* SLAP *
A deafening sound echoed in the library and I felt a stinging pain on my left cheek. As soon as I touched it, I felt my cheek swelling up. I raised my head and I saw the scornful expression from the duchess's gentle face. Her almond eyes were screaming with disgust as she saw me kneeling on the floor. One of her servants held my right hand, while the other was simply standing behind the duchess, a mocking smile painted on her face. The guards outside weren't present and I didn't get a glimpse of Ira.
"Who are you?" The duchess asked me, her voice full of hate. I sighed as I remembered her personality in the novel. She was the character that I hated yet pitied the most.
She didn't care about Yllaria being abused because she knew that I was not her daughter. She believed in it because she has hallucinations of the her 'real' daughter. In short, she got insane and mad after she lost the real 'Yllaria.' She always got violent and her violence was usually inflicted to me, the replacement.
I don't know her motive for changing Daddy's personality, but I should stop it through any means necessary.
Right now, I should be wary of her presence and actions. I started to change minor details of the story, so I can't predict the next events. I forcefully escaped from the servant's grip, silently stood up and curtsied.
"I am Yllaria Madeleine Sedillon, your daughter, Duchess Leanne." I winced in pain when she suddenly pulled my hair. I bit my lip as I tried to endure the pain. I hissed when she pulled it even harder. It hurts!
I felt the winds go unsteady, the light shaking of the ground and the quick shifts of temperature from hot and cold.
Shoot! I need to control the flow of my magic and mana.
I actually stayed in Ambrose's space for a year, which is approximately six minutes in this world. He started to train me and surprisingly, I was able to master the four elements. Right now, I can cast up to B-Level Magic, but I still need a little control. I can also cast a few A-level magic like sucking the oxygen from a person or making a portion of the ground shake, but it's still dangerous. When I tried to ask him for the remaining two, our time was already up.
A few minutes after I returned to this world, the duchess arrived. Ambrose was nowhere to be seen, nor can I feel his presence.
Going back to the present, I closed my eyes as I calmed myself. Ambrose told me that pain or intense emotions can affect the flow of my own magic and mana, so I need to be aware and control it.
"You? My daughter?" The duchess scoffed and pulled my hair again. I took a sharp breath as I felt the tingling pain in my scalp. She laughed like a psychopath when she noticed my reaction and I rolled my eyes. Despite the pain, I was still getting annoyed.
"Yes, I am." I answered her full of conviction. You bitch! Let go of my hair already! I was actually tempted to summon a wind blade and cut my hair to escape from her, but before I could do that, my hair was released. I looked at the duchess's direction and a relieved sigh escaped from my lips.
Daddy...
His face was stern, yet when our eyes met, I saw worry in his emerald eyes. I smiled at him and gave him a small nod, silently telling him that I was fine. He turned his head towards the duchess's direction with a dark expression. I noticed that he held the duchess's wrist and I guess it was tight because the duchess's face was wincing in pain.
"What are you doing?" His voice was the total opposite of his fiery-red hair. It was totally cold and emotionless. MY right eyebrow subconsciously raised when the duchess went from a proud expression to a teary one. Her tears were falling and I can't help but wonder.
Is this acting or is it because of her condition?
I immediately got irritated when the duchess clung to Daddy's arm like a koala. I feel bad somehow bad for comparing her to a koala, because koalas are cute, but this scene is nowhere near adorable.
"Yves, look at this scum. She dared to call herself our daughter." She whined like a kid and I began wondering. Who's the 5-year old here, really? Daddy sighed and I mentally grinned triumphantly when he removed this woman's arms from his.
I really don't like the duchess. From the original novel, I hated her. Then when I knew of what she had done to Daddy, I got more angry at her. I tried to talk to her carefully, trying to understand her side or to treat her like a mother, but I really can't. I can't accept the humiliation she's trying to inflict on me, that's why I won't be kind to her anymore. Rather, I'd be more wary of this woman.
"She's Yllaria. What kind of assertion are you saying, Leanne?" Daddy's eyes turned sharp and I can't help but silently shiver. He's really scary when mad and I was glad that I wasn't the person of that anger. I thought the duchess would yield down with his gaze, but the exact opposite happened. "She's a fake, Yves! She's not our daughter! Yllaria is resting at my room! I even read her a bedtime story yesterday night! Listen to me, YVES!" She started going hysterical, recklessly throwing the books from the nearest shelf to Daddy, but Daddy didn't even move. He let himself get hit with those hard and thick books. My eyes turned sharp and I felt my hate and anger consuming my mind.
This is... damn unforgivable.
This bitch!
The ground started to shake harshly and the violent gushes of wind ran in the library. I shut the door close using the air and I secretly made an air barrier to protect Daddy from getting onto this mess. The bitch stopped and looked at me with wide eyes. I glared at her, and even at her servants.
"You dare... to mess up this precious library and hurt my Dad?" I asked them, my voice seething with anger that it became really low. I felt my eyes glowing and I saw how the duchess and her servants looked frightened. They bundled up like a three matchsticks and I smirked when I thought of a good scare. "Oh, you look like matchsticks together. Should I... burn you up?" Their mouth suddenly gaped open, trying to shout but no voice came out. I already consumed the oxygen near them so they should be having a hard time to breathe right now. I guess I was right because they were gasping hard and were now lying on the floor.
"Now you look like thirsty dogs. What should I do with you?" I made sure that it looked like I was looking down on them by raising my chin up and staring at them with mockery. I saw fear in their eyes and I got slightly delighted. I took a step forward and the three instinctively moved back. I was feeling slightly weak and I felt my mana draining. Too bad, I can't do this longer. I rolled my eyes and faced them with a blank expression.
"You two..." I looked at the two servants and they immediately gulped. "Bring your mistress out of here. Dare to talk about it and you shall pay the price." They nodded and took the arms of their fear-stricken mistress. They assisted her to stand up but she looked so soulless. Did I overdo it?
"Duchess..." I called her out and she looked at me, clearly frightened. Her once mocking expression turned to fear. Her hair was a mess and her calm demeanor was long gone. "You didn't witness anything, right?" I gave her a sweet smile and she started shivering. She didn't give me any answer but I can already interpret it with her body language. I signaled them to go and the trio immediately left.
I sighed out of exhaustion and sat on the carpeted floor. I felt really irritated when my dearest books were now on the floor, some of the pages were scattered around.
"Ah, I shouldn't have made the wind too violent." I muttered to myself. I gasped when I remembered that Daddy was here. When I turned to his direction, I immediately noticed the shock on his face. I snapped my fingers to release him from the air barrier and he immediately ran to me. He knelt on the floor and examined my hands, and his expression darkened upon seeing my face. He held my swollen cheek and I winced out of pain. Ah, I almost forgot about that.
"I'm sorry for being late, Yllaria." He sincerely said and I gave him a pat on the head. I wrapped my small arms around him, feeling his warmth and smelling his familiar scent. "It's fine Daddy." I told him and he locked me up in the embrace. We stayed like that for a while until he broke the silence.
"Was that magic, Yllaria?" He asked me and I mentally sighed. I knew I couldn't avoid this question. I nodded and he sighed. I broke free from the hug and looked at Daddy's face. He looked so troubled.
"Is there any problem, Daddy?" I asked him and his emerald eyes stared at me affectionately, but at the same time, he looked worried. "Dad?" I tried to call him out again but he didn't even answer me. I sighed and gave it up, it seem confidential and I don't want to worry Daddy even more right now.
"Who taught you that?" He asked me but I shook my head. I remember Ambrose always reminding me not to reveal his identity to anyone, even Daddy. "I can't tell you. I'm sorry, but please trust me. He's a trustworthy person, Dad." I was shocked when I noticed his expression darken. Huh? What was wrong?
"He? It's a male?" I mentally smiled when I realized what he was trying to imply. Really, what a protective father. "Don't worry Dad. I'll be fine. Trust me, okay?" I tried to excuse myself cutely and his expression brightened up. I guess that would be fine for now. I was about to stand up when Daddy carried me in his arms as he stood up. Wah, he's really tall.
I pouted when I saw the books scattered on the floor again. Even though it was partially my fault, I still felt sad with the mess. Daddy must have noticed this and he gave me a soft pat on the head.
"Don't worry. By tomorrow, this library will be back to normal." He assured me and I immediately smiled. "Yey! Thank you Daddy!" I kissed his cheek as a sign of gratitude and I giggled upon seeing his red face. He started to head outside and I thought of something. I read this in one of the books on my room. It was really hidden under the bed and I was somehow lucky to find it. I guess the past Yllaria snuck that book out and hid it there. The book was about the Sedillon family, from it's background and all types of things, though I clearly remembered quite shocking details.
The Sedillon family was known to be the right hand of the emperor. They managed the connections with the other empires and also took accounts of the businesses here in the empire. Only selected people, including the emperor, know that the Sedillon family has a secret. Our family wasn't only managing connections or businesses, but we also lead a secret army that was loyal to the Sedillons and the Imperial family. Every head of the Sedillon family was expected to manage them.
Umbra, that's what they were called.
I wasn't sure if they were still active, but I guess it would be worth the shot.
"Daddy..." His emerald eyes looked at me and I leaned to his ear. "Is Umbra... still active?" I whispered in his ear and he immediately halted. Since he was holding me, I felt his hands tremble. I looked at him and Daddy looked so troubled. I saw anger and worry in his eyes.
"Yllaria, where did you hear about that?" He asked me, and I could hear the slight tremble in his voice. I was about to open my mouth to talk when he shushed me. "Wait, in the office." I nodded and we silently headed to his office. Despite the silence, I can sense the tension from Daddy.
After entering the office, he carefully placed me on the couch and sat on the seat opposite to mine. His emerald eyes were serious, not showing a hint of amusement. I mentally prepared myself, because I already knew that this would be a serious talk.
"Now, tell me. Where did you hear about them?" He asked me. "I read it in a book, Daddy. It was in my room, under my bed." He massaged his head after hearing my answer. Daddy looked so stressed and I can't help but be confused. Why?
"So you knew about them...From magic... Then this..."He muttered and I nodded. It must be really hard for him to digest these things.
I'm sorry, Dad.
"Why are you curious about them?" He asked me and my expression turned serious. I already thought of this after reading that book and knowing about Umbra's existence. It almost slipped my mind after learning magic, but because of the circumstances earlier, I realized that I need more power.
The tension in this room matched with my serious expression. My golden orbs met his emerald ones. A soft breeze blew as I uttered my answer with conviction.
"I want to join Umbra."