051
Of course, I don’t remember her face.
But I do remember how foolish, how utterly naïve she was.
And also, the kindness she so generously gave.
Cecilia never liked her younger brother, Diegon, very much. But she often spent time with his wife, Aurora.
Her plump, fair cheeks were always stuffed with food, eating with such enthusiasm.
It was amusing to watch her face light up at the sight of sweet desserts, and her innocence was endearing—so much so that even when she was teased, she wouldn’t understand and would just smile shyly.
Eventually, Cecilia opened her heart to that sunshine-like woman. That was why, when Luarel was born, she could sincerely congratulate her.
After all, the third child had a low chance of being born an awakened one, and since she was a girl, Cecilia believed she and Angela would become good cousin sisters.
‘But… if she’s that strong?’
No.
If Shupetty was actually Luarel…
‘She would gain the right of succession.’
She could challenge for the position of the family head.
‘That cannot happen!’
Leviwood was her one and only trump card.
On the day Leviwood became the next family successor, she would deal with Violet.
And then, she would become the head of the family.
Violet’s ability wasn’t anything special anyway. With Cecilia’s petrification ability, she didn’t have to kill her—she could turn her into stone forever.
The third child, Nine, was adopted and had no right to participate in the succession battle. Diegon was somewhat of an issue, but once he was out at sea, she would take care of things.
‘I won’t kill him,’ so it wouldn’t violate the family rules.
“I have to become the head of the family.”
Cecilia muttered emptily, lowering the hand she had been biting.
‘Just once. Just once, I want to defeat Violet.’
Cecilia had always been second place.
It was always her older sister who received their father’s recognition.
It was always her older sister who received more love from their mother.
Everyone around them was bewitched by her older sister, fawning over her with stupid smiles.
What was so special about that sly fox?!
Even in her youth, Cecilia’s first love had said—
‘Hey, you know…’
‘Yes?’
It was a cool autumn day, on the day of her debutante ball.
That bastard called her to the balcony and said—
‘Can you… give this to your sister?’
‘………?’
‘You see, I’ve admired Lady Violet for a long time. Since you’re her younger sister, I thought you could pass this to her.’
‘You crazy bastard!’
That day, Cecilia lost her temper and turned her unrequited love into stone.
The petrification wore off before long, but the incident was never forgotten, and from then on, no one dared to get close to Cecilia.
Meanwhile, Violet continued to build up her network of connections.
The shy, fluttering girl who had once dreamed of love died that autumn night, leaving only a monster whose hair turned into snakes when she was enraged.
‘If Violet had at least taken my side, if she had defended me even once, I wouldn’t have held such a grudge. But she just ignored it, didn’t she?’
Let’s be honest.
If anyone were in my position, wouldn’t they want to tear Violet apart and kill her?
‘Anyway, Leviwood must become the next successor. Only then will I have legitimacy in becoming the head of the family.’
Legitimacy.
That was an extremely important matter in noble society.
One needed justification to suppress opposition from subordinate families.
Even if she became the family head, if the subordinate families turned against Pashayen, Diegon would eventually step in to overthrow her.
‘That cannot happen. No, it must not.’
Once she became the family head, Leviwood would inherit the position after her.
Her blood.
And then, her child’s child would continue to rule.
That was the sheer determination Cecilia had harbored all this time.
But Shupetty—she was too strong.
If she wasn’t Luarel, it didn’t matter if she was a member of Pashayen or a resonator.
But if she was Luarel…
It was then—
Knock, knock.
A short knock came, followed by the butler’s voice from outside.
“Second Lady, the head of the family has summoned you.”
“My father? All of a sudden?”
The family head of Pashayen, Galizard, was a ruthless man.
At least to her, he was.
Maybe not to Violet, but Cecilia had never once sat on his lap.
He only called for her when there was a task to be done.
Or…
“Aaaah! Why! Why me!!”
Bang!
After returning from the family head’s office, Cecilia couldn’t control her fury and hurled objects across the room.
Shaaak.
Her hair, reacting to her rage, coiled like ropes and transformed into snakes, flicking their tongues.
“Why me? If it were a territorial war, fine. But why must I go to carry out the emperor’s orders?”
She knew. Of course, she knew.
The next successor could not move.
From the empire’s perspective, Pashayen’s admiral had a duty to defend the sea against foreign invasions.
That meant he couldn’t easily leave his post. Unless a foreign power invaded outright, there was no reason for the family head to intervene.
She understood all of that.
But that didn’t stop the uncontrollable anger welling up inside her.
It was the rage of someone used as a convenient piece on the board.
Inferiority. Isolation. A desperate struggle for recognition.
All of those emotions swirled inside her, but Cecilia refused to acknowledge the wounded child deep within her heart.
‘Of all times, why does a war have to break out now?!’
She clenched her fists and pressed against the vanity table, struggling to control her ragged breaths.
Her reflection in the mirror looked utterly monstrous, even to herself.
‘So that’s why… everyone always preferred Violet.’
The resentment that had built up inside her twisted and turned violently.
She wanted to turn Violet into stone right this second, but she feared her father.
And she couldn’t disobey his orders.
But the only thing she had in her hand was the fact that she had given birth to a strong son.
And if she left for war?
She would be pushed out of the family’s inner circle entirely.
‘What do I do? What should I do?’
Just as her vision turned red—
“Dear.”
Without a knock, the door silently swung open, and Bernstein appeared.
“I heard the news. You’re being sent to the battlefield.”
“Hah! The news has already spread? So they really mean to send me away?”
“Hmm.”
“They’re determined to get rid of me….”
A bitter taste of blood lingered in her mouth.
But Cecilia wasn’t just worried about her position in the family.
Leviwood!
Her kind-hearted son.
Right now, he was close to her, within her grasp. She could guide him, shape him.
But if she were to be away for years… what would happen then?
During that time, Leviwood would undoubtedly grow closer to Violet.
Would he still fulfill his mother’s wishes when she returned?
“Leviwood is still young. His mind is soft and impressionable. If I leave, Violet will brainwash him into becoming her pawn.”
Her grip tightened on the vanity table, veins popping against her pale skin.
She needed to stay rational, but fury burned inside her, making it impossible.
In the mirror’s reflection, Bernstein stood calmly as always, eyes closed, his face unreadable.
“You’re worried that Leviwood will turn his back on you?”
“No one knows when this war will end. It could take five years! By then, Leviwood will be a grown man.”
And he would forget about his mother.
She was almost certain of it.
“But what else can you do, Chessie? If you want to defy the order, you have no choice but to become the family head yourself.”
“Do you think I don’t know that?!”
Crash!
In a fit of rage, Cecilia grabbed a perfume bottle from the vanity and hurled it at Bernstein.
It shattered against the wall, the sharp scent filling the air.
Bernstein merely glanced at the broken glass, then closed his eyes again, smiling.
He understood exactly what Cecilia was afraid of.
“You need to make a decision, Chessie.”
“What decision?”
“There’s still time before your deployment. It won’t be until after the admiral’s birthday banquet.”
“So?”
Diegon’s birthday was coming up. Not that she cared.
“That day, I’ll distract Diegon. Meanwhile, you find an opportunity to turn the family head into stone.”
Cecilia froze.
She wasn’t sure if she had heard correctly.
Bernstein had often suggested working with outside forces to start a territorial war.
She had always thought he was just saying it to appease her, indulging her frustrations.
But now…
“What are you saying we should do to the family head?”
