Secret Love Affair between a Former Saint and a Dark Hero - Chapter 67
If she had stayed still, it would always have been the same pattern—the daily routine that pre-regression Iora experienced. Her father, always infuriated by Iora’s actions, would either slap her or yell. After venting his anger with all sorts of profanity, he would leave the scene with a refreshed face or he would order Iora’s confinement.
The servants would subtly mock this, and her mother would add more hurtful words to the mix as she watched it all unfold before leaving to go to her own room upstairs. Meanwhile, her brother would unleash more insults, crushing Iora’s heart.
That was their daily life.
‘Until I regressed, that is.’
A loud sound, like a heavy object passing right above her head, echoed. Iora quickly lowered her head to avoid it. In the room, there was a dreadful silence, as if everyone was struggling to comprehend the current situation.
“…”
“…”
Iora had been poised, ready for her father to slap her, having been hit so many times in the past. In the moment of preparation, just as her father was about to strike, she skillfully dodged backward. He, looking awkward with his hand in mid-air, stood gaping at her. Following his lead, there were the bewildered servants, her mother, and her brother Janus, now staring at the bizarre turn of events.
Iora twirled the end of her hair with her fingers, shyly smiling and chuckled.
“Violence is bad.”
As she grinned, her father took a step back.
“Father was about to hit me just now, so here’s this glass of water.” She continued, lifting a glass from the table. “But surely it would be wrong to return the favor and throw it in his face.”
However, her father, soon regaining his composure, blushing, swung his hand again. Iora dodged it once more, making it clear that the first time wasn’t just a stroke of luck. Calmly, she raised her hand as if to calm down a raging bull.
“H-How dare you!”
“Father, sincerely, do you think of me as a beast or livestock?”
“Why on earth are you talking about that right now!”
“I’m neither a beast nor livestock. I’m your daughter. No, even towards the animals you raise, you wouldn’t treat them like this. Don’t you think this is going too far? How long do I have to live like this? Why does it get harsher when I keep quiet and endure it?”
“What? What do you mean? Are you spouting nonsense with that hole in your mouth? You really did go mad, as Janus said!”
“Oh, did my brother say that? That was quick.”
Hearing that, her brother scampered off again. Iora glared at him, and her brother who had just been laughing at her turned around to avoid her gaze. What a cowardly bastard.
“Unfortunately, I’m not mad, Father. I’m more in my right mind than ever.”
“Ha!”
Suddenly, there was a loud, clear snap: a slap. Or, more accurately, Iora let herself be slapped. There was a silent pause. Iora felt her lip burst open and a small trickle of blood trickle down. Wiping it away with the back of her hand,she looked down at the smear and smiled.
“I have proof now.”
“What?”
“One way or another, I am a candidate for sainthood. What would happen if word got out that a saint candidate was being abused by her parents all this time?”
“Who, who abused you? How dare you try to frame your father?”
“Oh, so you think these are baseless accusations. If I take this evidence and expose it to the public, then you would have no fear of being investigated for it, Father?”
“…”
“But you do, don’t you?” Iora waved her hand. “You have your noble dignity, so I’m sure you believe everyone should overlook this. If you wish to hit me, then hit me. And don’t worry, Father. I have the courage to strip in front of a magistrate for evidence, and if you beat me so hard with those big hands, my body will be the proof of your brutality, won’t it?”
He shuddered. His expression was murderous. He had the look of a man who wanted to strangle his daughter right then and now.
“You’ve lost your mind,” he said.
“If I am mad, then you’re even worse. This entire household isn’t in its right mind.”
She turned her gaze back to her father, a man she could never understand. The person who, until the very end, battered and killed Iora’s hopes. A selfish parent who never showed a moment of sympathy or tenderness towards his own daughter.
‘A father like you wouldn’t look good even in a soap opera.’
Iora moved slowly, sitting down carefully in her place with her back straight. She smirked and gestured for her father to take his seat at the head of the table. He was dumbstruck, confounded by her actions, but eventually sat down with a grunt.
The air was tense as father and daughter exchanged glances.
Azucena
I love it!!