The Villain Family Opposes Independence (13 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 2
“Alright. We’ve cleared one hurdle.”
Now that the annulment papers had been sent, my heart felt significantly lighter.
That day, I leisurely took some healing time to calm the shock of recalling my past-life memories. I soaked in a warm bath and enjoyed sweet desserts.
Realizing I no longer needed to scramble for others’ attention or validation actually brought me peace.
No longer would I have to feign docility in front of my family just to read their moods, nor would I lash out at the servants who ignored me, the bastard child.
I wouldn’t need to secretly cry over gossiping socialites chattering about me.
I wouldn’t have to wonder anymore why I couldn’t live an ordinary life like everyone else.
Knowing now that they weren’t truly my family made me feel surprisingly unburdened.
‘Right. From now on, I’ll live a little smarter.’
As soon as I get some money, I’m leaving this house…!
However, that brief peace didn’t last long—trouble struck the very next day.
“Young Lady. The Lord summons you.”
The household butler himself—a man famously loyal only to my father and notoriously averse to visiting anyone—had come to fetch me personally.
And with quite an urgent matter, too.
“Father? Right now?”
“Yes. He commands your immediate presence.”
But I couldn’t follow the butler right away. Meeting Father wasn’t exactly something that filled me with joy.
‘No, honestly, I’m scared.’
Ever since I’d been left in this mansion as an infant, I’d never once managed to relax in Father’s presence.
Even as a child ignorant of most things, living in such a household naturally sharpened one’s instincts.
Father didn’t like me.
I’d understood that fact even before I could properly speak.
The family atmosphere made it impossible to mention my mother. Father’s cold, indifferent gaze left me raised only by the care of my nursemaid.
Likely, his dislike stemmed from my status as an unwanted bastard—my very existence an embarrassment to the family name.
‘What’ll happen when he finds out I’m not even his bastard child, but actually another man’s daughter?’
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the patiently waiting butler gently urged me.
“Young Lady, please hurry if you would.”
“Alright.”
Why had he summoned me?
With so much guilt on my conscience, I couldn’t easily guess what I’d done wrong.
Following the butler, I became deeply absorbed in speculation over what this could possibly be about.
Since recalling my past life, I’d holed myself up in my room making various plans—but hadn’t I just caused an incident right before this?
‘Could it be about my shouting match with the maids?’
But he’d never summoned me over such matters before.
Even when I’d gone to social events and pulled noble brats by their hair, Duke Ferdia hadn’t said a word. He showed little interest in any of his children, so I rarely saw him anyway.
Perhaps once a month at the obligatory family dinner? Even then, it was purely ceremonial—more like a survival report confirming we were all still breathing, given how fiercely individualistic this family was.
Yet his indifference toward me differed from his attitude toward my two brothers.
From the start, we’d lived in separate quarters: I in the annex, they in the main house. While they were occasionally called to his study to discuss family matters, I was summoned so rarely I could count it on one hand.
There had been a time when I’d tried hard to earn Father’s love—but all I ever received in return was cold silence.
He’d just stare at me wordlessly, yet that gaze had always made me unbearably sad.
‘So why summon me now?’
Now that I remembered my past life and knew how the story would unfold, every unexpected event filled me with dread.
“I shall inform His Lordship.”
“Okay.”
I waited for the study door to open, feeling slightly anxious.
Soon, the tightly shut door creaked open, slowly revealing the interior.
That man standing there, eyes downcast, reviewing documents—
That handsome man was none other than my father, Sylvester Ferdia.
Head of House Ferdia and master of the empire’s underworld—an embodiment of immense power.
The Duke slowly raised his head.
His jet-black hair seemed to absorb even the sunlight pouring through the window, and his piercing golden eyes held an emotionless intensity reminiscent of a predator’s.
Boom—
The door closed firmly behind me.
I walked to the front of his desk, deliberately masking my nervousness.
Before I could speak, Duke Ferdia spoke first.
“Elodie Ferdia.”
The moment he called my name, the urge to flee surged—but I was already trapped with no escape.
“Yes.”
“You’ve caused trouble.”
His tone was flat and factual, devoid of any regret or emotion—just a simple statement.
‘Here it comes.’
Thinking it over, the only major disturbance I’d caused lately was yesterday’s quarrel with the maids. Apparently, news of it had reached the Duke.
I took a deep breath and swallowed nervously.
Then, clenching my fists tightly, I shouted:
“I’m sorry!”
“…What?”
“I was wrong!”
“Elodie Ferdia.”
“I won’t do it again!”
“…”
This was my famous three-part apology combo.
After all, once someone preemptively begs for forgiveness like this, the other side usually has nothing left to say.
Judging by the Duke’s expression—normally so cold and composed—now tinged with disbelief, my tactic might have actually worked.
‘Did I succeed?’
At least he didn’t seem angry—so that counted as a win, right?
While I was busy nurturing that hopeful thought, the Duke’s expression hardened again. He pinched the bridge of his nose and spoke quietly.
“I received a message from the First Prince. You demanded he annul your engagement?”
“Oh? That wasn’t wrong of me.”
Again?
I’d assumed he was talking about the maids.
Since annulment felt like an obvious necessity, I hadn’t even considered that might be why he’d summoned me.
‘I thought Father wouldn’t care either way.’
After all, he’d never shown any real interest in me.
Puzzled, I tilted my head—but seeing the Duke’s increasingly grim expression, I tensed up again.
‘Oops.’
Recalling my past life must have made me bolder. To relax even slightly in front of Duke Ferdia himself—what was I thinking?
Instantly, I hunched my shoulders and braced myself with renewed tension.
The Duke’s expression, which had earlier held a hint of exasperation, now turned icy.
“I’ve turned a blind eye to whatever mischief you caused within the family.”
“I know.”
“But this time is somewhat different.”
“…”
“Wasn’t this engagement something you desired?”
He was right.
Back then, I’d desperately wanted to be engaged to the First Prince.
I’d pleaded and begged Duke Ferdia—who had no wish to entangle himself with the imperial family—until the engagement happened. I craved that power so no one could scorn or ignore me for being a bastard.
If I became Empress, no one would dare mock me. I’d make them taste the humiliation of calling the very bastard they once despised ‘Your Majesty.’
‘If only I’d known that path led straight to ruin…!’
I met the Duke’s gaze steadily.
“I remember you clearly opposed the engagement back then. So I assumed ending it wouldn’t matter to you.”
“Circumstances have changed.”
Currently, the Wilentian Empire had two candidates for imperial succession: First Prince Adenmir Presil Wilrent, born of the Empress, and Second Prince Beltran Locke Wilrent, born of the Imperial Consort.
My engagement to the First Prince had implicitly signaled Ferdia’s tacit support for him.
Recalling the original story, after my engagement with the First Prince was broken, the Duke went so far as to adopt my sister to replace me—so his words were undoubtedly true.
“So you’re saying the annulment isn’t allowed?”
“Correct.”
“Understood.”
My calm compliance seemed to sharpen the Duke’s gaze.
This was certainly not the look of a father gazing at his daughter.
It was the piercing stare of someone trying to decipher my hidden motives.
To avoid unnecessary suspicion, as always, I averted my eyes from his.
‘So annulment really won’t be easy.’
I never expected the First Prince would contact the Duke instead of me.
That was odd. I’d assumed he’d gladly sign and submit the annulment papers without hesitation.
Then again, Prince Adenmir had never truly liked me. He’d only sought Ferdia’s power to become Emperor, treating me merely as a fiancée in name.
Meanwhile, before regaining my past-life memories, I’d actually held a bit of fondness for him.
‘Because he was handsome?’
But however handsome he was, I wasn’t going to live off his looks—I had to avoid my doomed future first.
Since Adenmir clearly disliked me, it’d be better to maneuver things so he initiated the annulment himself. Just as that thought crossed my mind, Duke Ferdia leaned back in his chair and waved his hand dismissively.
“Confine yourself for now. Return to your quarters and reflect, Elodie Ferdia.”
I was surprised by the lightness of the punishment. I’d half-expected harsher consequences for my lack of remorse.
Just as I turned to leave, I caught the Duke’s expression as he watched me.
For some reason, he looked like he had something more to say—was that just my imagination?
Unable to suppress my curiosity, I blurted out:
“Is there anything else you’d like to say?”
“…No. Go.”
Even after leaving the study, my suspicion wasn’t entirely dispelled.
‘He really looked like he wanted to say something.’
As if to contradict that thought, the door slammed shut firmly behind me.
[This is the timeline separator]I was briskly heading back to my room to diligently carry out my confinement—
When, unfortunately, I ran straight into two people coming from the opposite direction.
“Hello, Lily.”
My elder brother, Yansi Ferdia.
“What are you staring at?”
And my younger brother, Carlot Ferdia.
Since the only place at the end of this corridor was Duke Ferdia’s study, they must both have been heading there.
“Coming from Father’s study, I hear? Rumor says you requested annulment from the First Prince—is it true?”
Yansi affectionately used my nickname and asked gently in his usual warm tone. I offered a faint smile in return, but inwardly remained cautious.
Yansi Ferdia inherited his jet-black hair from the Duke and his mother’s striking blue eyes.
Though he resembled Duke Ferdia, his constant cheerful smile made him seem like how a young duke might appear when smiling.
As the heir bearing the strongest concentration of House Ferdia’s bloodline, Yansi wielded its mightiest power.
The Ferdia power of “Destruction”—and Yansi’s specific ability was “Annihilation.”
A terrifying power that inflicted fatal wounds on living beings and erased inanimate objects entirely.
Despite his perpetually gentle demeanor, one must never be fooled by that kind facade.
Yansi always used my nickname and casually asked after my well-being in that affectionate voice. Because of this, I’d once believed he was the only genuinely kind person in this family.
But after witnessing his cold, contemptuous glare during ‘that incident’ a few years ago—when he looked at me as if I were something repulsive—I realized I’d been gravely mistaken.
Now that my memories had returned, my already poor impression of Yansi had only worsened.
‘A man whose outside and inside don’t match.’
Some of Yansi’s inner thoughts were revealed in the novel—and they confirmed my suspicions.
Outwardly smiling, but inwardly calculating every interaction, ready to ruthlessly crush others when necessary.
When I smiled but didn’t answer, Carlot, standing beside me, sneered:
“It wasn’t that you requested annulment—it’s that the First Prince dumped you.”
Carlot, with his curly red hair and golden eyes, openly disliked me. Though two years younger, he’d never once called me ‘older sister.’
Worse, when we were children, he’d called me “Hey, bastard” instead of my name.
Now that he was older, he no longer used that slur—perhaps he’d finally realized it dishonored our father’s name, or something.
‘And that’s supposed to be progress…?’
Pathetic.
If I had to choose, Carlot—whose hatred was plain to see—was easier to deal with than the inscrutable Yansi. In fact, he was the only one I ever openly defied, since I had to act meek around the rest of the family to stay in their good graces.
These two before me perfectly inherited one distinct trait each from their parents—clearly, undeniably the trueborn heirs of House Ferdia.
In contrast, I was completely disconnected.
‘Of course—I don’t share a drop of their blood.’
Once, that fact had made me unbearably miserable, but now that I knew the truth, it left me utterly indifferent.
“Yes. I was just coming from talking with Father.”
When I answered while looking at Yansi, I felt Carlot glaring at me, clearly ignored.
‘Hmph.’
I didn’t even glance at Carlot, keeping my eyes fixed on Yansi.
“Did you get scolded badly?”
“Just got confined—”
Before I could finish, Carlot cut in:
“Pfft. Serves you right.”
It was a clear provocation, but I lightly ignored him and continued:
“—and that was it.”
“Just confinement? That must be tough.”
“I’ve been stuck in my room anyway lately. It’s fine.”
“Right. Hang in there, Lily. If you need anything, just tell me.”
Yansi gently patted my shoulder with an encouraging smile—prompting Carlot to glare at me even more murderously.
“If you need something, handle it yourself. Don’t cling to our brother.”
The hostility was unmistakable.
His message was clear: someone like you will never belong within our circle.
Yansi finally spoke up, unable to stand it:
“Why are you like this, Carlot? We’re family—we should get along.”
“Fa-mi-ly?”
Carlot scoffed mockingly, but Yansi replied without missing a beat:
“Yes. You’re both my dear little siblings.”
‘Liar.’
He smiled sweetly on the outside, but who knew what he truly thought inside? He was far more cunning than he appeared.
Naturally, Carlot recoiled in disgust.
“Brother, are you insane? Comparing me to that thing?”
Carlot’s expression twisted in utter disbelief—he refused to acknowledge me, a bastard, as family.
A day ago, I might have been hurt and responded bitterly—but not now.
‘So what? We’re not real family anyway!’
So instead, I smiled even more brightly than usual—just to thoroughly annoy Carlot—and replied:
“Thank you for worrying about me, Elder Brother. And you too, Carlot.”
My unusual attitude made Yansi regard me with a meaningful, questioning look.
“Ugh.”
Carlot twisted his head and mimed vomiting.
‘Rude little brat.’
I clicked my tongue and sharply turned away. Dealing with him was too much trouble.
‘Forget it.’
I’ll gain independence from this house as soon as possible. Then I’ll never have to see that face again.
It was unnecessary.
Outsiders might treat me as House Ferdia’s sole young lady despite my bastard status—but inside, this household was rotten to the core.
With light steps and no regrets, I left that place behind.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (66)
What? Will you create an antidote to help the Duchess? I hope you appreciate her help.
Hahaha, now he’ll say she’s different and no longer likes him, and that he’s chasing after her – a typical cliché.
Hahaha, is he jealous or does he not want to be the second prince so he doesn’t lose his position?
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Miioo
What is this? I hope she breaks off her engagement with that despicable prince. Her brothers are filthy. I hope she leaves them and becomes independent.