17 - Adopted by the Villainous Noble Family

"Noblepia - A World of Dreams through Web Novels! - Adopted by a Shady Family" With each step forward, my feet grew heavier. A girl in a black dress walked ahead of me. Just following her and staring at her back sent a chill through me. "Here's your room." While walking down the hallway, she pointed to one of the doors. It was the first time she had spoken to me, forced to guide me by Rozelia's request. What's more, she was speaking informally. Was the polite demeanor earlier just a mask she put on in front of Rozelia? "Oh, thank you." I nodded carefully in response. The girl, Camilla, slowly turned to look at me. Her subtly glowing purple eyes held no emotion. Caught by that gaze, which was neither cold nor warm, I nervously swallowed and forced a smile. "You... you don't have to waste any more time on me. I'll explore on my own now." "......" Camilla, who had been watching me, nodded before slowly approaching and speaking. "I don't care what kind of expendable you are." Her voice, as cold as her empty gaze, brushed past my ears. "Don't bother me. If you do, I'll pretend you don't exist." Her words were thrown at me with an icy, expressionless face. It was more of a warning than a request. With those words, Camilla passed by without a second thought. The way she acted in front of Rozelia was completely different. This was likely Camilla's true self. I remained silent, looking down at the floor. In any case, it was a relief. Camilla having no interest in me meant at least I was free from immediate danger. In this family, the more dangerous person to me wasn't Rozelia, but Camilla. According to the game's setting, she was a character with an inherently evil disposition. If a conflict arose, I might vanish from the world one day without a trace. ["I don't care what kind of expendable you are."] Her cold words lingered in my mind. Unconsciously, my fists clenched. "I'm not just an expendable." I wouldn't let it happen. In this life, definitely. I had resolved to become someone meaningful to others. ※ The room Camilla led me to was far more luxurious than I had imagined. The wallpaper, adorned with antique patterns, enveloped the room, and the meticulous interior further elevated the sense of luxury. A large bed, spacious enough to comfortably accommodate three adults, sat beside the neatly laid out rug on the floor. "So this is what life as a noble is like." To someone like me, accustomed to a musty, old bed, all of this felt like an overwhelming luxury. The first thing I did was lie down on the bed. The feather-soft touch enveloped my whole body, bringing a serene comfort that almost made me yawn from its tranquility. Is this why people say that wealth is good? "Maybe I'll just close my eyes for a bit." Tension from being conscious of Camilla's gaze left my body and mind exhausted. I had already delivered the day's herbs to Rozelia, so I thought it might be okay to rest for a while. "Bella." But as if mocking the notion, the door opened, and Rozelia appeared. "Co-Countess..." Rozelia looked at me with a slight frown. "Countess?" "Y-Yes?" "You should call me Mother now, don't you think?" Mother. To a person I met just a few days ago, it was an unfamiliar title. "Can I just call you Countess for now? It's more comfortable for me..." "......" Rozelia's frown didn't ease easily. However, when she glanced into my eyes, she reluctantly nodded. "Call me Mother when you're comfortable. I'd prefer Mama even more." "...I'll try when I'm ready." Mama. I wondered if the day would ever come when I could call her that. Even trying to say it casually seemed difficult to imagine. "...Did you come for something in particular?" I had already delivered the herbs for today. Was there something more she needed? "Ah, there's someone I want to introduce you to." A stranger emerged from behind Rozelia's shoulder. A woman of a similar height to Rozelia. Her neatly trimmed bobbed hair was as white as snow, contrasting with her calm, black eyes that held a serene atmosphere. When had she been here? She had such a striking appearance, yet I hadn't even noticed her presence beside Rozelia. "I'm Sierra, and I'll be serving you from now on," she introduced herself in a voice that was a bit cold but pleasing to the ear. "What? Serving me?" I asked in surprise. Rozelia responded to my question, "Yes, she's your personal maid. If you need anything, you can ask her or come to me." "A personal... maid?" "If it's not enough, we can assign two more to you." Startled by her words, I quickly waved my hands in refusal. "No! It's just that... I'm not used to having a personal maid." "Why are you so surprised? You're now part of the Raeltania family, and you'll need someone to attend to you, won't you?" I was bewildered. Just a day ago, I was the one expected to serve people in such a way. "Camilla has three personal maids. So, there's no need to be so timid." Rozelia's gaze was firm. Eventually, I quietly nodded and accepted what she said. "...I look forward to working with you, Sierra." "Likewise, and please just call me Sierra," she replied. "Huh? Oh, no, that's okay," I said, my Korean manners keeping me from speaking informally to someone who seemed older. "It actually makes me more comfortable if you do," Sierra insisted. "Oh, well… I'll try," I answered. Sierra’s initial impression was a bit reserved, but unlike Camilla, she didn’t seem intimidating. It was a balance of coolness and warmth. "Now that introductions are done, let's end this conversation here. Are you free right now, my dear?" "What?" "If you are, please come with me." Surprised by Rozelia's unexpected request, I had no real reason to decline. I nodded quietly and followed her. We headed to her office, a place I had briefly visited before. On the desk, several items were neatly arranged, and the one that stood out the most was a silver petaled flower that looked like snow. "Why don't you make an herbal remedy right here?" I paused at her words. "Right here, right now?" "Yes. I'm curious about something." Rozelia's expression was more serious than usual. "If there's something you’re curious about, please tell me. I'll explain as best I can." Creating an herbal remedy here was problematic in several ways. "Hmm…" Rozelia seemed lost in thought for a moment before speaking again. "Did you know that your herbs have gained quite a bit of popularity in the empire?" "Oh... really?" "Unsprisingly, there are those who have tried to mimic and sell them as well." Her words were unexpected. I had thought there might be some demand, but not enough for others to replicate it. "But none could achieve the same effect as your herbs, even though the ingredients were identical." Rozelia's gaze fell on the silver-flowered flower on the desk. It was then I vaguely understood what she wanted to know. The distinguishing factor of my herbs could only be attributed to my special ability. And Rozelia was keen to uncover the source of that distinction. "...It's a trade secret." Unfortunately, I couldn't divulge that. Not just because it’s a trade secret, but because it’s not something I could show to anyone. "If you're worried I'll spill the secret, I could sign a nondisclosure agreement," she offered. "Even then... I can't." "May I ask why?" I paused for a moment. To be honest, the method was quite embarrassing. The ability required my saliva for activation. How could I possibly demonstrate drooling on a flower in front of her? So, I decided to hide my ability and speak in a way that fit my situation. "If the method is revealed, I would become a useless existence. I don't want that." Rozelia's red eyes flickered slightly with emotion. She seemed about to say something but then closed her mouth, letting out a short sigh with her eyes closed. "I'm not asking for the reasons you think. It's just...," she trailed off, biting her lip briefly, before carefully revealing her thoughts. "I have an ailment that isn't good for my body. And... only your herbs have shown any effectiveness for the symptoms, which is why I asked." "...Oh." "I wondered if there might be a clue hidden in your herbs that could treat my condition." The illness she referred to was likely the curse inflicted by the special ability. Her curse was portrayed similarly in the game. "But, hearing you, I realize I was clumsy." Her eyes seemed a bit more subdued than before. I felt a flicker of emotion stir under her gaze. It seemed that Rozelia was suffering quite severely from the erosion. In the game, it was simply described as a curse, but I had never imagined the depth and persistence of that pain. ‘What to do?’ Should I really tell her? If my special ability could truly cure her curse, maybe... just maybe, I could prevent the tragedy looming over this family. "It seems what I need to earn first is your trust," Rozelia said, a seductive smile spreading on her lips. A captivating smile uniquely hers, appearing on her sharp features. I found myself staring blankly at that smile when, as always, Rozelia lightly grabbed the back of my neck with her familiar touch, lifting me slightly. "Shall we foster some mother-daughter bonding?" "Huh? Bonding as in…?" Rozelia's red eyes curved gently as she gave a playful wink. "Let's take a bath together, like mother and daughter." "…A bath." A brief silence filled the room. I blinked a few times, slowly comprehending her words, then let out a startled shout. "What?!?!!" --- **Author's Note** Special thanks to MaxLizeNoBackRB19 for your support! The days have gotten really hot lately, and I find myself feeling exhausted when I get home from work. Thank you so much for bringing joy to my day! I hope you continue to enjoy reading my novel! To our anonymous supporter, thank you for your contribution! It makes me happy to know you're enjoying the story. Please look forward to more tales about the three women! Have a great day, dear readers! Read the next chapter.