Chapter 80

Chapter 80

The Heroine of the 1st Playthrough Remembers My Training.

Episode 80: A Rascal, Villainous Young Lady, And Stepmother (3).

The next day, the head of the family, Edard Calliope, called me to his study.

I had told Emma to prepare suitable clothes, but since a much more luxurious outfit arrived than I had expected, I dressed with Alfredo’s help.

The silk shirt had a badge shaped like the family’s emblem on the chest, and the leather coat, which gave off a subtle shine, reached down to my thighs.

“It suits you well.”

“Isn’t it a bit too much?”

“The tailor put his heart and soul into it knowing it was for you, Young Master.”

When I opened the door and went outside, Emma was waiting.

“Oh! Young Ma…”

Emma, who was greeting me with a smile, suddenly gaped at me as if her jaw had dropped.

“How is it? Does it look too much to you too?”

“No, no! It really suits you. Yes, really!”

As Emma shook her head vigorously in denial, cat ears popped up above her head.

“…Emma, your ears are showing.”

“Oh no! I’m sorry.”

When Emma adjusted her headband, the cat ears that had popped out went back inside her hair.

“Your ears still pop out sometimes, huh?”

“…No, it’s really been a long time since that happened.”

“Okay, let’s say that’s true. But be careful not to let others see.”

“I’m serious, Young Master.”

“Emma, you mustn’t lie to the Young Master.”

“Alfredo! When did I ever lie!”

As Alfredo and I teased Emma, the study where Edard was waiting came into view.

Standing at the door, I looked at Alfredo, and he knocked.

“Master, the Young Master has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

Click─

When the door opened, Alfredo and Emma bowed deeply.

Seeing Edard sitting solemnly, I also bowed my head lightly.

Thud─

Soon after, the door closed, leaving just Edard and me in the room.

“Sit down. Would you like some tea?”

“I would be honored.”

I thought it luxurious to drink tea personally prepared by the head of the Calliope family.

As I took a sip of the tea, Edard raised one corner of his mouth and said,“

“You’ve grown a lot. You couldn’t even look me in the eye before you entered Carnea, but now you can naturally drink tea with me.”

“Thank you. The experiences at Carnea have helped me a lot.”

“Yes, it seems so. To be honest, I didn’t think you would compete for the heir position.”

I expected something like that to be said.

Considering ‘Yujin Calliope’s’ past actions, it was only natural to think that he had no interest in the heir competition…

“Because I thought you would become an adopted son-in-law to the Uruella family.”

“…?”

Edard’s completely unexpected words nearly made me spit out my tea.

How did Edard become aware of my relationship with Lucia?

Did someone within the academy find out?

‘…That can’t be.’

I had meticulously managed to ensure that no one knew about my relationship with Lucia.

If rumors had spread about my slightly more relaxed relationship with Vivian, I could have understood.

Since messing around with the second daughter of the Beatrice family wouldn’t be a major problem, and if strange rumors started circulating, I could just take her as a concubine, solving any issues.

But Lucia was different.

Lucia was already confirmed as the next head of the Uruella family.

Simply put, she had almost the same level of status as Edard in front of me.

If a scandal involving Lucia broke out, it would undoubtedly restrict my actions significantly.

“At first, I thought it was just child’s play, but now, 10 years later, she still send letters like this every month! Recently, you’ve even started addressing me as ‘Father’ instead of ‘Head of the family.’ Hahaha! Yujin, you should be grateful to me. I passed down such looks to you.”

Edard’s words felt like a blow to the head.

‘…Lucia…!’

I had no idea that Lucia had been in contact with my father for the past 10 years.

Moreover, judging by Edard’s tone, my relationship with Lucia seemed almost certain.

It felt like I was caught in a spider’s web named Lucia.

‘…Calm down.’

The skill I had improved the most since coming to this world was, undoubtedly, my acting ability.

I calmed my flustered feelings and replied with a gentle smile.

“…Thank you. However, the reason I am here today is not to participate in the heir competition.”

“Hmm, so you prefer living as an adopted son-in-law of the Uruella family over living in the cold North? Or perhaps it’s the side of Princess Liana? …You’ve always had excellent looks since you were young, but I never thought you’d captivate both the sun and the moon of the Empire simultaneously.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Are you trying to hide it from me too? Your face turned red while reading Princess Liana’s letter.”

Saying so, Edard handed me the princess’s letter.

As I received the letter, I felt a chilling sense of foreboding.

“…Is it alright for me to see this?”

“It was written in the letter that it should be shown to you.”

I resolved not to be flustered and read the letter, but it was of no use.

‘…What is this?’

I felt like I was going crazy.

Since it was a personal letter, I didn’t expect it to be entirely formal, but this was beyond excessive.

It briefly mentioned how I saved the princess and the royal invitation, but over 95% of it was about how magnificent ‘Yujin Calliope’ was at that moment.

…There were even drawings she had made scattered throughout.

I sighed inwardly and tried to return the letter, but Edard didn’t take it.

“Since it’s practically a love letter addressed to you, it’s only right for you to keep it.”

“…Understood.”

My head throbbed.

I wanted to go back and rest immediately, but I couldn’t waste the golden opportunity to speak with Edard alone.

I steeled my resolve and spoke again.

“…Master, the reason I requested this private meeting is to inform you that I support my eldest brother as the heir.”

At that moment, Edard’s gentle laughter turned into a sharp gaze.

“…How arrogant. Do you think declaring your support alone will influence the selection of the heir?”

I could understand Edard’s anger.

Participating in the heir competition and influencing the heir selection are entirely different matters.

The selection of the heir was the sole right of the head of the family.

It was outrageous for me to even bring it up.

But I couldn’t back down.

The next head of the family would decide which side the Calliope family would take in future wars.

“Yes, I believe it will change. Though my strength is insignificant, my support is not.”

Despite my growth, my power was still weak.

But those I had on my side were not.

First, Erden Calliope rejected his maternal family’s support.

Naturally, they resisted and tried to insert their own people into the family, but when Erden started a hunger strike and nearly died, they had no choice but to back off.

Cale Calliope’s maternal family’s power was too weak.

Before Garcia married Edard, the Maisha family was practically on the level of commoners.

So, they had no one to insert into the Calliope family.

However, my mother’s family, Parvolie, though now destroyed, was once one of the great families, alongside Calliope and Uruella.

No matter that my mother abandoned the Parvolie name due to conflict, she brought her loyal retainers with her.

And now, those loyal to her held key positions like butler, chef, tailor, and gardener.

In other words, among the three potential heirs, I was the one with direct influence within the Calliope family.

“…Why do you support Erden and not Cale?”

“For the people. As you already know, my second brother is cruel and narrow-minded.”

“Will Erden accept you, despite rejecting his maternal family’s support?”

“He will. It’s an ability that doesn’t come from blood. He doesn’t reject the support of soldiers he earned himself, does he?”

“Do you think Garcia will stay quiet if you support Erden?”

“That’s something I must handle.”

In the original ‘Academy Trainer’ plot, if I supported Erden or stepped forward as a new heir, Garcia would poison me.

‘…But there’s no problem.’

I had prepared for Garcia’s ‘persuasion’ this time.

If everything went according to plan, I could smoothly make Erden the next head of the family.

“Then, the final question. Why don’t you participate in the competition yourself?”

With an appropriate excuse in mind, I answered Edard’s question with a soft smile.

“I’d rather live as Uruella’s pillar than decapitate my brothers for the position.”