Ch#96
Chapter 96'What kind of content did they exchange? Could they have already colluded multiple times?'
Laslo's suspicions grew at the mention of letters he knew nothing about.
Dustin reproached Edel as if scolding her.
"I understand you're resentful toward the family, but how could you send such a letter to your father?"
"What about it didn't sit well with you?"
"Wh-what did you say? Hah... You've changed a lot. Are you saying you'll abandon your parents and siblings just to live in luxury for yourself? I don't remember raising such a selfish daughter."
Edel briefly looked baffled at the sanctimonious criticism, then let out a hollow laugh.
"You're laughing?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
Despite her words, Edel's smile gradually faded.
"You said I'm living in luxury, but does the clothing I'm wearing now look better than yours, Father? Is the food I eat better than what you have?"
"Don't nitpick the words—grasp the deeper meaning behind your father's words!"
"That's why I said it that way—you implied I'm ignoring something great just to cling to my current situation. What I wear and eat isn't of tremendous value. I won't twist my values just to live in luxury for myself."
"Then what was that great reason for slapping away the hand your father extended?"
Edel felt an urge to shut her mouth before her father, who even showed grievance. She sensed nothing she said would get through to him.
But closing her mouth here would just look like avoidance.
Edel explained what he had done to her, abandoning any expectation he'd understand.
"You keep calling me your daughter, but you renounced all rights to me over a year ago. That's how you escaped that responsibility too."
"At that time, the family was on the brink of destruction—we had no choice! No matter the circumstances, you can't sever the bonds of blood. Do you think our hearts have been at ease all this time? Can you even fathom a parent's burning pain?"
"Ah... So does that mean you're here now to restore the Canian name to me?"
"Th-that's...!"
.
"If you're holding me accountable as your child, that means you're taking responsibility as a parent too, right? Then formally petition His Majesty the Emperor for my reinstatement and restore me to House Canian's registry."
Edel knew better than anyone that he neither could nor intended to petition for her reinstatement.
Dustin's hands trembled with rage, at a loss for words.
"Do you know how much I invested in you! Ungratefulness has its limits—how dare you...!"
Investment. Ungratefulness.
It had been a long time since she'd heard those words after leaving House Canian.
Back then, she'd believed her father's words and even felt guilty. She was young and ignorant of the world.
But now she knew.
"You invested only for your own sake—why should I feel gratitude for that? I even fulfilled the duty you imposed on me by being sold to Duke Lancaster. That should be enough."
"That was all for your benefit!"
"My benefit? Do you remember when I knelt and begged you for the first time in my life? I pleaded with you to let me go, starving and crying for days!"
The miserable feeling from back then resurfaced, briefly stirring her emotions. But Edel took a deep breath and steadied her voice.
"After selling me off like that and winning Duke Lancaster's favor, you never sought me out again. That's when I realized—that marriage was my entire value to you."
Though she knew Dustin might resort to violence, Edel didn't stop speaking.
"The reason House Canian had to abandon me after the duke's rebellion failed... Yes, I could understand that. So I accepted it. Therefore, don't impose any more duties or responsibilities on me. You have no right."
No sooner had she finished than a thud echoed, sparks flashing before her eyes. Dustin had struck her head.
"A wretch with nowhere to rely on in this world—how dare you speak so impudently! Without House Canian's name, you'd be nothing but prey!"
Even in his rage, he cursed in a low voice to avoid sound leaking to the next room, then struck her arm with his fist and kicked her leg.
He had beaten his daughters this way before too—leaving no visible wounds.
"......! ......!"
Edel unwittingly swallowed a scream, just as she had in the past.
"Do you think this is the end of your life without our house? Without us, you'd be nothing! You filthy—"
Dustin's hand, reaching to grab her hair in his loss of reason, halted at a sudden clatter from somewhere.
He quickly scanned the surroundings, holding his breath, and only after a while with no sound did he exhale roughly and snarl.
"Dragging you out of this house is child's play. Do you think I can't do that much?"
"...Then why don't you drag me out and throw me to the streets? Why are you bowing your head to Count Criserus?"
Dustin gritted his teeth at Edel's unbroken gaze even after the beating.
The old Edel wouldn't have been like this.
She would lower her head and beg forgiveness at the slightest anger—such a good, easy-to-handle child.
'Living as a lowly servant in that filthy mercenary's house has revealed her true colors!'
It was what he'd feared when buying a child from distant commoner relatives. That ignoble blood would eventually show its roots.
But now, it didn't matter.
As long as Edel fulfilled her final duty here, he didn't care what became of her after.
"I'm considering a way to restore your honor. Whether you'll live a bottom-feeder life bearing the stigma of selling your body to a lowly mercenary, or as a noblewoman who knows honor... Think it over until we meet again. If you're not mad, the answer's already set."
His words held not even a speck of affection or concern for his daughter.
Dustin soon erased his agitation, straightened his appearance, and turned sharply.
"Next contact will come via letter in Rudmila's name."
"Don't send it. I won't reply."
Though Edel urgently responded, he deliberately ignored her and strode to the drawing room door, opening it.
Margaret, waiting outside, slightly bent her knee in greeting.
.
"Leaving already?"
"Yes."
"I'll inform Count Criserus. Please wait a moment."
But she didn't need to fetch Laslo. The study door soon opened, and he emerged.
"I heard the door—I came out. Leaving already? It hasn't even been 30 minutes yet..."
"Ah, haha. It'd be rude to overstay until the count urges me. My daughter seemed uneasy too..."
"Uneasy?"
"She seems to think relations between you and I aren't great. Being bound here, she must have felt compelled to watch your moods."
As Laslo's eyes darkened at those words, Dustin belatedly added an excuse-like remark.
"Ah, of course, I don't think you're oppressing my daughter! Women are just small-minded with needless worries, after all. Hahaha!"
"I've never seen a woman with as broad a mind as Edel—quite an amusing statement. In any case... I'll see you to the entrance."
Laslo treated Dustin like a guest to the end, ever the courteous family head.
However, the moment his carriage departed, his face hardened frighteningly, and he whirled around. His gaze caught Edel descending the stairs.
He rushed up the stairs almost at a run, seizing her wrist.
"C-Count...?"
Though Edel called out, he gave no reply, merely dragging her along.
Edel expected him to interrogate her.
As the one who investigated the Lancaster Duke family's rebellion, Laslo surely knew of House Canian's collusion with them.
'He has no choice but to suspect my father coming to see me.'
Of course, she had no intention of aiding Dustin or House Canian, so she'd assert her innocence.
But whether he believed her was up to Laslo.
It felt like a crack was forming in the 'peaceful daily life' she'd barely achieved.
The moment they entered the study, Laslo slammed the door shut and turned to her, inhaling deeply as if to speak.
But at the sight of Edel looking up at him with expectant eyes, he clenched his molars and turned away again.
He seemed lost and confused, unsure what to do.
Edel broke the awkward silence.
.
