Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: How Dare You Touch My Daughter
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Today, I met Princess Anessa again.
And she frisked my body to check if I had a recording magic tool, then started tormenting me.
Pinching my cheeks out of spite was par for the course.
“Baby, does it hurt a lot?”
“No.”
When I spoke so boldly, the princess would glare at me with furrowed brows and whisper lowly.
“Cry and say you’ll behave, beg for help. Then I’ll make sure you don’t end up in the pits.”
“No thanks.”
She sneered and reached for me again.
“For a fake daughter, you still don’t know your place. Shall we do a bit more?”
For now, I endured it all.
After pinching my face, she’d pour holy water on my cheeks.
She couldn’t let them swell like I’d been hit or leave scars. She was erasing any evidence.
‘Yeah, honestly, it’s nothing. I can take it.’
I had to silently accept Princess Anessa’s intentions bit by bit, and exactly what she planned to do.
She saw me as nothing more than a cunning ‘little kid.’
That’s why I had to let her stay off-guard like that—sudden acceleration wouldn’t do.
‘My body matters less than my dad. She could use me to do something to him.’
So I silently endured her attitude.
Today, she and I were conversing in the small drawing room.
Princess Anessa ranted about the fake daughter nonsense while spilling all the info she had on me.
“Do you finally get that you’re a fake daughter? Heard the rumors?”
“You started them, right?”
“Oh, I thought you were dumb, but you figured that much. I pulled some strings—happy with it? What do you think of those rumors, Sien?”
“Yeah. Guess I’m a fake daughter.”
When I put on a sulky act for no reason, the corners of her mouth lifted.
“There’s a rumor your mom rescued you from some shack before she died. Or that the real daughter was swapped at the hospital. The latter’s got more credibility. So once they find the real one, you’re done.”
It was exactly what I’d heard from Delphia.
Nothing extra special.
‘Does this woman not have any more info either?’
Thinking it was time to end this charade, I stayed silent.
She smirked bitterly, assuming I was hurt.
Now it was time for those long nails to scratch my face.
If I didn’t play along with her script, Princess Anessa couldn’t hold back her anger and would lash out. Then she’d splash holy water on the scratched cheek to heal it and leave.
Today seemed no different as she raised her hand.
But...
Contrary to my expectations, she drooped her eyebrows and whispered to me.
“Lady Sien, how could you say something so cruel?”
I tilted my head.
What scheme did this woman—who’d been cursing me up until now—have up her sleeve?
“Even if you hate me becoming your stepmother...”
The princess even let tears drop from her beautiful eyes.
My jaw dropped.
‘So this sudden act... This is... straight out of a weekend drama!’
It was when I gripped my sweaty palms in this dramatic scene.
Thud, tap. Drip.
Quick footsteps echoed from the doorway.
People’s murmuring voices rang sharply in my ears.
Finally reaching the climax, Princess Anessa cried out theatrically.
“If you torment me like this, it hurts me too! Others like me... Even if you see me as a stepmother, there’s a line!”
“Huh?”
“I endured you cursing me as stepmother every time!”
Finally, the door slid open with a loud rattle.
And outside were maids, Duchess Lukella, Leonhardt, and Delphia.
Princess Anessa demurely lowered her lashes and gaze.
“I... don’t get hurt by a five-year-old’s words.”
Anyone would see her as wounded as she muttered.
“Even when Lady Sien treats my feelings like trash.”
I watched her masterful performance.
Anyone seeing that would reach out to her. They’d feel sorry, unaware of what hid behind that angelic facade.
Princess Anessa had built a reputation in this mansion, short as her time here was.
That thing she’d hidden in her bosom earlier, like a magic tool—probably had a brainwashing effect.
She thought people would fall for her act.
But Princess Anessa overlooked one thing.
These people...
“Bullshit, damn it.”
...were on my side.
Delphia’s “Bullshit, damn it” boomed through the drawing room.
I grinned and cocked my head.
Cutting off almost all family interactions to fool Princess Anessa was finally paying off.
‘Stupid Princess Anessa.’
No one got mad when she hit me, so she thought I was the Mirmod family’s outcast.
She spread rumors I was a fake daughter, and no backlash, so she thought her plan worked and moved to the next phase triumphantly.
“...Bullshit?”
For a moment, she trembled her lips as if unsure what she’d heard.
I watched the scene unfold with fascination.
“What did you just... say?”
“Bullshit.”
At Delphia’s brash words, the princess looked flustered.
No wonder. She’d put so much effort into Delphia until now.
She probably thought everyone was on her side.
But someone like Delphia wasn’t interested in people she didn’t click with. She only treated well those she fancied.
“Why, want me to curse more?”
Delphia’s words flushed the princess’s face with panic.
Plus, against her expectations, everyone here really liked me.
They liked me without me doing anything—that was a bit bewildering.
‘That’s why I’ve seized the high ground over you, Princess.’
People like her are all the same.
They think everyone loves them, that they can shape relationships as they wish.
That everyone will play in the game they set up.
No wonder she thought that.
Serena Anessa was the empire’s great princess, after all. No one had ever crossed her before.
But she was wrong.
Or right usually, but not today.
Duchess Lukella coldly watched the panicking princess and elegantly spoke.
“Step back, Delphia. Princess, our honey bun wouldn’t do that. Must be a misunderstanding.”
“I was shocked by Lady Sien’s aggression.”
It was funny seeing her try to slander me again, like she hadn’t grasped the situation.
Princess Anessa lowered her trembling lashes.
Grandma stared at her and spoke in a kind voice.
“No? I meant, what bullshit are you pulling, Princess.”
The words weren’t kind, of course.
‘Refined Grandma saying “bullshit”... She’s using Delphia’s speech. She’s super pissed—scary!’
The flustered princess stood, biting her lip hard.
“...Even in Mirmod, I’m a princess. Using such language.”
But no one here would play along with her intentions.
Delphia snickered.
“Whining like a dog, then framing it like truth? You framed our baby. And you expect humane treatment?”
Princess Anessa straightened rigidly and glared at me. Then Leonhardt strode over and stood by my side, like a knight guarding me.
“Exactly, Your Highness must have done something wrong, right?”
She must’ve realized everyone here was against her.
Her act failing, the princess looked confused for a moment.
I watched her expressions closely.
‘She’s always slandered people like this before.’
Even if her acting was sloppy, it didn’t matter. She was the princess, angelic image. Spread rumors that people around her were slandering her, and done.
But today was different.
No matter what, these people were mine.
Delphia sighed long, annoyed, and said toughly.
“Driving me nuts. What’re you standing around for? Princess? Get out.”
...No, not just tough.
Delphia even raised her fist with her curses.
“Our master wouldn’t do that. Don’t piss me off—scram.”
The princess probably thought I was just a quietly tormented kid. And that she’d easily won over the Mirmods.
Betrayal and emptiness rising, she shut her eyes tight then opened them, trembling.
Right then.
Leonhardt looked at Delphia with startling calm.
“Lady Delphia.”
Anyone else might miss it, but I caught his suddenly sunken tension.
“Huh, what! Aren’t you mad? She’s slandering right now!”
Delphia ruffled her silver hair wildly. Leonhardt raised the poison vial in his hand.
“I’ll sacrifice myself. Send her off at once.”
...Wait, killing over acting?!
Trying to kill—classic villain family.
But that could carve a deep rift between the palace and Mirmod house.
Worst, we might owe astronomical reparations.
But these people didn’t seem to care.
Conclusion: only I could mediate.
I clapped my tiny hands.
As all eyes gathered on me, I spoke.
“Leave, Princess Serena Anessa.”
“...Hah! You’re all... insane. I did nothing! Normally, with my temperament... I get this kind of slander a lot. I was nice to this child, yet you insult me like...”
Her eyes reddened. Her acting was so good, I almost applauded.
I looked at the pitiful-faced princess. She glared back with bloodshot eyes.
“Lady Sien, how could you-.”
“It’s all out, and no one here’s on your side. So...”
I stared straight at the princess, her pitiful act twisting into a grimace, and intoned.
“Don’t talk to my people—get out.”