Becoming the Villain’s Family - Chapter 331
Chapter 331
They were surely pressured into making friends with the young Valentines.
Elaina considered retreating indoors under the pretext of heatstroke.
“Excuse me, Young Lady Valentine.”
A young noble, whom she had not summoned, approached her familiarly.
“What is it?”
Elaina responded indifferently, aware that he was from a noble family. After all, the gathering was meant for high-ranking nobility to socialize. But that was all she acknowledged.
She sat motionless, almost lying down in her chair.
“….”
She never even considered acting polite.
The young lord who had approached her triumphantly was shocked and looked at Elaina for a moment. He recovered quickly, however, clearing his throat grandly.
“Pleased to meet you. You probably know already, but my name is Ugo Amarente. It’s an honor to meet you…”
“Yes, a pleasure.”
Elaina cut him off shortly with a blunt voice..
And from behind her sunglasses, she pinned him with a bored gaze.
“So, what brings you here?”
Get to the point already.
It seemed as if she might kill him if he spoke out of turn.
“……”
From a distance, she didn’t seem like she would be pleasant to interact with.
However, when he approached Elaina through her younger brother, Astin, it was beyond imagination.
Why did he sense the scent of his eldest brother from a Young Lady he was seeing for the first time?
The child shuddered, remembering the eldest son of Duchy Amarente, who had become like a demon since hitting puberty.
‘What is that hideous thing, anyway?’
Elaina was wearing sunglasses so large they covered half her face.
It was so worrisome that it seemed like her prominent nose might sag under their weight.
No matter how sunny the resort was…
‘Aren’t those supposed to be worn just for a moment when the sun is strong?’
It was during her entire summer vacation.
Elaina had not taken off her sunglasses for three days straight.
As if they were part of her.
This, too, was far from the dignity expected of nobility.
‘Kids.’
Regardless of status, children were often allowed to commit indiscretions.
Especially if it was the indiscretion of a high-ranking noble.
‘But still shouldn’t she at least make the effort to sit up properly?’
It wasn’t as if she was the Emperor receiving ministers. Even her three-year-old brother would do that much.
Ugo clenched his fist, trembling with frustration.
‘Heroic Valentine.’
They had been ruling their autonomous state since the times they were called devils.
Not only that.
For centuries, virtually every globally renowned artist had passed through Valentine.
“Valuable artworks are the most noble and aristocratic investment items that can be used to accumulate wealth. Valentine was the first to actively utilize this. Essentially, it can be said that all the world’s wealth passes through Valentine.”
Ugo recalled the words of Duke Amarente.
Moreover, they were not just devils but hidden heroes who had saved the world from destruction.
A family possessing honor, wealth, power, and legitimacy.
Their status was somewhat ambiguous within the ranks of the high nobility.
If anything, they existed uniquely between nobility and the emperor.
They were probably the only ones who could refuse social activities and not be subjected to gossip.
“The Emperor has been too busy establishing national discipline and has not yet married, hence she has no children. Meanwhile, Valentine’s eldest child is already eight years old.”
The Duke started his speech with clenched fists.
“Only four families, including Amarente, are of equal rank to Valentine. Certainly, Valentine must have one of the Ducal families in mind. That’s why, no matter what, we must secure a marriage alliance with the Valentine family!”
This might seem like an unusual conversation to have with a child, but it was taken for granted among the nobility.
Why else would the marriage arrangements be called marriage trades?
The marrying age for nobility is usually no later than fourteen.
So, it was the perfect time to start negotiations for such contracts.
“Other families will definitely be eyeing Young Lady Valentine.”
It was inevitable.
Valentine had been excluded from the marriage trade lists solely because of the curse of the devil.
From the beginning, the curse had been disproven in front of everyone, so it was only natural for everyone to be frantic about forming ties with Valentine.
The attendees at this resort were from the four Ducal families called the pillars of the empire, along with Valentine. Even the major nobles had some scruples, too intimidated to even think about being in the same enclosure as Valentine.
They were, however, eagerly waiting for Valentine to let them in. How?
Through their children’s marriages.
That’s why such gatherings came into existence.
On the surface it’s a social event, but in reality, they were nothing short of bloody battles.
“The adults will handle the contracts. Your job is to make a good impression on that child.”
“I understand, Father.”
“Gaining favor would be ideal, but even though it’s just a child, winning someone’s heart isn’t easy. Let me tell you one thing: never earn their hatred. Absolutely not. Understand?”
“You worry too much.”
Ugo nodded.
That mad dog of a brother…
…No, his brother also married to solidify his family’s standing. He had no thoughts of defying his duties as a high noble.
‘But considering who the other party is.’
No.
The sort of romantic relationships found in fairy tales didn’t exist among the nobility.
‘Besides, it’s only a contract until adulthood.’
Once you’re an adult, you’re free to do as you please.
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