Becoming the Villain’s Family - Chapter 302

Chapter 302

“Dya.”

Babies often quickly pick up on their parents’ emotions through facial expressions, but Elaina was different. She seemed to understand more than just the outward expressions, almost as if she could sometimes read the underlying thoughts and emotions of others.

‘If Elaina is okay with it, then it’s okay.’

Almost as if she had never been anxious, Aria handed Elaina over to Grand Duke Valentine , with a light smile.

“Dyayaa!”

The baby burst into giggles, cuddling into her father’s arms and planting a kiss on his cheek.

Grand Duke Valentine, who was suddenly held by Elaina, frowned.

The wet…. ticklish touch

“…”

Surprised by the affection from this child, he looked down at the baby he was holding with a blank expression. Whether he knew it or not, his grim aura seemed to deepen, yet the baby just continued to giggle, seemingly enjoying the moment.

‘Should I leave her with him?’

Aria seriously wondered whether she should separate the baby from the Grand Duke now.

Given the Grand Duke’s unusually grim atmosphere.

Watching him silently for a moment, the Grand Duke playfully poked Elaina’s chubby cheek.

‘Was I seriously worried he was contemplating something grave when all he was pondering was whether to poke her cheek or not?’

Aria, who was nervous for no reason, let out a sigh and relaxed her shoulders. She then looked back and forth between the Grand Duke and Elaina with an expression that didn’t quite know what to say.

It wasn’t a look of tenderness or love, but…..

There was a curiosity about it.

It made her think, perhaps wanting to poke a baby’s cheek is just a natural human instinct.

‘Wait, have I seen that look before….’

It felt oddly familiar. Aria then remembered a similar look from Tristan when they first met, realizing this might just be a common human reaction after all.

When Grand Duke Valentine considered that Elaina might just be a strange baby who looked like him, it reminded Aria of the times with Tristan.

“Uhh.”

Elaina began to whimper as she felt uncomfortable with her cheek being pressed, but the Grand Duke seemed fascinated by the baby’s reaction to his light touch and quickly retracted his finger in surprise.

“Will this tiny one also become a Valentine when she grows up?”

“That seems likely.”

“Fascinating. Why does she follow me?”

Why wouldn’t she?

“Because… you’re her Dad.”

Aria replied with some reluctance.

The Grand Duke then gazed at Elaina with half-closed eyes, as if evaluating her, and said.

“Considering the history of patricide in the Valentine family, I wonder if she’s inherited the trait of wanting to kill her own father.”

“…”

“How long will she remain like this?”

It was the first time she had heard a dark joke. Aria and even Luca, who was observing them with a disapproving gaze, opened his mouth blankly.

“Are you suggesting Ella would want to kill you?”

He was Noah’s descendant that Luca had wanted to just die, but to attribute such sinister traits to their innocent Elaina.

Luca, who usually paid little attention to Lloyd, quickly took Elaina from the Grand Duke’s arms as he felt uncomfortable.

“Who is this, exactly?”

As far as Luca knew, there was no one more dedicated to innocently winning Elaina’s affection without pretense than Noah’s descendant. He didn’t really want to know but he had unwillingly come to know well during their time together on the battlefield with the remnants of Garcia.

When all his work is done, Lloyd would dedicate even his breathing time to Aria and Elaina.

Suddenly, the Grand Duke stared down at his empty hands.

“Since when did dragons start meddling in Valentine affairs?”

Luca and the Grand Duke seemed to deny each other’s existence.

Just as Aria was about to clutch her throbbing forehead, Vincent chimed in awkwardly.

“The soul, has changed.”

All eyes turned towards Vincent whose face was in vivid colors.

“He’s said to come from a destroyed world.”

“……”

Luca looked perplexed, unsure of how to respond.

While it seemed unlikely that Noah’s descendants could go so astray without an extreme situation, Luca found himself agreeing

“Another soul… Hmm.”

He studied the Grand Duke with a strangely different gaze, reflecting deep thoughts.

Then Winter, who had been observing everything with his typically blank expression, spoke up.

“So when are we going inside?”

Ah, right.

Aria just then noticed Winter, who had almost become part of the scenery. Maybe it was because he stood among the vibrant Valentines, or maybe it was his naturally pale colors, but Winter seemed especially inconspicuous.

“Let’s go inside first.”

Aria sighed.

In this already headache-inducing behavior, she decided it was best to move before the situation worsened with Winter’s sudden childlike demeanor.

She took the Grand Duke’s hand and led him towards the castle.

“….”

However, just then.

The Grand Duke, who seemed to have followed obediently, stopped abruptly.

“What’s wrong?”

Aria asked curiously.

When she turned her head, he stood silently, staring intently at the sturdy, unblemished walls of Valentine’s Castle.

“Nothing.”

The Grand Duke replied and resumed walking. His strides were long and fast, yet he seemed to move slowly, as if being led by her hand.

But before they even reached the main palace, the jaguars sensed their scent and rushed out to greet Lloyd and Aria. Pretending not to be jaguars, they growled and rubbed against their legs.

“….they’re still alive?”

Yes, they were alive. Though they had aged since Aria first met them when they were just young jaguars.

Want to read more? Up to [24] advanced chapters are available on Patreon: