CH 85

Time flew by quickly, and the day of Iris’s execution came. In order to see Iris directly being executed, Charelize covered the papers she was reading. As she was about to leave duchy, a teary-eyed Lillian blocked her path.

Lillian was wearing a black dress in honor of the deceased. Charelize then remembered Lari, who had died in her arms. It wasn’t Lillian who should wear the black dress.

Upon realizing it, her emotions, which had barely calmed down, surged. Her heart started beating very fast. The waves of emotions rushed instantly and hit Charelize’s cheeks several times. The pain awakened Charelize spirit.

“Are you feeling better now?”

It was Lillian who opened her mouth first. She continued to weep over as she felt sorry for what was going to happen to her aunt.

“No, you must be feeling refreshed. Because you took everything from me.”

“…Everything?”

What bothered Charelize wasn’t Lillian’s sarcastic tone nor Lillian’s attitude as if she was the only victim. Everything. That was it. As soon as she heard it, she was so dumbfounded and speechless.

“What did I take away from you?”

“Are you asking because you really don’t know?”

Recently, Lillian had put on a mask of being docile. Although she was still inexperienced in hiding her emotions, she seemed to know the extent to which Charelize could tolerate. That’s why she didn’t cross the line so far. But now, because of Iris, that mask was shattered.

Charelize wondered what expression Lillian would make if she discovered that Iris’s affection was just a deception to blind her eyes and cover her ears. More than that, Charelize was bothered by Lillian’s words, claiming that she had taken away everything she had.

Charelize swept her hair and answered in a low voice. “You should blame your stupid uncle, not me.”

“…”

On the day she met Iris in Helsen Prison, Charelize found out why Marquis Luxen was destroyed. It was true they were punished for treason. The situation overlapped, and it could be considered unjust for Iris to be wrongly accused.  

When Lillian’s uncle saw that the illegitimate child, Iris, was mentioned as the next head of the family, he tried to establish Marquis Ridewel, who had a thin line of imperial blood, as the scarecrow emperor. It was because the previous emperor had often mentioned Iris, who had been prominent in politics from an early age.

They could be exempted because Siael briefly revealed her identity as she was linked to Duke Marsetta and Charelize’s mother.  That’s why they should have lived with gratitude even for staying alive.

It was very tiring to deal with Lillian, who recklessly accused her without seeing the truth. But Charelize had to make sure to point out that clearly.

“Lillian, your uncle dared to stand above the sun. His plan was so sloppy that he was quickly discovered and killed. You were born because His Grace married my mother. If it wasn’t for that, your mother and your aunt would have fallen a long time ago. But you’re still whining about the injustice you felt?”

“In the end… you pretended to be good. As everyone knows… the seat of the little duchess was mine, and the seat of the duchess was also my mother’s.”

“No. Without me, you wouldn’t have become a little Duchess.”

“…”

“Could you even fulfill your duties and responsibilities by only trying to take your right as a little duchess?”

“What do you know? Me too… If I had been raised as a princess of Duke Marsetta since I was born—”

“Look at this.”

Charelize, who stopped Lillian from speaking, untied the accessories she was wearing on her neck. She moved closer to Lillian. “It was when I was 16 years old. It was caused by a dagger thrust into my throat.”

Then she showed her palm. There were various scars, including calluses. “I’ve been holding an arrow since I was 5 years old.”

“…”

“I was 8 years old when His Grace beat me for the first time. I don’t even know why he raised his hand to me. Unlike me, you have always been a beloved daughter.”

“…”

“He said that I was stupid when I couldn’t answer his questions and that I was disgusting because I was different from other children my age. But that night, I… studied Chedin’s Consequentialism. I didn’t sleep to memorize it. If I become a little duchess, he will acknowledge me. If I become a little duchess… I’ll be able to protect my mother.”

“…”

“I killed others to live. I put arrows on the backs of those who are after my neck. That’s how I survived, and I’m still living that way.”

Lillian stepped back. Her whole body trembled just from hearing it through Charelize’s mouth. She got goosebumps at how Charelize spoke as if she were reciting what happened to others without changing her expression. The life Charelize had been living was something Lillian couldn’t possibly handle.

“Can you, who wants to become a little duchess, survive?”

“Stop… stop it. I… I didn’t mean that way. I just feel sorry for my aunt… so…” Lillian raised her hand, closed her ears, and closed her eyes. If Iris had been blocking her so far, her current action was entirely Lillian’s decision.

“Your aunt threw a dagger to kill me. In the process, Lari died. Does that still make you feel sorry for your aunt?”

“My aunt…”

“And it turns out you were manipulated by Marchioness Luxen, whom you called as aunt desperately.”

“What do you—”

“Unlike her, who has lived a life of persecution all her life, your mother received great love from her family, which she found unfair. That’s why she intentionally approached you, her daughter. As a result of this incident, not only your position in society would be narrowed, but also your mother’s family, the Luxen family, will never be able to stand up again.”

“That’s… no way. My aunt… to me… That’s a lie. You’re lying.”

“Well, it’s up to you to judge whether it’s a lie or not, Lillian. It’s none of my business to make any decision. But… you can’t die. Don’t die until you’ve paid for each and every crime you’ve committed. Stay alive until I can make it happen.”

Charelize grabbed Lillian’s chin and laid it down roughly.

“Lari Isla von Marsetta. That’s the name of the person your aunt killed. Do you know what this means? She’s the princess of Duke Marsetta. Whether or not to save the person who makes the younger sister of the little duchess end like that, it’s not up to you, but up to me.”

“Why… your younger sister?”

Lillian’s face crumpled as if she had heard something she shouldn’t hear.

“La, ri… is your younger sister… From the first day I saw her… she didn’t even treat me like a human being. You didn’t even recognize me as a princess easily. Why… Why is Lari… your younger sister, not me?”

“You and Lari are different. I can never see you in the same place as Lari.”

“…Why?”

“And… The only princess of Duke Marsetta that I acknowledge is Lari.”

“I’m your real sister. I’m a real sister who shares the same blood with you!”

“Well, I guess we share only a little of the same blood. Ah, will the duke still be your father when everything is revealed? I’m really curious. I don’t know if he’ll still be by your side.”

“I’m not sure… what are you talking about? Why is Dad suddenly…”

Charelize whispered quietly in Lillian’s ear, remembering when she and the duke laughed, calling her by an older sister.

“That person… is not your dad, right?”

“T-the blood of Marsetta still runs through my body.”

“Right, it’s still Marsetta’s blood. In that way, you can’t say that we’re not sharing the same blood.”

“What… on earth… do you… know?”

“Where you were born and raised, people around you, and… the existence of your biological father.”

Lillian fell to her knees as soon as the word father was mentioned. Lillian knew that her father wasn’t Duke Marsetta but his brother.

“Dad… No… Duke, please don’t tell this to His Grace…”

“Didn’t I warn you so many times not to get in my way? How did you get this position, and how did you overlook it, make my people die, and insult my mother?”

“I… I will never do that again. Please, please, Your Highness. I was wrong.”

“Lillian, it’s too late. Already… too much time has passed to turn back. Don’t you realize there’s no choice but to cut ties? You should have stopped when I was still looking out for you.”

“…”

“Wait, maybe the problem is that you thought it was unfair even though you knew who your real father was in the first place.”

After that, Charelize passed by Lillian, who was crying anxiously. Staring at Charelize’s shadow for a long time, Lillian wiped away her tears and stood up. “Someday, I will definitely make you kneel at my feet.”

* * *

Upon arriving at the execution site, Charelize confirmed that there was still time before the execution. On the way, she stopped at Helsen Prison to meet Iris.

“Open the door.”

The knight who was guarding the front followed Charelize’s command.

“Why are you coming here—”

Going inside, Charelize slapped Iris, who sat down and looked up at her.

“This is for my mother.”

“…”

Charelize struck once again with all her might. “This… is for Lari.”

“…”

“And this is my… share.”

She tried to raise her hand again but soon quit and dropped it in the air.

“Why… stop? I even showed my teeth and bit Your Highness.” Iris, who wrapped her flushed cheeks, slowly raised her head.

“My share is not so shallow.”

“Ah… I see.”

Iris didn’t look like she was going to die anytime soon. She even smiled brightly.