Actually, in her previous life, Aila didn't care about what he did. She was a very happy child who just did what her father told her to do and received a little praise from him.
She would have to find out for herself, using the techniques he had taught her, to use her for his revenge.
Even Byron could not have predicted that the technique he had taught to use as a blade to take Rodrick's life would end up strangling him.
Should I be thankful for this? A bitter smile came out of her.
“First, let’s do some light stretching.”
Cloud made a gesture. It meant for her to run around the training ground. It was a training routine that was repeated every day, so there was no need to say anything.
Even though shr hadn't trained with him for quite some time, she could tell right away what he was talking about.
Aila shut her mouth tightly and began to run through the dusty courtyard of the fortress. She would probably run a few laps diligently, and then Cloud would leave her and go about his business.
It was a trust built up through years of diligent training. The belief that even without his watch, Aila would train her body tirelessly.
Just to get her father's approval. She felt incredibly uncomfortable as she recalled her past self gritting her teeth and running around the training ground, longing for her father's love.
But that was all in the past. There was no need for that anymore.
There was nothing wrong with building up stamina, but there was something more important now.
‘...Now that I’m back to my childhood, I need to check how strong my stamina is.’
By the time she entered the Duke's house, she had already surpassed her master Cloud's skills. No one could possibly match her in following someone, hiding and eavesdropping, and killing people without even realizing why they were dying.
Aila couldn't help but laugh. Wasn't it really funny? These were techniques she was embarrassed to show off to anyone.
Even so, Aila needed those embarrassing skills. She needed to use them to find out what Byron was up to.
But that is also something that can only be done if the body's strength keeps up.
So, Aila needed to check to see what level of stamina she had.
Aila looked around before checking her physical condition. She couldn't afford to be caught with her suspicious behavior.
The sun was just rising, and the day was just beginning, so the fortress was completely quiet. Of course, there were guards at the entrance, but it seemed like no one was watching what she was doing in the walled training grounds.
When she was a little older, there were always guards following her, but now that she was still young, it seemed that the guards were lax.
'Good.'
After making sure there was no one around, she climbed a tree near the training ground. Aila looked satisfied as she climbed the tree with minimal noise and no fuss.
It seemed that she had become more agile because her body had become smaller. Although she had not yet held a dagger in her hand, she seemed to have no problem using one.
Standing on a sturdy branch, Aila tried to maintain her balance and swing her sword with her empty hand a few times. Her arm movements and balance were impeccable.
In the meantime, the once hazy sky had completely brightened. Shr saw Laura opening the door and coming out. It seemed like it was time to finish her morning training.
Unable to be caught like this, Aila quickly jumped down from the tree. Despite jumping from quite a height, she landed with barely a sound.
She straightened her clothes and pretended to run on the field again.
“Miss, that’s enough training. You need to take a bath before you dine with the master.”
After training, Aila always took a bath under Laura's care. It was to get ready before seeing Byron. Dbr had gladly accepted it in the past, in the hope of looking pretty in front of her father, but now that she thinks about it, it was disgusting.
Everyone, including Laura, was always obsessed with Aila's hair.
She resembles Ophelia, with her silver hair.
“You have really nice hair, Miss. I’m sure the Master would be very proud of you.”
Even now, isn't Laura whispering sweet nothings and carefully combing her hair?
Even as she wandered through the mountains and abandoned fortresses, she never ran out of the finest hair oil to apply to her hair.
Yes. There was a time when she thought this was proof that her father loved her. He did it with such utmost sincerity.
But it was only later that she realized that it was nothing more than an abnormal obsession with her mother, Ophelia.
“Aren’t you happy?”
Laura asked in a puzzled voice. Whenever she complimented her hair, Aila would bashfully smile.
“...happy.”
Aila smiled shyly, trying to resist the urge to spit in Laura's face. Only then did Laura, seemingly satisfied, return to working on her hair.
Her meal with Byron was closer to lunch than breakfast, for he always got up late, just as the sun was high in the sky.
As Aila, who had woken up at dawn, finished her morning training and even finished her bath, was sitting at the table, Byron, who looked as if he had just woken up, entered the restaurant with leisurely steps.
She used to really like Byron's looks. His blazing red hair and his bright yellow eyes. His sleek, handsome features.
Even though she couldn't find anything similar to him, she firmly believed that Byron was her real father. She was proud of the fact that Byron, who had an air of nobility that was difficult to approach, was her father.
But now, she had to struggle not to contort her face when she saw his face.
She wanted to rush at him and tear his limbs apart right away. She wanted to ask him why he did that to her.
But she had to endure it.
To find out what Byron is up to and safely return to Roderick and Ophelia.
Aila had to make them believe that she was still blindly following him.
'So, I have to endure it.'
Aila forced her facial muscles, which were reluctant to move, to smile brightly. Then she opened her mouth in a welcoming voice.
“Did you sleep well, Father?”
Because she had to meet a father who loved her so much, she should have become a very happy girl.
“Yes, my daughter. Come this way.”
Byron, sitting haughtily on a magnificent chair that could be considered a throne, gestured toward her. It was a routine that always happened. Whether he felt good or bad, he always started his day by stroking Aila's hair.
And whenever her father called her, she would run to him with a happy face and kneel down before him. At those times, she felt more loved than ever.
So she had to do it now. She knew she couldn't hesitate.
But just knowing it didn't move her body.
Just like when she lied to Rodrick and Ophelia when she was still completely fooled by Byron and believed Rodrick to be her enemy, she thought she could do the same in front of Byron.
'No. Is the situation different from that time?'
Rodrick and Ophelia were so happy to find their biological daughter that they simply looked upon her as cute, even though she acted a little awkward and distant, but Byron was different.
If he showed even the slightest sign of suspicion, he would become wary of Aila. Which meant that the situation was much more dangerous now.
She has to go. No matter how disgusting it is, she has to endure his touch.
“My daughter. Why aren’t you coming?”
Even in that brief hesitation, Byron sensed something odd and made a displeased expression. It was understandable, since this had never happened before.
Thinking that she couldn't make any more mistakes, Aila ran to Byron and knelt down in front of him. She put her arms around his legs and rested her head on his, as if asking him to pat her quickly.
“Yes, that’s right. You are good, my daughter.”
After a moment of hesitation, Byron seemed satisfied with her appearance as usual and reached out with his one remaining hand to start stroking her hair.
Goosebumps, goosebumps. Every time his hands touched her hair, she felt goosebumps all over her body. It was a truly horrible feeling.
Wasn't her past self really foolish? How could she think that this was a scene of a daughter being loved by her father? If it were a scene of a pet dog being affectionate to its owner, it would be different.
“Laura said that you overslept today. That’s why you didn’t get to do much morning training.”
Byron asked with a smile. The hand stroking her hair was still gentle, but his voice was somehow sharp.
“...I’m sorry, Father.”
Did she run over and tell him in the meantime? Laura was always there to take care of her, except when she was out training. It was impossible to know when she reported it.
“You don’t come right away even when I call you. Why? What’s wrong?”
Now, Byron had stopped stroking her and was looking down at her with cold eyes. It was obvious that he was angry.
'So, I have to endure it.'
Aila forced her facial muscles, which were reluctant to move, to smile brightly. Then she opened her mouth in a welcoming voice.
“Did you sleep well, Father?”
Because she had to meet a father who loved her so much, she should have become a very happy girl.
“Yes, my daughter. Come this way.”
Byron, sitting haughtily on a magnificent chair that could be considered a throne, gestured toward her. It was a routine that always happened. Whether he felt good or bad, he always started his day by stroking Aila's hair.
And whenever her father called her, she would run to him with a happy face and kneel down before him. At those times, she felt more loved than ever.
So she had to do it now. She knew she couldn't hesitate.
But just knowing it didn't move her body.
Just like when she lied to Rodrick and Ophelia when she was still completely fooled by Byron and believed Rodrick to be her enemy, she thought she could do the same in front of Byron.
'No. Is the situation different from that time?'
Rodrick and Ophelia were so happy to find their biological daughter that they simply looked upon her as cute, even though she acted a little awkward and distant, but Byron was different.
If he showed even the slightest sign of suspicion, he would become wary of Aila. Which meant that the situation was much more dangerous now.
She has to go. No matter how disgusting it is, she has to endure his touch.
“My daughter. Why aren’t you coming?”
Even in that brief hesitation, Byron sensed something odd and made a displeased expression. It was understandable, since this had never happened before.
Thinking that she couldn't make any more mistakes, Aila ran to Byron and knelt down in front of him. She put her arms around his legs and rested her head on his, as if asking him to pat her quickly.
“Yes, that’s right. You are good, my daughter.”
After a moment of hesitation, Byron seemed satisfied with her appearance as usual and reached out with his one remaining hand to start stroking her hair.
Goosebumps, goosebumps. Every time his hands touched her hair, she felt goosebumps all over her body. It was a truly horrible feeling.
Wasn't her past self really foolish? How could she think that this was a scene of a daughter being loved by her father? If it were a scene of a pet dog being affectionate to its owner, it would be different.
“Laura said that you overslept today. That’s why you didn’t get to do much morning training.”
Byron asked with a smile. The hand stroking her hair was still gentle, but his voice was somehow sharp.
“...I’m sorry, Father.”
Did she run over and tell him in the meantime? Laura was always there to take care of her, except when she was out training. It was impossible to know when she reported it.
“You don’t come right away even when I call you. Why? What’s wrong?”
Now, Byron had stopped stroking her and was looking down at her with cold eyes. It was obvious that he was angry.
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