As if he was seeing something interesting.

‘Why are you asking?’

His eyes gave her goosebumps.

Ravia tried to not crumple her face. Honestly, this conversation itself was so nauseating.

He already knew everything ever since he came to this mansion, so did he need to ask? I was not sure why he had to ask a confirmation question.

Still, she moved her red lips because she was trained to give the correct answer when asked.

“The silver-haired successor who will drive me out.”

Similar to a declaration, her gentle voice seeped through the three of them. Amidst the silence, she gazed straight at Tidwell. Ravia’s eyes were fixed on him.

The reason why she looked at him while she said those words was simple.

She was asking if that said successor was him.

Their eyes met for a moment, and Ravia continued to talk. She blinked and shook her shoulder in a relaxed manner.

“….And so, I thought that day would eventually come. Since father always disliked me, I always thought you’d bring another child to take my place.”

So don’t bother me as I have no intention of fighting with you, she thought.

Ravia spoke using both her tone and expression.

Indifferent and cynical expression. Her blonde hair was decorated with bright and brilliant hairpieces, but not the person wearing it.

Her figure looked empty.

She simply wanted to tell Tidwell that she had no intention to fight him because she wanted to live, but Tidwell, who was watching her, thought it was strange.

‘Surely, people will raise their claw if their place was about to get stolen.’

How could she be that indifferent? Even if she knew he was coming, it shouldn’t be easy to accept. Tidwell thought to himself.

But he didn’t have time to contemplate more as his soon-to-be sister moved her beautiful features to speak to him.

“Then how should I call you?”

“Tidwell.”

“Ravia.”

She spat out her name elegantly, just like her figure. She was the embodiment of elegance itself.

‘Is it arrogance, or is it inherent nobility?’

Was this why they were called a noble? As he continued looking at her, he suddenly could feel something that he couldn’t when he saw Duke Leontine.

Suddenly, he wanted to kiss the back of her hand.

A mannerly noble young man would appease that desire by holding out his hand once, but Tidwell was a rascal who didn’t know all that.

So he tried to ask for her hand.

Only if Ravia didn’t lift the hem of her skirt as if her business was over here.

“That’s enough for a greeting, I’m going to head back.”

“Are you not going to talk to your brother?”

Look how easy the word ‘brother’ came out of his mouth.

Ravia swallowed a bitter smile inside because she realized that the color of her hair must have been more important than her blood in the first place.

“I don’t think I’ll have much to discuss with the person who’ll take my spot.”

Duke Leontine’s face was subtly hardened by Ravia’s answer. Tidwell, who stood next to him, also saw it. And it was unlikely for Ravia, who faced him, not to see it as well.

Eventually, a light smile came upon Ravia’s face. At first glance, it looked like a mockery and also a somewhat bitter smile.

“Have a good time with your family.”

Her white ankle was revealed under her silk dress as she went up the stairs.

Tidwell’s eyes remained persistent on her.

Step-! Step-!

By the time her steps that were similar to dandelion puffs arrived on the next floor…

“Sister.”

That abyss-like voice. He, who called her ‘sister’, didn’t seem to hide his heart either.

Without realizing it, Ravia turned her body at his voice.

Below her, a man with an unknown mind looked at her.

“Are you avoiding your position because you don’t like me?”

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