villainess chapter 3

His breathtakingly beautiful appearance and innate grace transcended his birth. Such a remarkable exterior naturally attracted a whirlwind of rumors. Whispers abounded—dark tales of a hidden, monstrous temper, of illicit guilds and inhumane dealings amassing a vast fortune. 

Even nobles who knew these rumors dared not dismiss him as a bastard. Firstly, they feared assassination at the hands of his alleged guild. Secondly, his business acumen was undeniable. He was the wealthiest man in the empire, second only to the Emperor himself. Noble merchants had no choice but to maintain good relations with him for the sake of their own ventures and financial fluidity. He was a man like a vibrant flower harboring poison in its depths, unseen by the casual observer. That was Arthur.

The young Duke clicked his tongue, observing Vivian’s clear distress. “Tsk. Speak plainly, child. Don’t hesitate. They’ll be sending someone soon, so be prepared. This is for the family.”

“We are a ducal house, and he is but a count. Besides, the rumors surrounding him…”

“About his illegitimacy? Must you cling to such antiquated notions? Whatever his past, he is now a nobleman like us, and the wealthiest in the empire. Beaufort needs his considerable financial backing. As a member of this family, you will behave accordingly.”

“Brother…”

“He’s young, handsome, and unmarried. An ideal match for you.” With that, he returned his attention to the documents, dismissing her with a wave of his hand, brooking no further argument.

Robbed of the chance to protest, Vivian turned and left the study. Flora, the only one who might have helped, was absent, having entered the palace as the Crown Princess. Even if Flora had been present, Vivian knew she likely would have remained silent. She understood the reason all too well. 

Her own mother, Flora’s stepmother, the Duchess, had despised Flora, the daughter of the previous wife. The Duchess had tampered with Flora’s food, sabotaged her debutante dress, and even disguised cruel punishments as discipline. The Duchess’s torment didn’t end there. She spread malicious rumors in social circles, painting herself as the victim.

Vivian, upon discovering this, had tried to reason with her mother, even criticized her. She loved them both; her mother and sister were precious to her, and she yearned for harmony between them. Even though she learned the truth late, she believed their relationship could be mended.

“Mother, please stop. We’re family.”

“Family? She shares no blood with us. My only family is you, Vivian.”

“You’re an adult, Mother. If word of this spreads, it will damage the duchy’s reputation, and Father and Max won’t stand for it. This is unbecoming.”

“Even you condemn me? You shouldn’t. Don’t worry about leaks. I’ll handle it.”

“Mother.”

“Vivian, enough.” Her attempts to persuade her mother only seemed to exacerbate the situation. The Duchess merely offered a benevolent yet chilling smile, unmoved. Their once-close relationship grew strained. Vivian’s actions had been naive and presumptuous. The Duchess showered Vivian with love, yet treated Flora with inexplicable cruelty. Vivian felt a growing sense of guilt, as if Flora’s mistreatment were her fault. She sank into a mire of self-reproach, eventually exhausting herself trying to mend the rift between her mother and sister. She gave up, seeing no way to fix the situation.

Night after night, she sought out her sister, weeping apologies. “Flora, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t stop her.”

“It’s not your fault, Vivian.” Flora would embrace her, her hand warm against Vivian’s back, her embrace a comforting haven. Vivian wanted to offer solace, to atone, but it was she who found comfort in her sister’s arms. Now, she wondered how repulsive she must have seemed to Flora—helplessly weeping, offering no solutions.

Under the Duchess’s subtle cruelty, Flora seemed to wither, becoming increasingly isolated in society, unlike Vivian, who enjoyed her mother’s full support. Even Vivian’s attempts to clear up misunderstandings about Flora were perceived as fear of her stepsister. Every action meant to help only worsened the situation.

Then came the shocking announcement: Flora had been chosen as the Crown Princess. She left the ducal estate for the palace. That day, the Duchess collapsed, clutching her head. Despite the joyous news, a bleakness descended upon the household. Perhaps from the shock, the Duchess fell ill and passed away a few months later. Her father followed soon after, succumbing to an unknown ailment. Her stepbrother, who inherited the title, was always rational, terrifyingly cold. The new Duke sold his noble half-sister to the bastard son of a count, reminding her to be grateful she wasn’t becoming some old nobleman’s second wife.