Chapter 6: The Villainess Has Tea with Her Brother

Her father’s mistress and Fermina were the very embodiment of that type.

There was no way she would lose to them.

In truth, this resolve stemmed more from her pride as a courtesan than from anything else.

“Brother, Dee—no, I swear I will be a good girl.
I will take my studies seriously.
So please, do not leave my side.”

“Ah, I promise.
I will stay by your side, Claudia.
From now on, I will protect you in Mother’s place.”

Thus, before their mother’s grave, the siblings made their vow to one another.

Watching them with an awkward expression, their father stood nearby, and Claudia stuck out her tongue at him in her heart.

‘Hmph.
You should realize your own children have grown disillusioned with you.
Still, a little follow-up is necessary.’

It irked her to be the one to reach out, but the head of the ducal house was her father.

His authority could not be ignored.

Slipping out of Virgil’s arms, she deliberately wiped her tears and faced her father.

“Father, I also swear to change my ways.
…So that you may acknowledge me, even just a little.”

“Y-Yes.”

As she finished speaking, the tears she had gathered at the corners of her eyes rolled down her cheeks.

Though controlling her expression in this young body was difficult, this time the timing was perfect.

Seeing her father’s brows droop, she sensed a satisfactory response.

Perhaps, though he had disliked her mother, he had not truly hated her.

If her mother had shown a gentler side, their relationship might have been different.

‘This is only the beginning.
If Fermina is a villainess, then I will surpass her.
I will become the perfect villainess.’

Upon returning to the estate, Claudia made a vow to the head maid Martha as well.

“I will become a perfect lady, just like Mother.”

At those words, Martha’s eyes grew moist with joy.

“Lady Claudia, you certainly can!”

“I am Mother’s daughter, after all.
Please continue to guide me.”

“Yes…!”

True to her promise, Claudia devoted herself to her studies, and the way the household viewed her improved day by day.

The selfish girl prone to tantrums had grown completely obedient.

Not only that, she mastered etiquette swiftly, and once even her tutors gave her their seal of approval, there was no one left who spoke ill of her.

From Claudia’s perspective, she had merely reviewed what she had already learned at the brothel.

Having become more sensitive to the subtleties of others’ emotions, her relationship with Virgil also began to change.

“Brother, shall we take a break soon?”

With a maid pushing a cart bearing tea utensils, she visited Virgil’s room.

She knew precisely when he would be pausing his studies.

Virgil’s face softened at his sister’s consideration.

For Claudia, who had no memory of him smiling, this was tremendous progress.

And moreover—

“If Dee has come, I cannot possibly refuse.”

Being called by her nickname made it clear, even to an outside observer, that Virgil doted on his sister.

“Today, I will prepare the tea.”

“You will, Dee?”

“Hehe.
I practiced because I wanted you to drink it, Brother.”

Claudia’s movements as she brewed the tea were flawless, far beyond what one would expect from a fourteen-year-old girl.

Yet because her appearance still held a trace of youth, she looked charming and delicate in Virgil’s eyes.

“You have more lessons these days and must be busy.
When did you practice?”

“During my breaks between lessons.
The first tea I brewed was so bitter it was undrinkable.”

She laughed lightly, bright yet never vulgar, and the maids watched her fondly.

Though she sometimes stumbled due to the gap between her adult sensibilities and her young body, those imperfections only made her more beloved.

Recently, even the once-tense atmosphere of the estate had begun to soften.

“Here, please enjoy.”

She deliberately handed him the cup with a proud look.

After coaxing a small laugh from him, she took her own seat.

The moment Virgil tasted the tea, his eyes widened.

“How is it?”

“It’s delicious…
It may be the best tea I have ever had.”

“Really?
I’m so happy!”

Her expression of joy was just exaggerated enough to seem natural.

Both the tea and her reaction were carefully tailored to Virgil’s tastes.

Unaware of this, Virgil’s expression melted at his sister’s sweetness.

“If it is this good, I would like to drink it again.”

“Of course!
For you, Brother, I will prepare it anytime.”

Having received such a favorable response, Claudia also took a sip of her tea.

“It is thanks to everyone’s help.”

“Everyone?”

“The maids.
Especially those who have served this house for many years.
Their work is truly wonderful.
The tea they brewed as examples was delicious, every single one, and I was deeply impressed.”

“I had thought you kept your distance from the maids.”