Extra Long Chapter: I have a very complex family (2)

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We are a Family

"Ivy, do you remember when you were younger, I've told you that we are not descendants of noble blood?" The Duke started explaining with a serious face, and Ivy nodded.

Ivy encountered this part of the villainess story when she was teased at one of the social events she went to many years ago.

It was the summer tea party at the marquis mansion, and Ivy was ten years old. After taking the role as a Villainess for two years, she felt exhausted attending social events as she thought she was always very unwelcome by them. On top of that, after she met Gregory and Gracie, she felt that just having them and the Prince as her close friends are more than enough for her.

However, being the daughter of the duke and the duchess who love their daughter very much, she felt the need to fulfill her obligations so that she won't bring them shame.

So that day, when Ivy was walking down the hallway and on her way back to the party, she overheard some girls talking behind her back again, but this time it was different because this time they were talking about her parents, the duke and the duchess.

The girls whispered to each other,

"I heard her father was a scoundrel, and her mother was a whore. Such dirty blood in her, she is not fit to be the princess for the prince."

When she heard their words, her blood began to boil. That was the only day that the usual calm, cool, and collected Ms. Ivy Augustine lost control.

After returning to the mansion with scratches and injuries, the duke and duchess only then learn what had happened to her. So when Ivy was quietly repenting in her room, both of them decided to tell her the truth about them.

Ever since that day, Ivy has avoided going to any more social events. She could tolerate people talking bad about her, but when it comes to her friends and family, she could never tolerate, not even a second.

She learned that the Duke was an illegitimate child between a count and a prostitute. He claimed his title as duke after being the hero at war and that he was also the emperor's loyal and trusted man.

While her mother, the duchess, was just a simple woman whose father was a merchant and a very good local informant.

And so at the age of fifteen, even though she thought she knew the villainess's story, it seems that she only but knew the tip of the iceberg.

"In the past, we have done things that we are not proud of, and we have hurt too many. I may not be able to tell you all the details, but before I was the Duke and even before I went to war, I was a member under your grandfather's guild - the Raven Wolves."

"So you and Mr.Peterson are working as informants?"

While Ivy tilts her head in confusion, the Duke shook his head and replied

"The Raven Wolves has two faces. On the surface, the Raven Wolves looks like a normal merchant guild, selling goods and information, but our main business lies underground. Your grandfather controls the front and acts like the devil that makes contracts and sell information. The other was Peterson, and he was the leader of the other group behind the scenes."

"What group?" Ivy gulped

"The Grim Reapers. We were not just informants. We are also hired-assassins."

Ivy raised her brows. She thought it was a joke.

Her father, the demon, her grandfather, the devil, and now her uncle, the grim reaper?

Now she just prays the author made her mother normal.

However ridiculous this setting it was to her, she manages to maintain her composure.

When she came to this world, she learned how common killings were, so she wasn't surprised to know about assassins' existents.

Though she never expected her family to be one, it did not matter to her because she will accept them no matter who or what they were.

So she calmly replies and said

"ok, noted, and?"

All of them raised their brows and was a little taken back by her weak reaction.

"and? don't you have any other questions you want to ask about?" Peterson said as he was curious about what is exactly going on in Ivy's head.

"What are you talking about?" She looks at Peterson with an emotionless face. "Father already said he wasn't able to spare me all the details, so just tell me what you think I should know. You can take your time. I'm not in a hurry."

Then Ivy calmly sips her tea again, as if this was just another ordinary conversation.

While Peterson just responds, " Are you sure you are fifteen? Sometimes you sound like an old..." and immediately got hit in the head by the rest.

As Ivy sat her tea down and she smiled at them, "I can't deny that I wasn't even a little bit surprise about our family's background, but I love all of you no matter where you are from."

Everyone, except Peterson, immediately hugged Ivy like a teddy bear.

"Why are you so cute! I love you very much too!"

"Don't worry. My cute sweet Grandbaby, Your Grandpapa, will never put you in harm."

"Your father, as well! That is in the past now, so don't you worry, my daughter."

Then Ivy raised an eyebrow again,

"So that family business ended?"

"Kind of," Peterson replied Ivy and look at them across the table as if he was now a stranger in the family.

"Everyone left but me."

Peterson looked at them as he clasped his fingers together, and his expression hardens when he turns that friendly smile of his upside down.

"So do you want to know why?" his strongly gaze at Ivy.

Inside Ivy's mind, she thought <ehh, sounds like an invitation to unlock a new quest. I got enough trouble as it is. Hmmm...>

After a sincere thought, she said no, and when Peterson asks why not, she just answered.

"You'll tell me when you are ready."

Peterson's face suddenly loosens as he wasn't expecting that answer. Then he smirked at her.

"And what if I'm never ready."

She smiles at him back and said

"It's ok. I will always wait for you right here..."

Then she held her parent's hands, and she repeated.

"We will always wait for you right here like a family."

Peterson's mouth fell open then comes out with a loud laugh.

"Ha! My niece is truly a piece of work. You are not like anyone I've ever met."

Peterson has his reasons why he continued with the family business. The business requires a lot of traveling, and he was never in the same place.

So after the Duke and the Duchess left, and so did Mr. Omer, they slowly became distant and hardly ever see each other face.

When he came back one day and saw how happy they were together with her, he felt like they were in another world that he no longer belongs.

Today he felt different, and it's all thanks to her words for reminding him.

"Ivy, I want to apologize." Peterson started bowing his head at her. "It's partly my mistake that you almost died. I shouldn't have left anyone of you there. There should've been another way. I should've..."

"Ok, stop." Ivy said as she held up her hand, "It's not only your fault because I insisted on staying. I've cause everyone here a lot of grief, and I'm repenting for my actions as well. So both of us are at fault. Let's just reflect on this and move on."

"But..." Peterson clenches his fist "because of this incident. You now have a scar on your face."

Said Peterson as he continues to keep his head down.

"Every action has its consequences. This is my action, and it's my consequence. So again, uncle...."

Ivy went under his gaze then she smiled cutely at him and said

"Can you lift your head, pleazzz..."

Peterson blushes at Ivy's cute expression, and he immediately rises and says, ok.

Then he turns away his gaze to hide his embarrassed face. 

"but if there is anything at all that I can help, just let me know. I am your uncle, after all."

"Ah! Then..."

While she whispers her plan with her family, please wait patiently as her plans will be revealed in the next story.

Readers: (￣Д￣)ﾉ Oii!

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"Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!"

Ivy yelled before they disperse.

"Before we end the family meeting, I just have something else to ask."

Ivy suddenly looks serious while the rest just tilted their head and waited for her question.

"If you knew who I am, that means you recognize me from the beginning!"

Ivy pointed her fingers at Peterson while Peterson touches his nape and awkwardly smile.

"Ya... when I saw your face. I knew who you were."

"Then why didn't you tell me?! I would've heard you out at least."

"Ah....." he rolled his eyes to the side, "about that..."

"What?" She folded her arms, waiting for his plausible excuse.

Then he took out a flier from his bag and showed her two posters.

One a Missing person Reward and another a Wanted person Reward.

Those two in the picture were Ivy and Prince Leon.

When Ivy saw those posters and the reward money on them, she started to scrunch up the posters and clench her hands into a fist.

She already knew who did this, and the only possible person is

"Grandpapa!!! How could you do this?!"

Mr.Omer turns his gaze away and pouted his lips.

"Hmph! I wanted to spend time with my cute granddaughter too. The fastest way is to send out a missing person poster, no?"

"Then what about this other wanted poster! You can't be doing this to a Prince!" She bangs her hands on the table and looks at him, but then Mr.Omer rolled his eyes over to the Duke and said

"That's poster was not made by me."

Then Ivy immediately turns her mean gaze to her father, who is currently fidgeting with his fingers.

"Father! What you have to say about this?! And what's with this ridiculous amount of reward! It's even higher than finding me!!!"

She held up both the poster showing.

Missing Girl - 500 gold coins

Wanted Man - 10,000 gold coins

The duke folded his arms and pouted.

"Hmph! It's his fault for running away and kidnapping you again. I needed to teach some manners into that kid!"

While Ivy covered her face with her hands, feeling that there is no hope talking sense to both of them, she turns her gaze at Peterson and asks.

"Uncle..." she called his name in a ghostly like voice.

"So, what were you planning to do with these?"

Uncle Peterson flinched

Σ（ﾟдﾟlll）

"Well..." he began to stammer while he tried to explain his financial situation, "Y-you know the family business hasn't been doing very well lately, so I thought with these funds we could..."

But when he saw the small cute Ivy suddenly grew angrier by the minute, he hesitated to finish his sentence.

Ivy said nothing, instead just held out her hands at him.

Peterson began to sweat, "but Ivy ... my sweet, sweet darling niece... can't you spare your uncle just a little?"

Then she immediately turns that frown into a smile giving Peterson that light he wanted in that dark tunnel.

"I'll just take 80%. However, I'll need to include the beer tournament you induce on the boys, so that will leave you..."

While she inputs the number in her head, she then took his balance and placed it on the table.

"Only 100 left?!!!"

Peterson immediately began crying and groveled down on his nice feet.

"Nooooooo!!!! I still got boys to feed. You can't do this to me."

"You and the boys will receive salary payment for the work you put into the construction. So this much is sufficient for all the emotional damage you cause me."

"Ahh..." Peterson threw himself to the ground, heartbroken.

——— that's the end of Ivy's first family meeting.

The duchess just sat there happily drinking tea.