A World Where You All Are The Villains - Chapter 70

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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70.

“How could you not say a word to your father about something so important?!”
My moment of contemplation was short-lived.
The Duke’s thunderous rebuke crashed down upon my head.
Now that I’d grasped the situation, it was time to construct an explanation that fit the fabricated circumstances.
“It was dark because it was night… I didn’t even know if that person was the culprit. I only happened to see them leaving the Guest Palace…”
“And the Grand Duke asked you to identify the criminal’s face. You should have consulted with me first and brought an escort!”
“I thought I’d just confirm their face and come right back. Besides, the Grand Duke was there, so I didn’t think anything serious would happen.”
“That’s the problem? A girl who’s never even heard of drugs, let alone seen them, goes there without fear? What if you accidentally ingested something and became addicted, hm?!”
“…That’s why I brought Eston along just in case.”
“Is a Healer omnipotent?! Anyway, you’re all talk…”
Fortunately, by bringing Eston forward at the right moment, the Duke’s anger began to subside.
It seemed he was primarily furious that I had personally gone to a group drug den and identified the culprit myself.
‘That does make sense, I suppose.’
One couldn’t be arrested merely for drug use.
Whether in the modern era where I came from or here, drugs weren’t technically illegal—a harsh reality in both worlds.
Of course, publicly, the atmosphere of contempt, like the Duke’s, was more prevalent.
“…That bastard has other places to take a nobleman’s daughter. A man can’t even handle his own affairs, so he borrows the hands of a child barely grown?”
In the meantime, the Duke had shifted his target and began cursing the Grand Duke.
Listening quietly, his language was quite colorful.
“Tsk, this is what happens with those lacking proper family education…”
“Father, isn’t that… speaking ill of the Previous Emperor?”
“Ahem!”
The Duke hastily cleared his throat and changed the subject.
“Anyway! If this happens even once more, it won’t end with just a couple months of confinement! You’ll be confined to your room without a single step until the Equinox Ceremony!”
Confinement wasn’t necessarily terrible, but it still felt unfair.
‘I really didn’t want to go either!’
As my displeasure welled up and my lips pouted, the Duke shot me a sharp glare with a “Tsk!”
I quickly pressed my lips back together, and soon opened my mouth again with resignation.
“…I’m sorry, Father. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
In any case, thanks to the male lead’s quick thinking, everything had been resolved well enough.
The reason I apologized anyway was because I understood, to some degree, why the Duke had erupted in such fury.
Even while being scolded, he was…
Beginning to feel like a real parent to me.
It was a strange thing.
Just a short while ago, I had disciplined myself never to be deceived again.
Yet beneath that angry expression, there was an unmistakable glimmer of worry, concern, and affection that couldn’t be hidden.
He made me spill my words as though he were puppeteering my very tongue.
“I was ignorant because this was my first time experiencing such a thing. It won’t happen again, and from now on, I’ll make sure to tell you first, Father.”
“….”
“Please forgive me, Father.”
At my words, the Duke suddenly drew in a deep breath.
His blue eyes, so remarkably like my own, wavered intensely.
“Yes, you’ve finally learned to speak like that…!”
He muttered as though struck by revelation, then abruptly fell silent.
It seemed he’d belatedly remembered that I suffered from memory loss.
I no longer found it absurd that he was shocked every single time.
‘Just how much of a wreck must I have been all this time….’
Rather, I felt a pang of sympathy, and the Duke awkwardly cleared his throat.
“Ahem. Yes….”
A moment of silence fell between us.
Shortly after, he returned to his usual demeanor and cautiously opened his mouth.
“Are you… feeling alright?”
“Yes.”
I added casually.
“It happens sometimes.”
“But there’s nothing wrong with you—so why does this keep happening? Do you know how frightened I was yesterday morning? I’m wondering if I need to replace the Physician….”
“Please don’t. The Healer said there’s nothing serious either. It’s just that my body is a bit weakened.”
“This won’t do. I’ll have the kitchen prepare restorative meals—one every day without fail, starting today.”
I simply smiled ambiguously.
‘I can’t exactly tell him it’s because I’m using my ability….’
In truth, from my perspective, things were steadily improving.
Whether I’d grown accustomed to it or not, the dizziness after using my ability had diminished, and the time I could resist fainting had gradually lengthened.
‘Even during the banquet, I’d collapse almost immediately after using my ability and taking just a few steps….’
Yet recently, I haven’t collapsed before returning home.
If I hadn’t encountered that bastard Vincent, I might not have fainted at all.
“…What were you doing with Vincent there yesterday?”
As though recalling that very moment, the Duke asked.
“You seemed to be fighting… Why do grown children keep quarreling?”
“Father.”
Perfect. I decided to drive the point home while I had the chance.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I’ve severed ties with Vincent.”
“You’ve… severed ties?!”
At my words, the Duke’s mouth fell open.
“Yes.”
“Well… I’ve lived long enough to see everything. You’ve severed ties with Vincent… But how did it come to that?”
“Because he kept overstepping his bounds with me.”
“Words that cross the line?”
The Duke urged me to speak, his gaze pressing for an answer.
I hesitated for a moment.
Deciding how much to tell him.

― He said I was just starting to remember things.

Thinking back to how he’d taunted me with that taunt just before I collapsed, I wanted to tell everything from start to finish.
But if I brought up the “surveillance,” I’d also have to confess everything about my trip to Volner.
Besides, even though he’d tattled about my movements to the Duke, he hadn’t mentioned my destination or who I’d met.
‘Of course, for that to work, I’d also have to reveal that he was watching me.’
Either way, it was best to avoid unnecessary risks.
After thinking it through, I compressed everything into a single statement.
“He asked how much longer I’d keep pretending to have amnesia and told me not to disgrace Father’s name.”
“What… what?!”
But the Duke’s reaction was far more violent than I’d anticipated.
“Whether that bastard disgraces his own father’s name or smears it with filth! Who does he think he is to say such things?!”
I flinched at his words, which were remarkably similar to what I’d said.
Then I quickly feigned a dejected expression.
“I know….”
“Good! You shouldn’t associate with such a disrespectful fool!”
The Duke ground his teeth roughly, pointing at empty air.
“That bastard Marquis Leandro is utterly useless! Always going on about early education and etiquette every time we meet! He should educate his own son properly before daring to spout such nonsense to someone else’s daughter!”
“I did say something back, so please calm down, Father.”
“Edith Blake.”
Suddenly the Duke called me by my full name in a grave voice.
“…Yes?”
“Even though you lost your mother earlier than most, I never raised you to cower before anyone.”
“….”
“What does it matter if you’re not an Awakener? If you’re going to come home beaten, you might as well beat them instead! Whether our family falls into ruin or we lose our fortune—why would you accept being struck?”
His sudden lecture was bewildering and somewhat confusing.
“I’ve never been beaten.”
“But last time….”
The Duke, who had been about to say something, suddenly stopped.
His expression hardened subtly as he scanned my face.
His gaze was cautious and deliberate in its examination.
I could only look at him in confusion.
“…Ahem, anyway.”
Finally, as if his scrutiny had ended, he slowly spoke.
“You are the one and only daughter of Darius Blake. Always conduct yourself with confidence—with confidence. Do you understand?”
The Duke seemed somewhat embarrassed by his own words, his gaze slipping away from mine.
It was an affectionate admonishment that any ordinary father might offer his daughter.
‘Has my relationship with the Duke truly improved?’
Unintentionally, the plan I’d devised at the beginning—to get along well with the Duke to avoid being cast out—was gradually coming to fruition.
Yet strangely, it didn’t sit well with me.
Not solely because I wasn’t truly Edith Blake.
Rather, it was a question that had suddenly surfaced.
‘You said I was your only daughter… so why did you adopt an heir, Father?’
If the real Edith Blake had heard those words, would she have been pleased?
Unfortunately, I was not her.
I understood all too well the hollow truth behind his words—that being a non-Awakener truly meant nothing.
After being broken and shattered.
“…Yes.”
I answered quietly, managing a smile.
“I will, Father.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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