Chapter 39

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Chapter 39

Can that really come from a human being called a mother? How can she openly say that she hated looking at her daughter just because she was ugly? I really couldn’t help but click my tongue at her personality.

“Is it a sin to not be pretty? Am I a human being unworthy of value to Mother if I’m not pretty?”

“Of course.”

The answer was also merciless.

“As expected, Mother hasn’t changed at all.”

“Do I have any reason to change?”

“Well, there is no reason to change.”

I looked through the people of this family, from my father to Helena.

“I was worried that my family might have changed a little, but I’m glad you haven’t changed at all.”

“Mother, there’s nothing that little girl can’t say.”

But then Michael interrupted the conversation.

“Brother Michael. What do you mean little girl? I used to be young, but now you have to think about my age. And one final warning to my brother, I am the Duchess of Einer. Act accordingly.”

At my words, Michael’s face flushed red. Then he got up from his chair, pointed at me and yelled at me.

“How could you pretend to be a Duchess now when you’re so ugly! No matter what you do, you’ll always be the ugly lady of Heines. You don’t even know your place.”

“Heines—”

As Bleon couldn’t stand still at Michael’s rant, I tried to step in, and I met Bleon’s eyes again and shook my head.

‘I’ll take care of it.’

Don’t get involved in this dirty and ugly situation. I patted the back of his hand, helping him to calm his agitation. And I opened my eyes and looked at Michael. Now it was time to use the information I got from Leila.

“It doesn’t feel good to hear that kind of thing from the prodigal son of Heines, Brother Michael.”

I smiled at him leisurely, provoking him even more.

“Ke-humm…! Stop it now.”

It’s just the beginning, but I never thought of stopping. So I ignored my father’s words and began to say what I had to say.

“There are rumors that atrocities happening in the capital have something to do with Brother. How did you get so low? Be careful with your life. Otherwise, this little sister is very worried that it will get even worse.”

But rather than a worried expression, I smirked instead, so Michael became even more mad.

“This, this ugly thing!”

Suddenly, Michael spat out a vulgar swear word and came from the table in an instant, and he ran to me. But Bleon blocked his way and stopped Michael.

“If you lay a finger on my wife, I will never stand still.”

Bleon’s voice was as cold as ice and his momentum was bitter. Even though a young man was blocking his way, there was a difference in their status. So even when Michael was in front of me, he couldn’t approach me any longer and was just angered.

“What are you doing now! Michael, go back to your seat!”

At my father’s scolding, Michael reluctantly sat back down. At that moment, the sound of Julia’s giggling laughter filled the dining room. And as soon as the laughter disappeared, the atmosphere became colder.

“Fun. Oh, how fun. Mother, didn’t Astell become so much fun? What she believes in and what she does, she has grown so much.”

Julia stared at me with her characteristic arrogant expression.

“Then, when it disappears, her appearance will be very pleasing.”

Saying that, her eyes were convinced that the corner I believed in was Bleon, and she was also full of determination to take it away.

“Well.”

I replied with a shrug and looked at the family once more. And my eyes met with Lucas, who had not said a word until now. Again, as if he had no interest in this conversation, he was alone in the midst of the chaos, maintaining a noble expression of politeness.

‘Rather that man is the best of them all.’

With that in mind, I spoke to Lucas.

“Brother Lucas, I heard that you have been chosen as the next Marquis of the family. congratulations. I should have brought a present, but I forgot.”

Of course, this was just a greeting to Lucas, but it also included trying to mess with the other siblings. In particular, Michael, who has the strongest regret and jealousy for the succession, was targeted. As expected, Michael’s expression wrinkled and looked at me.

“Still, my brother is the most sane among them, so I think it was the right decision. Otherwise, the Heines household might be in jeopardy”

As soon as I finished my words, now, except for Lucas, my father and mother, as well as Julia and Helena, started staring at me as if they were going to kill me with a startled expression on their faces.

“You, you are now…!”

“Astell!”

“What does that ugly thing mean by that!”

Shall I end it at this level? They couldn’t stand it anymore and burst into anger, each constantly swearing at me and cursing at me, so I knew it was time to leave. Astell’s family was trashier than I expected. I don’t think I’ll see them anymore anyway, but I didn’t want to waste any more time with these people. I pushed the chair back and got up. When I got up, Bleon got up with me.

“I’ll just go. The meal was really good.”

It was a lie. I barely touched the food.

“Sit down. The meal is not over yet.”

My father forced me to sit back.

“No. It’s done.”

“I told you to sit down!”

Father’s voice grew louder. But I ignored my father’s words and smiled at them one last time.

“I will never come again, so think of me as a child you never had. After all, you lived your life thinking that way anyway, so it’s not difficult, right?”

“Astell!”

“And I’ll give you back Kren that you gave as dowry for my wedding. With this, I will end all ties with the Heines family.”

Everyone looked at me in amazement when I said I would return Kren. In fact, it was quite impulsive to return Kren. Originally, I had no intention of doing so, but since the family was not able to give back more than I expected, I don’t want to be tied to anything now. And to do that, it was the cleanest way to spit out what was received.

“I cannot say thank you for raising me until now. I think I might be a much better person than I am now if I hadn’t been born into a family like this.”

“How far are you planning to go?”

My mother also couldn’t stand it and yelled at me.

“And if you see me outside and treat me as rudely as you are now, I won’t be able to stand it again. So don’t forget everyone. I am Duchess Astell Einer.”

As I reminded them again that they are the people of the Marquisate and I am now the Duchess, I raised my head proudly.

“Let’s go. Duke.”

Saying that, I took Bleon’s hand and turned around to walk out. Whilst we kept hearing noises behind us all the way, I couldn’t hear them anymore. And it was only when I left the dining room, left the mansion, and rode out the front door in the carriage, so many emotions that had been in Astell’s deepest part, that had occupied a space for so long that they could not even come out on their own, burst out in an instant.

“Wife…?”

“…Yes?”

Bleon was looking at me with eyes full of concern and sorrow. However, my face was covered with tears, making it difficult to see. Without realizing it, my feelings were assimilated with Astell’s, and tears seemed to burst.

“Don’t cry. I’m proud of you, my wife.”

He wiped away my tears with his gentle hand.

“…Are you proud of me?”

“Yes. You did a great job.”

With that said, I embraced him, both arms around his neck.

“I’m not crying because it’s sad. I’m crying because I’m so happy. Hiic.”

And in Bleon’s arms, I cried so much that my heart was refreshed.

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