Chapter 16 - Lord Lagerfeld (2/2)

I think he’s gotten fatter since the last time I’ve seen him.

Was he cursed with health negligence? I feel like his vibrant blonde hair had faded and was thinner.

“It’s been a while, Father. I’m glad you look healthy.” I replied in a tone that stated that I didn’t think that at all, and the glint in his eyes grew stronger. It was like he’d passed the point of anger and was going to go crazy.

――― He won’t let me get away with this.

I looked at his expression and had that dangerous thought.

I don’t think he’s foolish enough to get violent at his daughter’s husband’s house, but once Juris is gone, and we’re alone, he’ll probably give me an earful.

Even if he doesn’t hit or kick me, I’m sure he’ll slap me once.

He could say that he was just scolding his stupid daughter if he just does that.

“Juris leave the door open,” I said to Juris who was about to leave.

If he can be heard, then this man won’t utter abuse loudly.

However, after he glared at me in disapproval, he changed completely and smiled at Juris.

“Honestly, she’s a troubled girl. Do you hate being alone with your father that much? Do you think you’re going to be scolded?”

“Mas-… Father, that’s…”

“Well, I do have a few things I want to say to you, but I want to talk to you privately. You think so too, right? Ophelia. We don’t have to worry about anyone, like in the old days… So, Mr Heiman. Please close the door.”

――― His outward appearance of acting pleasant hasn’t changed either.

I called Juris’s name as my mouth twitched.

――― I’m begging you, please don’t close it. Listen to me.

However, Juris ignored my pleading glance. He bowed, “Understood,” and closed the door as he left.

I sighed in gloom.

I can’t say that Juris is a traitor.

This is probably the thing called karma.

The bad wife of his master and a gentleman who acts calm and gentle.

Whose order should be followed… In this case, anyone would choose the latter.

After all, the gentleman is a gentle father who came all the way from afar just to get a glance at his daughter.

It’s only human to want to listen to the father instead of the selfish daughter.

It’s inevitable.

――― Because they don’t know the relationship between this man and me.

“I came all this way to see you… honestly, you don’t even show me any courtesy. Victoria is that adorable but compared to her, you’re gloomy… I can see why Lord Rosenstein hates you.”

I remembered my depressing past.

The days where he made me act like a servant and oppressed me.

I worked from morning till night, slept in the storage room, and didn’t get enough to eat either.

No one stood by the side of the daughter, who he had taken in for revenge, and I endured my pain alone.

My heart eventually became paralysed, and the pain dulled.

“Well, whatever. There’s nothing to be done if that’s what you wish for… Look up, Ophelia.”

――― Ah, but…

Orpheus rescued me.

He saved me from the days when I felt like I was crawling on mud, and from the pain, I had to endure.

He was kind to me when no one turned back to look at me.

He gave me a brief moment of happiness and peace.

He taught me love.

“I told you to lift your face! This blockhead…!” He snarled.

The man walked towards me with rough footsteps and grabbed me by the collar.

He was tall, so he lifted me up, and I was standing on my tiptoes.

I finally lifted my face. The man’s face was flushed with anger, and his thick lips trembled as if he had ague.

“The disgrace of this fool…! How dare you mess around?! What’s with that rumour?!”

He must have been annoyed that I didn’t follow his order because he quickly flew into a fit of rage.

I didn’t want to see the ugly face in front of me, so I pretended to be afraid and closed my eyes.

My body was violently shaking back and forth, but I closed my eyes and imagined the beautiful smile of my beloved person like I always did when things were hard.

“Don’t you know your place?! You’re smearing mud on the Lagerfeld name, on my name, this trash! Did you forget the debt you owe me for raising you?!”

――― It’s okay. There’s nothing to be afraid of.

I can do anything.

I’ll show him.

“If you have an excuse, then tell me!”

“I don’t have any. Father.”

I opened my eyes and acted like Countess Rosenstein. I laughed fearlessly as if it was nothing.

There’s nothing to be afraid of.

Cuss as much as you want and hit me until you’re satisfied.

But still, I won’t yield.

“What are you complaining about? My marriage is an unhappy one just like you wanted. I’m steadily heading towards my path of ruin. What the hell are you complaining about? You wanted to see me in despair, didn’t you? At this rate, it’ll be soon. Maybe I won’t despair. Maybe I’ll be laughing from the bottom of my heart.”

“You!”

He swung his arm, which was like a log, and immediately after, I felt a strong impact on my left cheek.

It made the same sound as if I collided into some hard item, my vision spun, and I hit the floor.

“Stop fucking around! What’s with that rebellious attitude?! What’s with the way you’re talking?! Who are you talking to!?”

After the scorching heat, the pain comes a little later.

My vision flashed, and my pulse became violent.

I’ve been beaten many times when I was with the Lagerfeld family, but I’ve never been hit this strongly before.

The man was still shouting, but I was stunned because the impact had been too great.

“Are you listening!?”

The man kicked my shoulder as if he didn’t like my attitude.

I was suddenly attacked while I was stunned, so I couldn’t stop him. I toppled over and hit my elbow severely.

“Do you know how ungrateful you are?! Who do you have to thank for not becoming an orphan!? Who do you have to thank for living like this?! Who do you have to thank for having a clean body and not having to fall into prostitution?! Answer!”

I could put up with whatever he said when I was at that house, but it was different now.

I heard something snap in my head and I was screaming because of the burning rage.

“It would have been better if you died on the roadside!”

I grabbed the hand that was clutching my chest. If he’s not going to let go, then I won’t go easy on him. I dug my nails into his hand.

“If I’m going to live with those thoughts, then it would have been better if I followed after mother! It would have been better if I died! What do you mean who do I have to thank? You treated me like trash and sold me off in the end!”

“What!? You…!”

“I’m not your property! I’m also not your slave! But still, I endured it for six years and served you! I didn’t rebel even when I was beaten, kicked, or cussed! I even became your political tool!”

I pitied him at first.

I sympathised with this man for being a pathetic man who couldn’t be with the woman he loved and began to hate her because of grief.

I believed in this man as my father when he first took me in, and I silently endured his random outbursts of anger.

It was also something that I had to do to live.

I lost my mother, who was my only family. I was sad and lonely and just wanted someone by my side, no matter who they were.

I believed that he would love me once he regained his sanity.

Sometimes, while intoxicated by my unhappy self, I would continue my silly dreams, like my mother’s favourite novel for young girls…

『I won’t let you be happy. I’ll make you suffer more than I have.』

However, that dream was smashed a long time ago.

I don’t feel sorry for this man anymore.

――― I have nothing to do with this man, or Victoria or the Lagerfeld family.

“So, I won’t do what you say anymore! I will live by my own will!” I screamed.

I glared at the man as if I was intimidating him and vented the first thing that came to mind.

“You, shameless, ungrateful…!”

He swung his arm again, and his soft and flabby fist was coming towards me.

――― I won’t groan no matter how painful it is.

I clenched my teeth and closed my eyes tightly to prepare for the impact.