Chapter 3

The next morning, I put on a tailored black suit, ready to head to Don Matteo's study and take care of the Consecration Papers.

As I walked down the grand staircase of the Rossi Manor, I heard Isabella crying downstairs in the formal dining hall.

"Mama... why is Vita suddenly so cold? She wasn't like this before." Isabella's voice cracked on cue. "Someone must have gotten to her."

"Bella, don't cry. I'll figure something out," Camilla comforted her, her voice tinged with anger. "Vittoria has been acting weird lately. Maybe she's just under too much pressure."

"Mama, I really want to pass the trials, but my aim is so bad..." Isabella's voice grew weaker. "If I fail to prove myself to the Family, will you and Papa stop loving me?"

"Silly girl, how could that ever happen?" Camilla pulled her close. "You will always be my precious daughter."

"But Vita has the Don's Blessing, and I can't even clear a jam properly. Everyone in the Family will think I'm a disgrace," Isabella said, her voice trembling.

Hearing all this, I couldn't help but let out a sneer.

Isabella's pitiful crying act had never failed to work in my previous life. Every time she started crying, the whole house would instantly feel sorry for her, and all the attention would shift right to her.

Meanwhile, I would always end up being the "insensitive" villain.

I let each step land heavy on the marble stairs, making sure they heard me coming.

The two in the dining hall instantly fell silent. Isabella didn't forget to dab at the corners of her eyes, looking all innocent.

"Good morning, Vita," she murmured, looking all docile.

"Morning," I replied coolly, not even looking at her as I headed straight for the long dining table and poured myself a shot of espresso.

Camilla followed me. "Vittoria, let's talk about what happened yesterday."

"There's nothing to talk about," I replied, taking a piece of frittata without even looking up.

"How can you speak to me like that?" Camilla's voice shot up. "Your papa told me last night that you asked him about the Blessing. Are you really thinking of giving it up?"

I stopped what I was doing and looked at her. "What if I said yes?"

"Absolutely not!" Camilla practically shouted. "That seat is the reward for your hard work... But wait, I meant you should be more supportive of your sister. If... if transferring it were really possible..."

Her voice grew softer at the end.

So it was true. They'd been eyeing my Blessing all along.

"Mama, please don't make things hard for Vita because of me," Isabella chimed in right on cue, her eyes red again. "It's my fault for being a liability, always dragging her down."

She always put on that helpless, pitiful act. I couldn't believe I actually fell for it in my past life. I really thought she was so considerate, and that as her big sister, it was my duty to step up and clear the path for her.

"Bella, don't say that," Camilla said, pulling her into a hug. "Your sister is just too selfish, that's all."

Selfish? I scoffed inwardly.

I set down my espresso cup and shot them a cold look. "Me? Selfish? How exactly?"

"You already have the Blessing. Why can't you help your sister? She needs this protection way more than you do," Camilla said.

"Oh, really? And why is that?" I retorted.

"Because her aim isn't as sharp as yours! Because she tries harder than you! Because she is your little sister, Vittoria!" Camilla's voice rose with each word, as if the answer should have been obvious.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "So, soldiers with weaker skills deserve a better reward? Then what was the point of all the blood and sweat I poured into this Family for the past three years?"

"Vittoria, how can you even think that way?" Camilla frowned. "Your sister really does need more help than you. You're older, so you should be the one who carries the Family name."

The one who carries the Family name.

In my past life, those words had been the chains that dragged me all the way to the bottom of the East River.

What did they even mean? Did carrying the Family name mean I had to hand over my own life just so someone else could have an easier one?

My indifference seemed to get under Isabella's skin, and her voice turned shrill. "Why? We share Papa's blood, don't we?"

"Sure, we share blood. But that doesn't mean I have to give up everything for you," I shot back.

"When did I ever ask you to give up everything? I just want you to help me!" Isabella protested, tears streaming down her face.

"Help you?" I let the word hang between us. "Then tell me exactly what that means, Isabella. Should I hand over my Blessing? Should I sign away my future on the Commission? Or would you rather I just die so you can have everything?"

The room fell into a dead silence.

Then, Camilla completely lost it. She slammed her hand hard on the table, making the silverware rattle, her face twisting with rage.

"Vittoria, that is enough!" Camilla shouted, her chest heaving. "Bella nearly killed me being born! You came into this world already too strong, everything comes easy for you! Why can't you just let her have this one thing? Just give it to her!"

I froze.

The memory of the three bullets tearing through my skull flashed through my mind. The deafening bang, the blood, the freezing black water of the river—all because I gave up my Blessing for them.

I slowly stood up from my chair. The look in my eyes was as cold as ice, freezing the air around the table. I stared dead straight into my mother's eyes.

"Mama," I said, my voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "Say that again. I dare you."