Reincarnated as a Villainous Duke (37) Who Gets Condemned by His Daughter ～I Stopped Acting Like a Villain, Yet My Daughter Keeps Becoming the 'Ice Lady'～ - Chapter 02: My Daughter, Forsina

Chapter 02: My Daughter, Forsina

In the end, by the time I finished sorting through my memories and handling my duties as a duke, the day had flown by, and it was already night.

I had been working non-stop in my office, eating lunch at my desk, and only realized this life might be harsher than my previous one when I got into the bath before dinner.

Then came dinner time.

The dining hall of the Blaumont family was massive—large enough to host guests regularly. The room was about the size of a small banquet hall, with an impressive fireplace and a long table that could seat 20 people. Naturally, the design of the room, the table, the chairs, the candelabras, and the dishes all oozed luxury.

But despite the grandeur, the problem was that only two people were sitting at that long table.

One was me, seated at the head of the table.

The other was a beautiful young girl with long silver hair that flowed down to her waist.

Her name was Forsina Blaumont—one of the main heroines of “Orlea Old Stories” and my biological daughter.

She was 14 years old. Her profile, with a hint of youthful innocence, was stunning, like an ice sculpture, but completely devoid of emotion. That’s why she was called the “Ice Lady” in the game.

“Good evening, Father.”

“…Yes, good evening.”

After exchanging that brief greeting, we didn’t say a single word to each other throughout the meal.

It wasn’t because I was overwhelmed or mesmerized by seeing a heroine from a game I’d once played to exhaustion.

Surprisingly, seeing her didn’t really stir any strong emotions. Well, that made sense—I had been her father in this world for her entire life. At this point, the most I could think was, “She’s as pretty as she was in the game.”

What was tougher was the fact that I had no idea what to talk about with her. According to my memories, I hadn’t had a proper conversation with Forsina in years.

“Uh… ahem, Forsina.”

I tried to say something—anything—but Forsina flinched slightly, her body trembling as she slowly turned to face me.

Her eyes, a cold, glacial blue, showed no trace of emotion.

“Yes, Father?”

“Well, what are you currently studying?”

“Magic studies, the history of the kingdom, advanced arithmetic, and rhetoric.”

“I see. You’re working hard. How is your progress with magic?”

“I can use all four basic elements now. I’m currently learning the theory behind higher-level elements.”

“Good, that’s excellent.”

When I praised her, she remained expressionless, but her eyebrows twitched ever so slightly.

“Please rest assured, Father. I am doing everything I can to be chosen as the queen.”

“Wha—!? Oh… right, of course.”

With that one statement from Forsina, I suddenly remembered why our relationship had become so strained.

Yes, as part of my mid-level boss villain act, I had been plotting to marry Forsina off to the royal family. Since she was a child, I had subjected her to strict education to mold her into someone fit to become a queen.

“As the daughter of the Blaumont family, my duty is to marry Prince Roax and become the future queen, bringing benefits to our house. I have never forgotten that. I will surely repay the kindness you have shown in raising me.”

“Uh, yes… That’s a commendable attitude.”

“I fully understand that this is what I must do to atone for causing Mother’s death. So, Father, please guide the Blaumont family without any worries.”

Looking into Forsina’s eyes, which held not a single trace of emotion, I remembered everything clearly.

My wife—Forsina’s mother—had died shortly after giving birth to her. Consumed by grief over losing the woman I loved, I had taken out my resentment on Forsina. It was an unforgivable thing for a father to do… but now that I think about it, this was exactly how the game’s backstory went. This was the reason that, as a mid-level boss, I was destined to be condemned by Forsina.

But wait—hasn’t my relationship with Forsina already turned so cold that it’s beyond repair? Even if I avoid becoming a mid-level boss, I still feel like she’ll condemn me one day just out of pure resentment.

It seems I have more urgent problems to fix beyond just avoiding the villain move. I’m starting to seriously worry whether a survival route exists for a villainous duke like me.