Ch. 2
The dining room was large enough to host a banquet.
The sunlight filtered in, the dining windows framed with ivory drapes, casting a warm glow across the polished mahogany table that stretched almost absurdly long for just four people.
The air smelled faintly of jasmine tea and buttery croissants.
Yuna remained silent. She calmly sat down on an empty chair across from the other woman and quietly observed them.
Uhm... should I say anything? Does Selene usually greet them every morning?
Yuna contemplated whether she should be the first to break the silence, but in the end, she decided to remain quiet.
At the head of the table. It's sat an elderly man, back straight as a steel rod, dressed in a dark suit with silver trim and a cane.
It has a grey eyes and his gaze swept over her not with affection but with scrutiny.
"That's the grandfather," Yuna noted.
If I'm correct his name is Sebastian Valen.
In the book, he barely had two lines. Just 'the patriarch' and 'the investor'.
Beside him sat an elegant older woman, her silver hair neatly gathered into a chignon. Despite her age, her eyes were sharp and observant, following Yuna with the precision of a hawk. Yet unlike the grandfather's piercing gaze, hers held a quiet kindness beneath it.
The grandmother... I can tell from a single glance that she's strict too. Yuna assessed.
Further down the table, seated across from Yuna, was a striking woman in her mid thirties. Her long auburn hair fell in neat curls over one shoulder, complementing her simple yet refined dress. The moment her eyes landed on Selene, her expression instantly brightened.
"Sweetheart," she said, rising halfway from her chair. "Did you sleep well? Do you like your new room?"
"...The mother," Yuna thought, caught off guard.
The warmth in the woman's tone wasn't fake.
There was no tension and no trace of the emotionally distant image-obsessed mother the book hinted at in passing.
Next to her, sat a man broad-shouldered and stiff, dressed in an ironed vest and buttoned collar ready for work.
His expression was blank, unreadable at first glance.
But when their eyes met, his gaze softened.
Just slightly.
"Morning," he said calmly. "We didn't wake you, did we?"
Yuna said nothing. She simply shook her head once before reaching for the spoon.
"Hmm.. so this is the Valen family," she mused, watching them from the corner of her eye.
The most shocking part wasn't the grandeur, the formality or even the sheer wealth on display. It was the tone they gave while talking to Selene.
In the book, Selene's home life was glossed over and mentioned only to justify her arrogance and need for attention. A neglected heiress from a fractured household, desperate to feel important. But this? It doesn't look like she still needs attention from her family.
"Well," Yuna thought wryly, "the villain's life isn't exactly written in detail. She's just a tool. A plot device to make the protagonist shine. Makes sense it wouldn't reflect reality."
"So, do you like your new room, darling?" her mother asked again, her voice hopeful.
"We renovated it while you were away. You always said the old one felt too dark." Yuna blinked, slowly nodding.
"It's... bright," she replied, her voice softer and younger than she was used to. Still strange to hear.
"Really?" Her mother beamed.
The grandfather made a quiet hmmph sound but didn't interrupt. He sipped his tea, eyeing her over the rim of the cup.
"You'll begin your new semester at St. Athelene's in two days," said the grandmother.
"Your uniforms are tailored. The headmaster has already been notified."
"You're representing the Valen family now, Selene." her grandfather added, tone clipped.
"We expect discipline and dignity."
Yuna nodded again, lips tight but her thoughts were racing.
"So, am I in the part of the novel where the prestigious college arc begins? The original Selene starts off strong, then quickly spirals into obsession with the male lead. Stalks him and fails classes. Tries to sabotage the heroine. Gets publicly shamed. Rinse, repeat."
"If you need anything before school starts adjustments, tutors, even time off just ask. Don't push yourself too hard." Her father finally spoke again, his voice more gentle this time.
Yuna looked up studying his face.
A man who didn't show his care with words, but still cared...
She simply said, "Okay."
Breakfast continued in relative peace. Their breakfast is a spread of eggs, fresh fruit, roasted vegetables, and pastries and was laid out in perfect order. Yuna took only what she needed.
She didn't speak unless spoken to.
She didn't smile.
She didn't scowl either.
Just... observed.