Becoming the Villain’s Family - Chapter 4

“We’ll be at the expense of the Grand Duke.”

The maids shifted their gaze towards Aria.

Everyone was pale, afraid to imagine what the Grand Duke might do once he finds out about Aria’s mistreatment within the mansion.

Unexpectedly, some of the maids sympathized with her. They pitied her because she had been abused all her life.

“The Grand Duke hasn’t sent an official letter of marriage though,” one of the maids pointed out, trying to reassure the others.

Needless to say, her efforts were futile.

In most noble houses, due to inheritance and family alliance, marriages were contracted at a young age. Hence the average age of engagement was rarely over fourteen.

The Grand Duke of Valentine would turn fourteen years old this year.

“Well, she’s going to die anyway.”

“That’s right. She’ll be sacrificed to the devil before he harms us.”

The House of Valentine usually searched for marriage partners only once in a generation. Then, the wife would have to bear the child of the Grand Duke and continue his bloodline.

The child of the following marriage would get to inherit his succession rights, titles, precedence, and entailed property, but it wasn’t as good as it sounds.

The Grand Duchess usually dies after giving birth to an heir.

There had been many rumors about it, but no one knew the actual truth.

Those that became the Grand Dukes’ bride had to break all ties with their family and friends.

‘They were nothing but sacrifices.’

That was what everyone called them.

“You can’t speak, and soon you’ll be stuck in the Grand Duke’s mansion forever. You have nothing to fear, though! I’m sure you’ve suffered much worse.”

While listening to the maids, Aria recalled her memory of last night.

After she got hold of the Mermaid’s Tears, entrancing the Count became quite simple.

All she did was add a few words to the lyrics; ‘send me to the Grand Duke of Valentine,’ and it immediately worked.

‘Shall I sing to them like what I did to my father?’

No, there was no need for that.

The maids kept repeating, “You need not be afraid!” but Aria did not respond.

There was an uneasy tension in the atmosphere. The maids’ unsettled eyes glanced unceremoniously around the room.

Then, Aria rummaged through a small old silver bag that she had been carrying on her shoulder.

She was mute, so she carried the bag every day as it contained items that helped her communicate.

Inside the bag were a bottle of ink, a quill, and a pack of cards. Aria wrote on a card and held it out to the maids.

Understandably, they ignored the Count’s offer to meet.

‘There wasn’t even a single reply.’ Aria mused.

The Cortez family was famous for its lineage of musicians.

Amongst them was Maestro Lo Cortez. He was famous for his overwhelming talents in singing, songwriting, and composing.

He was known as ‘The Father of Music’ and is considered to be the greatest musician of all time.

‘Even Cortez, the Maestro of Music, was disregarded by the Valentines.’

Thanks to this, the Count snapped. His rage exploded like magma.

He immediately hired a guide from the guild, scheming to break into the Grand Duke’s mansion.

“It is better to go back, My Lord.” The guide calmly remarked.

He assured the Count that he was the best in the industry.

But Aria was petrified.

She felt a chill down her spine.

“Your request was ridiculous from the very start! Nobody dares to visit the Grand Duke’s mansion. Those that enter the Ingo Mountains have never come back alive!”

But there was no pain at all.

Aria opened her eyes, tears blurring her vision.

“Sob, sob…”

The monster licked Aria’s hand and wagged its tail like a dog.