'Turns out it wasn't only soup.'

Still with her new family, Raven stared at the half-eaten dessert in her front. At the moment, she was eating the last meal on the four-course dinner. The sharp tips of her fork slipped into the fluffy and creamy dessert, then went into her mouth.

'Is this pie?' Raven blissfully munched on her dessert to her heart's content. Right now, she felt that any of her new family members could kill her, because her taste buds have been thoroughly satiated.

'Delicious!' Raven happily enjoyed her dinner. A moment ago, she was really stupid for forgetting about the original memories. At the sight of that plain chicken soup, she suddenly freaked out because she hadn't eaten a good meal since she entered this world of that novel.

During her illness, Jane had fed her nutritional soups, and disgusting bitter medicines that entirely disrupted her taste buds. Raven had known that if she didn't want to die early because of her stupid weak body, she had to be obedient and take that medicine.

Now, she could say that coming to see her new family was not a waste of time. If only she was allowed to moan, she would have and enjoyed her meal in a more unrestricted way and without etiquettes.

Well...this was definitely better than nothing.

'Tsk.'

Raven's ear was working more than enough to catch that light sound. It seemed her cute elder brother was not enjoying the flowery atmosphere around herself. It wasn't her fault that she couldn't fix her expression the same as their own. They all looked like half-dead human beings during this dinner.

Raven briefly stared at her left, watching everyone eating their meal. She couldn't tell if they liked the meal or not, as they kept quiet and ate like nothing mattered to them. Though she knew this was how the family dinner would be, it was entirely different when experiencing what was from the original owner's memories.

''Fourth young lady, you seem to be enjoying yourself.''

This woman....

Raven's eyes shifted to the fifth madam, not knowing what to think about someone who did not want to leave her alone.

'And I can't kill her because of this body.' Raven inwardly sighed in frustration. Being weak was something she vowed never to go through again. Unexpectedly, her promise was broken because of her current situation.

''.....'' Raven stared straight at the fifth madam, with no intention of saying a word. Her obvious silence was a humiliation for the fifth madam. It made the woman look as if she was someone purposely looking for trouble in the peaceful family dinner.

''F-Fourth young lady, your attitude is quite strange. In the past, you were always dull. Do forgive me if I overstepped my boundaries.'' Fifth madam was quick to her defense. She also didn't forget to add the always-quiet woman beside her. ''Sixth sister, don't you think so? Fourth young lady really looks different today.''

''....'' The sixth madam kept quiet as always, with no intention of giving her reply.

'Wow.' The fifth madam troublesome-self really expanded Raven's knowledge of the word 'shameless.' She had never met a shameless person like this woman. Well...she had many in her former life, but this was a first in this life.

'Still no answer.' Raven glanced at the sixth madam, eating quietly like she was in her own world, not paying mind to the annoying fifth madam. Done with her dessert, Raven set her fork on her empty plate. She was about to wipe the non-existent crumbles from her lips, but the fifth madam targeted her again, probably displeased that she was ignored.

''Fourth young lady, you are now at the age of succession. Time does fly fast when one is not counting.'' A sigh came after her words with her fingers on her chin. Her eyes on Raven were just like a mother, feeling sad and happy about her daughter's growth.

''...''

Raven did not know who was more annoying between that pig-like young master and this chatterbox fifth madam. Even if the fifth madam spoke normally, Raven felt her annoyance leveling up to its peak.

'But...she's right.' Raven thought for a moment, going over the memories of the original owner.

The age of succession.

In the Langston family, there have been many traditions between the children from the grand duke. One of them was known as the age of the succession.

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Just like the words, it was the age where the children could participate in the fight for the heir position to the Langston Grand duchy.

Before that age, the children of the grand duke were safe from the gruesome battle. The children that have passed the age of succession were forbidden to kill the children below that age.

Before Raven entered this body, the original owner had clocked the age of succession.

Raven now understood how the original owner had survived in a family like this. The current age of this body was eight years old, the age of succession.

''Fifth madam...'' Raven called out, after wiping her lips. ''Your words are just like the sixth madam's.'' A knowing smile naturally appeared on her lips. She knew her safety was no longer guaranteed in this family.

She was now at the age of succession, and this fifth madam had to make it announce again, even if it was a known fact to everyone. This woman was trying to make her the first target to be eliminated.

Well...It wouldn't be surprising if she died after this dinner. She was the weakest among them, though she hated to admit that fact.

'Look...their intentions are not hidden anymore.' Raven felt the change of the gazes from this family of hers. Their killing intents on her was blatantly evident. The fifth madam certainly achieved her goal of making her an obvious and easy target.

''Haha...Fourth young lady has really matured. This madam is very pleased.'' Fifth Madam smiled, trying to calm the fury in her heart. This child really had a sharp tongue. Weren't her words implying that she wasn't her mother?

No...that wasn't what angered her the most. The fact that this lowly child dared to go against her in the presence of the grand duke.

How infuriating.

What would the grand duke think of her now?

The fifth madam glanced at the grand duke, unexpectedly meeting his gaze. Her shoulders flinched at the sudden sight of those vibrant crimson eyes, and her back broke out in sweat. Her face turned ashen-white, beyond recognition as she pondered anxiously.

Since when has the grand duke been watching her?

Was that a warning to her?

No, the grand duke was not one to back up any of his children as a father. He, as the grand duke, could not even stop the succession battle between his own children, so it was unlikely that he was warning her through his eyes.

But...

Just staring into those eyes made the fifth madam swallow whatever words that were about to spill from her lips into the pit of her stomach. For the grand duke to stare at her probably meant that he was displeased with her. He was someone who hated unnecessary noise, and that was something that she knew as one of his wives.

''Fifth Madam, you are quite energetic today.'' The grand duchess was not someone to miss an opportunity in eliminating her husband's wives. If only she could get rid of them all at once, but she had to be patient, and start with the dumbest one out of all of them.

For some reason, the fourth young lady was going against the fifth madam. The grand duchess was suspicious of the change, but the knife that fourth young lady had pointed at the fifth madam, she would love to take over and cut that woman out of her marriage.

''Y-Your excellency....''

''His excellency loves peace in his manor, fifth madam. As his wife, you should know that more than the children.'' The grand duchess interrupted the fifth madam. Her eyes have never strayed away from her husband, not even once. Even before she married him, her eyes had always been on him. The subtle irritation in his eyes was not hidden from her. Just that little reaction was enough for her to use against the fifth madam. ''Your excellency, forgive this wife for not educating her sister well.'' She pleaded with a sad tone in her voice. Her eyes were teary and anxious, like the grand duke would punish her for the fifth madam's foolishness. As the first wife, she must be noble and magnanimous for her reputation and her son's reputation. At the same time, she must also be smart in dealing with these women.

''Y-Your excellency! This wife pleads for forgiveness!'' The fifth madam screeched, jumping on her feet. Her elegant appearance was no more once she heard of the grand duchess' words. The latter indirectly called herself a shrew and an inconsiderate wife. The fury in her heart multiplied just by hearing the mockery. As much as she wanted to tear off the mask of the grand duchess, she knew she was not a match for someone as devious as her.

'Because of this child....!' The fifth madam shifted her anger away from the grand duchess to Raven, who did absolutely nothing. In her mind, if Raven had not talked back, none of this would have happened. She wouldn't be lowering her head and enduring this humiliation.

''Y-Your excellency, this sister only thought fourth young lady was strange. I am sure sixth sister noticed the change, right?'' Even when she was in trouble, fifth madam did not forget to drag people that caused her demise.

'Wow....' Raven looked at the grand duchess and fifth madam in a new light. Was this how women tried to fight the power beside their husbands in polygamous families? Her father had really married interesting women, especially the fifth madam. She really needed to correct herself. She had never met someone as shameless and thick-skinned like this fifth madam.

'What will you do now?' Raven shifted her gaze to the side. Since the grand duchess was involved, Raven had an inkling that her ever-so quiet mother could not ignore anyone longer.

Not surprised that her ruby eyes met brown eyes, Raven smiled innocently at the sixth madam.

The sixth madam only stared at her for a moment, then turned her gaze to the grand duchess who was waiting for her response.

''Raven is at the age of maturity, fifth sister.'' With these simple words, sixth madam washed her hands away from the troublesome fifth madam. At the moment, she thought the fifth madam's words were right.

This worthless child of hers was a little different.

''Sixth sister is right. Children can't stay as children forever. Fifth sister, please choose your words carefully next time, and be mindful as well.''

''Y-Yes your excellency.'' Clutching the skirt of her olive green gown, fifth madam forced herself to give an answer before she sat down. She didn't even look at Raven because she felt she would not control herself at the sight of that lowly child.

Edwin, who watched his mother's disgrace from beginning to the end, could not take it anymore. His mother's shame was also his shame.

What if his father does not compliment him anymore? Out of panic, Edwin blurted out without thinking.

''Father, I challenge fourth sister to a life and death battle!''