CHAPTER 23
‘Not as Franz’s illegitimate child.’
With her current status as the eccentric magician’s daughter — a mere noble’s illegitimate child — Claire couldn’t carry out a proper revenge.
At the very least, she needed to hold a noble title to confront Duke Muten on equal footing.
So, she made a decision.
‘I need to take the Ravello Marquisate first.’
Before she dealt with Brian Muten, she would punish her birth family.
Until now, she had been gathering the money to lay the foundation for her revenge. From this point on, she would start forging the armor to wear on the outside.
‘To do that, I’ll need to be around them for a while…’
Claire agreed to join Franz in accepting their family’s invitation.
When they returned to the Ravello marquisate, the family was noticeably kinder than before.
“You must’ve had a long journey. Welcome.”
The Marquis greeted them with a generous smile, hiding his dark intentions.
“You must be hungry. Please, have a seat.”
The Marchioness’s voice was sweet and courteous.
Only Alex, who clearly seemed to have been dragged along, wore a bored expression like he was dying of ennui.
Claire took her seat with a gentle smile, but her eyes sharply scanned the Marquis couple.
Their faces reeked of scheming.
If she had to guess…
‘Are they trying to sell me off again?’
Be friendly, get her to lower her guard, then drag her into some marriage deal — that was likely their plan.
Unaware that Claire had read them like a book, the Marquis and Marchioness began revealing their true intentions midway through the meal.
“We might’ve been a bit harsh before. Now that it’s legally official, we should make an effort to accept Franz’s daughter as a true Ravello.”
“So, Franz, what do you say to sending Claire here to live with us?”
The Marchioness gently followed the Marquis’s setup with a soft, coaxing voice.
Franz put down his utensils and frowned. It was a completely out-of-the-blue suggestion.
“What are you talking about? You want Claire to live in the marquisate?”
“Exactly. She needs noble education, right? Let me help with that.”
“Ha! That’s ridiculous—”
But before Franz could protest, Claire stopped him.
She nudged him under the table and deliberately put on an innocent expression.
“So, I’d live in the main house with Grandpa and Grandma?”
“Of course! We’ll even give you the room your aunt used to stay in back in the day.”
The Marchioness said it like she was doing her a huge favor. Claire and Franz barely held back a snort.
They both knew it was the worst room in the house — a cramped, dusty attic.
“I’ll personally guide you, one step at a time, into becoming a proper lady — a true noblewoman.”
“Isn’t that wonderful, Franz? Think of how dearly my wife treated you and Priscilla like her own children.”
The Marquis shamelessly added his two cents. Franz almost winced.
Like her own children? Is that why she used to lock them up and starve them?
There was no way he could let his sister go through that again. He opened his mouth to object, but once again, Claire stopped him.
“Wow, really? You’d do that for me?”
“Of course — we’ll treat you even better.”
“Then I’d love to live with you!”
Claire’s eyes crinkled as she beamed. Franz was stunned.
What in the world was she thinking?
He wanted to immediately demand an explanation, but Claire gave him a firm look that said, stay quiet.
“Oh my, how wonderful! Since Claire’s willing, you should move in as soon as possible.”
“A week should be enough to pack, right? We’ll get things ready on our end.”
The Marquis couple didn’t miss the chance and quickly finalized the arrangements.
Franz couldn’t just sit back and watch.
“Hold on, I’ll move in with her.”
“Franz, really! You’re too old to be living with your parents. It’s embarrassing. Just send Claire.”
The Marchioness outright rejected him. If they wanted to control Claire however they pleased, Franz was a nuisance.
“But…”
“It’s okay, Dad’s busy with his magic research anyway. I’ll go alone.”
Even Claire backed them up. Franz could say nothing more.
On the way back, in the carriage—
For the first time in a while, Franz snapped at his sister.
“Are you crazy? What were you thinking, volunteering to live with them?!”
“Calm down, Franz. I was already thinking about how to get close — this is better.”
If she was going to take over the family, she had to be inside the house.
And being invited in was far more advantageous than trying to sneak her way back.
“Still, how are you going to handle it alone? You know they’ll torment you like they did when we were kids. Dad’s not going to do anything.”
Franz’s anxiety showed in his restless legs and tapping fingers — childhood habits that hadn’t faded even in his thirties.
Claire chuckled softly and reached out, clasping his hand tightly.
“Listen to me, Franz. I’m not Priscilla anymore. I’m Claire Ravello.”
“…”
“I’m not going to just sit back and suffer anymore. So trust me.”
Franz looked into her green eyes — brighter and stronger than when she was nineteen — and sighed deeply.
“You purposely didn’t take me with you, didn’t you?”
“Yep. While I’m in the mansion, you need to handle outside affairs for me.”
“Ugh… Don’t push yourself too hard. If it gets too much, get out immediately. Promise me.”
“Don’t worry.”
Claire gave him a confident smile.
She had absolutely no intention of entering the Ravello estate unprepared.
Meanwhile…
“Any word from Lady Ravello?”
Theodore, as always, asked his attendant out of habit. The attendant shook his head awkwardly.
It had been days — no contact from Claire. Not to him. Not to Teddy.
‘Why? Did she not like my proposal? Should I have offered something more specific?’
Theodore seriously replayed the conversation in his head.
But handing her money in exchange for playing his lover… that would’ve been worse, right?
It could’ve sent the wrong message — that she could be bought.
Still restless even after arriving at the guild, he asked Lune:
“What kind of reward do women usually expect when someone proposes a relationship?”
“Hmm… A flawlessly handsome face with zero flaws, a great body, and a noble personality?”
Theodore frowned. That didn’t sound like what Claire wanted.
If it were, she’d have accepted already.
Just in case, he followed up:
“Which one do I lack?”
“Noble personality.”
Lune answered instantly, without hesitation.
Behind the mask, Theodore’s face twisted in irritation. He waved a hand dismissively.
“Forget it. Get out.”
“Wait — did you confess and get rejected?”
“I said no. Leave.”
Theodore clenched his jaw.
Claire hadn’t rejected him — not yet.
That’s right. Definitely not.
“Wow, look at that reaction. You really were rejected! Who was it? Why? Was it the personality?”
Lune seized the opportunity to tease him. A vein bulged on Theodore’s forehead.
“Ooh! Rejected! But were you rejected as the guild leader? Or as the Crown Prince?”
“Out.”
“Wait — both?”
Theodore silently picked up a sofa cushion. Lune immediately ran for the door.
Finally, silence.
Just as Theodore returned to his seat in peace, Lune peeked back in.
“Did you know silence is also a rejection? Just saying — in case you’re deluding yourself.”
“You—”
A perfect bullseye. Lune slammed the door gleefully.
Seconds later, it cracked open again.
“By the way, if it’s been over a week, you’re definitely out of luck.”
“Final warning. Shut up and get out.”
The deadly look through his mask made Lune back off.
Theodore slumped into his chair, running a hand through his hair.
But before long—
Knock knock.
“Get lost.”
He snapped without even looking up.
But it wasn’t the silver-haired boy at the door…
It was the one person he had been waiting for.
“…”
“…”
A heavy silence settled between them.
Hand still on the doorknob, Claire slowly spoke.
“I’ll come back another time.”
