How to Be a Dark Hero’s Daughter

My face flushed and goosebumps arose. Cedric saw. He knew… everything about my past.

“How did Cedric know about that day?”

The day I first went to the Duke’s house to work as a maid. The day Collen took me as his adopted daughter. I was a filthy beggar, dripping with dirty soup.

‘He fell for that look?’

I thought he was mocking me.

You can say I felt pitiable. It’s vivid to say that he started liking me out of sympathy.

I remember the color of the wallpaper in the reception room that day, the color of the clothes Jade wore, and even the posture Collen was sitting in.

And that day, I heard those words.

“You saw, didn’t you? The prince who came to do an errand at the Duke’s house that day was Cedric.”

“I didn’t mean to, but I peeked into the reception room through an open door gap because the Duke didn’t come no matter how long I waited.”

“How did you recognize me?”

“Why wouldn’t I? You looked just as cute as you did then, and the first day we met in the classroom.”

My heart felt like it was burning.

‘He investigated me.’

Even if Cedric is frivolous, he’s no fool. It’s clear that he’s not someone who would ask to meet just to play with my feelings.

So… before seriously dating, he had already done his research.

‘Right. I would do the same. It’s only right. But…’

I didn’t feel good about it.

Maybe the reason he took me under the bridge to investigate werewolves today and toured several places… perhaps, there was a purpose to it.

‘He checked out where I lived.’

I abruptly stood up from my seat.

“Cedric… I’ll leave for now. Let’s pretend I never heard your confession.”

“Leticia.”

Cedric grabbed my wrist.

I held back the tears that threatened to fall. I knew it wasn’t Cedric’s fault. But still. Even though I knew there was no need to feel ashamed.

“Leticia…”

Seeing my flushed face, Cedric looked surprised and let go. I looked down, leaving Cedric behind.

The moon in the sky was not a romantic pink color.

It looked like a sugar candy dyed with soon-to-fade colors, just like my crumbling mood.

* * *

I hurriedly returned to the mansion and lay down on the bed. My entire body felt hot.

‘Cedric did nothing wrong.’

But why didn’t he tell me? That he knew everything from the beginning.

Why did he pretend not to know?

‘I’m a fool for worrying alone about my past.’

I sighed. Shaking under the blanket, I wished that by morning, it would all be as if nothing had happened. I wished.

‘It’s not the worst first love, is it?’

I recalled the goddess’s prophecy. Surely, it couldn’t be.

The certain thing is, I ruined the date that Cedric had prepared.

* * *

“So, the world is ending?”

“Huh?”

I lifted my head. Marianne was waving her fingers from across the table.

“Why do you look so pale? Weren’t you always so bright-eyed when we came to this cake shop?”

“Um, I’m just not feeling hungry.”

Marianne dropped her spoon.

“Oh my. Our child… this isn’t like her… How come? Are you that sick? Do you have a fever? Could it be a serious illness? Isn’t there a doctor here?”

In Marianne’s eyes, was I some kind of food fighter?

“I’m fine, Marianne.”

“Do you really have something on your mind?”

I licked my lips.

“Marianne, do you have someone you like?”

“Yes.”

Her answer came in just 2 seconds, catching me off guard.

“A, a boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

Do you have boyfriends or a boyfriend? Would it be rude to ask here?

“Do you like him a lot?”

The expression Marianne wore at that moment was unexpected. A shy, young girl’s expression.

“Yes… I’ve liked him for a long time. But he isn’t the only person I’ve ever liked.”

“That… That…”

Second… last time… Marianne opened her eyes wide, then burst into laughter.

“You believed that joke? Naturally, I have only one boyfriend. Of course, I haven’t exclusively dated one person. There were men I dated before my current boyfriend. Adult relationships are complex. Anyway, I’m dating only the person I truly love.”

“What kind of person is he?”

“Um… My current boyfriend is ordinary. He’s not rich or anything. But he thinks of me more than himself.”

“I see…”

“Of course, since I’m the Saintess, I can’t get serious about such a romance. But… he has the charm that sometimes makes me imagine. The me who becomes the wife of an ordinary man, living funnily in a small family home.”

Marianne added, seeming a bit embarrassed.

“Of course, living that way in reality would be incredibly boring.”

Marianne, who seemed shy in her speech, was stunningly beautiful.

“I’ll introduce you next time.”

“Yes, please.”

“But isn’t it nice? Our baby has grown up and is having such conversations with me.”

“I like it too.”