That morning, Molly jolted awake from her sleep.
She opened her emerald-green eyes and stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling for a long while.
Her hazy vision gradually cleared.
This was the Phoenix family estate. She was in the bedroom Butler William had arranged for her.
Yes—she was now the heir to the Phoenix family. No longer that fallen noble descendant, no longer an overworked office drone bullied by superiors.
Yesterday, she had officially arrived at the Phoenix family. But she hadn’t been in good condition—feverish and with a sprained ankle. Not wanting her subordinates to see her weakness, she had used jet lag as an excuse and stayed in her room to rest.
She vaguely remembered how terrible she had felt last night. Yet after just one night’s sleep, she now felt radiant and full of energy.
As Molly thought about her plans for the day, she lifted the covers and got out of bed—only to freeze slightly as she stood.
Strange.
Her ankle had healed so quickly.
Was the medicine the doctor gave her yesterday really that effective?
Either way, being able to walk normally again solved one of her biggest problems.
Letting out a quiet breath of relief, Molly went to the bathroom to shower. As she stood before the mirror and slipped off her nightdress, she noticed something else strange.
The marks he had left on her body the night before… had disappeared.
She reached up to touch her neck and collarbone. She clearly remembered that not only there, but also on her chest, abdomen, and thighs, there should have been marks.
She knew her own body well—she bruised easily, and those marks usually took a long time to fade.
But now, the woman in the mirror had smooth, pale skin, a rosy complexion, and a radiant glow—no trace at all of yesterday’s disheveled state.
Something felt… off.
Lowering herself into the warm bath, Molly let her silver hair float across the water’s surface, her thoughts drifting freely along with it.
After bathing, she put on a robe and called in a maid to help with her hair care. While applying a face mask, she asked casually:
“The Vongola boss came by yesterday, didn’t he? Did he say anything?”
The maid attending her was the same one from yesterday—Claire.
“Yes, Miss. The Vongola boss came specifically to visit you and brought a gift. After learning that you were unwell, he left with regret. He said he would visit again when there’s another opportunity.”
Claire spoke while tending to Molly’s silver hair, secretly watching her expression.
Unfortunately, with the mask on, nothing could be read.
Molly asked coldly, “No one entered my room while I was resting, correct?”
Claire immediately replied nervously that without Molly’s permission, no one would dare enter her room. She had been guarding outside the entire time and was certain no one had gone in.
“I understand. You’ve done well, Claire,” Molly said coolly, almost absentmindedly.
She believed her. Even though the Phoenix family was declining, nobles still had their rules—they wouldn’t casually allow outsiders into the heir’s bedroom.
Still, after dressing and heading to the dining hall for breakfast, Molly confirmed once more with Butler William. Only after hearing that Tsunayoshi Sawada had left immediately after being refused did she let out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.
As she ate her Italian flatbread, she lowered her gaze in thought.
So… what happened last night must have just been a fever dream.
If it was nothing but an illusion, then there was no need to dwell on it.
Her body had always been healthy. The fever was likely from exhaustion—recovering after rest was normal.
As for the inexplicably vanished marks… they hadn’t been severe anyway. After two nights, it wasn’t that strange for them to disappear.
After breakfast, Butler William stepped forward to report on important matters.
First, as the heir to the Phoenix family, Molly needed to hold an inheritance ceremony. Allied families would be invited to witness it, and the executor of the will would present her with the Phoenix Ring. Only then would she officially inherit the family.
Molly nodded thoughtfully. “Who is the executor?”
William paused briefly. “The Tenth Vongola Boss.”
“….”
This time, it was Molly who fell silent.
Lowering her gaze, her eyes turned slightly cold. “So he already knew who I was?”
“Miss, Mr. Sawada likely did not know beforehand,” William explained carefully. “When the former boss arranged the will, we only knew that a bloodline heir existed—we did not know who it was.”
Observing her expression ease slightly, he continued:
“The ceremony is set for next month. We have one month to prepare. Currently, the family’s biggest issue is manpower. Many members left around the former boss’s passing. We need to recruit new people, and your Guardian selection must also begin.”
Molly quickly summarized the situation: three main problems—manpower, funds, and industry.
For manpower, the Phoenix family was no longer favored, so recruiting would require more money, and training would take time.
She considered starting with orphanages. Even though Italy had become safer under Vongola’s rule, gray areas still existed—many children were still alone in the world.
As for funds, the former boss had left behind a considerable inheritance—but it could only be accessed by a rightful heir who could activate the Phoenix Ring. Once her inheritance was complete, the financial issue would resolve itself.
However, she knew relying solely on inheritance would eventually lead to decline. The Phoenix family needed its own sustainable industry.
The former boss’s main business had been vineyards in southern Italy, producing high-end traditional wine under the name “Phoenix,” which had some international recognition.
But after his death, rumors spread that the family would be absorbed by the Vongola. Many managers jumped ship, and those who remained were mostly opportunists.
Molly decided the wine business must continue, but it couldn’t be the only industry. Wine had slow returns—she planned to invest in emerging overseas industries.
Still, investment required management. She would need to cultivate loyal agents to handle operations, leaving her to make only key decisions.
As for combat and Guardians—she knew too little. She humbly asked William to find her a teacher.
William agreed to everything.
They spoke for nearly two hours. The more they discussed, the more satisfied William became with this new heir.
He explained that her combat instructor had already been arranged—but since she had just arrived and wasn’t in good condition, training had been postponed.
“No need to delay,” Molly said seriously. “I’ve fully recovered. Is the teacher available today? I can start now.”
“Your instructor was chosen by the former boss,” William said, his eyes glistening faintly. “He said that if you were a boy, you would be trained by Colonello. If a girl, you would be entrusted to Vongola’s external advisor, Lal Mirch.”
Again, Vongola…
Was their relationship really that close?
Molly felt a faint irritation—but quickly composed herself. This was her grandfather’s arrangement.
“I’d like to visit my grandfather… to thank him for everything he prepared.”
The former boss’s grave was on the hill behind the estate.
William smiled faintly. “His greatest regret was not meeting you before he passed. He would be very happy to know you came.”
In the afternoon, a light rain began to fall. Dressed in black, Molly went to lay flowers at the grave, William holding an umbrella over her.
Looking at the kind, elderly man in the photograph on the tombstone, Molly felt conflicted.
She spoke only a few simple words. William, however, spoke at length, his eyes filled with tears.
Listening quietly, Molly learned that William had been her grandfather’s Thunder Guardian.
There were six Guardians—Storm, Rain, Sun, Thunder, Cloud, and Mist.
Some of the others had died; others had returned to their homelands. As William said, they had gathered in Italy for her grandfather—once he was gone, they naturally left.
After visiting the grave, they descended the hill together in silence. Only when Molly was about to return to her room did William seem to remember something. He took out a delicate emerald-colored gift box.
“Miss, this was entrusted to me by Mr. Sawada last night. Please accept it.”
At the mention of him, Molly’s calm heart stirred again—sour and heavy.
William understood and gently advised, “Regardless, Mr. Sawada is the Vongola boss. As an allied family, we should at least show courtesy.”
“…Understood.”
So she had to accept it. She couldn’t throw it away.
Back in her room, Molly changed out of her black dress into a silk nightgown.
William had said her instructor, Lal Mirch, would arrive at 2 PM.
She intended to rest a bit more before what would surely be a demanding training session.
But…
Lying on the bed, she held the small green gift box, her heart heavy with hesitation. She couldn’t bring herself to open it.
He said he came to apologize, brought a gift—
But really, wasn’t it just hush money? To make sure she kept quiet about what happened that night?
She understood.
She wasn’t naive enough to believe he genuinely wanted to see her.
Curling up on the bed, Molly closed her eyes. Moisture gathered at the corners of her eyes as she hugged herself—and the unopened gift box—tightly.
At that moment, it felt as if she had returned to last night’s dream, held gently in his arms.
As expected—
she hated him the most.