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Chapter : 34
Knock, knock.
By now, the Duke must have sorted out his thoughts, and Morgan must have grasped how things were unfolding.
“Father, it’s Patricia.”
“…Yes. Come in.”
After a brief silence, the Duke gave his permission.
When I opened the door, Morgan rose from his seat with a sullen expression, and the Duke greeted me with an awkward smile.
In the end, it seemed the Duke wasn’t the type to verify the truth of my words with his own eyes; he had simply decided to go along with my mood.
Well, he had too much to lose to gamble on this.
“Alright, Patricia. Come, sit here.”
The Duke gestured to the seat Morgan had vacated.
It was the spot closest to the Duke.
Morgan didn’t seem pleased about giving up his seat to me.
“So, did you rest well?”
It seemed the Duke had decided to accommodate me, but what was Morgan planning?
He glanced at me with a look of irritation, as if he couldn’t stand it.
“No… not really.”
It looked like it would take a little more time for foolish Morgan to accept the situation.
I deliberately placed my hand on my forehead, sighing deeply, pretending to be distressed.
“You didn’t rest well?”
If Morgan left this room and escaped the Duke’s control, he would probably try to cause trouble for me again.
“Why… what made you uncomfortable?”
“Well… because of my older brother.”
“Older brother? Who are you talking about?”
“….”
I hesitated for a moment, reluctant to say it, and the Duke sharply turned his gaze to Morgan.
“Patricia, what on earth is going on?”
“…I don’t really know.”
Morgan shook his head, denying the Duke’s pointed question.
But I had no intention of letting him wiggle out of this on his own.
After all, the Duke was trying his best to match my mood right now.
Once Morgan saw firsthand how much the Duke considered my feelings, he’d get a sense of how to behave in the future.
I had to give Morgan a firm warning here and now.
“Patricia, what is it that’s upsetting you?”
“Morgan… my older brother…”
At the Duke’s repeated question, I reluctantly spoke.
“It seems he doesn’t like me.”
“What? What are you saying, Patricia?”
I spoke in a dejected voice, and the Duke gently raised the tone of his words, trying to comfort me.
“No matter what anyone says, aren’t we family? The idea that he dislikes you—what nonsense is that?”
“But he always criticizes me, saying I’m different from him by birth, calling me vulgar. Just now, he even called me a prostitute…”
Overcome by sorrow, I hastily covered my mouth.
“Waa… different by birth… I guess it’s because we have different mothers, so he doesn’t consider me his sister.”
Sigh…
As I sobbed pitifully, the Duke let out a deep sigh.
This was certainly the topic he would take most sensitively.
The Duke glared at Morgan, eyes blazing.
“Morgan. Apologize to your sister immediately.”
“…Huh? But Father, I—”
“Now!”
The Duke slammed the tea table forcefully.
“You foolish child. You just had to make things worse, didn’t you?”
He twisted his lips as if to blame Morgan for provoking me into revealing the family secret.
Morgan, faced with his father’s disappointed gaze for the first time, tried to protest a few times.
But the Duke, staring intently at him, clearly had no intention of letting this slide.
Finally, under the Duke’s silent pressure, Morgan spoke.
“I’m sorry.”
“Morgan Herrailla. Apologize properly.”
Morgan clenched his fists tightly in frustration, trembling.
Just before the Duke’s scolding could resume, he spoke with effort.
“I’m sorry, Patricia. You are my sister, no matter what anyone says. I never meant it that way, but if you misunderstood, I’m sorry.”
His hollow apology made me want to laugh.
He muttered “sorry,” but continued to make ridiculous excuses, insisting he had done nothing wrong.
Was he trying to claim that his previous behavior had no ill intent?
Of course, I hadn’t expected a proper apology anyway.
“Patricia, do you feel better now?”
The Duke turned his gaze from Morgan back to me.
“…Yes. I’ve been apologized to, so I’m okay.”
“I’m glad you feel better. Mischief done without malice…”
“But Father, if this happens again in the future, I will truly be sad.”
At that, the Duke’s face stiffened again.
“No more misunderstandings will be accepted. Then it would mean that everything wasn’t a misunderstanding but genuine intent.”
The Duke, who had been happily thinking things were resolved, opened his mouth in surprise.
But soon, the words I wanted to hear came from him.
“Do not worry. If that time comes, I will not simply stand by Morgan.”
I watched the Duke quietly, and he spoke again.
“Morgan must be disciplined until he understands the value of family.”
It was the moment the Duke put Morgan in chains.
After a brief glare, the Duke dismissed him.
Morgan, looking ready to cry from frustration, left, leaving just the Duke and me in the room.
The Duke hesitated for a moment, cleared his throat, and spoke.
“Patricia, you want to leave this house?”
“…Yes.”
“But finding a suitable residence won’t happen immediately. You know that, right?”
“Yes.”
I nodded in understanding at the Duke’s words.
“Can you tell me exactly why you want to leave?”
I paused, thinking, then spoke the truth.
“Because no one here truly wants me.”
“Sigh… Patricia. How can you say such a thing? Your father may be awkward with words, but above all, I cherish you.”
The Duke looked momentarily flustered, but managed to handle the situation well.
“Patricia, if you realize that everyone in this house loves you, would you no longer want to leave?”
Again, the Duke seemed to place the blame on me for not understanding the love of those around me.
As if I were still the source of all the problems.
But I decided to let this slide.
More than that, I wanted to understand the Duke’s true feelings.
It seemed he didn’t want me leaving the mansion.
The reason probably had nothing to do with the cost of housing.
Most likely, he wanted to keep me close so he could monitor me, just as he always had.
“….”
For now, he was adjusting to please me, but the moment threats no longer worked, the real side of him would emerge.
People don’t change overnight.
I shook my head firmly.
“…Why?”
Even at the Duke’s question, I refused to say anything.
I only shook my head once more resolutely.
“Very well. Then I will arrange a house for you.”
The Duke seemed frustrated with my stubbornness but nodded as if accepting that he had no choice.
“…How long will it take?”
“Not just the house, but servants too. It will take at least six months. Have you scoped out any area yet?”
I silently nodded.
I didn’t even expect servants.
A kitchen to cook, a bed to sleep in, and walls to block the wind and rain would have been enough.
But it seemed the Duke intended to assign servants for me as well, probably to monitor me through them.
The house would need to be fairly large to accommodate them.
Well, considering what I had endured from the Duke so far, it wouldn’t be bad to take advantage of this opportunity.
I looked at the Duke silently, and he spoke again.
“Do you have enough allowance to maintain your dignity?”
“…I’m fine.”
“…Not enough? Alright, then tell me how much more you want.”
I shook my head slightly.
“Father, you decide. I’ll be fine with whatever you give.”
The Duke seemed at a loss, pursed his lips, then nodded again.
“Very well. Starting next quarter, you’ll have plenty. More than your older brothers, so don’t worry.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Only then did the Duke let out a smile mixed with relief.
It seemed my obedient attitude put him at ease.
Perhaps he was reassured that he had successfully calmed me.
Even though everything had already gone according to my wishes.
“Father.”
“Yes, speak freely.”
“If we’re done talking, may I go to Duke Gerhardt’s mansion without delay? It would be problematic if I were late.”
Finally, the Duke hurriedly nodded.
“Yes, yes. Then get going.”
“I’ll go first, then.”
The Duke called out loudly behind me as I left his office.
“Patricia, I will have the family carriage prepared. Wait a moment.”
A subtle satisfaction rose within me at the thought that I would ride in the plush family carriage, not the stiff rented one patched with cloth.
