I'm in Love with the Villainess!-Chapter 158: Evelina/Fiona

Inside the main hall, the man seated at the head of the table frowned.

Gian Whitestrake—Fiona’s cousin—oversaw most of the family’s operations outside the kingdom, and even beyond the empire’s borders. He was a man unafraid to commit high treason if it meant more wealth.

"Report from the eastern shipment?" he asked irritably.

"No issues, my lord," someone replied. "Although there were rumors of interference in the Cold Iron District."

"The Cold Iron District? Isn’t Fiona in charge of that area?" Gian asked, idly swirling the wine in his glass.

"I’m not surprised she’s having issues," another noble said. This was Carisle Whitestrake, who worked directly in the king’s ministry to help conceal the family’s corruption. "She was never fit to be a Whitestrake."

"That child doesn’t even take her studies seriously."

A louder voice from the second floor cut through the hall. It belonged to Yngvield Whitestrake, patriarch of the family and Fiona’s grandfather—the mastermind behind their wealth and power.

He also harbored a deep contempt and burning envy for the D’Arclight family.

The moment he stepped onto the stairs, everyone in the hall stood and bowed.

"At ease, all of you. I’m sure you’ve heard about the disturbance in one of the Shadow Society’s main undercities. Does anyone have information?"

Yngvield stopped at the head of the table and tapped Gian’s shoulder, forcing him to vacate his seat at once.

"Apparently, it was treason, my lord," said another Whitestrake, one who worked closely with the Shadow Society.

"Treason?" The other members at the table—and at the surrounding tables—immediately turned their attention to the accusation.

"Apparently, Lord Troy’s daughter betrayed the Shadow Society. That’s all I knew before I lost contact with them."

"Troy...? And where is he now?"

"He’s at the main estate back in Jenhall, Grandfather."

"So this was all Fiona’s fault..."

Yngvield clicked his tongue and tapped the table, his anger plain to see.

"Have the Carisle Mercenary Group look for her; this will not go unpunished."

Yngvield slammed his hand through the wooden table, the wood splintering under the force of his blow. He wasn’t just some wise old man.

He was an S-Rank earth mage—a veteran of the war between humans and elves during the Elven Invasion of the Empire. That same war had earned him the title of imperial mage and the rank of earl.

Creak.

"I’m afraid that won’t be necessary."

The doors to the hall swung open with a long, low groan.

That shouldn’t have been possible. They weren’t expecting any more visitors. On top of that, the outer estate was packed with guards, backed by both magical and mechanical alarm systems.

There was no way anyone could get inside without being shredded by spells and bullets.

Every head turned.

Silence fell.

She stood framed in candlelight.

Short skirt.

Polo shirt.

Relaxed smile.

For a heartbeat, no one recognized her.

Then—

"...Fiona?"

Her mother’s voice cracked. Penny Whitestrake—the one who handled most of the Whitestrake family’s business in Eryndor, the one who watched over Fiona while her father managed the main estate—stared at the girl in disbelief.

"Have you gone mad, Penny?!"

Yngvield barked, jabbing a finger at the girl who had just trespassed.

"How could you mistake your daughter for a D’Arclight?!"

The instant Yngvield spoke the name, the entire hall snapped to high alert. Some guests drew pistols. Others began murmuring spells. A few even turned to run.

Those last ones would only find death at the hands of the assassins waiting just outside the doors.

"Is that Lady Evelina?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Why is she here?"

Fiona ignored their whispers and cheerfully waved at them all, utterly unbothered by the fact that she was speaking to them while using Evelina’s body.

"We meet again, family!"

"What is the meaning of this, Lady D’Arclight?"

Yngvield had no idea what was going on. Seeing Lady D’Arclight stroll past all their defenses alone was already shocking—but seeing her act like her granddaughter was something else entirely.

"You don’t recognize your own granddaughter? I know I’m in a different body, but you should’ve still recognized me..."

Fiona smiled, one finger on her chin as she smiled dangerously.

"Then again... you never really looked at me, did you?"

Fiona knew she was being unreasonable. There was no way anyone would actually recognize her. But being unreasonable was surprisingly fun, especially now that she held the power of a D’Arclight in her hands.

The hall went deathly still.

Yngvield’s eyes narrowed.

"Enough games," he said coldly. "State your purpose before I have you restrained."

"Restrained?" She glanced lazily around the room. "By who?"

A low thud echoed from outside.

Then another.

Then the faint, wet sound of something heavy collapsing onto stone.

No one moved toward the doors anymore.

"They’re not coming," she added helpfully. "Your guards, I mean."

Fiona set her hands on her hips as her form subtly shifted, succubus magic reshaping her body into something more familiar—her own. The white hair and crimson eyes of Evelina faded, replaced by Fiona’s blonde hair and violet eyes.

[Change]

"Is this better?" she asked.

Yngvield narrowed his eyes. Her words meant nothing to him. What mattered was the danger she posed. Daughter or not, she was a problem the Whitestrakes had no intention of keeping.

"Whitestrake or D’Arclight, you are unwelcome here."

He already knew the entire estate was surrounded; the noises outside made that clear enough.

They had all been as good as dead the moment the trap was sprung.

But...

There was still one chance of survival.

He was a full-fledged S-Rank, while Evelina was S-Rank only in potential. If he could defeat her, the entire D’Arclight operation targeting their family would fall apart.

"Leave, before we’re all forced to take you down," he warned.

"Try me, grandfather..."

Fiona grinned, then snapped her fingers. Two portals—one of light and one of darkness—flared into existence beside her.

[Dark Manipulation]

[Light Manipulation]

"Double attunements!?"

"Impossible... those two shouldn’t be compatible."

Fiona’s mother looked even more shocked. The last time she checked, Fiona only had light attunement, and that had been recent, during a progress report. There was no way she could have gained that much power in such a short time... unless she wasn’t just Fiona or Evelina.

But... both people at the same time.

Everyone in the hall froze in shock. It didn’t take long for one person to completely lose his composure.

It was Gian.

BANG!

He fired his pistol, aiming straight for Fiona’s heart.

But...

She didn’t even use magic. Drawing on Trish’s experience, she predicted the bullet’s path and moved before Gian even pulled the trigger.

"That’s kind of rude, cousin." Fiona let out a manic laugh.

She was having the time of her life.