The fact that the timid and weak fourth young lady did not tremble during this family dinner was something to watch out for. The lowly child even dared to go against her and caused the grand duke to be displeased with her.
Facing her standing son, fifth madam repeated more firmly. ''Edwin, revoke that challenge.''
''Mother, stay out of this.'' Edwin frowned deeply at his mother's actions. Normally, she would support him in any of actions. Why was she behaving like this today? Didn't she know that her actions have caused his father to look at him in a bad light.
His fourth sister was the cause of everything. If he got rid of her, he would be eliminating an opponent, and he wouldn't lose his father's favor.
'Her pure blood won't be in my way once I get rid of her.' Inwardly, Edwin decided with a murderous glint in his eyes.
''Edwin! Listen to your mother!''
''Mother, stay out of this!''
The indirect cause of the mother and son's disagreement watched them with them silently as though their argument was not linked to her. Indeed, the situation was not the fault of Raven, but at the same time, she was also at fault. The tug on the corner of her lips was hidden behind her knuckles. Her eyes took in everything of the arguing mother and son, like it was a comedy.
Suddenly, Raven was curious about the grand duke. All this while, he never said a word and just quietly ate his meal like nothing of his family concerned him. Raven had been giving him glances throughout the family dinner, but this man gave away nothing. Even from the memories of the original owner, the father and daughter had never interacted with each other.
They were truly strangers, despite the blood relations between them.
True to Raven's sudden curiosity, her gaze found its way to the Grand duke, wanting to see his reaction to this bickering mother and son.
However, it wasn't only Raven that was curious about someone. The Grand duke's eyes met hers, and she was not startled. She boldly held his gaze, not flinching at the intensity of his penetrating eyes.
'Why hello...' Her small grin on her lips inwardly welcomed him.
The father and daughter stared, their gazes on each other not wavering a bit. While the grand duke studied this weak daughter of his, Raven used the opportunity to admire this attractive father of hers.
Sharp jawline, piercing eyes, perfectly shaped brows, sexy lips, spotless white skin….
'What's his age? Forties? Fifties?' As Raven listed his features in her mind, she couldn't help but wonder about his age. If this man was in her former life and around her age then, or even younger than her, she might have dated him while masking her actual self.
Raven was a great admirer of beauty. If there was a good piece of hunk like the grand duke in her former life, she would have tried tasting him.
'Izer is also handsome, but…' Raven grimaced when thinking about the blood relations. Right. This body and Izer are undoubtedly siblings. Sleeping with each other was a bit….
'Wait…what are you thinking, Raven! Good thoughts. Good thoughts. Remember! you are an eight-year-old. Not a perverted adult trying to satisfy her urges!' It had to be said that Raven was a master at controlling her facial expressions. While she had these thoughts, her gaze was still on the Grand duke with the same grin, though her mind was an entirely different matter.
''Edwin….!''
''Mother, why can't you support me?''
Oh right. The mother and son were still arguing about the life and death challenge.
Raven returned her gaze to the mother and son in dispute. It was tempting to for her to release a yawn right now.
''Mother, I am not a child anymore! I said I want to challenge that weakling, and you cannot stop me!'' Edwin pointed to the 'weakling' whose eyebrows twitched in return.
Fifth Madam was very hurt by her son's words. She was doing this for his own good, yet he did not see that. Still not giving up, fifth madam tried to talk sense into him.
''Ed—'' But she was interrupted by a voice that silenced both her and son in an instant.
''Raven.''
A low-pitched voice, full of absolute authority and dominance, hushed the disagreement between mother and son. An instant silence reigned over everyone in the dining room. All eyes focused on the grand duke, still and unhurriedly waiting for his words. Just from this alone, Raven experienced the true meaning of the grand duke's power.
''Yes…father.'' Raven struggled a bit to call out this title. This body really had a funny reaction to addressing the grand duke as father for the first time.
'My name?' At the same time, she eyed the man who had never paid attention to the original owner's existence.
Raven wasn't the only who thought like this. Every person also questioned about the grand duke's act of calling her name in their hearts. This should be the first time they heard him calling out her name.
''Do you accept this?'' The Grand duke was straightforward with his words. He ignored the prying gazes of the other Langston family members.
'....' Raven regarded the grand duke calmly.
''What do you mean, father?''
Her question caused disbelief around the other Langston family members. Their weakest member was questioning the grand duke?
''I ask if you desire to take on this challenge. The fifth young master seemed not to understand what Hibro said in the last battle on my behalf.''
Edwin's face flushed red in embarrassment upon hearing the words from his father.
Right.
His father's personal butler had announced about the rearrangement of battle between him and his fourth sister.
'But…' Edwin's hands curled up into a tight fist. His unsatisfied gaze became conscious of Raven. Why should his father become considerate of this weakling? When has she ever had a say in this family?
Not accepting his father's action, Edwin tried to argue, forgetting himself for a moment. ''Father, fourth sister has no say in this battle. She disrespected mother…''
''Grand duchess, I need not to say what displeases me right now.'' Ignoring Edwin's words, the grand duke glanced at the grand duchess in warning.
''This wife apologizes deeply for not educating the children well, your excellency.'' The grand duchess forced a smile on her lips. Under the table, her purple skirt was clutched tightly as she manged to reign in her anger against this foolish mother and son.
In the Langston grand duchy, she was the grand duchess, the first and original wife of the grand duke. That also meant she was the mother of all his children, even if they were not her flesh and blood.
In the respective manors of each wife, the children were allowed to call them mother. However, they must address her as mother in public, and their own mothers by their titles.
This wasn't only practiced in the Langston grand duchy, but the entire empire. It was common in a family of a nobleman with many wives.
No one knew how much the grand duchess despised hearing other children of the grand duke apart from her son calling herself mother. For the sake of her reputation and her son's future, she had calmly endured every moment of hearing that word 'mother' from a child, not from her flesh and blood.
Now this stupid child spoiled her previous plan of making herself look like the pitiful first wife against a disobedient fifth wife in front of the grand duke.
If looks could kill, Fifth Madam and Edwin would be ten feet underground because of the grand duchess's swift and sharp glare.
''Raven, I await for your answer. Do you accept or refuse this challenge?'' The grand duke's words focused everyone's attention back to the quiet and calculating Raven.