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Chapter 12
She hadn’t done anything wrong, so she didn’t want to apologize.
If she did, it would really mean she had done something wrong.
And then, she’d lose even the chance to explain herself to her grandfather.
But… would this situation ever really end?
Just as Riersha’s heart began to waver—
The door burst open, and someone entered.
A man with silver hair and red eyes, his expression cold and detached. He glanced around the room and let out a faint, mocking laugh.
“…Well, look at that. The young duke has returned, hasn’t he?”
Someone muttered blankly.
At those words, Riersha’s eyes widened, snapping toward the man.
He strode inside, unbothered by the startled gazes surrounding him.
“What a spectacle. What exactly is this? You’ve gone ahead with proceedings before the guardian even arrived?”
In Fernoar’s hand was a single sheet of paper.
It read: “Summons to the Disciplinary Committee.”
“Th-that—why is that in your hands, young duke?”
Marquis Crendor stammered, looking flustered.
“Oh, this?”
Fernoar clicked his tongue and turned toward Archmond.
The summons had been written and sent by Archmond himself.
The Duke’s personal seal was stamped clearly on the document.
Riersha’s eyes widened in shock.
She couldn’t believe her grandfather had summoned her father—for her sake.
On the surface, it looked like an act of fairness, but anyone could tell Archmond was siding with Riersha.
“The guardian is required by law to attend the disciplinary committee, Marquis Crendor. Oh? You didn’t know?”
Fernoar sat down beside Riersha, glaring at the Marquis with sharp amusement.
Cold sweat rolled down Crendor’s temple as he averted his eyes.
“I must say, this is a first for me. Quite refreshing. Be sure to thank the Marquis for me—it’s thanks to him I returned home early.”
With that, Fernoar made it official: he had fully returned to the family estate.
The atmosphere in the hall changed in an instant.
At the young duke’s arrival, the nobles began to murmur and whisper among themselves.
Evil—seeing Marquis Crendor falter—visibly panicked and hid behind him.
Her once-reliable protector now looked helpless, and fear crept up on her face.
“So then, which one of you is Evil? That one hiding back there?”
Fernoar lazily folded the document and asked.
Evil flinched as she was pointed out.
“I hear you pulled my daughter’s hair?”
He smiled faintly as he asked. Evil’s face turned pale, and she shook her head frantically.
“N-no! I didn’t do that!”
“Mmph, is there any proof? Go on, speak up, Evil. Didn’t you say Lady Riersha pushed you first?”
Marquis Crendor quickly turned to her.
But Evil bit her lip, unable to meet anyone’s eyes—her nervous fidgeting was the very picture of a lying child.
Fernoar’s crimson eyes narrowed.
“Seems you’ve forgotten who my adjutant is. Rosinante—bring the evidence.”
“Yes, young duke.”
The man standing behind Archmond stepped forward and produced a recording crystal.
Moments later, a projection appeared—showing Evil first picking a fight with Riersha, then grabbing her hair. The entire scene replayed vividly before everyone’s eyes.
“N-no, Father! It’s not true!”
Evil’s face drained of color as not only her wrongdoing but also her lies were laid bare.
“Evil! That’s not what you told me!”
Marquis Crendor, realizing the entire setup was collapsing on him, began shouting furiously at her.
This was no ordinary place—Archmond himself was present, along with the upper ranks of the house.
If the family’s name was stained here, their downfall would be inevitable.
When the projection ended, Fernoar spoke.
“Marquis Crendor, anything else to say?”
“…W-well, children do tend to lie now and then, don’t they? It was just a quarrel between kids. Perhaps we can overlook it this once…”
The Marquis stammered, desperately trying to bargain.
As the situation veered out of his control, murmurs rippled through the nobles—until Archmond rose from his seat and struck the floor once with his staff.
The faint sound silenced the room instantly.
“Marquis Crendor. Do you object to the expulsion of Evil Crendor from the main estate?”
“Y-your Grace! That’s—!”
The Marquis’ face turned ashen.
Being expelled from the main estate meant being cut off from House Aracrene entirely.
For a man who’d long abused that connection, his trembling hands betrayed his panic.
With so many enemies, the Crendor family would soon become easy prey.
“Well? Aren’t you going to apologize, Evil?”
The Marquis barked sharply. Evil, pale and terrified, fell to her knees.
Though she had good grades at the branch academy, she never imagined she’d face banishment.
“I—I was wrong, Lady Riersha! I’ll never be rude again! Please, show mercy…!”
The Duke rose from his seat and left the room, leaving behind a chilling silence.
The nobles, exchanging uneasy glances, began leaving one by one—some even covering their faces so Fernoar wouldn’t remember them.
“I suggest you take your daughter and leave, Marquis Crendor.”
“Y-young duke!”
Evil cried out, desperate, as Fernoar dismissed them.
If things ended like this, she’d become an outcast even within her own family.
That couldn’t happen—she had to stop it somehow.
“Marquis Crendor, do you object?”
“O-of course not…”
The Marquis began dragging Evil away.
His heart ached to see his child expelled, but there was nothing he could do.
Evil isn’t my only heir, he thought quickly. I’ll just bring another child to the main estate next year.
Realizing her father had given up on her, Evil’s face twisted in anguish.
“Father! What are you doing?! You know what’ll happen to me if I’m expelled! Father—Father!!”
The doors slammed shut.
Riersha stared blankly at Fernoar, still processing how everything had ended so suddenly.
But she couldn’t bring herself to call out to him.
Sensing her hesitation, Fernoar spoke first.
“It’s been a while, Riersha.”
“……”
“Looks like quite some time has passed. You’re already walking and talking, huh.”
He gave a soft chuckle, waving the committee summons as if amused.
“Just got back to the estate, and you’ve already dragged me into a disciplinary hearing. How impressive.”
“H-hic.”
Riersha hiccupped in confusion, unsure whether he was scolding or praising her.
Is he saying I was bold enough to make him attend something like this?
She shyly covered her mouth, trying to stop the hiccups with her tiny hands.
Behind them, Rosinante sighed quietly as he watched the awkward reunion of father and daughter.
Thus ended their dramatic meeting.
“Lady Riersha!”
“Donna!”
The moment Riersha stepped out of the Tower of Truth, she ran straight toward Donna.
She could feel Fernoar’s sharp gaze behind her, but she pretended not to notice and dove into Donna’s arms.
All the tension in her body melted away.
“You did wonderfully, my lady. You were amazing! Let’s go back to your room, eat something delicious, and rest, shall we?”
“Mmh…”
“I’ll stay by your side until you fall asleep tonight.”
As Fernoar approached, Donna quickly stood and bowed.
“Greetings, young duke.”
“That’s enough of that,” Fernoar said, waving dismissively.
Riersha flinched slightly at the sound of his voice behind her.
“Lady Riersha?”
“Mm?”
“Aren’t you happy to see the young duke? You’ve wanted to meet him for so long.”
Donna whispered gently. Riersha glanced toward Fernoar, but when their eyes met, she quickly turned her head away.
It was strange.
She’d wanted to see him for so long—yet now that she had, he somehow felt distant. In a word…
“I want to go to my room, Donna. My room.”
“Eh? Oh—yes, my lady. Then, young duke, please excuse us.”
Donna followed after Riersha, still confused, as the girl led the way.
