I Became the Assassin Family's Foster Daughter (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15
For the past few days, Rodwick Mansion had passed in quietude.
Perhaps because of the tumultuous days they’d endured until now, this peace even felt strangely unfamiliar.
Deon played a large part in that quiet.
Deon, who had always been the source of incidents and accidents in the Rodwick household, had been uncharacteristically silent.
“Must be Miss Riche’s effect. Maybe, as the master said, he’s feeling responsible now that he’s become her older brother.”
Jed’s words would be nice if they were true.
But this couldn’t be the calm before the storm.
It wasn’t that Deon was about to cause trouble—it was just how his life always went.
Whenever things felt quiet, something inevitably happened—usually for the worse.
Blake’s crimson eyes, set deep within his sharp features, glimmered silently.
“Are you planning to bring your adopted daughter to the hunting festival? I’m only giving you this advice because I’m favorably inclined toward you, but you won’t see a pleasant sight.”
That was what Duke Hibetsman had said a week prior, during his visit to the Rodwick ducal estate.
Blake had let it pass through one ear, but it wasn’t entirely baseless.
Bringing Riche to a hunting festival teeming with high-ranking nobles was like placing a succulent, raw fish right before a pack of hungry cats.
‘This is troubling.’
Blake tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingertips.
He was pondering what choice to make for Riche’s future.
He could ensure she lived a comfortable life within the mansion, shielded from significant contact with other nobles forever.
Or, if the child had aspirations of her own, he could enroll her in the Imperial Academy or support her ambitions in other ways.
Whatever the decision, the sooner it was made, the better—since his remaining time wasn’t long.
‘She’s grown so much since she first arrived.’
Riche had evidently been eating and sleeping well at the mansion; compared to her previously frail frame, she’d gained a healthy amount of weight.
Though she was still shorter than others her age, children grew quickly—today never resembled yesterday. Riche would soon grow taller too.
Her round, silvery eyes filled Blake’s vision.
‘Should I ask her?’
Once again today, Blake rose from his desk.
He kept succumbing daily to the temptation of Riche, who visited him at least once a day.
Unbeknownst to himself, he always had some excuse ready.
“……?”
Blake turned his head toward a light footstep he heard beside him as he opened the study door.
It was Riche, who’d been walking down the corridor and, upon seeing the study door open, had hurried over the short distance.
Riche stopped before Blake and looked up at him.
“Ah… Daddy!”
At that sound, Blake’s eyes widened slightly.
Riche had come to him first and called out urgently. Without realizing it, Blake’s heart quickened as he asked,
“What’s the matter?”
Riche fidgeted her lips, struggling to get the next words out.
Pythons, perched on Riche’s shoulder, flicked his tail amusedly as the tips of her ears reddened with shyness.
“Ah… Daddy. Will you read me a picture book?”
In Riche’s hand was a picture book she’d brought specifically to read together with Blake.
“…….”
Blake didn’t respond immediately—his heart had swelled slightly.
When had Riche ever come to him with a request? Aside from asking if she could keep a squirrel, she’d never once asked him for anything.
She’d always needed him to gently push her before reluctantly voicing what she truly wanted.
“So, a picture book, huh.”
He felt proud of the child’s growth.
Given the Rodwick’s innate disposition—rarely moved easily—this was the first time in years he’d felt such emotion.
Blake pulled Riche into his arms.
“I’ll read to you as much as you’d like.”
Then, with a slight upward curve of his lips, he smiled at her.
Riche’s eyes widened in surprise at seeing Blake’s smile up close for the first time.
[This is the timeline separator]“Daddy, I’ll come again tomorrow!”
“Alright.”
Accompanied by Blake’s farewell, Riche stepped out of the study.
She’d just finished reading a picture book with him.
‘I did it again today…!’
As soon as the study door closed, Riche happily skipped down the corridor.
Madam Michelle would’ve scolded her for such improper manners, but since no one else was around, it should be fine.
More than that, she felt proud of having secretly purified Blake’s aura once again today.
Riche wiggled the fingers she’d used to purify his energy.
‘Once a day. If I purify just enough to avoid suspicion, no one will discover I’m Ltiom.’
Her plan was to cleanse exactly the amount of life-draining aura that accumulated each day.
If this worked, as long as she remained by Blake’s side, he wouldn’t die from the accumulated om.
That was why Riche had to create a daily routine of meeting with Blake.
And reading picture books together had seemed the most plausible excuse.
She’d worried it might steal too much of his busy time, but Blake readily accepted her daily request without hesitation.
It was already the third day.
The purification of Blake’s om was progressing successfully.
‘I’m glad Daddy allowed it.’
Riche hummed a little tune.
Then, realizing she’d now started calling Blake “Daddy” even in her thoughts, she lowered her head slightly.
That tingling feeling came again. Lately, her lips kept curling upward without her noticing.
“Hey.”
Someone called out to Riche as she was heading down from the third floor—where Blake’s study was—to her room on the second floor.
Only one person in Rodwick Mansion addressed her that way.
Deon was leaning against the railing between the second and third floors.
“Oh? Older brother.”
Perhaps because she was in a good mood after purifying Blake’s aura, Deon seemed unusually welcome.
Smiling, Riche hurried down to him.
“Why are you here?”
“What’s it to you?”
Then, seeing Deon’s pouty expression, she remembered the smell that used to emanate from his breath.
‘Ah, I guess he still smells.’
Deon had his unexpectedly kind side—maybe last time, he’d pretended not to smell just to care for her.
As Riche took a subtle step backward, Deon frowned and grabbed her arm.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“…….”
Startled by the sudden grip, Riche froze.
Deon looked at her flustered face and bluntly blurted out,
“You’re not weird.”
“Huh?”
Riche tilted her head, confused by the abrupt remark.
No, that wasn’t it.
After hesitating over his words, Deon just came straight out with it.
“Don’t worry about what I said last time.”
Ah.
Riche recalled Deon’s words from a few days ago in the corridor and nodded.
She’d only been anxious about being exposed as Ltiom—she hadn’t been hurt by his words at all.
It seemed Deon, not Riche, had been worrying about that “weird” comment for days.
“Were you waiting here just to tell me that?”
“As if.”
Deon scowled and turned his back—Riche knew this was his usual reaction when embarrassed.
He was still just nine years old—his actions were utterly transparent. Finding his grumpy back oddly cute, Riche followed him closely and spoke up.
“Why are you following me?”
“Older brother, what are you doing this afternoon?”
“Huh.”
“What are you doing?”
“Dunno. Got stuff.”
“Do you have stuff, or don’t you?”
“I said I dunno.”
Grumbling but still answering every question—and never telling her to stop following.
While bickering with Deon, they’d unconsciously walked out of the main building and onto an unfamiliar path.
Deon stopped at the Rodwick family library—a separate building constructed solely for that purpose.
“The library?”
Riche’s eyes widened at the sight of the unfamiliar building.
Deon glanced sideways at her.
“You coming in or not?”
“Um….”
Riche hesitated. She’d thought Deon was just avoiding her out of embarrassment, but he really did have somewhere to go.
Had she been too playful? She didn’t feel confident exploring a new place as if it were her own. Slumping her shoulders, she shook her head.
“I won’t follow. Older brother, study hard.”
“Yeah.”
Deon waved his hand a couple times and climbed the short steps toward the library entrance, leaving Riche behind.
But after ascending about three steps, he paused and half-turned back.
He saw Riche trudging away, her picture book dangling limply from one hand, looking utterly dejected.
‘What’s it to me?’
Deon turned to climb the stairs again.
But then—
Thud… thud…
The oddly listless sound of her footsteps grated on his ears.
“Ugh….”
Even her tiny sigh, assuming he’d already entered the library.
Deon scrunched his face and roughly ran his hand through his hair.
“Hey, mutt.”
Riche turned around.
Deon, looking inexplicably irritated, pointed toward the library with his thumb and said to her,
“Go in and take your picture book.”
[This is the timeline separator]“Wow.”
Riche’s eyes sparkled as she stepped inside the library.
The cozy, golden-toned library resembled a miniature palace.
Walls lined with books and scattered potted plants throughout.
One side of the arched ceiling was made of glass, pouring sunlight into the lobby.
“Welcome, young master. And Miss Riche is with you today too?”
The librarian, seated at a desk in the lobby reading a book, greeted them.
She was a woman in her early twenties wearing round glasses.
She smiled warmly at Riche.
“I’m Librarian Yan. I’ve seen you from afar a few times, but this must be your first time meeting me, right?”
“Oh, hello…!”
“The kid came for a picture book.”
Deon said that and strode across the lobby, opening the door on the opposite wall and stepping inside.
Seeing Riche stare at him in confusion, Yan spoke up.
“Miss, isn’t the library lobby’s shape unusual? It’s a regular octagon—that is, eight sides of equal length…”
“I know. A regular octagon.”
“Wow, you’re smart! Then can you see the seven doors along each side?”
Yan gestured around with her index finger, impressed.
Aside from the main entrance corridor, seven ornate wooden doors with intricate carvings adorned the other walls.
“Those who bear the Rodwick name may each claim one door. Inside is a private library for personal use. The young master just entered his own private library.”
Those who bore the Rodwick name…
That included her too. Could it be… would they give her a library as well?
Riche’s heart pounded.
Not from excitement—but from fear. She didn’t want to gain anything more that wasn’t truly hers.
But unaware of Riche’s inner turmoil, Yan smiled brightly.
“You’ll likely be able to use your own private library around next year. It takes about a year to organize all the books inside.”
“Oh….”
What a relief—it wouldn’t be given to her right away.
Though her sigh expressed relief, Yan mistook it for disappointment and offered comfort.
“But you’re welcome to use the library anytime before then! Aside from the master’s and young master’s libraries, you may freely use any of the other five. They’re filled with collections from past heads of the house. You said you came for a picture book today, right?”
“Yes.”
Yan offered to find an interesting picture book and led Riche toward the second door.
Just as Riche followed Yan—
[Contractor.]Pythons, nestled in her pocket, whispered into Riche’s mind.
[Tell her you’d like to go through a different door.]
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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At least that will make her discovered sooner by her new family.
Oh no! An enemy. How did she get discovered so fast?