As Khalina entered the dining room, all eyes turned to her, causing her to hurry to the empty seat on the opposite side of the table. Just as she sat down, a voice pierced the silence.

 

"What is she doing here..." The words dripped with disgust and malice, emanating from the boy seated across from her. It was Riverton Prerin, Khalina's second older brother, who shared the same age as her.

 

Khalina's heart raced as Riverton's eyes seemed to pierce through her, filled with hostility. She couldn't help but feel a sense of relief when another voice spoke up in response.

 

"Father wanted us all here, Riverton," the young man said, his tone calm and authoritative.

 

Realizing this must be Charles, the first son of the Viscountess from her previous marriage, Khalina regarded him cautiously. To her surprise, he offered her a friendly smile.

 

"You must be nervous, since you haven't seen father in a while," Charles said kindly, his smile still present as he addressed Khalina.

 

As Khalina nodded in agreement, she couldn't shake the unease bubbling within her. Despite Charles' friendly demeanor, something about him made her feel unsettled. Try as she might, she couldn't pinpoint the source of her discomfort. It gnawed at her, leaving her at a loss for words to address her uneasiness.

 

Riverton's expression flickered with confusion as he glanced between Khalina and Charles. Then, his attention shifted to the empty chair beside him.

 

A sigh escaped his lips. "It seems Martina won't be joining us today, brother," he remarked, his tone tinged with disappointment.

As Charles responded, mentioning Martina's condition, Khalina's thoughts drifted to the sickly second daughter of the Viscount. Martina was rumored to possess divine powers, which supposedly prevented the priests from being able to heal her.

 

Just as Khalina's nerves began to settle, a servant's announcement shattered the calm. "The Viscount and Viscountess will now be entering," the servant declared.

 

Khalina's body sprung up from her seat reflexively, and she noticed the others swiftly following suit. The sudden surge of adrenaline caused her heart to race once again as she awaited the entrance of her father and stepmother.

 

As the doors swung open, a striking figure clad in black from head to toe entered the room. His vibrant blue eyes glistened, capturing the attention of everyone present. His jet-black hair seemed to shine under the lights, adding to his imposing presence. He was followed by a woman, elegant and poised, dressed in a teal dress that complemented her blond hair and warm brown eyes. Hand in hand, they made their entrance, commanding the room's attention with their regal demeanor.

 

Khalina felt a shiver run down her spine as the woman's gaze swept across the room, finally settling on her. In that fleeting moment, Khalina saw something unsettling in the woman's eyes - disgust and strong hatred. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, but it left Khalina trembling with fear. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that gripped her as she stood frozen in place, the weight of the woman's gaze lingering in her mind.

 

The Viscount waved his hand, gesturing for everyone to sit, and Khalina obeyed, her heart still racing with unease. As they took their seats, servants swiftly brought out the food, but Khalina couldn't help but notice that it was so much grander in comparison to anything she had seen since entering this world.

 

Despite the unsettling atmosphere, Khalina couldn't deny the enticing aroma of the food before her. Her mouth watered as she reminded herself to eat as much as possible, knowing that this might be her last proper meal for a while. With determination, she savored each bite, trying to push aside the fear and uncertainty that threatened to overwhelm her.

 

As the servants swiftly cleared the table and brought out dessert, Khalina's apprehension grew. She couldn't shake the feeling of being under scrutiny as the Viscount turned his gaze towards her and asked a question.

 

"How has your training been so far?" His eyes bore into Khalina, awaiting her response.

 

Khalina responded hesitantly, her gaze flickering briefly towards the Viscountess, who seemed to be observing her closely. "I have not started my training as yet, Viscount," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness.

"Why is that?" the Viscount inquired, his gaze fixed on Khalina.

 

"That... well, I..." Khalina stuttered, struggling to find the right words.

 

Before she could respond, however, the Viscountess interjected, "She hasn't been feeling well enough to train, my lord."

 

The Viscount's gaze bore into Khalina, awaiting her response. Despite her efforts to respond truthfully, Khalina found herself trembling at the sight of the Viscountess in the corner of her eye. With her body betraying her, Khalina could only manage a nod, silently agreeing with the Viscountess's statement.

 

The Viscount's gaze lingered on Khalina for a moment before he continued the conversation. "Well then, you look fine enough now. I'll have someone assigned to you by the end of the day. Your classes are to begin tomorrow," he declared firmly.

 

Khalina nodded silently, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension at the prospect of starting her training.

The Viscountess's sudden movement caught Khalina's attention, and she felt a surge of anxiety as their eyes met. It seemed as though the Viscountess was silently urging Khalina to decline the offer, but Khalina quickly averted her gaze, turning her head in the opposite direction.

 

"Yes, my lord," she responded softly, her voice barely above a whisper. Despite the silent warning from the Viscountess, Khalina knew needed to accept the Viscount's decision to get a stronger foothold in this household.

 

The Viscount's attention turned to Riverton and Khalina as he inquired about their preparations for the new semester at the academy.

 

"Yes, Father. I am currently looking over my list of potential vassals and allies for the Viscountcy," Riverton responded promptly, exuding confidence in his readiness.

 

The Viscount nodded approvingly at Riverton's answer before directing his gaze towards Khalina. "And what about you?" he asked.

 

Before Khalina could respond, the Viscountess interjected once again. "Your Grace, I don't think that she is ready to go to the academy," she stated firmly, her tone leaving little room for argument.

 

The Viscount's expression soured as he listened to the Viscountess's explanation. "And why is that?" he inquired, his tone laced with dissatisfaction.

 

"She isn't prepared, due to her being unwell during the months of your absence, my lord," the Viscountess responded, her voice carrying an air of finality.

 

“That shouldn't be a problem it is a school after all what matters is if she thinks she is ready to go,” he glanced over to Khalina looking at her as if he was waiting for an answer.

 

The Viscount's words hung in the air, and all eyes turned to Khalina, awaiting her response. Her heart raced, and her hands trembled as she grappled with the weight of the decision before her.

 

As the thought of disagreeing with the Viscountess crossed her mind, Khalina felt a surge of anxiety. She knew that challenging the Viscountess's assertion would not be easy, yet she also recognized the importance of asserting her own readiness to attend the academy. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Khalina met the Viscount's gaze with determination.

 

"I believe... I believe I am ready, my lord," she finally managed to say, her voice quivering slightly but resolute.

 

The Viscount's response was firm and decisive. "Very well, that is the end of this matter," he declared, his tone leaving no room for further discussion.

 

The Viscountess attempted to interject once more, but the Viscount cut her off sharply. "That is the end of this debate," he stated in a louder and more commanding tone, effectively silencing any further objections.

 

"Very well," the Viscountess replied resignedly, and they continued their meal in silence, the tension in the air palpable. Despite the quiet, Khalina couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered in the aftermath of their exchange.

As Khalina found herself back in her decrepit room, she couldn't shake off the lingering tension from the earlier confrontation. With the maids nowhere to be seen, she was left to ponder her situation alone.

Suddenly, the sound of multiple footsteps approaching her room jolted her from her thoughts. Before she could react, Her door busts open,”You arrogant wrench!”