Chapter 14 …

I Can’t Believe I’m the Daughter of a Villainous Heir! 

Watching that scene, Crobi’s heart suddenly sank.

‘Ah, no way… don’t tell me…!’

Crobi looked at Erusha again, as if he had seen a ghost.

For some reason, he had completely blanked it out, as if erased like a dead memory. There was at least one person in this world who could be called Leo’s father.

‘What was his name again? E, e, e?’

“You—who are you? Ah, could you be Crobi?”

“Huh?”

While Crobi was in a panic, Erusha had already stepped fully into the room. Startled by her sudden voice, Crobi covered his mouth with both hands.

‘Crazy! Her voice is this cute?’

Unlike the flustered Crobi, Erusha calmly looked him up and down a few times. Then she casually turned her head away.

“Kurobi makuna.”

It sounded like a chick chirping.

With a voice as clear as the purest spring water in the world, like droplets splashing and flowing, Crobi felt dizzy.

Erusha walked up to Leo and stood at a proper distance from him. Leo, covering himself hurriedly, looked at her with anxious eyes.

“Why are you here?”

What was going on?

He couldn’t even begin to guess. Whatever it was, he absolutely did not want to face Erusha.

However, since they were now living in the same estate, it seemed difficult to completely avoid the child like before.

“Abudi. Did you go into Erusha’s room earlier?”

“What?”

At the sudden question, Leo frowned.

Of course, he had gone in. He had entered Erusha’s room, unable to resist human curiosity.

“…Yes.”

“Gurae?”

“Yes. I did. Why.”

Leo looked even more indifferent, and Erusha stared at him silently.

At this rate, he really should just return to his original estate as soon as possible. Meeting Erusha like this again was absolutely unacceptable.

He had told himself clearly not to keep appearing in front of her, yet why did she keep showing up?

He had provided teachers, and there were plenty of servants in the estate who could speak on his behalf.

After thinking for a moment, Leo seemed to realize the reason.

‘…Ah, don’t tell me.’

Erusha was now five years old. An age when she would naturally start feeling curiosity and longing for her biological parents.

So he spoke coldly, brushing his face.

“I told you not to keep coming to me. Even if you want to see your biological father—”

“Even if I’m young, you should respect my privacy.”

“…What?”

“Erusha room entry prohibited!”

BANG!

“……”

Leo blinked.

What did I just hear?

Was what he just heard real?

Crobi looked back and forth between Erusha’s departing figure and Leo’s stunned expression.

* * *

Sigh.

‘What kind of people barge into someone else’s room without permission!’

I sighed while watching the maids organizing my room.

Coming back from the Colson Count family, I was so shocked I thought an earthquake had hit. The room had been completely turned upside down.

Even Evot looked confused about how it had become such a mess.

But Abby hadn’t just entered the room without permission. Remembering how he interrogated my maids, I pressed my chubby hand to my forehead.

‘Why are all Erusha dolls knocked out?’

‘W-well… the Marquis poked them one by one with a stick, saying, “This is old too, that’s old and rotten too. Why is there so much trash in this room…”’

It was because Erusha had never been given new toys or dolls.

Erusha had been playing with old dolls Evot had brought from somewhere. Even though they were worn and broken, to Erusha they were precious, so she had carefully lined them all up.

After I became Erusha, I didn’t really play with dolls anymore. All the remaining traces of the original Erusha were being erased in a pitiful way.

I clenched my little fists like steamed buns in anger.

‘At least buy new dolls for her! Meanwhile Leo’s dad is busy decking himself out with brand-new jewelry!’

And it wasn’t just the toys!

I turned toward my wardrobe in despair. Apparently, all my clothes looked like beggar cosplay to Leo’s father.

‘These are perfectly nice dresses! Honestly. But I guess to someone into flashy fashion, they’re just outdated junk.’

Anyway, I needed to gain Grandfather’s favor as soon as possible. Only then would he return to his original estate!

As I was reaffirming my “villain rehabilitation plan,” Evot’s urgent voice came.

“Young lady! Erusha young lady!”

“Wuh?”

What is it?

Evot looked unusually bright and excited. Whatever it was, it felt like good news.

I clasped my hands together, eyes sparkling with anticipation. I already had a guess.

“What is it?”

“Don’t be surprised! I was really shocked!”

“Why?”

“They sent someone from the Colson Count family! They said they want to keep the partnership contract as it is!”

“Reeally?”

I couldn’t hide my joy and jumped.

So the Colson Count family changed their minds!

Things were finally going the way I wanted. It was worth going around investigating everything. This would likely calm Grandfather’s anger as well.

“Then Grandpa not mad anymore?”

“Yes! He’s very relieved! And all the valuables the Duke brought are being returned as well!”

“Great!”

I jumped again.

Since coming to this world, this was the happiest I had ever been.

* * *

That evening.

I stirred my soup while watching Abby enter the dining hall.

Leo said he would be having dinner at the estate today, so I had already taken my seat and waited.

Most days he didn’t eat here, preferring to dine out at expensive restaurants and enjoy luxurious course meals prepared by famous chefs.

Leo glanced at me briefly, then sat at the table indifferently.

Nearby, Crobi cautiously took his seat and kept glancing at me in curiosity.

I also stared at him quietly.

‘How can I recruit Crobi to my side?’

Crobi West, Leo’s secretary, was a refreshing handsome man with blue hair and green eyes that suited him strangely well.

I thought it would be much easier to live if he would just stop Leo’s villainous behavior, but unfortunately, he was the type who let his “villain boss” run wild.

A sycophant type—cheerful and clueless even among sycophants.

However, because he did not interfere in Leo’s affairs, he had never been dismissed.

At that moment, a loud clap sounded.

“Hahaha, I never expected that while I was on vacation, the father and daughter would already have reunited.”

“……”

“I didn’t properly introduce myself earlier. I am Crobi West, serving and assisting your father. You can speak casually with me, Erusha, right?”

Crobi finished speaking and clasped his hands together. His eyes overflowed with emotion.

‘Why is he acting like that?’

Is he that happy to meet Leo’s daughter?

No, this must just be Crobi’s exaggerated social behavior. He’s the type who would be overly kind to children like a kindergarten teacher on steroids.

I raised one hand slightly, as if offering a handshake.

“Nice to meet you, Kurobi.”

“!”

Crobi’s eyes widened. He looked between me and my hand, then stood up and approached.

He knelt down to match my eye level.

“May I shake your hand? Is this okay?”

As he said that, he carefully examined his little finger.

What is he doing?

I frowned unconsciously. Even Leo looked like he had seen something unbearable.

‘This is kind of uncomfortable.’

I leaned back slightly and cautiously took his extended finger. Even his little finger was huge compared to my small chubby hand.

As soon as I let go, Abby’s sharp voice flew in.

“Enough, Crobi.”

“Yes, sir.”