The Villainess Won't Die

BUT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING I CAN ASK HIM SO STRAIGHTFORWARDLY, or he might get suspicious of my question. At least, I would if I were him.

"Terry said yours will be ready in three weeks, Tasha. Until there, you'll use my own weapon, got it?" Damn, he really is trying his best. But I still don't get the reason. Because it must have a reason for this. "Thank you, dad. I'll do my best." "Oh, I know you will, Tasha. You are my daughter, after all. You always do your best, so that's not bothering me," at least he knows that!

Here I go. "So, dad, what does the Imperial Crown Prince looks like?" I asked casually, and thankfully he didn't find it strange.

"I wish I knew, but I don't know. I met Joshua when he was a little kid, but my memories of him are thin like a fog. So, I don't remember that kid's appearance at all. Although Hendri once told me that, like you and me, his son is the one who looks the most like him. Why?"

As if that helped with anything. Not even my dad knows what Emperor Hendrixander looks like. It's useless information.

"It's just that thought you've met him when you went to the Imperial Palace to talk about my archery teacher," he laughed again.

"As you already know, Tasha, the Archduke hates all the aristocrats. That kid is only seventeen but already stubborn like his father. Whereas it's not a secret that he hates us, so he didn't care about seeing me. And like I told you, Hendri asked his secretary to speak to the Crown Prince, and he did. Then his secretary came back with Sir Leonard."

It makes sense. If Joshua hates my dad, he would never bother showing up. Besides, I referred to all the times he was there, not only today.

I still think that Joshua could be using this opportunity to infiltrate one of his trustworthy men as a spy in my family. Considering me the weakest link in our House, in his mind, it would be easier to infiltrate someone using me for that. But I may be overthinking this.

Well, it's good to have this in mind. This way, I'll stay on guard. And I'll also avoid getting caught by surprise.

However, if that's the case, and I'm right, I may use this information for my own advantage. Once I'm not at my family's side, nor am I at the Crown Prince's. This time, I won't be stupid.

If everything goes wrong, I will only be on Val's side and my own. No one else. I may have allies, but no one is as important to me as Val. And if I had to kill all of them to save him, I would do it smiling.

"Oh, Tasha, about the stylist... I forgot to tell you, daughter. I called Lady Sasha Ora to come here today. 6 pm is, okay?" Oh, I thought he would take care of that once he asked me the colors, I wanted my chambers to be.

I guess he just wanted to know about it.

"Yes, dad! After my swordsmanship class with Master and Asher is finished, I'll be able to deal with that, just fine," dad nodded, turning to Sir Rogers.

"Rogers, bring me my bow with the arrows," well, a 'please' wouldn't kill, dad. Education sent a 'Hi'!

The Knight nodded respectfully and went to the back of the armory, where we keep the best weapons every time we come here. Leaving us alone. "Tasha?" Why is he looking at me as if I was a rare gem? Awkward.

"Yes, dad?"

"You're the best swordsmanship apprentice I've ever seen," did someone put drugs on his food? "You're even better than I or, Hendri was at our age. And way better than your siblings. I'm sure Thorin knows this," I looked down, trying to hide the annoying blush on my cheeks.

"Dad-" But he didn't let me continue.

"Let me finish, please, daughter," why is he acting like this? It's not something he would typically do.

"Sorry."

Accepting my apologies, he continued. "I'm sure you wouldn't even need a personal Knight, but it's always good to be extra careful in a position as mine own. And you are my daughter, so that's for the best. But I want you to know that I may not show, but I do believe in your potential," I don't even know what to say after this.

Was he guarding this inside him all this time? Or is he only thinking like this now because I came back to the past and changed some things? It's too confusing. I don't understand why this is happening. Why is he changing so much? First, the talk we had while eating. Then dad asked for us to go horse riding, which happens sometimes. But he kept saying things that felt off to me because it didn't happen in my last life. And he even asked the Emperor for an archer to teach me archery. Not to mention that he went to such lengths as asking Terry to craft my weapon.

Oh, and he's also letting me use his bow with arrows. And the dad I know would NEVER let any of us, not even my siblings, touch any of his beloved weapons. So, what am I supposed to do now? I'm not used to him acting like this towards me.

"And if you had powers stronger than Octavian's fire magic, I would make you, my heir. That's for sure," ha... hahaha... now THIS is my father!

Of course, he would bring this up. He would lose the opportunity, would he? Damn, I feel stupid.

"But unfortunately for you, Tasha, our world is the way it is. Magic is all around us, and if you don't have it, you won't be able to walk with us," now, this looks more like what my father would say.

Cursing myself for blushing with his words before. I closed my eyes, swallowing my true feelings. Clenching my fists, using all my willpower not to show him, or the damned Knight that was hearing everything from where he was, how pissed off I am now. Putting my best smile on my lips, I turned to face him again.

"As I'd said before, dad," my voice was so calm and composed that I was also surprised. "I don't care about this. Nothing, and when I say nothing, I mean it!" It was not to sound bitter while saying that. "Nothing I do is to gain anything from you. Nor your love, neither your recognition nor your money. I do what I do because it makes me feel good like this."

Dad looked perplexed by my words, and I saw an inch of disbelief in his golden eyes, like a mirror of my own. He didn't need to say anything for me to see how pretentious he was being now. Yes, this is more like him.

"And dad, there's no need for you to beat yourself up just because I don't have magic. It's no good. Neither for you nor me." Damn, you should see his face. I'm delighted.

I had to hold my laughter with all the strength I carried inside me when I saw the shock in his eyes. And the fact that he wouldn't answer because Sir Rogers came back at the exact moment made the situation funnier. "Here it is, Your Excellency. What you asked for," Sir Rogers held the fancy bow in his right and the arrows with his left one, turning in my direction.