“What… What did the lady just do? Do you have any idea?!”

 

“Of course I know, Ashley. Why wouldn’t I?”

 

She replied to me in the familiar manner she knew. Ashley’s expression hardened.

 

“This matter cannot simply be overlooked. I will report it to the Lord, the master.”

 

“‘Master’?”

 

I scoffed at the word.

 

“Say it again. Who is your master?”

 

A hint of color drained from Ashley’s face.

 

However, as she had grown accustomed to belittling and looking down on me for the past few years, she quickly raised her head defiantly and retorted.

 

“The current ones managing this mansion are Baron Barden and Lady Barden, including all the servants like me.”

 

“Managing whose estate? Whose mansion?”

 

I approached her with a smile. The sensation of a still-living bug bursting under my feet was vivid.

 

As I stood close to her, Ashley reluctantly answered.

 

“…Managing the Count Estelle’s estate on behalf of the young lady.”

 

“So, I’m the ‘master,’ right? Huh?”

 

She was much taller than me, so looking up at her felt like my neck was about to snap.

 

There was now only a small gap between her and me. A few drops of sweat trickled down Ashley’s flat face.

 

“You called me the ‘cursed daughter of Count Estelle.’ ‘Like father, like daughter,’ wasn’t it? So, the rightful owner of this place is me, the one who inherited Estelle’s castle.”

 

Even a monster like me knows that. Why don’t you?

 

Whispering softly, Ashley bit her lip a few times, but in the end, she couldn’t say a word and fell silent.

 

I pushed her chest with my index finger.

 

“Now, get out.”

 

Snap! Ashley snapped my finger away with her mouth.

 

“You are the ward! Until you come of age, Master has all the authority over you and the Count… Ah!”

 

There’s no need to listen further.

 

“This is what it feels like to hit someone.”

 

A hand that had never touched anyone’s flesh in my life whimpered and cried out.

 

With my strange, opposing hand, I massaged it. It hurt, but it felt good.

 

She cupped her stinging cheek and cursed.

 

“Why are you acting like this today? Are you possessed by a real demon?”

 

“Maybe I am.”

 

“This is absurd!”

 

“I swear.”

 

Standing in place I turned toward the door and left her behind. As I personally opened it, a wide corridor appeared.

 

The morning sunlight, now brightly shining, streamed through a window.

 

“I will definitely get you out. No matter when. Once you’re free from Master’s protection… It would be better to pray to the gods for whatever might happen to you.”

 

Ashley and my eyes met in midair. What is she thinking now? I uttered my final farewell.

 

“Leave.”

 

Ashley had been standing still without moving, then staggered and finally left.

 

As the door closed, silence settled like a quiet friend beside me.

 

<center>*  *  *</center>

 

 

Throughout the day, no one looked for me.

 

Since I had sent Ashley away, there was naturally no one to bring me lunch or dinner.

 

It was my birthday tomorrow, but there were no visitors suggesting that I try on dresses or accessories.

 

In the past, my modest fourteenth birthday celebration was held in the mansion with the Count’s family.

 

There was no such celebration now. It was just a time for the Count’s family to showcase how worthless and base I was, emphasizing my resemblance to my father and my lowly nature. And I had to acknowledge it as well.

 

Usually, noble families would invite friends from other families or acquaintances from the Valentina Academy. But I had no friends at the academy, so it was only natural.

 

Sitting on the bed, hugging my knees and burying my face in between, I pondered what to do next, how to change my life that had returned.

 

As the sunset and the room filled with the chilly night air, a rough plan began to form. I finished my thoughts and lifted my head.

 

There was someone I needed to seek out.

 

<center>*  *  *</center>

 

The next morning.

 

Baron Barden woke up in a good mood.

 

Before breakfast, the Baron dealt with several important documents from the Count’s office, while the Baroness reviewed the plans for Helena’s sixteenth birthday celebration in two months.

 

They selected the top-level artisans to create the dress Helena would wear that day and the imported jewels from abroad.

 

After taking care of all these matters, they leisurely headed to the dining hall for breakfast.

 

As they entered the elegant room, the morning sunlight sparkled like jewels through the large window that led to the garden. The grand chandeliers hung magnificently from the high ceiling.

 

It was a picturesque scene that brought a sense of pride to Baron Barden’s heart, even though he saw it every day.

 

He sat down at the head of the table, gently stroking his small goatee.

 

While the infamous Estelle, the Countess, had been disgracefully executed for burning down estates and indiscriminately killing peasants, the venerable estate of the Count’s family had not suffered much damage.

 

Excluding the properties confiscated by the Empire, the Count’s wealth and honor were unimaginable compared to the days when he barely lived as a mediocre nobleman, not much different from commoners.

 

All of this would be his inheritance.

 

In a few years, when Khalia, the lowly concubine, left this world, the Count’s estate would naturally fall into his hands as her guardian.

 

The Baron had long been isolated from other relatives due to his erratic temperament, and he was the closest relative remaining in the Count’s family.

 

“I made the right decision to marry Marina back then. Who knew she would become such a golden goose.”

 

Marina Estelle, the Count’s younger sister and former Countess, had been physically weak since childhood and suffered from chronic illnesses.

 

It was the Baron’s decision to marry her off to Estelle, who was notorious for his bad temper and had no prospects for marriage due to his unremarkable appearance.

 

“I received an incredible dowry at that time! Indeed, my talents are exceptional.”

 

The plan to eliminate Khalia, which had been progressing smoothly, was well underway before Khalia turned nineteen and would be recognized as the rightful heir to the Count’s title.

 

Everything was perfect.

 

“Mother, Father. Good morning!”

 

“Welcome, Helena.”

 

Just as Helena arrived at the dining hall, the Baron looked at his growing daughter with prideful eyes.

 

Her lovely curly hair was as red as rose petals, and her radiant green eyes shone like emeralds.

 

Her long arms and legs were supple and elegant, like branches of a moist summer tree.

 

After Helena took her seat, they waited briefly for the final person. The maids stood in a row against the wall like statues.

 

However, as time passed, even the expressionless faces of the maids became restless in the cooling atmosphere.

 

“You’re late!”

 

The impatient Baron  shouted angrily.

 

Today, Khalia was specially allowed to join them for the meal.

 

Usually, they would have had a “meal of penance,” but she had personally requested to dine together just for today. How dare this little worm make them wait like this?

 

Anger boiled inside the Baron.

 

“Ashley! What are you doing instead of bringing Khalia?”

 

He yelled at the housekeeper Ashley. Ashley showed unusual hesitation and reluctantly left her seat.

 

“Arrogant, wicked… You’re already fourteen years old, and yet you still haven’t learned proper etiquette?”

 

“Father, please calm down. What can we do if it’s her nature?”

 

Helena elegantly brushed her hair back and pacified the grumbling Baron. His wife nodded in agreement.

 

“Yes, dear. When she returns, we can teach her the proper manners as her guardians.”

 

“I will personally teach her as her sister. I will explain to her what noble etiquette is, the rightful manners and attitudes she should uphold as our ward.”

 

The sight of his wife and daughter, speaking sweet words like a tongue in his mouth that could read his mind, pleased the Baron.

 

The harmonious family briefly discussed what education would be good for Khalia.

 

Their peaceful atmosphere was disrupted by Ashley.

 

“Sir, um… Lord…”

 

When the Baron turned to look at Ashley, he found her standing with a bewildered expression.

 

“What is it? Why did you come down alone? Where is she?”

 

“T-That… um…”

 

Impatient, the hot-tempered Baron  snapped at the hesitating maid.

 

“Speak clearly! Where is Khalia?”

 

Ashley closed her eyes tightly and spoke.

 

“Miss is not in her room! She is nowhere to be found in the mansion!”

 

“What?!”

 

The faces of the Baron’s family were filled with shock at the unexpected news.

 

<center>*  *  *</center>

 

At that moment, I was sneaking out of the mansion for the first time in my life.

 

No one paid attention to me as I quietly left the house early in the morning.

 

The knights guarding the main gate had to be more vigilant than anyone else, but the men the Baron  brought in at a low cost were no different from drunkards.

 

I had prepared some strong wine I had stolen from the cellar near where the night guards were stationed. When they discovered it and happily drank it, they fell into a deep sleep.

 

I quickly slipped out of the mansion, wearing an old hood.

 

There seemed to be something different about the air engulfing the mansion and the outside, despite only being separated by a single fence. The air surrounding the mansion was clear and refreshing.

 

But I didn’t have time to appreciate it. I ran straight to the main road where the carriages were waiting.

 

I got on one of the carriages that was waiting for passengers. The coachman greeted me with a yawn.

 

“Where shall we go, milady?”

 

I sat on the hard seat and tightly wrapped my hood.

 

“To the Duke of Desmier’s estate.”