Chapter 110
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Deceiving My Daughter? Dad's Trash!
That day, around lunchtime, the empire's power structure had completely flipped.
Half a day had passed since we heard that the crown prince had been stripped of his title, and Grand Duke Sebastian—Dad's close friend—was secretly maneuvering to claim the successor's position.
It might have seemed like everything was wrapped up, but in truth, the biggest wildcard was someone else entirely.
Asid's older brother, Ted.
With Asid and Dad gone, and only Dad and I returning, Ted had every right to demand an explanation.
I was sitting quietly in the garden when Ted appeared to guard me, true to his knightly duties.
‘Asid... you stubborn fool. At least see Ted before you go.’
Asid had heard the prophecy and bolted after taking the oracle alone, without seeing Ted or me again.
I understood he thought meeting us would weaken his resolve...
“Lady Sien, shall we go inside?”
“No, Ted. I have something to say...”
Looking at Ted's worried face right in front of me made my mouth feel bitter somehow.
“You see, Ted...”
“Yes.”
“Asid left for the border for my sake.”
“...Ah, I see.”
He seemed calm, while I shot him a desperate look.
I bit my lip hard and stared at Ted. I had to muster the courage for his sake, since he must be dying to know where his brother was.
“Yeah. So... to be specific, just between you and me...”
Telling Ted—who cherished his little brother like gold—that Asid might die was no easy task. I was carefully choosing my words to explain this tangled mess.
But Ted completely defied my expectations.
Instead of asking where Asid had gone, he just gazed at me steadily, a smile playing on his lips.
“You don't need to say more. Asid values you above all else, Lady Sien. He must have gone somewhere to protect you, even if it meant risking death.”
That was all Ted said. He just stared at me steadfastly.
I couldn't find the words to continue and nervously peeled at the dry skin on my lips. Ted gently took my hand and said,
“Your lips are chapping, Lady Sien.”
“Ted. See, the thing is...”
“It's fine. No need to apologize. I've always protected my little brother. But now it's time to respect his choice. I don't know exactly where Asid went, but I just believe he'll come back.”
“Mm...”
“Then, may I go? I need some time... to sort out my thoughts.”
I nodded at Ted. He knelt on one knee toward me in knightly salute, then left as abruptly as he'd come.
I watched Ted's retreating figure and chewed my lip.
As his back slowly faded into the distance, it felt like I was sending Asid off. That must be why I impulsively called out to him.
“Hey, Ted.”
“Yes?”
Ted turned back to me. The sunlight shattered behind him, making me squint, but I whispered to him anyway.
“...Asid will be fine. I believe in him.”
It was also a suggestion to myself.
Then Ted smiled, warm as sunlight.
“It will be. When Asid returns, let's throw him a grand party.”
In that moment, Asid's face overlapped with his.
Seeing that made a shimmering hope rise in my heart.
Yes, Asid would return alive.
He would change his fate.
So I had to do what I could to change my own fate.
***
The Saintess of Melodia had fled with the Book of Prophecy.
Dad and I—convinced that learning its contents would let us help Asid and alter destiny—had been frantically searching for her.
A day passed, then two, then three.
Just when her trail had gone cold and we were growing anxious, it hit me like a bolt of lightning.
Come to think of it, in the chaos of sending Asid off and cleaning up the mess, I'd overlooked something crucial.
Namely, punishing Dad for deceiving me!
‘Haven't found Melodia yet, but this has to be said!’
I scurried off to Dad's study.
We'd pour everything into finding the Saintess of Melodia and helping Asid, but I'd make sure to give Dad his due punishment in between.
“Dad.”
Dad was sorting documents in his study.
With his friend Grand Duke Sebastian tentatively named as the emperor's successor, Dad had grown busy too. But he always opened his study to me.
“What's wrong, Sien?”
Dad set down his papers and smiled at me.
“I came to talk. Turns out we have some unfinished business?”
“...Huh? Business?”
I glared at Dad, my body trembling with rage.
The Dad who'd pretended to be a good, kind father was actually a wicked archvillain. The most vicious villain in the Mirmod family, no less.
‘I get wanting to hide your dark side, but you promised never to deceive me.’
Since things had come to this, I'd spin Dad like a top.
I flashed a sinister smile and poked his arm repeatedly. Dad flinched—clearly guilty—and asked,
“Why... are you doing this, Sien?”
“Hehe...”
Dad looked startled at my eerie expression. I wagged my finger at him teasingly.
“Dad, why did you do it?”
“...Huh?”
“Why pretend to be a good guy! Why deceive me! Huh? You naaaasty man!”
Dad's face went pale.
I grinned at him like a demon.
‘Bet you thought I'd let it slide easily?’
As if!
I wasn't the type of daughter to forgive a Dad who'd tricked me. With a wicked little villainess smile, I raised my hand.
Time to punish Dad.
Seeing my pale white hand, Dad squeezed his eyes shut and shouted,
“...S-Sorry!”
Dad raised both hands, his eyes reddening.
But after years of falling for his act, I'd long decided not to be fooled anymore.
“Sorry my foot! Get over here! I'm gonna hit you lots!”
I grabbed Dad's arm tight.
Dad's hand dropped limply to the floor like it had no strength. I gripped it firmly with a sly smile and started smacking the back of his hand.
“Why! Did you! Lie! Like that!”
“Ouch, that hurts.”
Despite his honest cry of pain, Dad's iron-like hand didn't even redden, let alone bruise. I gaped at his terrifyingly tough skin.
‘How did I never notice this before!’
It was infuriating that I'd struggled alone to protect Dad without knowing how strong he was.
I huffed through my nose and kept smacking his hand. But only my palm hurt.
After about ten smacks.
Exhausted, I pouted at Dad's still-iron hand.
“You're so strong, your skin's like a wild boar's! And I thought you were fragile! I was the fool!”
“Daughter, calling your dad a wild boar...”
‘Did I go too far?’
I squinted away and muttered softly.
“Fine. Sorry about that.”
Our family rule was to openly admit our mistakes and talk it out.
Spotting that I'd followed the rule, Dad's face lit up astonishingly bright.
“Yeah! Sien! Dad's really fine! Just forgive me!”
His expression was annoyingly smug for some reason.
‘You tricked me for 15 years and think you'll get off easy?’
I twisted my lips and glared at him fiercely.
‘Getting all excited thinking he's forgiven already—super annoying!’
I narrowed my eyes and stared him down.
Dad flinched preemptively. Now that I looked, there was a subtle villainous air to his face.
Even as he feigned a pitiful, sullen expression, his sharp eyes weren't hidden.
‘How unfair!’
I set my lips firmly and pointed accusingly at him.
“So, Dad!”
“...Yeah? Tell me everything, Sien. I'll do whatever you want!”
Dad slumped his shoulders like a criminal.
But I wasn't fooled.
I'd seen through his pitch-black heart, burnt as the crust of overtoasted bread. No more going easy on him.
“Listen well. You're sorry to me, right?”
“It was for your education, but...”
“We said no secrets in the family, but you deceived me. Sorry, right?”
Dad's face stiffened. I widened my eyes in a glare.
“...Yeah, Dad's really sorry. How dare I deceive our daughter. Dad's trash.”
“So I'll forgive you, but you have to do something for me.”
“Something...?”
“Yeah. And don't think you'll get forgiven with empty words!”
“O-Of course. What is it, Sien?”
I looked up at Dad solemnly. He cowered instantly under my scary gaze, tilting his head in confusion.
“Yeah. I know you and your friends are villains, right?”
“That's right.”
“Keep it secret that I know their true natures for now.”
“Huh?”
Dad seemed to grasp the situation, a pleased smile curling his lips.
“They think I don't know they're villains? Now I'll fool them!”
I grinned like a sneaky little villain.
Dad wiped the cold sweat beading on his forehead with his hand and asked cautiously,
“Sien, Dad's in no matter what. But... do you have a plan?”
“Yeah. I always have a plan.”