WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Malfoid

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ I Don't Need a Family ◈

Episode 2

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‘This... is a family?’

I could only blink, unable to get used to it.

When I thought of family back when I was Choi Eunseo, I thought of a kind, warm home.

I had endured that difficult life of illness because of my family’s warm words.

But the people of House Ashwilt were not kind to Vivette.

The duke, who had been glaring at my frozen expression, gave a cold snort.

“Are you planning to pretend innocence and let it slide again?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked whether you expect us to act as though nothing happened last night.”

“What happened last night?”

“Brother,”

I saw Harris lean toward Gillian, seated beside him, and whisper something.

How rude, whispering in front of someone. They were obviously talking behind my back.

Only after Gillian silently scolded Harris with a disgusted look did Harris sit up straight again.

“Enough! If you have nothing to say, stop wasting my time and go sit down quietly.”

“...”

For some reason, the duke suddenly snapped.

Even though he was the one who had spoken to me first.

As I stood there awkwardly, Gillian gave an order worthy of the eldest son.

“What are you doing? Come sit down.”

He nodded toward the seat across from him.

But perhaps they had thought I might not show up, because it was the only place without a plate or utensils.

The others were already eating.

‘What? Weren’t we supposed to have breakfast together today?’

My maid had definitely told me so earlier and informed the kitchen as well.

The kitchen maids merely glanced at me before quickly slipping back into the kitchen.

While I hesitantly walked over and sat down, no one looked at me. They simply kept their eyes on their own plates and continued eating.

The marble floor beneath my lowered gaze was clear.

I was still afraid I might fall, but even in heeled shoes and a long dress that could easily be stepped on, Vivette’s body moved naturally however I wanted it to.

‘If I had walked like this in front of my family...’

They would never have treated me so indifferently.

They would have called upon every god they could think of and rejoiced that a miracle had finally happened.

Remembering the sad but hopeful dream I had repeated every night for so long brought up a familiar feeling.

But just as I had done before my own family, I gritted my teeth and held back my tears before Vivette’s family.

Not because I was worried they might be sad.

Even the slightest emotion was too precious for them.

All my feelings belonged to my family alone. The Ashwilts would not see even the slightest emotion from me.

* * *

Vivette’s family had not always treated her so coldly.

Among the blunt men of the ducal household, she had been much loved for being kind and lovable.

If she sweetly flattered their pride a little, they would all smile in good spirits.

But whenever they were in a bad mood, as they had been lately, they treated her roughly like this.

House Ashwilt practically controlled Erenston, the city south of the capital where mages had settled, and the people of the capital did not like it much.

They took every opportunity to subtly put pressure on the ducal house, so the duke had been in a foul mood recently.

The duke rebuked his affectionate daughter for bothering him when he was already troubled, without being any help at all.

To a mage, magical ability was everything. No matter how talented she was in other ways or how good her character was, Vivette could never be more than a useless daughter.

The other family members were also sick of her seeking affection when they were busy and exhausted.

‘That was why this morning happened too.’

Part of Vivette’s memories slowly came back to me.

Yesterday had been Vivette’s twentieth birthday.

A mage’s twentieth birthday had special significance.

Under Imperial law, adulthood began at eighteen, but a mage’s Mana Heart was not complete until the age of twenty.

Of course, a Mana Heart could continue growing stronger through magical training even after adulthood.

But if it had been severely damaged, as Vivette’s had, there was no possibility of recovery after one’s twentieth birthday.

And on that fateful day, she had planned to visit the Mage Tower for one final examination of her Mana Heart.

‘What should I do? If there’s no improvement this time, it really will be over.’

Anxious, she had asked her family the day before to go with her.

“What? Do you have no idea what tomorrow is?”

The duke raised his voice as if she had gone mad.

“The Erenston Academy entrance examination tomorrow is the Mage Association’s biggest event. Does it not even occur to you that the entire family is busy with that? You’re being ridiculous.”

“B-But, Father, it’s important to me too.”

“Of course it is to someone as incapable as you. You can’t even help with Association matters, so how could you know how busy the Mage Association is?”

“Ah...”

At the mention of magical ability, Vivette lost the strength to argue.

At the Ashwilt estate, even commoners could work as maids if they had magical ability, while ordinary people had to work as servants doing menial labor. Even nobles had no choice if they were not mages. It was a place where even employees were strictly divided by magical ability.

Vivette had watched several nasty maids openly use magic right in front of her, and her self-esteem had sunk to rock bottom.

If only I had ability, I wouldn’t have to timidly beg over my Mana Heart like this.

Father wouldn’t be displeased with me either.

‘Why am I so useless?’

She hated herself.

Seeing her reddened eyes, Gillian sighed, while the duke grew angry.

“Do you still think you’re a child? Are you trying to cry and throw a tantrum? I clearly told you no.”

“B-But tomorrow is my birthday...”

“Your birthday? So what?”

Even as she kept pleading, the duke remained firm.

“As an elder of the Mage Association, I can’t miss such an important event. Your brother must help me with my work. And Harris is taking the entrance examination, so that goes without saying.”

“...”

“Vivette, there are countless things more important than soothing your pathetic anxiety. Do not forget that.”

The duke did not back down, and in the end, she had to go for her final examination alone.

The next day, Vivette received the verdict that her Mana Heart would never recover. As she sobbed in bed, her family did not return until late in the evening.

They were in high spirits.

Harris Ashwilt had earned high marks on the Academy entrance examination.

The results would not be announced until much later, but according to the duke’s information as an elder of the Association, Harris’s acceptance was certain.

Harris might even enter at the top of the class.

Excited, they had gone out to eat before heading to Vivette’s annex.

There was someone they always sought out on happy days. Someone who was happier than anyone else when they shared good news.

They thought Vivette would jump with joy, and threw open her bedroom door.

But contrary to their expectations, the bedroom was a disaster.

Her belongings were scattered everywhere. In the middle of the cold floor, with no fire lit, their daughter sat crying.

“Sob, Lola, what do I do? It’s really over now. My life is over.”

“My lady, please don’t cry...”

Vivette paid no attention to who had entered as she wept, while her attendant helplessly tried to comfort her.

Harris, who had entered first to boast about the excellent score, stepped back behind the duke and Gillian as though the excitement had vanished.

“The examination results were not good. This was the last time she could have held onto false hope. That is unfortunate.”

Gillian spoke indifferently, as if discussing someone else’s family.

“I knew this would happen long ago. To make such a scene over something so obvious.”

The duke looked down at his daughter, who was collapsed on the floor and crying her heart out, with a displeased expression. Then he suddenly shouted.

“Quiet! What is all this commotion on such a happy day? It’s not as though you looking like that is something new. Instead of looking after people who have been working hard outside...”

The duke had been strangely angry that day. Even the attendant, who knew his usual temperament, had been taken aback.

‘It was because she ruined their mood. She completely spoiled their celebration.’

It was no different from throwing cold water over a feast.

It did not matter to them that this was the worst day of Vivette’s life.

They merely expected her to grieve quietly by herself, then smile along with the family’s happy occasion.

To those people, Vivette was only a child who catered to their moods and livened the atmosphere.

That was why they could not tolerate her being depressed.

Normally, Vivette would have changed her attitude as easily as turning over her hand at a single word from the duke.

Even if Gillian or Harris scolded her and left her sulking, the moment the duke snapped at her to brighten up, she would quickly force a smile.

But Vivette did not move at all.

Because something more terrible than her father’s dislike was the fact that she would never become a mage.

Her life was ruined, so what did it matter if her father was angry?

For the first time, deeply disappointed, Vivette did not respond to the duke. He seemed greatly shocked by that.

I could not clearly remember what cruel things the duke said afterward to tear at her wounds.

It seemed Vivette’s mind had erased those memories on its own.

‘How badly must he have hurt her?’

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

He was the one at fault, yet he started berating me the next morning? Seriously.

Before remembering what happened last night, I had planned to imitate Vivette well enough and get along smoothly with her family.

But not anymore.

Even the naturally sweet and affectionate Vivette had displeased the duke.

And all because she could not use magic, something she could do nothing about.

But I could never have Vivette’s lovable personality.

If anything, I was as blunt as the members of the ducal family, if not more so.

I wasn’t confident I could imitate angelic Vivette, but even if I acted perfectly, the duke would surely find something else to criticize.

‘Whether I act cheerful or gloomy, I’ll be scolded either way. I might as well act like myself.’

Why should I bother trying to impress a family like that?

* * *

Since entering this body, the only thing I had done was share one meal with the ducal family, yet I was already exhausted.

I had not even properly eaten that meal, since the duke said he was busy and rose with Gillian as soon as my food arrived.

‘I should avoid them whenever possible from now on. It’s not good for my mental health.’

Shuddering, I leaned back against my chair.

‘More importantly, how should I live from now on?’

After being diagnosed with an incurable illness at the age of three, I had never been able to dream about the future in my previous life.

My only goal had been to extend my lifespan of around twenty years by even a little.

But things were different now. I did not know how many more decades I would live in this body, and I was the duke’s daughter.

That meant I could do anything I wanted.

‘I still don’t know what I like. But I’ll find out. This time, I’ll truly live happily.’

I did not know exactly what happiness was. But I knew two necessary conditions.

Health, and a family who cherished me.

I had not been completely happy in my previous life. I had a wonderful family, but not the health to enjoy them.

‘Come to think of it, Vivette is exactly the opposite.’

Her body was as healthy as an athlete’s, but her family tore her apart like that.

But I was not worried. I only had to stop seeing a family like that.

First, I would maintain this healthy state and sort out Vivette’s situation.

Then I would leave.

I would escape that awful family and find a new one of my own choosing.

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