How to Be a Dark Hero’s Daughter

“No way.”

Memories of my time with Siebel crumbled apart in my mind.

That’s not it.

The affection I received for the first time at birth from my siblings. The love bestowed upon me by Marianne, as an aunt. The love Zion gave me, accepting me as his young mistress.

The love Collen gave, adopting me as his daughter.

All of these were the first feelings I cherished in this world, the very first emotions I ever experienced.

‘Why are all my memories being replaced by those of Siebel?’

No, this is a lie.

All my firsts, my first precious people. My first loves…

‘It’s broken.’

Moreover…

‘My memories of Cedric are completely erased.’

Cedric. Just thinking about his name made something surge from within me. I felt nauseous several times.

‘Again… I see… a light…’

This wasn’t just a regular nausea.

‘What is this?’

When I spat out as if vomiting, something glittered from my throat.

“Don’t lose consciousness. I haven’t given permission. Now, you should dream sweet dreams again.”

Siebel whispered to me languidly. Why can’t Siebel see this light?

‘When did I first see this light?’

Suddenly, an impossible memory popped into my head.

‘Huh? Cedric? But why does his arm look like that?’

A youth with a grotesquely twisted, furry arm. But such a handsome, flawless youth. A twenty-year-old looking Cedric stared at me from below his legs.

And then, Cedric, carrying the young me discarded in a garbage dump… What’s this memory?

“Cough.”

That light went back into my throat. I clutched my neck and gasped for air, unable to breathe. Siebel, who was watching, touched my head.

“Calm down, focus. You can do it. Be good.”

I shoved Siebel’s hand away.

“It’s not you!”

I ground my teeth and yelled at Siebel.

“Don’t touch me, I hate it!”

I struggled. The maids came into the room and pinned me to a chair, gagging my mouth.

“Phew, this will probably be the last time, Leticia.”

Thud thud.

Siebel, dressed impeccably as a noble, approached me, grabbing my forehead.

“Ah!”

A needle was thrust into my neck.

The syringe moved, and my head went dizzy.

‘What was I doing?’

My memories fragmented again, filled with Siebel.

No, I can’t.

Don’t steal all of my first loves. Because that’s…

“Do you remember now, Leticia? Who I am.”

“…Yes, Doctor Siebel.”

It was the worst first love.

* * *

It had been a month since I met a child named Nigel. He was the only one in the castle I could communicate with.

“Hey, Leticia. You haven’t had any fits lately?”

“Ah, I’m just frail.”

“Hmm… So that’s how the story goes?”

Nigel would sometimes make incomprehensible comments.

“I’m fine now. Perfectly fine.”

I laughed softly.

Indeed, I had been completely fine this month. There were no moments where my memories blanked out.

I felt confident, and my health was better than ever. Then, there was a knock on the door. The maids came in with armfuls of packages.

“These are all gifts sent for Doctor Siebel. If you like any of them, you can take them.”

“What’s today’s haul?”

“Cosmetics and perfumes from various countries, dresses, and jewelry.”

They opened the boxes to show me.

This house often received such lavish gifts.

‘It seems Doctor Siebel’s clients desperately want to impress him.’

Occasionally, visitors came, and I would hide on the staircase, watching each one.

“This is pretty.”

I spun a black skull made of crystal adorned with diamonds.

Jealousy was evident on the maids’ faces. Oh, the maids in this house were all former criminals who sought refuge with Siebel.

Understandably, they disliked me. Was it bad luck for Siebel to only have me as his disciple?

I played with the crown decorated with obsidian and black diamonds placed on the skull.

“This lipstick would look great with the new black mesh dress.”

The maids showed me a dress layered with black mesh and adorned with red silk roses.

I was tired of playing dress-up.

“Doctor Siebel asked if you’d play chess with him tonight.”

“Hmm, then I should change.”

“Yes.”

After changing clothes and touching up my makeup, one of the maids applied a bright red lipstick on my lips.

“Ah!”

Then, I grimaced. My lips stung. Blood dripped.

“Omygosh, there was a blade inside the lipstick!”

One of the maids murmured.