Chapter 84

84

The 'I' in this letter was extremely submissive to Owen.

Indeed, I was the very embodiment of the ideal 'Lily Everett' that Owen had envisioned.

I would devise wicked plans on my own without being told, and show unwavering loyalty to the Everett family and Owen.

In that letter, I was no different from a dog of the Everetts.

“Ha...”

I burst out laughing, overwhelmed by the absurdity of it all.

...So, this fake letter was the trap that Mrs. Seymour had set for Theodore.

And Theodore, who fell right into it, ended up misunderstanding me.

...It was truly absurd.

For about a year and a half, the misunderstanding that tormented me and trampled on my heart... all started from just this one letter?

I couldn't understand it.

I couldn't understand Theodore even more.

Couldn't he have asked me if the contents of the letter were true, even once?

How could he... believe such a piece of paper without question?

I had been so desperate to gain even a sliver of his attention.

How did I look in your eyes?

Did I seem like someone who was scheming to lure you out?

Was that why you burned my gift in front of me, so brazenly?

My hand, clutching the letter, trembled. My eyes stung, and tears threatened to fall.

It was so humiliating.

I am not that kind of person, yet my image had been twisted by someone's malicious machinations.

I felt so wronged and hurt that I wanted to cry.

“...”

A burning anger rose from deep within me. I bit my lip and looked up to meet Theodore's gaze. He was staring at me with a rather flustered expression.

I glared at him, and without realizing it, I threw the letter.

“...!”

The letter, which had fallen after hitting Theodore's face, was now in his hand. I knew I had just committed a grave rudeness to the Duke of Valentino and that it was unbecoming of a lady, but I didn't care. I wanted to vent my anger. I wanted to pour out all the emotions I was feeling to him.

“How...”

My voice, barely squeezed out, trembled.

“How could you not ask me anything...!”

“...”

“Could you really believe such an absurd letter without question? How could you do that? You could have asked me if it was true... if I was really like that... You had plenty of opportunities to ask...”

“...”

Theodore lowered his head in silence. He looked like a criminal awaiting execution. This made me even angrier. Was he regretting it now?

...If you were going to hate me, just keep hating me. At least it would be consistent. Then you could say, 'Ah, I really hated her, that's why I did it,' and understand. This... This is just too absurd. All the pain you caused me... was all because of a misunderstanding?

So, you didn't do anything wrong? Do you want to hear me say that?

“I...”

I held back the tears welling up. I didn't want to cry. Even the tears shed over this were a waste.

“Don't expect me to forgive you.”

“...”

“I... I was really foolish. But recently, it seemed like you felt sorry for me...”

That's why my heart had softened a bit.

I also needed his help for my future plans, and we did have something in common... Even if I couldn't love him deeply like before, I thought we could be good allies.

“You are the worst.”

“...”

“How can someone who claims to be so upright and fair... treat me like this—”

“Madam!”

At that moment, I suddenly felt suffocated and my vision blurred, and I stumbled without realizing it. Charlotte, startled, quickly came to my aid.

Only after being held by Charlotte did I realize my body was trembling. I was so angry and humiliated. And also, so hurt.

Again, like this.

“...”

I glared at him with tears in my eyes. In the end, he was someone who only hurt me. My decision was right. If I continued to be by his side... I would keep getting hurt. Like being pricked by a finger when you least expect it.

I knew. Wasn't that why I broke the teacup?

Because I knew our relationship was beyond repair.

“I really hate you.”

“...”

A deep shadow fell over Theodore's face. He looked pained. But I didn't feel a bit of sympathy.

I just didn't want to see him anymore. I had to face him again because I had something to say, but I didn't want to deal with him for at least a few days.

I straightened my posture, pressing my eyes with the handkerchief Charlotte gave me. The panic had passed, and I was fine now. I calmed my boiling emotions and looked at the person who had caused my misery.

‘Mrs. Seymour...’

I shuddered. The ease with which she could falsely accuse someone was terrifying.

Was this letter the only atrocity Mrs. Seymour committed to make me look like a villain?

She must have whispered countless times to Theodore and the people of Valentino Castle about what kind of demon Lily Everett was and why she married Theodore and came to this castle.

...So, everyone must have despised and hated me.

In places I couldn't see, in places I couldn't hear, my reputation had plummeted to the bottom.

Is there anything more unjust in this world?

I can't forgive Mrs. Seymour, no matter how pitiful she looks.

I wanted her to be even more miserable.

‘Somnia.’

At my call, the spirit of dreams awoke. The servants who saw Somnia for the first time were startled and cowered in fear.

I approached Mrs. Seymour, ignoring the reactions around me. The deranged woman was staring blankly into space with unfocused eyes.

“You look quite deranged, but...”

The voice that came out of my mouth was unfamiliar. The cold, angry tone was chillingly desolate. I continued, conveying my will to Somnia.

“It would be better for you to suffer in your right mind.”

Restoring a broken mind was no big deal for Somnia.

A purple mist, shimmering like a starry night sky, enveloped Mrs. Seymour.

After a while, the mist cleared, and Mrs. Seymour's appearance was revealed again. Her unfocused eyes gradually regained their luster. When she fully regained her senses and saw me, she gritted her teeth.

Her eyes, fixed on me, glowed with malice.

I suddenly realized how much Mrs. Seymour hated me.

And as always, the fact that she hated me didn't affect me at all. I chuckled softly and asked,

“How does it feel to be back in your right mind?”

“You...! How dare you!”

“Look at yourself first.”

“...!”

Mrs. Seymour, taken aback, slowly lowered her gaze, her eyelids trembling.

Very old, tattered clothes, a gaunt body, and dirty hands and feet.

Shock spread across her face as she looked down at everything.

Yes, it's quite shocking.

But, it's still not enough.

I nodded to a servant and ordered,

“Bring a mirror to Mrs. Seymour.”

“Huh? Ah, yes...!”

The servant, clearly flustered, bowed and quickly ran to the other side of the hall to bring a large full-length mirror.

As soon as the mirror was placed in front of her, Mrs. Seymour's face turned as if she was about to scream.

Her complexion turned pale, and her shoulders trembled violently.

Her eyes, filled with humiliation and shame, welled up with tears and bloodshot.

She slowly raised her head, glared at me, and shouted in a hoarse voice,

“You...! How dare you...!”

“You still think you're an elder of the Valentino family, Anabella Seymour?”

“What... what do you mean?”

“You are a criminal. You tried to poison me.”

Anabella Seymour was a criminal, charged with attempted murder. Theodore must have locked her in the underground cell to prevent the news from leaking out. But,

“It turns out that wasn't all. You actually killed someone, didn't you?”

I stepped aside, showing Anabella Seymour Rita Norman.

Anabella Seymour's eyes widened as if she recognized Rita immediately.

“You, you...”

“...”

Rita's eyes, glaring at Anabella Seymour, were filled with hatred. I asked Rita,

“Tell me, what punishment do you want this woman to receive?”

“...I...”

Rita, who seemed a bit bewildered by my question, soon clenched her fists and answered,

“I want this woman, who killed my father and threatened my family, to pay the appropriate price.”

The appropriate price, the most effective of all, for someone like Anabella Seymour, is something far more painful than death.

I turned to Theodore and said,

“Handle it according to the kingdom's law, Duke of Valentino.”

“...”

“Surely you don't plan to cover up for a criminal?”

“...I have no intention of doing so.”

“I hope not. If you truly feel responsible as the head of the Valentino family.”

And if you truly feel sorry to me.

You must never give Anabella Seymour a lenient punishment.

* * *

Two days later, Anabella Seymour's sentence was handed down.

She was to be imprisoned in a labor camp in her hometown for the rest of her life.

“I came to say goodbye. We won't see each other again.”

“...”

Anabella Seymour, with a gag in her mouth, glared at me with bloodshot eyes.

From the look in her eyes, she doesn't feel the slightest bit of remorse.

Even in this state.

I stared down at her and sneered,

“You wanted to be a duchess, didn't you?”

“...!”

She reacted immediately. Anabella trembled with anger, as if anticipating what I was about to say.

“So, you envied your sister so much that you tried to sow discord between the previous duchess and duke, and tried to brainwash the young Theodore.”

“...”

“You wanted him to think of you as his mother and follow you.”

Anabella, glaring at me with bloodshot eyes, struggled violently. But with her hands and feet bound, she only rolled in the dirty ground.

“Rene Valentine forgave you, knowing all your sins and wrongdoings. He even entrusted his sons to you.”

“...”

“Look at you now.”

I smirked even more.

“What was the point of Rene forgiving you? You kept sowing discord and even committed murder...”

“...”

“You are not someone who deserves forgiveness.”

I stepped back and nodded to the servants. They immediately came and dragged Anabella Seymour away.

“Gah! Uh! Gah!”

The woman, who had fallen to the lowest point in her life, screamed and thrashed about.

She was no longer a noble and was now in a state worse than a commoner.

According to the kingdom's law, she was stripped of all rights and status, and a mark of a criminal was branded on her shaved head.

There was no trace of her former glory.

The lady who once ruled over the Valentino Castle was gone.

It was a fitting retribution.

* * *

“The Valentino family seems to be going mad.”

Owen, receiving a report from a spy, chuckled.

Hessen, who had just arrived in his room, scowled and plopped down on the sofa. He was annoyed just by seeing Owen's amused expression.

“Lily is living up to her reputation. She's really stirring things up in the Valentino family.”

Indeed, Owen was delighted, calling Lily Everett a troublemaker. Hessen ignored him and picked up the whiskey bottle on the table.

Owen, who had been watching Hessen intently, asked casually,

“Aren't you curious about what's going on?”

“Why should I be?”

A curt answer came back. Owen smiled faintly and said,

“Well, you...”

He continued with a hint of mockery,

“You like Lily, don't you?”