How the Villain Invests in the Female Lead

Chapter 14: Family dinner

After we finished everything, we headed straight to the main residence. By the time we arrived at the family dining hall, we were already quite late.

My father only asked a few questions before telling me to take a seat and eat.

I sat beside my wife and fed her during the meal. Whenever she had finished a bite, I would take one for myself. Since it was a family dinner, the servants were not allowed to be present until the meal had ended.

My wife showed none of her usual resistance. Instead, she quietly accepted every bite I fed her, behaving like an obedient child. She knew it was the bare minimum she had to do in front of the family.

My two brothers remained silent, especially with our father present. They only spoke when he addressed them directly.

The dinner was quiet until my father turned to us.

"How did everything go? It appears that the two of you get along quite well."

I nodded.

"Yes, Father. We’re very compatible."

My wife spoke politely.

"He treats me very well. I love him."

My father nodded before turning to my elder brother, whose sharp features closely resembled his own. Anyone could tell that my brother was the very image of our father in his younger days.

"Percival, how did your visit to the elves go?"

Percival sighed.

"Not well, Sir. The Worshipers attacked the elven territory and stole the core of the World Tree. The entire nation is in turmoil at the moment. That is why I returned home."

My father could barely hide his disappointment.

"’That is why I returned home’?"

His voice turned cold.

"Since when did you become such a coward?"

He set down his fork.

"That was a perfect opportunity for you to stay there and support them. An opportunity to hunt the Worshipers, temper yourself in battle, and grow stronger."

His gaze sharpened.

"And yet you threw away that golden opportunity just to come home and share a simple dinner with me?"

Percival mostly bowed his head at this moment, not daring to look at my father’s eyes, nor responding.

My father slightly shook his head and changed his target. His voice was not gentle at all.

’’Doran.’’

My second brother nearly jumped out of his chair in surprise, revealing his fat belly.

’’Y-Yes, sir.’’

My father could not help but click his tongue. He didn’t even want to question my second brother anymore. His earlier actions were enough to prove that whatever he was about to say next would only disappoint my father.

The next moment, my father pointed at me.

’’Look at your younger brother. He just defeated the Third Princess and killed a talented child of the Pendragon Family. More importantly, he humiliated the Pendragon family in front of the entire world. Compared to him, you two are nothing but goddamn disappointments .’’

He added,

’’You should take him as an example and learn from him.’’

My brothers frowned in confusion, staring at me in surprise. It seemed they hadn’t seen the news on social media yet.

They nodded at once.

’’Yes, sir.’’

My father blinked for a moment before saying,

’’Henry. To reward you for your achievement, I’ve decided to allow you to take any martial arts manual from the family’s treasury.’’

Nearby, Doran could no longer control himself. He shot to his feet and protested indignantly,

’’S-Sir. You can’t do that. It’s unfair to us. He’s nothing but trash, so how does he have the right to enjoy such a privilege?’’

My father shot Doran a cold look, causing him to sit back down in fear and lower his head.

He snorted.

’’If Henry is trash, then what does that make you?’’

My second brother fell silent.

My father interlaced his fingers and rested his hands on the table, glaring at me.

’’Tell me what kind of manual you want. But remember, only one.’’

I paused for a moment before speaking.

’’Father, I’d like to use that privilege for my wife. I want a proper manual for her.’’

Everyone here stared at me with confused, surprised expressions. My second brother, especially, even smirked at my decision.

My wife frowned.

"Are you sure? This is your chance. Don’t let it slip away because of a cripple like me."

My father grimaced, his expression revealing deep disappointment.

"I thought you had changed, but it turns out you haven’t. I should’ve let you die instead of trying to save you."

His voice was sharp, enough to make my brothers fall silent and gulp in fear.

I had made my father angry.

But I wasn’t afraid at all and showed no emotion on my face, as if my father’s threat was nothing.

My father frowned and asked,

"Give me a reason. Don’t lie me.’’

I glanced at my wife, who clearly looked worried, concerned, and even a little expectant, as if she wanted to hear what I would say.

I replied calmly.

"It’s an investment. She’s very useful to me."

Silence.

No one said anything.

My wife just stared at me with a dark expression, as if she wanted to say, "What else could I have expected from you?"

My brothers just glanced at each other, and I didn’t know what they were thinking.

My father tried to suppress his laugh before bursting into laughter in the family dining hall.

"I thought you were going to say something cheesy."

He sighed.

"So...you mean you invest in your wife, and it’ll bring a better outcome than investing in yourself? Alright, I accept it."

I nodded calmly. Actually, I didn’t need any manuals from my family anymore. The manuals from my wife alone were already too many for me to learn. Instead, I should help her learn a proper combat technique for her crippled body.

She needed a combat technique before the Dawnreach Academy entrance exam, which would start in a few days.

My father lifted his hand. In an instant, Polly appeared beside him.

"Lead him to the family treasury and choose a proper manual for his wife."