‘Huh?’
I was startled and opened my eyes wide.
“Well done, Daymond,” she said.
Did she know Dad?
The woman I guessed was Mom approached Dad’s bedside.
‘Dad said they were going to make a deal.’
Instead of ntioning a deal, she just stared intently at him.
“Your sin is innocence.”
She sat on Dad’s bed and said,
“You foolishly trusted soone like .”
She glanced at Dad and twisted her lips.
Maybe because her face wasn’t clear here, I sohow felt she was crying.
She placed her hand on Dad’s forehead.
‘Gasp...!’
Strange purple smoke began to cling to her hand.
After that, Dad’s expression softened considerably.
“It’s a curse. She’s sucking out the curse.”
In that mont, a mory flashed through my mind.
When I went to the past of Astra Castle,
Grandfather had the healer Philippe watch over Mom.
The smoke lingering in the room back then was exactly that kind of purple smoke.
‘As expected, it’s our Mom.’
Feeling like I was about to scream, I covered my mouth with both hands.
The woman—no, Mom—gazed steadily at Dad.
“If you’re awake, then get up.”
“...Ugh...”
A scraping sound ca from Dad’s throat.
Mom laughed at him.
“Acting proud when you’re dying.”
Dad was glaring fiercely at Mom, it seed.
I anxiously watched them both,
Because my body kept flickering transparent.
‘At this rate, maybe I won’t be born at all?’
Then,
“Who... are you?”
Dad struggled to raise himself and asked.
Mom replied lightly,
“The source of this curse.”
“What do you an...?”
“Listen carefully, Daymond Astra. I need the power you swallowed. And you want to live, right?”
“...”
“So this is a deal.”
Mom tapped Dad’s forehead with her index and middle fingers.
Weakened as he was, Dad lay back down even with such force.
Mom placed her hand on Dad’s forehead again.
This ti, a pale light spread and Dad’s face beca dazed.
“Don’t rember anything.”
“...Tree.”
“...”
“Beltree.”
Mom crossed her arms and murmured weakly,
“Stupid man.”
“...Bel...tree.”
“You still rember the na even I abandoned.”
Huh?
I flinched and grabbed the barracks cloth.
‘What did she just say...?’
Just as I was about to run into the barracks,
[From now on, minors are forbidden to watch.]
Sailon’s voice rang out.
My body began floating in midair.
“Wait! Wait a minute!”
[Minor viewing forbidden.]
‘By first life count, I’m not a minor!’
I watched plenty as a grown-up in Yuhyemin’s ti!
“Sailon!”
Sailon!
Hey, you bastard!
Yaaaaah—!!
No matter how I shouted, no voice ca out, and I was swallowed by light.
My mind began to blur.
“...Miss. Young lady.”
Soone was shaking awake.
With eyes tightly shut, I asked,
“Is this reality?”
“Yes? Of course.”
I sighed deeply and peeked open my eyes.
Jeanne looked at with an innocent face, as if to say ‘What are you talking about?’
“You can’t sleep on the floor. You’ll catch a cold.”
I probably didn’t sleep on the floor but collapsed there.
Fortunately, the carpet was soft and I wasn’t hurt.
Too tired to explain and not wanting to cause worry, I nodded gloomily.
“Mm...”
“Shall we go have breakfast? The master and the young masters are waiting.”
“No, I’ll eat later.”
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Yes.”
I really was fine and sent Jeanne out.
Then I quickly grabbed the communication stone.
The recipient was Han Ji-hyuk.
“Han Ji-hyuk, go check Lady Beltree’s tomb imdiately. See if the body is there or not...!”
[It’s not!]
“What?”
[I already checked! The tomb is empty, nothing at all!]
I suspected sothing suspicious by ‘viewing’ the past.
Because Mom said so.
‘The abandoned na.’
‘So Mom is Lady Beltree!’
If Lady Beltree’s body isn’t there, it becos certain.
‘But why did Han Ji-hyuk check Beltree’s tomb?’
While pondering that, Han Ji-hyuk shouted.
[Beltree is from Laontra, the Eastern Empire!]
“What does that an?”
“No, listen carefully! Damn it!”
Han Ji-hyuk started babbling excitedly.
[Beltree really was adopted.]
“Yes.”
[And the orphanage Beltree was at was run by the Empress’s Obsidian Guard.]
“The guard? The Obsidian Society?”
The elite group of female swordswon.
“Yes, that guard beca the caretaker and brought in the child nad Beltree!”
“What?!”
“Yes! Probably a child of the fallen empress!”
“Mom was a Laontra noble?”
“What? Mom?”
“I saw it in the past! Lady Beltree is our Mom!”
“What?!”
We just kept repeating “What?!”
Han Ji-hyuk said as if dumbfounded,
“You really have so many birth secrets...”
“Exactly...”
I shook my head.
I bet Han Ji-hyuk is shaking his head over the communication stone too.
“Bring the investigation report to the mansion.”
[I’m leaving now.]
“Okay.”
I nodded and ended the communication.
Han Ji-hyuk arrived before noon.
I read the report he brought and nearly popped my eyes out.
“Why do I have so many birth secrets?”
“Exactly.”
It was ridiculous enough to repeat.
To summarize:
Mom is a high-ranking person in Laontra.
The Empress’s Obsidian Guard smuggled her out secretly.
To keep her identity secret, she was adopted into Bella’s household.
Grimy helped with this process, and Mom approached Dad as Grimy’s subordinate.
After planting the curse deal, Mom pretended to die and returned to Laontra.
“Grimy shows up here too?”
Han Ji-hyuk nodded.
“He seems to have faked death as well. So Beltree’s—no, your Mom’s...”
Muttering, Han Ji-hyuk frowned.
“Is she really your mother?”
“Even if not, I heard it firsthand from the past. Dad called her ‘Beltree,’ and Mom reacted so—”
I crossed my arms like Mom, with a bewitching expression.
“And said, ‘You still rember the na I abandoned...’”
Han Ji-hyuk stared blankly.
Then after a few seconds...
Hahahahahahaha!
He started laughing so hard he nearly choked.
I frowned and looked at him.
“Stop laughing.”
“You’re so excited, haha!”
“Stop laughing, I can’t understand!”
After I got annoyed, he coughed.
Han Ji-hyuk lightly placed his hand on my head.
“You finally look your age.”
“What?”
“You t your mom and got so excited you even imitate funny expressions.”
He’s clueless at tis, but sotis knows my thoughts perfectly.
Han Ji-hyuk looked at seriously.
“Erilot.”
“What? Why the serious face?”
“Calm down and listen. When your mom ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) lived at the gardener’s, or rather Bella’s house...”
He continued with a heavy voice.
“It seems the gardener couple and Bella didn’t know your mom’s identity. Soone paid them to raise her...”
“But...”
“...”
“But I ask! But!”
Feeling uneasy, I shouted out.
Han Ji-hyuk hesitated a while, then said,
“She was severely abused.”
“What?”
“They said neighbors often heard her crying and begging.”
“...”
“She didn’t tell the Obsidian Society caretaker. Probably to avoid worrying them.”
“...”
“A man living next door claid she was often beaten after being falsely accused of stealing Bella’s belongings or bullying her.”
Han Ji-hyuk scratched his head and sighed.
“I almost didn’t tell you, but I thought you should know.”
“I should. I know how that feels.”
I experienced that myself in Yuhyemin’s ti.
I know how painful and sad it is.
Everyone else is always in groups, but I’m alone.
Sad with nowhere to tell, lonely with no one to lean on.
‘Bella Rochefain...’
I clenched my skirt tightly.
At that mont, there was a knock.
“Miss, a guest has arrived.”
Han Ji-hyuk flinched and opened the door.
“We don’t have any appointnts today. Who is it?”
“Lady Rochefain and her daughter ca to return Astra’s belongings.”
Han Ji-hyuk and I looked at each other.
‘Bella...’
I said to the maid,
“Where are they?”
“The carriage is just arriving.”
“Alright.”
I stepped out into the corridor.
Han Ji-hyuk quickly followed .
Lowering his voice, he asked,
“What will you do?”
“What else? What I have to.”
“So what?”
I looked back at Han Ji-hyuk as I descended the stairs.
“Revenge.”
Mom’s revenge will be carried out by her daughter.
Bella got down from the carriage and looked at her daughter.
Her hair barely reached her neck.
Her walk.
Her smile.
Every detail was just like Beltree.
Bella chuckled and patted her daughter’s back.
“Daymond will be very surprised to see you.”
“Yes! Devon was surprised too.”
Blossom frowned as she spoke.
“If only it wasn’t that brat...”
“Think of it positively. Devon despises adopted or illegitimate children. He himself was adopted as the nephew of Marquis Roche.”
“R-Really?”
“But since he didn’t say much to you, it ans your looks are perfect.”
Blossom laughed nervously and hugged her mother’s waist.
“Do you really want to raise if you see ?”
“Of course. So behave yourself.”
Bella glanced around and whispered to Blossom.
“The day you’re called Astra Viscountess will co soon.”
Blossom shouted happily.
“If only that day would co—”
“If it does?”
A cold voice ca from behind.
Startled, Bella and her daughter turned their heads.
Erilot had co out with many servants to greet them.
Bella smiled awkwardly.
“You didn’t have to co out to greet us.”
“No, it’s ‘You didn’t have to co out to greet us,’” Erilot smiled correcting her.
At that mont, Bella’s face hardened.
“...Young lady?”
“Lady Rochefain’s words are sotis oddly wrong. I’m just warning you in case you get embarrassed.”
“...”
“Like saying ‘I’m sorry’ instead of ‘I apologize.’”
Erilot smiled sweetly, poked her once, then poked Bella again.
“I’m a direct descendant of the Astra Dukes, and you’re the wife of a lesser baron, right?”
“...”
“You received your title from Astra, so you should be respectful to as the family’s direct descendant.”
“...But I’m the wife of Marquis Rochefain.”
“The divorce papers were filed. Your status is lost until the matter is settled.”
Blossom’s expression darkened with anger.
“That’s too harsh on an adult!”
Erilot sharply grabbed Blossom’s head.
“...!!”
“What are you doing...!”
Blossom and Bella gasped in surprise.
Erilot smiled and pressed the back of her head down, forcing her to bow.
“You should greet the family’s young lady first. That’s common courtesy.”
Blossom tried to pull away angrily.
“Unbelievable! How can you do this—”
Suddenly pushed, Erilot stumbled and fell.
“Miss!”
“Goodness, Miss!”
Surprised servants quickly helped her up.
Bella glanced sharply at her daughter.
‘Goodness! Don’t push her that hard!’
Bella hurried to brush dirt off Erilot’s clothes.
But Jeanne, the nanny, sharply struck her hand away.
“Don’t lay a hand on the young lady’s person without permission.”
“What? How dare a re nanny—”
Bella stiffened, and Erilot pulled out her communication stone.
“Jeanne.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Grandfather should be calling soon, right?”
“He looks forward to speaking with you at least once a week.”
“What shall I tell him today? He likes hearing about . Ah, yes.”
Erilot glanced at Bella and said,
“That Blossom Rochefain pushed down?”
“...!”
“...!”
Blossom and Bella flinched, looking at Erilot.
“Then Grandfather will also know that mother and daughter broke your order and ca twice to Astra Second Viscount’s residence?”
“Y-Young lady...!”
Bella reached out trembling.
Erilot continued as if nothing happened.
“I should also tell him you disguised your daughter as Lady Beltree to claim the Second Viscountess position?”
“Young lady! What are you saying—!”
“Isn’t it true?”
“No! She cut her hair just for a change of mood, and we ca to the Viscount’s residence to offer an apology gift!”
“Is that so...?”
“Yes!”
Erilot smiled sweetly.
“But I’ll tell things my way anyway.”
“What did you say?”
Erilot stepped lightly and whispered to Bella and Blossom,
“You also lied to your parents like this and got Lady Beltree badly beaten.”
“W-Wh-What...?”
“Ah, here cos Dad! Dad!”
Erilot ran toward Daymond.
“Dad, did you know? That Bella... to Lady Beltree—”
“Enough—!!”
Bella scread at the top of her lungs.
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