My Crybaby Father is the Kingdom's Worst Villain
Chapter 55: Enemies at First Sight (Or So I Thought)

Chapter 55: Enemies at First Sight (Or So I Thought)

Luzia’s jaw tightened. Of all the things her father could have said, that was easily the worst.

Catalina. Staying here.

For a while.

Luzia inhaled sharply through her nose, forcing her expression to remain unreadable.

Ramiro leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying her reaction. "You two are of similar age. It’s only natural that you get along."

Luzia let out a short, humorless laugh. "Natural? I don’t need a friend dad."

Ramiro raised a brow, his smirk unfazed. "Who said anything about friendship?"

Luzia crossed her arms. "Then why force this on me? Stop lying dad."

Ramiro’s smirk didn’t waver, but his eyes darkened. "Luzia, I don’t have the patience for childish outbursts. This is happening whether you like it or not."

Luzia clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. "So, what? You want me to play host? Entertain her? Waste my time pretending to care?"

Ramiro exhaled, his amusement fading into something colder. "I want you to learn."

"Learn what?" Luzia snapped.

Ramiro leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Catalina has already fought in real battles. She understands discipline. Control. Strength." His steel-gray eyes locked onto hers. "Things you still lack."

Luzia’s breath caught in her throat.

He didn’t think she was strong enough.

Her fingers twitched at her sides, but she forced her voice to remain steady. "You think I’m weak?"

Ramiro tilted his head slightly. "I think you have potential. But potential means nothing if you don’t prove it."

Luzia’s teeth clenched so tightly it hurt.

This wasn’t just about Catalina. This was another test. Another way for Ramiro to see if she was worth his time.

"Fine," she said at last, her voice sharp as a blade. "I’ll prove it."

Ramiro’s smirk returned, slow and knowing. "Good. Try not to embarrass yourself."

Luzia stood up from the couch and turned on her heel without another word, storming toward the door.

As she stepped out, Elena followed, her expression unreadable.

As they walked down the hall, Luzia exhaled sharply, trying to push down the frustration boiling in her chest.

After a moment, she glanced at Elena. "Have you met Catalina before?"

Elena’s expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of something in her dark eyes—amusement, perhaps. Or recognition.

"Once," Elena said. "Years ago."

Luzia frowned. "And?"

Elena’s lips quirked slightly. "She left an impression."

Luzia narrowed her eyes. "What kind of impression?"

Elena didn’t answer right away. Instead, she let the silence stretch before finally saying, "You’ll see."

Luzia scowled. "I hate it when you do that."

Elena only smiled.

Luzia rolled her eyes, but Elena’s vague response only irritated her further.

They turned a corner, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor. Luzia exhaled through her nose, trying to push away the unease creeping into her chest.

"She’s reckless, isn’t she?" Luzia pressed. "One of those brash, fight-hungry idiots who think everything can be solved with a sword."

Elena tilted her head slightly. "She does enjoy fighting," she admitted. "But she’s not an idiot."

Luzia scoffed. "I’ll believe that when I see it."

Elena glanced at her, something unreadable in her gaze. "You might find her more difficult to deal with than you expect."

Luzia let out a sharp laugh. "Please. I can handle one loudmouth with a sword."

Elena hummed, clearly unconvinced. "If you say so, my lady."

Luzia shot her a glare, but Elena only smiled again, ever so slightly.

That reminded her—where was Roldan?

Before the thought fully formed, a small weight settled on her shoulder.

"I’m always where Master is," a voice echoed in her mind.

Luzia smirked, reaching up to scratch under the baby dragon’s chin. Good.

Luzia’s fingers brushed against Roldan’s smooth scales as he let out a pleased hum, his tiny claws gripping her shoulder lightly.

"You’re tense," he noted, his voice laced with amusement in her mind.

Luzia rolled her eyes. "I wonder why."

Elena glanced at the dragon but said nothing, her usual quiet observation giving Luzia the impression she was holding back an opinion.

They continued down the hall, the cold stone walls lined with torches casting flickering shadows around them.

"How much longer until she gets here?" Luzia asked, her tone sharper than intended.

Elena didn’t react to the edge in her voice. "Soon. The servants have already prepared a room for her."

Luzia huffed. "Great. More wasted effort."

"You seem awfully worked up over a guest, my lady," Elena remarked, her voice light but pointed.

Luzia stopped walking, turning to face her handmaid. "She’s not a guest. She’s a test."

Elena’s expression remained unreadable, but her silence was telling.

Roldan flicked his tail, curling it around Luzia’s neck like a scarf. "Then pass it."

Luzia’s lips twitched at the dragon’s bluntness. "Easier said than done."

But she would.

She had to.

A few hours later, the rhythmic clatter of hooves echoed through the courtyard as Matilda and Catalina arrived. The crisp evening air carried the scent of travel—dust, leather, and the faint metallic tang of weapons well-worn from use.

At the grand entrance of the estate, Esteban, Ramiro, Luzia, Beatriz, Elena, and Stephan stood in quiet anticipation. The servants lingered a respectful distance away, awaiting orders.

Matilda dismounted first, her imposing figure effortlessly commanding attention. She adjusted her gloves, her hazel eyes scanning the gathered faces with sharp calculation before landing on Esteban.

Catalina followed, landing on the ground with the ease of someone far too used to physical exertion for a girl her age. She barely spared a glance at the waiting party, more interested in surveying her new surroundings.

Esteban stepped forward, offering a warm smile. "Welcome back. How was your stay in the Ignirion Kingdom?"

Matilda returned his smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Uneventful," she replied smoothly before turning to Ramiro, her expression shifting into something far less cordial. "I never expected to receive an invitation from you of all people. Honey, what is going on?"

Esteban gave her a look—calm, reassuring. The kind of look that said, I’ll explain later.

Matilda exhaled through her nose, clearly unimpressed, but she let it go. For now.

Luzia, arms crossed, studied Catalina with open scrutiny. Catalina, unbothered, returned the gaze with equal boldness. The air between them crackled with unspoken challenge.

"She’s sizing me up,’ Luzia thought, resisting the urge to smirk. Fine. Let her.

Ramiro finally spoke, his tone smooth. "Matilda, Catalina. Welcome. I thought it was time our families became better acquainted."

Matilda’s forced smile didn’t waver, but her hazel eyes sharpened. "Oh? And here I thought you preferred keeping to yourself since Dahlia died."

Ramiro chuckled, ignoring the underlying bite in her words. "Times change." He glanced at Catalina. "And the next generation must be prepared."

Catalina’s green eyes flicked to Luzia, assessing, weighing. Then, without hesitation, she stepped forward.

"I assume you’re Luzia," she said, her voice even, lacking any warmth.

Luzia tilted her chin slightly. "I assume you’re Catalina."

Catalina smirked. "So, you’re the one I’m supposed to get along with."

Luzia crossed her arms. "That’s what they say."

Catalina’s eyes gleamed, something unreadable flickering in them. Then, suddenly, she grinned—a sharp, knowing grin.

"Alright then. Let’s see if you can keep up."

Luzia’s lips curled into a smirk of her own. Oh, this is going to be fun.