16 - Adopted by the Villainous Noble Family

Nobelpia - A World of Dreams through Web Novels! - Adopted by a Shadowy Family I became the newly adopted daughter of a shadowy family. And it happened in less than a day. Overnight, I transformed into a noble and was given the surname "Laheltani." It would be a wonderful thing if this family wasn't destined to gain notoriety for the worst of crimes in the future. Some might say: "Why not just stop Roseria from turning to the dark side?" On the surface, it seems simple enough. But that wasn't the real problem. Even if Roseria never ends up succumbing to darkness, the scheme she's preparing is destined to eventually bring this family down. The end game of the plan she's quietly designing under the Laheltani name is ultimately the death of the Grand Bishop Felios, who holds the highest authority in the current sanctuary. That aside. There were even bigger issues within this family than Roseria’s plan. In fact, it's more of a threat to my life than a mere problem. And that threat was staring at me right now. "Let me introduce our new family member." In response to Roseria’s words, two pairs of eyes slowly turned towards me. One belonged to a middle-aged man, and the other to a girl who looked to be about my age. Both had faint, subtly glowing violet eyes. "This man is the head of the Laheltani family, Daniel Laheltani." Roseria's hand gently gestured towards the man. He approached with a calm smile, nodding his head. "You must be Bella. I've heard much about you from my wife. Having such a beautiful daughter is truly a blessing." For a brief moment, Roseria's gaze brushed past the man. At that, he clamped his lips shut, forming an awkward smile. Roseria spoke with a smile devoid of warmth. "There’s no need to call him father. Just address him as the head of the family." Her tone was more of a command than a kind suggestion. "Do you understand, daughter?" Reflexively, I nodded at her sharp voice. Truth is, I know. The man who smiles warmly in front of me is not Roseria’s husband. He is merely one of the subordinates Roseria has under the shadow of the family. They pretend to be a couple, but in reality, he acts according to Roseria's whims. The sole reason he occupies that seat is sitting right beside him. "And this is my daughter. Say hello, Camilla." At Roseria’s words, the girl gave a slight nod. Her long, raven-black hair cascaded silently down her shoulders. "Since Bella is eight years old, Camilla would be the younger sister." The girl Roseria calls her daughter, Camilla. In truth, the girl is not Roseria’s biological daughter. Nor is she the daughter of the man seated there. The real reason Roseria placed him as the head of the family is due to his uncanny resemblance to Camilla. Even down to their eyes and hair. To others, there would be no doubts about her being his daughter. His existence is an external facade to keep Camilla under the protection of the Count family. A kind of play that sustains itself on the pretense of familial resemblance. And sitting there, casting a hollow gaze at me, is the protagonist of this play, who will one day rival Roseria’s infamy. "Even though we’re family, you won’t see them often. Both are very busy." Roseria’s words allowed me a little respite. At least I wouldn’t have to frequently encounter her, and that was indeed a relief. Roseria has the character setting of a madwoman possessed by a curse. But the girl before me was born with pure malevolence. An evildoer who denies the general principle that all villains have a backstory. One of the final boss lines in the DLC after the main chronicle of Kairen. Such a girl stared at me without uttering a word. ‘Should I beg on my knees right now to cancel the adoption?’ Perhaps, it might actually be possible. Roseria is somewhat favorable towards me. If I earnestly plead, she might agree to revert to a contractual relationship. But just as I was about to consider that— "Oh, and by the way, your adoption papers have already been submitted to the High Temple. They should be approved sometime today." Roseria's cheerful voice effortlessly shattered my hopes. I looked at her in silence. Unlike my trembling gaze, she smiled with a slyly curved lip and added. "You’re now an official member of the Laheltani family. You should feel proud." I’m not happy at all. I wanted to shout, but I swallowed the words climbing up my throat. It’s only been a single day since I signed the adoption papers, and they’ve already been delivered to the High Temple. Impressed yet irritated by her swift actions, I couldn’t help but feel exasperated. In the face of an inevitable reality, I eventually bowed my head, resigned. ‘…Let's try to think positively.’ Even if I’ve been adopted into a family at the center of a dark conspiracy, I’ve gained the status of an heir to an influential count's family. For an orphan like me, this is nothing short of a miracle. To outsiders, it must seem like a fairy-tale ascent in status. Perhaps this is an opportunity. Most importantly, I’ve obtained the long-desired protection of my personal safety. No matter how grim the future seems for the Laheltani family, it’s not a situation without hope. The main storyline of the game begins in the 341st year of the Kairen Empire, the very year the hero is born. It's currently 335 in the imperial calendar, which means I have six years to prepare. Roseria's schemes won't fully unfold until around the time the hero graduates from the academy. At least for the next eight years, I'm free from direct threats. If I prepare well during that time, there could be many ways to change the outcome. The most certain way is to gain independence from this family. The first step towards that is enrolling in the academy. Once admitted, I'd naturally gain independence through dormitory life. If I’m fortunate enough to join a hero party, that would be even better. Secondly... it’s a long shot, but there's another way. If I can somehow prevent Roseria from turning dark, and even stop her plans, the Laheltani family might not become a shadowy force. Though it’s an entirely different path from the original story, such a change wouldn’t necessarily be bad. However, that's a near-impossible task, and aiming for independence from the family seems much more feasible. ‘Let’s move forward positively.’ I clenched my fists tightly, steadying myself. Turning a crisis into an opportunity, isn't that the hallmark of a truly competent person? Regardless, I currently have Roseria’s favor on my side. While that favor lasts, I must somehow develop my own strength. With my decision made, I brought my hands together in front of my waist and bowed towards the two pairs of eyes observing me. "I'm Bella. I'll do my best not to be a burden." The fake count observed me with interest, while Camilla continued to gaze at me with emotionless eyes. Perhaps because I was trying to remain positive, her hollow gaze didn’t feel as intimidating as it initially had. A look suggesting she found me unworthy of attention, like viewing a bug with complete indifference. That’s more than enough. I didn’t expect, nor wanted, to gain her interest. In fact, garnering attention would be problematic. At this rate, I might be able to quietly stay out of her sight without drawing attention. If it could only remain that way— "Camilla, could you show your new sister around the mansion?" Roseria’s voice was clear. My thoughts came to a halt, and my mind went blank. I looked up at Roseria with eyes full of panic. "Pardon?" "Go on, spend some time getting to know your sister." "Ah, no, I mean, it’s really fine! You must be busy, I can look around by myself…." "Camilla, could I ask you to?" Roseria ignored my protest and looked at Camilla. Camilla slowly got up from her seat. "Yes, Mother." She approached me with small, steady strides and a faint smile. "I’ll show you around the mansion." "Ah, um…." I cast a desperate glance at Roseria, hoping for some intervention… But she just offered her usual, practiced smile, unfazed by my silent plea. "Sister?" "Ah, um… Please, lead the way." "Feel free to relax and speak casually. You’re older than I am." "Uh, s-sure... I'll do that..." …Is this really going to be okay for me? 죄송하지만, 제가 다음 화의 내용에 직접 접근하거나 요약해드릴 수는 없습니다. 하지만 이야기의 전개를 짐작해보고 싶으신가요? 라헬타니 가문이나 주인공의 상황에 대한 질문이 있다면 제가 도움을 드리겠습니다!