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Chapter 21
Lillian’s expectations were exactly right. When she returned home, all the servants were gathered in the living room.
“Ah, miss. Please do something. His Grace the Grand Duke is—”
Seeing their terrified faces, Lillian clenched her fists. Even if she went, there was no way she could stop His Grace—but she couldn’t just stand by either. After all, this whole situation had happened because of her.
“Where is His Grace right now?”
“He’s in the reception room with the master and mistress.”
At that moment, her mother’s voice boomed out from beyond the door, echoing through the narrow living room.
“What, you came all this way just because you listened to Lillian’s words and wanted to pick a fight with us? What exactly did we do to deserve this?”
“I heard that you struck her.”
“Oh my, struck her? As parents, we merely disciplined our child a little—why are you putting it like that? And no matter how great Your Grace may be, Lillian is our daughter. Barging in like this is completely improper!”
Ha, “our daughter,” she says.
Lillian, who had been gripping the reception room’s doorknob, froze.
Do they really… truly think that way?
For some reason, a laugh escaped her. Watching them retort without batting an eye, she felt something like revulsion.
“I can no longer leave Lillian in this house. I will take her with me.”
“That’s unacceptable. By what right do you intend to take my daughter?”
This time, her father raised his voice. As the argument escalated, Lillian stopped hesitating and entered the reception room. And at that moment, she noticed there was another person in the room.
It was Witten, the bank president.
“I have heard that Your Grace is in a relationship with Lady Lillian with marriage in mind.”
“Oh my, marriage in mind? That’s absurd, Sir Witten. We merely allowed her to meet His Grace, nothing more.”
Her mother hastily backtracked, then added in a low voice,
“And now I’m even considering withdrawing that permission. From what I see, His Grace is far too high-handed.”
“Then are you saying you now oppose the relationship between His Grace and the young lady?”
At Witten’s question, her mother answered sharply.
“Yes.”
“If I had known you were this kind of people, I wouldn’t have permitted it either.”
After hearing even her father’s words, Witten nodded.
“If that is your decision, then there is nothing to be done.”
Witten handed over the ledger he had been holding.
“These are the amounts borrowed under His Grace’s name, along with the interest. Altogether, it comes to, let’s see…”
The moment Lillian heard the figure, her ears rang. It was the price of an entire grand mansion.
“A-all of this… what on earth did you use it for?!”
Startled, Lillian’s voice rose as well. Her father, meeting her gaze, merely coughed awkwardly and said nothing. Instead, her mother turned sharply on Witten.
“That money was spent on breaking off our daughter’s engagement with Count Gewin! And now you’re telling us to repay it—don’t be ridiculous! When you told us to use it as we pleased, that was fine, wasn’t it?”
“I’m sorry, madam, but that amount was all loaned. Moreover, I believe it was given on the condition that you permitted her relationship with His Grace.”
“Th-then what about it?”
Her mother asked in a flustered voice. Witten replied coolly.
“According to the newly enacted Noble Act, before punishment is imposed, perpetrators and victims of domestic violence must be separated. A court-appointed lawyer from the imperial family will arrive shortly to explain the details.”
“My goodness, how outrageous! So now you’re saying you’re going to forcibly take our daughter away?”
“I’m not saying we will take her away, madam. I am simply stating that, by law, the state has a duty to ensure the safety of your daughter, who is a noble.”
“That’s the same thing!”
“……”
Witten offered no further rebuttal. Her mother grabbed her father’s arm and pleaded.
“Honey, say something! He’s trying to snatch our daughter away by abusing his power!”
Though they fought over Lillian’s fate, neither of them asked for her opinion. Standing silently, Lillian suddenly felt a deep sense of doubt.
“Mother, please stop.”
“Stay out of this!”
Her mother snapped, raising her voice. In that instant, Lillian felt her heart turn cold.
It was only natural that they had never truly regarded her, a bastard child, as their own. Still, they had raised her, and she believed she had to repay that debt. That was why she accepted the marriage to Count Gewin, and why she became the Grand Duke’s lover.
Ha… I’m exhausted.
No matter how hard she tried, she realized now that she could never satisfy her parents’ hearts.
“I am this child’s biological father. As her sole legal guardian, I will not recognize their relationship. If you wish to contest this legally, do as you please.”
Her father was never going to fight His Grace to reclaim her for her own sake. If that were the case, he would never have allowed this relationship in the first place.
To my parents… I’m nothing but a way to make money…
Seeing the two of them still indifferent to her till the very end, a sigh escaped her.
That was when Kartan curled his lips upward in a mocking smile.
“So now you’re saying you’ll marry her off to someone else in my stead?”
Her mother responded with a haughty snort.
“Hmph, that’s not impossible!”
“Then go ahead and try. Though I doubt there’s anyone who would dare take her while making an enemy of me in the Empire.”
“……!”
The venom in his voice carried genuine fury. The baron and his wife flinched and lowered their gazes. Staring at them coldly, Kartan continued.
“From now on, Lillian will be under my protection, on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor. If you care for her so dearly and wish to see her, apply to the court for visitation rights. Whether it will be approved is another matter.”
Kartan extended his hand to Lillian.
“Let’s go, Lillian.”
What is this?
She had never once thought there might be another choice in her life. She believed she would simply live as her parents’ puppet until the end.
She stared blankly at the hand extended toward her. She had always thought it frightening, yet now it felt like an opportunity—a chance at a different life. She had no idea what kind of outcome it might bring.
Is it okay to take this hand?
As she hesitated, her eyes met her mother’s.
“Just you try leaving, Lillian!”
Her mother’s threat was still terrifying. If she didn’t take the Grand Duke’s hand now, she would continue to be tossed around by her parents as she always had. At that thought, she wondered if it wouldn’t be all right to change, just once, before she died.
At last, Lillian took Kartan’s hand. The baroness screamed.
“How can you do this to us? After all we—after all I’ve done to raise you!”
“……”
Lillian turned away from her. Suddenly, the baroness changed her tone and began to plead.
“Lillian! My child! Don’t go. Are you really going to abandon us? You’re not, are you?”
As the baroness rushed toward Lillian, Witten restrained her.
“Please stop, madam.”
“Lillian, please…!”
Her feet wouldn’t move easily. What if she was being swept up in a momentary illusion and making the wrong choice? She hesitated. At that moment, the hand holding hers tightened slightly. That was all. He didn’t drag her away or force her to do anything, unlike her mother.
Lillian lifted her head. His expressionless face looked no different from usual.
…Is he angry?
Out of habit, she cautiously read his mood. But this time, strangely, her heart didn’t race with fear that he might be angry. Looking at his tightly set lips gave her an odd feeling.
Is he… protecting me?
It made no sense that the Grand Duke—whom she had known only a short while—was protecting her, rather than the parents who had raised her. And yet, that unbelievable thing was truly happening. The moment she confessed that her father had hit her, hadn’t he come here himself to confront them?
Thump.
Her heart skipped a beat. Was this what it meant to feel secure?
At last, Lillian began to walk. Behind her, she heard her mother’s cry.
“Honey! Do something. Are you really just going to let her go like this?”
Her father gave no reply. Whether he truly said nothing or simply didn’t hear, she couldn’t tell—but at the very least, she did not hear him.
