Chapter 10

......

I feel like I said something unnecessary under the influence of alcohol. No, I definitely did say it.

I had been bedridden since the day after I had dinner with Sir Ricardo at the restaurant, suffering from both a hangover and a cold. It was good that my condition had finally stabilized and I was starting to feel better after a few days, but I was regretting what I had said to him.

"......sigh......"

As I hugged my knees on the bed, I let out a sigh.

"---M, Marca-sama...!"

And then, the one who came at me was,

"What's wrong, Ami..."

"---Lady and Melthia-sama..."

It was bad news I didn't want to hear.

***

"Still recovering, aren't you..."

"......This is something I have to do myself......"

After finishing my preparations and leaving the room, Sir Ricardo frowned.

Despite his handsome face, I felt guilty for making him look like this.

"......If you wish, I can leave the country as it is..."

"Living on the run is not a peaceful life..."

"......Just kidding..."

"Is that so? It sounded serious, so I gave a serious answer."

I shrugged.

I don't know what about me touched his heart.

But I don't know anyone as honest as this man.

Even though he tried to cover it up poorly, I think this was a sincere offer.

"Thank you for your concern, Sir Ricardo."

He is a rare existence who tries to be on my side.

I smiled at him.

"......Of course. If you do something reckless, I'll stop you right away."

Sir Ricardo said this quietly and firmly, nodding.

***

"---I said there won't be a next time."

"......It's my fault for not supervising properly. I'm sorry......"

I went to the Gaiaron Duke's residence.

To explain how it came to this...

"......Mother, Sister. I told you. Don't get close to the Duke and Duchess."

It's because my mother and sister ignored the Duke's warning and tried to hurt Lady Lilianna.

Specifically, they encountered the Duke and Duchess on a date in the city and, driven by jealousy, tampered with the horses of the carriage they were about to board, feeding them a slow-acting poison.

"What you did is attempted murder. There's nothing I can do now."

I clenched my fists.

What could I possibly do to lighten their punishment?

I tried to keep my composure and spoke plainly.

But it was a bad move.

"It's all your fault!!!"

My mother lost her temper.

"Why are you acting so righteous!? It's because of you that this happened! We did nothing wrong!"

"......Marca, if it becomes known that we caused a disturbance, it will be a big problem for you too......? Can you persuade the Duke? Please......?"

My mother with bloodshot eyes and my sister clinging to me.

The Duke and Duchess, their knights and servants, and Sir Ricardo and Ami all looked at me.

"......Mother...... Sister......"

I used a term of endearment I hadn't used in a long time.

"I wanted you two to be happy. So I worked hard to earn money and tried to give you the life you wanted. ...Was it not enough......?"

So that you wouldn't envy Lady Lilianna.

I prepared all the things you desired for your impoverished hearts.

"Isn't that just your own satisfaction?"

---But, it seems that wasn't enough.

"......I see......"

My throat was dry. It was parched.

"Just pay the compensation and get us out of this, Marca!! Why were you called here!?"

My mother glared at me.

"---I feel like I'm going to vomit."

And then.

The Monster Duke, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

"Don't think you can pay for your crimes with money."

In front of the stairs, he declared.

"It seems you don't know what I'm called. ---A cruel and heartless monster. A villain who deals with evils that cannot be punished by law."

He smoothly drew his famous sword from its scabbard.

"You didn't just put us in danger. ---You, Garret Perlusia, are the one who made the previous baron, Volk Cozje Perlusia, look like he died in an accident."

Ah, I can't do this anymore.

I realized everything.

This is as far as I can go with my efforts.

"What are you saying...!"

My mother's cheek twitched, and her voice cracked.

"I made the stable hand and the servants of the baron's family talk."

As expected of the Monster Duke.

He had indeed investigated that accident from the past.

"Garret Perlusia boiled commercial herbs to make a drug, and his daughter Melthia gave it to the horse. And the current head of the family, who realized the truth after the incident, tried to cover it up."

It seems he saw through everything.

With his hands, he could easily fabricate evidence that no longer exists and easily deal with us.

This man is a dangerous and cold-blooded Monster Duke.

"I said there won't be a next time. I thought I was being quite lenient."

His cold eyes were directed at us.

They were the eyes of a predator that had set its sights on its prey.

"I'm not to blame. It's all Marca's fault."

My mother said this with a frightened expression.

"If you had been adopted into the baron's family and left the money to us, this wouldn't have happened...!"

Despite trembling, she kept talking.

"Hey, help us. Marca! You can do something, right? Hey!!"

My sister's voice, like a scream, pierced my ears.

"......Don't listen. You don't have to listen."

Someone gently covered my ears with both hands.

When I looked up, there was a blond-haired, blue-eyed knight.

"---What are you doing? Deputy Commander"

"It's an imperial order. Alberto von Gaiaron. I am to protect Marca Sarge Perlusia under any circumstances."

The Monster Duke's eyebrow twitched.

"Hmm. A clean freak protecting a criminal?"

"It's to make her live and atone for the country."

After saying this, Sir Ricardo drew his sword and held me with his other arm.

It was a tense moment.

There couldn't be a more fitting word for this situation.

"Sir Ricardo...... It's fine, really......"

"Are you going to abandon your real mother and sister!? You heartless person!!"

My mother, who was restrained by the knights, shouted.

"Stop it---!!"

It wasn't my voice.

I thought it might have been my inner voice, but it wasn't.

She must have run here, holding up her dress with both hands.

Lady Lilianna came down the stairs with a pained expression.

"Lily. Why did you come? I told you to stay in your room---"

"I knew! I knew everything!"

In front of the Duke, she confessed in a loud voice I had never heard before.

"That my stepmother and Melthia killed my father! And that Marca burned the evidence!"

The mansion fell silent.

"And I! I burned the note of the herbs my stepmother had Melthia buy!"

I didn't know such a story.

I wasn't sure if I was standing properly.

"......What do you mean, Lily......"

The Monster Duke was also stunned.

"......I wasn't loved by my father. When I heard about the remarriage and the new sisters, I thought I was abandoned. In fact, he spent more time with Marca......"

Lady Lilianna began to speak.

"We lived in the same mansion. I soon realized that Marca was studying to be the head of the family. ...So... I knew I wasn't expected to inherit the family, so I destroyed the evidence......"

She lowered her eyes.

My step-sister is a pitiful person, even more so than Cinderella.

Not only was she bullied by her stepmother and sister, but she also didn't receive proper love from her real father.

The baron was a man who doted on his wife.

After his late wife gave birth to Lady Lilianna, she fell ill.

From the time she fell ill, the baron lived for his beloved wife.

He treated Lady Lilianna coldly for a long time.

He regretted it after his wife passed away.

But he thought it would be a bother to act like a father now.

What he chose was to promise a life where his daughter wouldn't have to suffer.

And I was chosen as the means to achieve that.

"If you're going to punish Marca for destroying evidence, I'm guilty too. If you're going to execute her, execute me too."

Lady Lilianna put her hand on her chest and told the Duke.

"......Lady Lilianna......"

I didn't know what to say.

Lady Lilianna walked towards me.

"Marca is not to blame."

For the first time, I felt like our eyes met properly.

"......Even if it's too late. Maybe it's too late... But can I do something as a sister...?"

Looking into her moist eyes, my chest felt heavy.

This person. This family...

Why couldn't we become a family sooner?

Gently, Sir Ricardo's arm around my waist let go.

"......Lady Lilianna......"

The moment I said this, Lady Lilianna in front of me disappeared from view.

She hugged me, blocking my view.

"You're my sister, Marca!!"

"Who do you think raised you! You ungrateful brat!!"

I just stood there, stunned.

I didn't know what to do.

"My unhappiness is your fault, Marca!! I wish you were never born!!"

Slowly, slowly.

Something I had been holding back seeped into my eyes.

---Ah, as I thought, I can't have a happy family.

I never knew what a normal, happy family was like.

I could only imitate the superficial happiness of other families.

But, it seems that wasn't enough.

The warmth in front of me disappeared.

My face, which Lady Lilianna must have seen, must have been terrible.

Tears came out.

I couldn't make anyone happy, not the baron, not my step-sister, not my mother, not my sister.

And I couldn't be loved by anyone.

---Smack.

The sound cut through the air of the hall, interrupting my thoughts.

"......?"

I didn't know what the sound was and looked around, startled.

The sound turned out to be Lady Lilianna slapping my mother's cheek.

Was she angry?

I had never seen Lady Lilianna so angry before.

"You don't deserve Marca's love."

Why was my step-sister, who had never raised a hand even when bullied, now shaking her thin hand?

"......Calm down, Lily. ...I'll take care of the rest."

The Duke couldn't just leave her like that.

He sheathed his sword and stood next to Lady Lilianna.

"Today, we will judge Garret Perlusia and Melthia Perlusia for the attempted murder of poisoning the horses of our carriage. ---Take them to the dungeon."

The knights, who responded with a "Huh," took my mother and sister away.

During this time, my name was called repeatedly: "Marca, Marca!"

"---Miss Marca"

Sir Ricardo stood in front of me, protecting me from them.

"It's not your fault"

---I thought he had read my mind.

"Their crimes are not your crimes."

He said this and reached out to wipe my cheek with his thumb.

"Yes, that's right... Marca is not to blame. I can live as a noble lady today because of Marca!"

"......Indeed, I met Lily thanks to the head of the family......"

That's right, that's right, and Lady Lilianna nodded at the Duke.

"But I will never forget that the Duke pointed a sword at Miss Marca!!"

At that, Ami spoke up.

"......Ami, it's my fault......"

I shook my head, wiping away the remaining tears with my sleeve.

"Still, I won't forget!!"

The Duke sighed at her plea.

"......Miss Marca Sarge Perlusia. I deeply apologize for pointing a sword at you without any evidence the other day."

And then, the Monster Duke bowed his head.

"Please, raise your head! I, I caused you a lot of trouble, from Lady Lilianna's engagement to my mother and sister. I'm sorry"

I hurriedly stopped him and bowed deeply.

"......I don't remember causing you any trouble. Rather, I should be grateful for allowing the engagement with Lilianna. ---Thank you, wise and thoughtful step-sister."

My throat tightened.

Everything I had missed out on was suddenly overflowing.

"But... I..."

I had indeed committed a crime.

However, since Lady Lilianna, who committed the same crime, had confessed, I couldn't say it.

"Unfortunately, the Deputy Commander of the Royal Knights is here. It seems difficult to judge without evidence."

The Duke glanced at Sir Ricardo.

"As I said before, I am Marca's knight now. I will protect her no matter what, even against the Monster Duke."

Sir Ricardo showed no hesitation.

"What a troublesome watchdog you've caught, step-sister."

The Duke laughed heartily.

"If you get tired, come here right away."

"......Hey......"

Sir Ricardo looked dissatisfied at the Duke's words.

"......Marca......"

"......Yes......"

I was called by my name again by Lady Lilianna.

"I'm sorry for always relying on you."

"......I'm the one who selfishly dragged you into this. ...I couldn't stop the bullying, and I couldn't do anything about Father..."

"......No, it's okay. It's all right now, Marca......"

She shook her head.

We met each other's eyes and shared a bitter smile. It was a bitter smile.

After a brief silence, Lady Lilianna spoke again.

"......Marca. If... If you'd like, would you... like to have tea with me sometime...?"

It was the first time she had approached me.

Even someone like me, she was trying to treat as a sister, and I was moved to tears.

---I thought it was impossible. I was still half-giving up.

But I didn't want to push away someone who was reaching out to me, caught in the rift between my real mother and sister.

If I didn't take her hand, I knew I would regret it.

"......I would love to. Lady Lilianna"

I returned the best smile I could manage.

Then, Lady Lilianna, with tears in her eyes again, closed the gap that had always been there and hugged me.

Next time, the final chapter.

A Happy Birthday Party (planned)