Chapter 12 (1/2)

Chapter 12

It was strange and awkward to see Karloi expressing his anger as he suddenly came into the bedroom. Yvonne felt it then. As she wasn’t the old Lilian Lou, Karloi is also not the old Kal.

The Kal at the time was clumsy, but he was an honest, hot-tempered little boy, not a frighteningly quiet, cold-tempered man.

“I hate Delois terribly and know that if I can, I want to get rid of all those who received the castle from this Empire.”

Even if he did not raise his voice, she felt cruel anger from Karloi.

She thought she had become accustomed to the pain, but it didn’t seem so from the pain Karloi gave her. Every word he spits pricked her chest.

His brutal sincerity touched Yvonne, so she couldn’t even ignore him.

Karloi wants to kill me now.

Yvonne was forced to give up. If he is full of hatred to this extent, there is no way he will favor her, and he would never remember her.

The only option left was to believe in Karloi’s rationality. She had to make Karloi realize that it was beneficial to get out of the Duke’s interference by doing the least of their duties.

“You could be the Empress of this country, but that’s about it.”

Though Yvonne soon learned that she couldn’t even do that. Karloi’s hatred seemed to have erased all options other than ‘hostility.’

When Karloi left, leaving only his cold words, Yvonne fell to the bed like a wooden doll with broken limbs.

“Now I can’t do anything.”

Yvonne muttered to herself.

She can’t be honest with Karloi, and she can’t comfortably side with him. Nevertheless, it is impossible to win Karloi’s favor by listening to the Duke’s words.

She can’t do anything about that either, so she’s probably going to rot away here.

Her eyes were wet. Yvonne slowly rubbed her eyes. It was strange since she hadn’t cried in a long time.

She seemed to be expecting too much with her useless hope. She was hoping that she might have been able to escape from hell, but she just walked into another nightmare.

“…Mom.”

In her crying voice, Yvonne muttered, calling her mother like a child. She was scared and lonely.

On the day she sat in the noblest position, Yvonne fell into a bottomless pit of despair.

She barely fell asleep, remembering when she was the happiest and when happiness and misery crossed.

***

Yvonne did not understand the many ways of the Duke of Delois, who suddenly appeared as her father.

For example, why he is harsh to her but so generous to her mother.

“Oh, Denise. The physician said that it’s bad for your body if you stay out for such a long time.”

“This is all right, Duke. I don’t think I’ll be able to see much of Lou when she gets married, I want to spend a lot of time with her.

“Yes, you should… Lou will live well, so don’t worry too much about her. Just take care of yourself. You need to be healthy to be with Lou for a long time.

The Duke patted Denise with a creepy friendly face.

Even though he took her mother hostage like that, she couldn’t understand why he dared to risk his life in illegal no-leak magic.

When the Duke’s actions were finally clear, Yvonne became more frightened and disgusted with him.

“My only daughter is getting married, but she can’t do anything…”

Yvonne’s mother, Denise, muttered with her haggard face. Denise’s condition has become much better since she came to the Duke’s residence.

The luxurious bed in a spacious and comfortable room with colorful curtains, there were many servants who took care of them. It would be even weirder if the condition didn’t improve.

“I know I told you that I really wanted to go to the wedding, but the Duke said going that far with this body is too dangerous. Also, since it’s too far, you can’t come often anymore…”

Denise stamped her tears with her white handkerchief.

“I’m glad my husband is a good man.”

Denise knew nothing. Even though she got pregnant and ran away because she was scared of the duke, she did not have doubts why the Duke was kind and generous now.

She wanted to do things he didn’t get to do with the dead Duchess and his daughter. She believed in the Duke’s lie that he was lonely without a family.

Her judgment was also blurred due to her terminal illness, but the Duke was a person who could manipulate people with his acting as well.

Even Yvonne initially believed in the Duke. How happy she was to have a father.

[ Now, I’ll be your father. ]

The Duke held the hand of young Lilian Lou with a friendly face in the dark forest.

In such a beautiful image, she was dazed by the Duke’s enviable power. Since he was the one who took Yvonne out from Hell.

“They said he gave you all the best education you could get. When did you become such an elegant lady? Are you happy, Lou?”

Denise grabbed her daughter’s hand with her dry hand. The innocent questions choked her breath.