I Possessed the Villainess’s Daughter – Chapter 40

“…What?”

“I just remembered… that time.”

Eveharun clutched her chest again, her expression filled with pain.

“W-what do you mean…?”

With empty eyes, Eveharun looked straight at me.

Her lips moved slowly.

It was a story from her past.

“…It was seven years ago. I was eight, and Lucrahn was only six.”

“…”

“Do you know that Lucrahn and I aren’t actually blood siblings?”

“…Y-yes, the young lord told me.”

“He told you…?”

Eveharun looked slightly surprised. But soon, she lowered her gaze and continued.

“In high society, it’s something of an open secret. The Duke and Duchess of Peregrine bought their younger sibling’s child. Because a woman can’t become duke. To ensure a legitimate heir to the title…”

“…”

“Do you know how I felt when I found out about that as a child?”

“I… I’m not sure.”

Eveharun gave a dry, bitter smile.

“I felt… that my existence was no longer needed in the Peregrine family.”

“…”

I covered my mouth, at a loss for words.

“One day, Mother said she wanted to cheer us up and took Lucrahn and me into the capital. Normally, we would have gotten off on the street where dressmakers were, but for some reason, she stopped on a different street. I was curious and asked, ‘Mother, why are we getting off here? Aren’t we buying a dress?’ And she replied—”

“…”

“‘Today, we’re going to buy Lucrahn’s sword. We’ll get the dress next time.’”

“…”

“When I heard that, I couldn’t stand it.”

Eveharun’s eyes trembled.

“I could endure the whispers in society, the arrival of a new boy in the house, even the way the maids’ attitudes toward me had changed. But I couldn’t bear the thought of sharing my parents’ love. I felt I was no longer needed… and before I knew it, I ran off when I saw an opening.”

“…”

“Of course, I understand now. Mother was just being considerate toward Lucrahn, who still hadn’t adjusted to the household. But back then, I was only eight, and it hurt too much.”

“…”

“Lucrahn… followed me. He was only six—how far could a six-year-old run? But he kept chasing after me.”

“Oh…”

“And then the two of us were kidnapped together. In hindsight, it was almost inevitable. Two ignorant young nobles wandering around… of course we were an easy target.”

“…”

“I think, back then, it was just a ransom they wanted. They probably didn’t even know we were from the Peregrine family—just thought we looked valuable because we were noble children. Father never told me the details, so I can’t be sure…”

The surroundings were utterly silent, aside from the occasional rattle of the cart.

“That day, Lucrahn clung to me desperately. At first, I was so resentful. But in that place, I realized something—Lucrahn must have been struggling too, coming to a stranger’s mansion and being adopted by people he didn’t know. He knew better than anyone that if he didn’t become the duke, there would be no place for him in that house.”

“…”

“After we somehow made it back home, my feelings began to change little by little. Lucrahn became precious to me. I wanted to protect him. I felt sorry that he had been put in such danger because of me…”

“…Is that why?”

I finally asked the question on my mind.

“Is that why you gave up the dukedom to him?”

“Gave up…?”

Eveharun’s face twisted faintly, and she held her head as if in pain.

“…Is that what he said?”

“My lady…?”

“Lucrahn is kind. That’s probably why he thinks that way.”

Her voice trembled with a trace of tears.

“But that’s not it. I never wanted to give it up. If I could have avoided it, I never would have.”

Tears, thick and heavy, streamed down Eveharun’s cheeks.

“I’m sorry to Lucrahn, but I didn’t ‘give it up’ out of pure goodwill. Even if he was adopted to be the duke. You can call me selfish if you like. I simply knew my own limits and ran away. Everyone told me the same thing—‘You can’t be the duke. Just live quietly as a lady.’”

“…”

“So I tried my best to live as a lady. Like a flower, the queen of society that others admired. I was content with that title, living an ordinary life as an ordinary woman… or so I thought.”

“…”

“But why… why can’t I even live normally? Would it have been better if I hadn’t been born a lady at all?”

Her face twisted again.

“…I wonder if Lucrahn’s alright. Is he trembling like he was back then…?”

Her shoulders shook faintly.

I stared at her blankly.

I had no idea what words could comfort her right now. She was crying so sadly, and I didn’t know what to say or do. My lips trembled as I opened my mouth.

“But…”

“…?”

She looked at me, her tear-streaked face fragile in the dim light.

“You said you hated living like that, didn’t you? That was your true feeling, wasn’t it?”

“…Yes.”

“…I don’t know if I should say this, but… Lucrahn came to me yesterday.”

“…Lucrahn?”

I took her trembling hands in mine.

“He asked me to persuade you. Not to go through with a political marriage, but to persuade you to become the duke, together with him…”

Her eyes wavered. Moonlight fell between us.

“I’ve never once thought about wanting to be a duke. Like you said, the Rosahill family is very free-spirited. We’ve even had female dukes before. But since my brother Edwin is so capable, and I have no interest in the title, I guess I can’t fully understand how you feel.”

“…”

“But still… if there’s something you want, then I hope you get it.”

I spoke clumsily but sincerely.

“Lucrahn said so too. That you’re truly capable—he’s watched you closely all this time, so he would know. And since you want this…”

“…”

“Once we get out of here, you should try it. Surely it can’t be harder than coming back from the brink of death?”

“…”

“I think you can do it. You never know until you try. Running into walls over and over is exhausting, but if you’re unhappy now, you have to change something.”

“…”

“And the harder the challenge, the more rewarding it will be when you succeed. If it sounds like I’m speaking too lightly about someone else’s life, I’m sorry. But I really do believe that.”

I met her gaze.

Her tears had already stopped.

She lifted her crumpled skirt to wipe away the tear marks. I hurried to hand her a handkerchief from my pocket—a clumsy piece with only half of Rosahill’s golden bird embroidered on it. But it was better than wiping her face with dusty fabric.

“…Thank you.”

Her voice was faint, still trembling slightly, but steadier than before.

“You’re right. In this crisis, I suddenly feel it would be a waste to die without accomplishing anything.”

“That’s the spirit.”

I smiled. Eveharun looked at me for a moment, then gestured.

“…Come closer.”

“Closer…?”

I leaned in until I could almost feel her breath. She spoke slowly.

“I have a good idea.”

“…?”

“Put your ear here.”

Eveharun whispered to me. My eyes widened and flickered at her words.

“…Really…?”

“Yes. But first, we have to find Lucrahn and Raon. We don’t know where they are.”

“Got it.”

I nodded firmly. Seeing me like that, Eveharun… slowly slumped forward.

“E-Eveharun?”

“Sorry… I just feel drained.”

Well, she hadn’t eaten all day and had been crying constantly. Of course her strength was gone.

“For now, we should rest as much as possible. We don’t know what’s going to happen, so we have to conserve our strength. When they come to wake us tomorrow, that’s when we begin.”

“…Alright.”

“Sleep.”

She spread a bundle of straw across the floor. It couldn’t compare to Rosahill’s finest bed, but it was better than the bare ground, even with the occasional sharp stalk poking through.

We lay side by side, staring up at the ceiling. As I watched the faint, flickering stars, I felt a strange drowsiness creeping in. Maybe because I’d been tense all this time.

In a voice half-drowned in sleep, I called to her.

“…Eveharun…”

“…What?”

“We… will get out, right?”

I tried to hide it, but the anxiety slipped through. She replied quietly:

“We will.”

Her firm answer somehow set my mind at ease. She added,

“And…”

“…?”

“Just call me Eveharun. Like you did just now.”

My eyelids grew heavy. I murmured like a sleep-talker:

“…Then you can call me Laila.”