The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Chapter 145 Will Not Feel Guilty
“Proceed with an investigation into that judge as well,” Hera texted in a follow-up command. Standing silently beside Diamond, she felt the weight of her emotions. Diamond nudged Hera gently before letting out a loud snort.

Hera drew in a deep breath, steadying herself as she reined in her emotions and quelled the rising tide of anger within her. With closed eyes, she leaned closer to Diamond, seeking solace and support from her steadfast companion. After successfully regulating her emotions, she composed herself and sent an additional instruction via text. Empowered by the knowledge of her team’s capabilities, she felt a newfound sense of ease, confident in directing them toward her objectives, knowing they would exceed her expectations without fail.

Hera felt a surge of gratitude towards her grandfather and ancestors for nurturing such a formidable force under their command. Yet, mingled with that gratitude was a deep sense of guilt and regret. She couldn’t shake the feeling of foolishness and regret for allowing her lovestruck and naive actions, as depicted in the novel, to jeopardize the incredible legacy built over centuries by her family. The thought weighed heavily on her heart, knowing that her actions had inadvertently led to the downfall of something so significant, borne from the hard work and sacrifices of generations past.

So this time, she wanted to do herself and her family legacy some justice. She decided to work harder to be a deserving heir to their family legacy. She wouldn’t allow Minerva or Alice to take her or her family down in this life. Just thinking about the future gave her another sense of purpose, something she could never avoid because it was already set in stone, so instead of avoiding it, she would face it head-on and make use of every possible means to turn in the table, even if it meant that she would have to steal the male leads from Alice to make sure that she and her grandfather’s life would meet such tragic ends.

Thinking of the male leads, Hera’s gaze drifted toward Xavier, engrossed in grooming his horse. She couldn’t shake off a sense of guilt, knowing she intended to manipulate them. Yet, she reminded herself that they played a significant role in her family’s downfall in the novel, and they weren’t entirely blameless.

With a resolve forming in her mind, Hera saw it as an opportunity for the male leads to atone for their past deeds or maybe their ‘future deeds’. As she reflected on this, her guilt gradually dissipated. If she couldn’t escape her circumstances, she resolved to make the most of them. After all, she had been nothing but a foolish victim in the novel, never the instigator or aggressor.

Having reconciled with herself and set aside the guilt, Hera returned to her own tasks with a renewed sense of purpose. She began grooming Diamond with a contented demeanor, patiently awaiting the completion of the tasks she had assigned to her team.

As she continued her task, Hera grew increasingly annoyed by the bald man’s lingering, intrusive gaze. Feeling violated, she sought refuge on the other side of Diamond’s massive body, using it as a shield to block the man’s unwelcome stares.

Despite Hera’s clear discomfort and attempts to create distance, the man persisted, approaching her to strike up a conversation. His gaze lingered from her face down to her chest and further, making her feel even more uneasy.

“Hi, I’ve never seen you join the competition before. Is this your first time?” His voice grated on Hera’s ears, pretentious and annoying like a fork scratching the back of a pot. She winced involuntarily at the sound, realizing how far it was from the natural hoarse and raspy voices of the male leads. The only person she’d heard with a similar quality of voice was Leo. In retrospect, Leo seemed to embody the essence of the male leads in every aspect—from his looks to his voice, and perhaps even his family background.

If they were talking about voices, his was the kind Athena once described as capable of impregnating your ears with its seductive allure.

Hera couldn’t help but recall the encounter with Leo in the women’s comfort room—the vulnerability in his state at that time contrasted sharply with the determination and coldness in his eyes. He was the true epitome of a man.

The man’s forced hoarse voice sounded again, forcefully pulling Hera away from her thoughts as he repeated his question. “Hi, I’ve never seen you join the competition before. Is this your first time?” Thinking that Hera must not have heard his question the first time, so he turned his voice a little louder this time.

After hearing his grating voice, Hera unconsciously frowned and released a deep, annoyed exhale. However, the man misinterpreted her reaction as admiration for his voice, assuming she was trying not to appear embarrassed in front of him. If Hera could have read his thoughts, she might have felt a wave of revulsion and gag right there and then. His evident narcissism and inflated self-image were unmistakable.

Hera recalibrated her emotions and replied curtly, “Yes, it’s my first time participating.” Her tone lacked warmth or enthusiasm, and her demeanor resembled that of an ice queen. She didn’t want to engage in a conversation with him, but she also didn’t want to reveal her disinterest openly just yet. Until her plan was fully executed, she preferred to keep her distance and not alert her enemy, ensuring they wouldn’t foresee their demise or identify who to seek vengeance against.

Despite her impatience, Hera maintained a composed facade, revealing nothing on her face beyond the minimum politeness necessary to engage in a conversation with someone. And, as if sensing her thoughts, Xavier intervened just in time. “Have you finished your preparations?” His voice exuded effortless allure as he leisurely made his way toward her his hands tucked in his pockets.

Observing Xavier’s approach, the irksome man clicked his tongue in annoyance, contemplating whether to depart or oust Xavier from the scene. However, he restrained himself, recognizing his outsider status and the limitations it imposed. His recent warning from his uncle echoed in his mind, cautioning against stirring up trouble, especially considering his uncle’s political ambitions.