Transmigrated Into The True Heiress-Chapter 41: More Than Meets The Eye

Sitting in the first seat on the right side of her father, directly across from Marianna, who sat glaring at her from the left side of the dining table, Eira felt as though she were caught in a silent battle of wills. The air around the table was charged, thick with unspoken resentment. The soft clinking of silverware against china was the only sound as she carefully picked up her fork and took a small bite, acutely aware of Marianna’s gaze piercing into her. Even Eliot noticed, though he chose to ignore it—much like Eira had been doing since she came downstairs.

After eating a few more spoonfuls, she decided it was time. Dropping her fork, she stared straight at Marianna. "Is there something you want to say? If you do, say it. I don’t appreciate you staring at me like you want to bite and claw at me across the table," Eira said, her voice low but steady, carrying a mocking undertone.

Marianna’s glare became fiercer, but she forced herself to calm down and replied, "You have changed a lot since your accident, Ephyra. You’ve become so disrespectful to your elders and—"

"Ephyra, how’s your studies going?" Eliot interrupted. "Are you improving? I saw your previous exams, and they were all average, which I wasn’t thrilled to see."

Isn’t it your fault? Eira thought, but she smiled at Eliot and nodded emphatically. "You don’t have to worry, Father. I know my previous results weren’t pleasing, so I’m working extra hard. I promise you I’ll top the class this time. Alright?"

Eliot smiled at her confidence and chuckled, nodding approvingly.

They resumed eating, but Marianna, who had been ignored, gripped her fork tightly.

Eira counted the seconds in her mind, her lips curving slightly. After almost a minute, she straightened up and turned to Eliot. Hesitating, she said, "Father?"

"Hm?" Eliot responded, still eating.

She placed her fork down and adopted a shy, slightly fearful expression. "Uhm... there’s something I’d like to ask you about Myra’s punishment."

Eliot paused, his fork hovering mid-air as he looked at her, curiosity and annoyance flickering in his eyes. "What about Myra’s punishment?"

Eira bit her lip, a carefully placed sign of hesitation, and lowered her gaze, appearing to struggle with her words. "I know she made a mistake, but don’t you think the duration of her punishment is a bit too long? She’s been in isolation for days, and she’ll continue to be for weeks. Isolation alone would be fine, but she’s barely getting any food, has no internet access, and has extra chores to do around the mansion. I think a month is too much."

"So, you want me to lessen the punishment or the duration?" Eliot’s voice was hard, but Eira pretended not to notice and pressed on.

"Just the duration. So... will you decrease it, Father?"

"Why? Why are you defending her? You nearly died. The punishment I gave her is nothing compared to what you went through."

Because I want to teach her and Alan a lesson—and make the family break the engagement, Eira thought. But she spoke carefully, saying, "Because, no matter what happened, she’s still my sister. We’re blood. Besides, she didn’t make the accident happen on purpose; it was all a coincidence. She was one of the reasons I ended up in the accident, but that doesn’t mean she wanted me to almost die that night."

Eliot stared at her in silence for a moment. Then Marianna’s voice chimed in, "Eliot... Ephyra is absolutely right. Myra never intended to put her sister’s life in danger. She’s young, impulsive, and still learning to take responsibility. Easing the punishment might help her understand the value of family compassion."

Eliot shifted his gaze to Marianna, irritation flashing across his face, but he stayed silent, considering both arguments. The tension around the table thickened as everyone awaited his response.

"Please, Father," Eira murmured.

Eliot sighed and called over a maid, instructing her to fetch Myra downstairs.

After about five minutes, the maid returned with Myra trailing behind her. Eira took in Myra’s state as she approached. Dressed in pajamas that would have looked cute on her before, she now looked thin and frail, her eyes haunted.

Wow, just in two days? What did they do to her?

"Dad? You called for me?" Myra’s voice was low and hoarse.

"Yes. I’ll get straight to the point. Ephyra has asked me to reduce your punishment by half. I don’t want to, but she insists. So I want to ask you if you think you deserve it—because I don’t think you do—and if you’re going to repeat the same mistakes again." Eliot’s gaze was stern, almost glaring.

Myra clenched her hands into fists upon hearing that Ephyra had pleaded on her behalf but kept them hidden under the hem of her pajama shirt. She didn’t reply for a long time, not until her father called her name sharply and demanded an answer. If she didn’t respond, he would send her back to her room and add a new punishment.

Myra trembled and quickly opened her mouth. "I-I’m sorry, Father! I was just very surprised... that’s why I didn’t say anything."

"So?" Eliot prompted, raising an eyebrow.

"If Ephyra didn’t think I deserved it, she wouldn’t have pleaded for me. I promise, Dad, I’ll never make such a mistake again. It will never happen again. I know I was wrong. Please forgive me."

There was silence for half a minute before Eliot waved his hand. "You can go back to your room. Your punishment period is reduced by half, and your electronic devices will be returned after a week and a half. Thank Ephyra before leaving."

Myra dug her nails into her palms as she slowly turned to Ephyra. "Thank you." With that, she turned around and left.

On the other side of the table, Marianna smiled widely. "Thank you so much, darling," she said to Eliot.

"Don’t thank me—thank Ephyra." He picked up his spoon and resumed eating.

Marianna glanced at Ephyra, who smiled at her provocatively. Narrowing her eyes, Marianna rose and, with a final warning glance, sauntered off, leaving only Ephyra and Eliot at the table.

After twelve more minutes, dinner concluded with Eliot reminding Eira to focus on her studies. Eira simply nodded as he climbed the stairs toward his study.

Rolling her eyes, she skipped over to the kitchen, where the staff was finishing up for the day. Among them, she spotted Elma and approached her.

Elma was startled to feel someone touch her hand, but when she saw it was Ephyra, she relaxed and smiled.

"What are you doing here? Have you finished dinner?" Elma asked as she washed some fruit and stored it away.

"Yes, just now. What about you?" Eira asked, stretching her hand to steal an apple and whispering, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

Elma chuckled, shaking her head. "I’ve eaten, but you shouldn’t be eating that right after dinner. Don’t you have assignments to do?"

"Yeah, yeah, I’m going," Eira said, rinsing the apple before hurrying upstairs.

Taking bite after bite, she soon found herself in the hallway near her room. Just as she was about to step forward, she overheard faint voices and vaguely heard her name. The mother and daughter are discussing me. Tsk, they must be insulting me.

She considered continuing to her room but paused, tilting her head before grinning. Let’s pay them a visit.

Eira pushed open the slightly ajar door and leaned against it. "Can I join your discussion? Since it seems to be about me?"

Myra and Marianna’s expressions fully displayed the hatred, irritation, and visible annoyance that flared up in their eyes the moment they noticed her. Myra glared at her, while Marianna narrowed her eyes as if trying to intimidate Eira.

"What are you doing here? Who gave you permission to enter this room?" Myra demanded.

"I gave myself permission, and it’s not like the door was properly closed, let alone locked. I could hear your voices down the hall. Come on," Eira replied, biting into her apple. She walked forward, continuing before they could respond.

"So, Myra, how are you enjoying your punishment so far? You know, I thought it was just as Father said, but it seems there’s more to it, huh?" As soon as Eira finished speaking, Myra tensed slightly and curled her hands into tight fists.

Seeing this, Eira smirked. "Must have been traumatizing, huh? All the more reason why your darling love should come pay you a visit." She watched as Myra’s eyes widened, and continued. "Guess who I saw today? Your darling Alan. He was so worried about you, so I was nice enough to tell him you were being punished and that he should come visit you." She grinned and pointed to herself. "I’m the best sister, aren’t I?"

"Why did you tell him that, you bitch?" Myra spat.

"Helping you, of course! In a week and some days, you’ll get your phone back, and you can call him to vent or ask him to meet up afterward." Eira leaned forward, her eyes twinkling with mirth