I'm in Love with the Villainess!-Chapter 159: Fiona Whitestrake
Fiona Whitestrake.
She was the daughter of Troy Whitestrake, who was next in line to inherit the Whitestrake Earldom. Naturally, people expected great things from him, including that he would produce an heir worthy of the family name.
The problem was, Fiona turned out to be far from the perfect heir everyone had expected.
Not only was she a woman, but she was also strongly opposed to most of the Whitestrakes’ usual businesses. She was unusually moral and very disobedient. The way she ran the Cold Iron business, it felt more like a proper, above-board company than anything shady.
Even if she couldn’t rebel directly, she still resisted in the subtlest ways she could.
That alone was enough to make the rest of the family despise her.
It was a reputation she absolutely adored.
*** Fiona Whitestrake - 13 Years old.
"What did I say about wasting your time with those frivolous acts?"
Troy Whitestrake barged into Fiona’s room with clear irritation after finding out she wasn’t in her study.
Her childhood home was surprisingly cozy despite her family’s background, and obviously, to the dismay of her father. But, he didn’t really have a choice in the matter; Fiona’s mother at least wanted her to have a decent room.
The two never saw eye to eye, and maybe that same issue was the reason why Fiona ended up in a way her father didn’t like.
"But F-Father—"
She didn’t get to finish as her father ripped off the piece of paper she had in her hands, a small poem, a story, a fairytale she made up in her mind.
"Seriously, writing stories, Fiona?"
Troy tore the paper until nothing was left, calling the servants to brush away the mess.
"What did you do that for?!"
"You are meant to be more than just a writer, Fiona, don’t let such petty dreams hold you back."
Troy went to kneel down on one knee, grabbing his daughter by her shoulder.
"You are a Whitestrake, do not forget that."
"O-Okay..."
*** Fiona Whitestrake - 16 Years old.
"Incredible."
"What an impressive sight, Lady Fiona!"
She was surrounded by the entire Whitestrake family, and beside her stood other Whitestrakes her age, all of them poised to take part in the family’s traditional duels.
The duels weren’t meant just to sharpen their combat skills at a young age—it was also meant to shape their pride, pushing losers to strive harder and giving winners confidence. It was both psychological and physical.
But... there were certainly a few who surpassed expectations.
[Light Manipulation]
"I-I yield!"
A Whitestrake boy dropped to the floor in fear, his wooden sword slipping from his hands as he watched his opponent awaken her magic mid-duel.
"H-Huh...?"
Fiona stared at her hands, her skin glowing with a beautiful light she had only ever seen from older members of her family—a light she had always longed for herself.
"H-How impressive, Lord Troy!"
"I can’t believe your daughter awakened at such a young age!"
"Yes, given how I’ve raised her, this is only natural." Troy smiled, his hands clasped behind his back, filled with confidence and pride in his own parenting.
After all, the proof was standing right in front of him. How else could Fiona have awakened magic at such a young age if not because of him?
Could it have been her mother’s hard work instead? Bah, of course not, Troy scoffed inwardly.
The applause around the arena rang loudly in Fiona’s ears, but strangely enough, she didn’t feel proud—only confused. The glow around her fingers flickered softly, warm but unfamiliar.
"Remarkable," one of the older Whitestrakes murmured. "Light Manipulation... and at sixteen."
Fiona instinctively looked toward the stands, where her mother sat. Unlike the others, she wasn’t clapping loudly or shouting praises; instead, she simply smiled gently, relief visible in her eyes. Fiona smiled back.
But before the moment could last any longer, Troy’s hand suddenly rested on her shoulder.
"Well done, Fiona."
His grip was firm.
"Just as I expected."
Fiona’s smile faded slightly as the glow around her hand slowly disappeared.
*** Fiona Whitestrake - 17 Years old.
The Whitestrake estate library was massive—shelves of thick ledgers and documents filled the room, detailing decades of trade routes, contracts, and various "arrangements" the family maintained. Fiona sat at the center table, flipping through one of them slowly as her brows gradually furrowed.
"...This can’t be right."
Across from her, one of the older accountants shifted nervously.
"Lady Fiona... those records are not meant for—"
"Why are we charging triple the rate to the miners in the eastern district?" Fiona asked plainly.
The man hesitated.
"That... is simply the family’s established structure."
"They can barely afford basic equipment," Fiona replied, tapping the paper. "If they collapse, production collapses too."
The accountant forced a smile.
"Lady Fiona, these policies existed long before—"
"Then they’re outdated."
She grabbed a pen, the scratching sound filling the room.
"Reduce the rate by forty percent."
"F-Forty?!"
"Yes."
The accountant nearly stood up from shock.
"Lady Fiona, Lord Troy will not approve of—"
Fiona closed the ledger with a firm thud.
"Then he can correct it later."
Her expression softened slightly.
"But until then, the miners can afford to eat."
*** Fiona Whitestrake - 18 Years old.
"I’ve heard you altered many of my original contracts."
Troy’s voice echoed through the office.
Fiona stood in front of his desk calmly.
"Yes."
Troy stared at her for several long seconds, then laughed—not loudly, just once, a sharp exhale.
"You’re too soft."
Fiona didn’t answer.
Troy leaned back in his chair.
"You think the world runs on kindness?"
"No."
"Then why sabotage your own family’s profits?"
Fiona met his gaze directly.
"Because it works better this way."
Troy raised an eyebrow.
"The miners produce more now." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
She placed a small report on the desk.
"Increased output, fewer injuries, and even lower turnover."
Troy scanned the page briefly. His expression didn’t change.
"...Hmph."
He tossed the paper back toward her.
"That isn’t the point, Fiona. Profits might be more important, but that doesn’t mean much if we aren’t feared; reputation is worth just as much as a few more gold and silver."
He said, but he also didn’t order the contracts reversed.
*** Fiona Whitestrake - 20 Years old.
By then, the whispers had already spread through the family.
"Too kind."
"Too stubborn."
"Too much like her mother."
"She’ll ruin the Whitestrakes."
Fiona heard them all, and every time she did, her smile grew just a little wider. Because if they hated the way she ran things, then she must have been doing something right.
She was tired of appeasing her father—and the entire Whitestrake family—but she couldn’t simply walk away. There was no one else who would support her. All she could do was have fun in her own way, making sure to anger her family just enough to satisfy herself, but not enough to be disowned.
