Born as the Hidden Daughter of a Villainess and the Male Lead

<Episode 11> 

Archaitz Batevan could not bear the pain against his neck and froze. 

‘I’ll follow you.’ 

His granddaughter, Edith, whom he would protect as long as she was in front of him. 

‘I’ll go to the grand residence as Uncle, no… my father wishes.’ 

The words that she uttered amidst the trembling of her body that she kept discreet seemed to pierce her heart with a thousand needles. 

To protect me. 

 That young child followed a man no less than a stranger she’d never met as her father all to protect her ugly, useless grandfather. 

Along with the helpless at not being able to do anything, anger rose from his feet for the person who’d brought him down like this and eroded his mind. 

In the end, even Edith had been taken away. 

Roberick Arne Haillian. 

In the hands of that disgustingly greedy and ruthless man. 

“Uncle Bastevan!” 

The moment he shuddered with hatred; the past that felt like distant history now came to his mind.  

He remembered the image of a young boy who clung to his trousers’ leg and smiled beautifully, his hair shining dazzlingly in the sun’s rays. 

And soon cold reality overlapped and the memories disappeared like a fleeting haze. 

 “How did we come to this point…” 

 Siron whispered by himself. 

Not everything was perfect then, but it was a time when he genuinely believed that one day, they would all be perfectly happy. 

 “Giovanni…”  

Siorn recited the name of his friend who passed away a long time ago. 

Giovanni. Giovanni Akancia Haellian. 

The name of the former Grand Duke of Haelian and the father of Roberick Arne Haelian. 

Roberick was the only son that Giovanni had at a late age.  

Giovanni loved and cherished Roberick so much that he did let him go from his arms until the blade of the mad king’s sword was directed at his neck. 

His happiness didn’t last long. 

The poisonous monster who’d gone crazy with jealousy finally bit Grand Duke Haelian in the end.  

Little Roberick was left alone at the age of ten. 

‘I’m glad you’re alive, I’m glad you’re alive, I’m really glad……. 

Siorn, who belatedly heard about the tragedy, rushed over and picked up Roberick.  

The emperor had gone berserk, as if he just had to kill the last remaining heir of the Haelian Duchy, Roberick, to be truly done with his rage. 

“Your majesty, do you still remember the day I pledged my allegiance to you and the Imperial family?”  

Just forcing his way wasn’t going to be enough for the Duke of Bastevan to shelter Roberick. 

“I wish to keep my oath to you until the end of my life. Please, show me your generosity so that I may keep doing so.”  

The fortunate occurred. 

Thus, Roberick grew up safely under Siorn’s shadow, which protected him from everything.  

The son of a close friend murdered by the emperor. 

He looked just like his old friend, and the pity he felt for the child made him want to do more for him.  

Therefore, Siorn raised Roberick like he was his own child, without discriminating between him and the daughter he had with his beloved wife, Mariette. 

Was it because of those efforts? 

As a child, Roberick often followed Siorn around, calling him uncle.  

The vivid image of the memory of him smiling at the sight of Mariette and Roberick running around the yard and chattering unfolded before his eyes. 

“Damn it.” 

The remnants of the broken wall remained in Siorn’s tight grasp, as he reflected on his memories. 

The more he reflected on the past, the greater his hatred for Roberick grew. 

Everything was going smoothly. 

But all that was shattered by Roberick’s betrayal. 

A broken engagement. 

All the good faith that had been built between them for many years was broken in an instant. 

Siorn was absolutely disappointed and indignant at Roberick, who’d made the worst choice possible.  

Watching Mariette suffering from the wounds of the break-up, unbearable anger and resentment ate up Siorin’s heart. 

But if that was all he did. 

Siorn would not have been able to tear away all his affection for Roberick. 

Roberick had betrayed all the love and grace he had been given, there was no denying it, but… 

He was a child whom he loved and raised like his own son.  

He’d loved him so much, so how would he have been able to do it?  

He felt sorry towards Mariette, but one day, he even tried to understand Roberick. 

But Roberick has crossed a line that should never be crossed. 

Oswald Tristan Ruyeri, the new emperor who had been crowned for less than a year at the time, wanted to destroy all glories of the past which held higher authority than the Imperial family.  

Thus, the new emperor expressed his intention to his close friend, Roberick Arne Haelian. 

When the new emperor was still a crown prince, it was Siorn who took Roberick to the palace so he could befriend the prince. 

Roberick forgot about the past and willingly joined hands with the new emperor. 

The duke of Bastevan, Siorin Archaitz Bastevan, was forced to fall from their schemes. 

The sly new emperor slowly cemented Roberick Arne Haelian’s image as the new hero, to replace the fallen hero who coveted power. 

It took a long time for Siorn to understand what had been happening so quietly and cleverly in the deep waters while he had been so focused on the annulment of his daughter’s engagement and Roberick, who’d left. 

“The Duke of Bastevan’s name is just ancient.”  

“Look how badly he raised his only daughter. Isn’t princess Bastevan so arrogant and selfish?” 

“Even if her fiancé has a woman he has a crush on, isn’t it a bit too much to abuse him like that?” 

The rumors surrounding Chastia Pryum, the woman and Mariette, were increasingly maliciously dramatized and inflated, leading the public opinion of the ordinary people in a hostile direction. 

Siorn belatedly learned that not only did Roberick betray his faith due to the breakup of his marriage, but he was also trying to overthrow the Duke of Bastevan himself by joining forces with the new emperor. 

So Siorn, along with his daughter Mariette, went against them. 

‘The Rothian Empire doesn’t need you anymore.’ 

Then the game tilted. 

‘The past is just the past. But in consideration of your contributions, I will spare yours and your daughter’s life.’ 

By the emperor’s will, Siron was eventually defeated. 

‘…….’ 

Siorn, kneeling on the cold floor, thought blankly. 

He saved the boy who was sure to have died if he had left him as it was. 

He loved him like his own child and did everything he could. 

But that boy, blinded by love, turned away from all the trust and relationships he had built up. 

Nevertheless, he couldn’t stop his lingering feelings, so he couldn’t even resent him properly. 

But… 

‘I gave you everything I had.’ 

Siorn, who had lost everything and fell into the abyss, swallowed tears of blood and spoke as if chewing. 

“You’ve finally come to take everything from me.” 

His words were directed at that hateful traitor. 

‘…….’ 

That was the last time. 

Roberick no longer looked back at Siorn and Mariette. 

The new emperor was satisfied with the clean sweep of the inviolable hero, who could not violate the imperial family’s power anymore. 

Siorn and Mariette barely continued their humble lives. 

From the rumors from afar, Roberick had established his place as the emperor’s sworn friend and political ally, was being revered as a new hero and was living happily with that widow as his grand duchess.  

Ah, it was truly a perfect betrayal. 

Hate, which settled deep Siorn’s soul, who was driven out of everything he had accumulated for a long time, seemed to gnaw at his bones every day and imprint its existence. 

Siorn finally tore away all the affection that remained in his heart. 

And in a fit of rage, shouted.  

Roberick Arne Haelian. 

You are no longer mine. 

You are just an enemy who wasn’t able to kill me despite tearing away everything from me limb by limb. 

Nevertheless, the misfortunes never ceased. 

His daughter left.  

Only a small and young life was left in his arms, just like in the past. 

‘Grandpa!’ 

She resembled Mariette, but at the same time, his granddaughter’s red eyes looked just like Roberick’s.  

It was undeniable. 

‘Come here, Edith.’ 

She was lovely. 

While raising his granddaughter, who he would never let get hurt in front of his eyes, Siorn slowly forgot about the bleeding wounds of the past. 

At this rate, He felt like he could live without taking revenge. 

But. 

‘… what should I do? That kid is what I want.’ 

Roberick Arne Haelian came back like a nightmare.  

‘What are you going to offer to me for it? Is there even anything left for you to offer?’ 

‘Oh, I made a slip of the tongue. You have one thing. Only one thing.’ 

Once again, he brutally destroyed Siorn’s happiness. 

Oh, I see. 

Siorin thought. 

In the end, we are bound by a relationship that will never be broken. 

Roberick. 

Unless this evil relationship is torn apart, we will always be intertwined. 

“…you.” 

“I came to see the Grand Duke of Haelian. Get out of the way.” 

At a time when darkness consumed all light, Siorn, who’d come to visit the residence the Grand Duke stayed, stared at Roberick’s escort. 

The Grand Duke’s knight, who was well aware of the strained story that existed between Grand Duke Haelian and the former Duke of Bastevan, replied, avoiding his gaze. 

“…wait a moment.” 

Wait. 

“I’m not the pet dog he raised.” 

“What?” 

Siorn did not intend to be more polite to Roberick and his people. 

Boom! 

Siorin, who spoke in a low voice, pushed the knight away at once and kicked Roberick’s door open. 

“…what, you?’ 

Roberick, who was sitting at his desk looking at something, stood up in amazement. 

 When he saw the face of who’d come to visit him, his mouth twisted in disgust. 

“…what are you doing here-” 

“I’ll be straightforward. Why have you come to Edith?” 

---

I feel so bad for Siorn. everything was taken away from him and his love for Roberick is so evident. the betrayal hurts even more because of it. even after the engagement broke, he still couldn’t resent him fully. even after he had everything torn away. the line, “You are no longer mine” was so devastating and yet impactful. Roberick sucks.