166 - Evil Husband (15th Anniversary Edition) Chapter 166
166
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Father chuckled in disbelief. But Aileen didn't laugh along. She pursed her lips tightly and clenched the old book in her hand.
It was the second time already. The previous time, when he tried to sell her off to a foreign country, she had let it go, accepting his excuse that he had done it believing Cesare would save her.
Of course, even then, she hadn't understood Father's actions. She had just reluctantly closed her eyes and moved on because he was her father, the one who had brought her into this world.
But this time, she couldn't bear it any longer.
"Usually, normally, if a daughter runs away… shouldn't the first thought be, 'What was so difficult that she did that?' and try to help? Not try to sell her off for money."
She felt a little pathetic, uttering such obvious words. Especially since it wasn't just her and Father in this place. Aileen tried to steady her trembling voice and gestured to Alessia.
Alessia slowly released her grip on Father's collar. Father brushed off his clothes with sharp snaps, clearly displeased.
"Taking money? Those are harsh words. Aren't you the one disgracing the family right now? As a father, I'm just educating my child so as not to cause trouble for His Highness."
Father spoke proudly, puffing out his chest. Aileen quietly asked,
"Do you really… even consider me your daughter?"
The moment Aileen asked the question, Father's face twisted. Aileen instinctively took a step back. It was the same look he had right before he started causing trouble at home after drinking.
"After all I've done raising you!"
Father roared, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Nothing has gone right since you were born. Because of those disgusting eyes, your Mother went crazy and her mind wanders, huh? If only a son to carry on the family line had been born instead of you, I wouldn't have to suffer this kind of humiliation!"
He shouted threateningly, as if he had been holding it all in until now.
"And you dare try to corner your father with a mere pittance? How insolent!"
He didn't say he wouldn't take the money until the end. He even pointed his finger and tried to get closer, so Alessia immediately stopped him.
Father stepped back again, grumbling that now that she was the Archduchess of Erzeht, she should have thought of taking care of her father first, instead of leaving him stuck in the ranch. Aileen, who had been blankly watching him, moved her lips involuntarily.
"...In exchange for giving you as much money as you want."
Father, who had been shouting with a red face until just now, abruptly shut his mouth. Aileen asked, half dazed,
"In exchange for you stopping being my father… Could you do that?"
As soon as he heard the question, Father answered immediately, as if he had been thinking about it in advance.
"Considering the cost of giving birth and raising you, and even compensation for the damages I've suffered, I should receive this much."
Father held out his hand. Aileen felt a deep sense of futility as she looked at the number he made with his fingers.
Right now, how much money he would receive was far more important to him than severing ties. It felt like all the blood in her body was draining away.
'No matter what I do, it wouldn't have mattered.'
Aileen was the only one who had been trying to maintain and improve their relationship as a family. The blood ties that were precious to Aileen meant nothing to Father.
Aileen was the only one who considered them family.
'How foolish.'
The time she had spent trying to help Mother and Father scattered meaninglessly. The moment her sincere efforts and love were given a price tag and sold for money, Aileen felt all her strength drain away.
She couldn't hold on any longer. Aileen let go of the string of connection she had been clinging to so desperately until now.
The moment she released the hand that had been holding on so tightly, the string unraveled with absurd ease. It was only natural, since Aileen was the only one holding on.
Aileen looked at the man in front of her with empty hands, with nothing left.
"Lord Elrod."
At the unfamiliar address, Lord Elrod widened his eyes. He looked as if he wanted to shout and swing his fist at her for the presumptuous title, but he couldn't bring himself to do so because of Alessia beside him.
No, even if Alessia hadn't been there, he wouldn't have been able to act recklessly. The person Lord Elrod wanted was not his daughter, but the Archduchess of Erzeht who would give him money.
"I promise the compensation I mentioned. So please leave this place now."
Lord Elrod gaped, bewildered. Aileen stared at him with cold eyes.
If she sold the Brick house and combined the money she had saved with a portion of what she would receive from launching Aspilia, she would have enough to give the Baron the money he wanted.
Even if she were no longer the Grand Duchess, all of that would still be Aileen's property, so it wouldn't be difficult to give the Baron the money.
It would be enough if she could avoid being involved with him any further. She didn't want this man to shake up her life anymore.
"What is this…"
Lord Elrod was confused, unable to adapt to the clearly changed attitude. It was the first time Aileen had acted like this.
No matter how harsh the words he said, Aileen had always just silently accepted them or cried. There were times when she rebelled, but she had never acted like this. With a cold attitude as if she were dealing with a stranger…
While Lord Elrod was struggling to accept the unfamiliar situation, Alessia, who had been waiting, anxiously called out to Aileen.
"Aileen."
There was no time to argue any longer. Aileen passed by her father and followed Alessia. She felt his gaze staring at her from behind, but she didn't turn around. She had no intention or desire to do so.
Alessia didn't ask Aileen anything. Aileen was grateful for her silence. Perhaps because of the mental exhaustion, her dizziness worsened. Aileen moved her feet, feeling like she was about to collapse at any moment.
"Please bear with it a little longer."
Alessia quickly comforted Aileen as she staggered. She couldn't support Aileen because she had to react quickly to the situation. Alessia glanced ahead with a worried heart. Then, she was startled and grabbed Aileen when she almost fell.
"I'm sorry…"
Aileen whispered to Alessia with a pale face. She had been forcing herself to move even though it was difficult to walk, and had finally reached her limit.
"Excuse me for a moment."
Alessia ended up carrying Aileen on her back. Aileen leaned against her back. She didn't want to be a burden, but her condition wasn't normal. She felt like she would fall asleep immediately if she let her guard down even a little. Aileen kept pinching her arm to hold on.
As soon as she put Aileen on her back, Alessia walked as if she was running. Her long legs moved quickly, making her much faster than when Aileen was walking.
Finally, Alessia stopped in front of a room and put her ear to the door. Then, with one hand carrying Aileen on her back and the other hand slightly turning the doorknob, Alessia quickly peered through the crack in the door and stepped inside.
"We're here. All we have to do is get out now."
Saying that she could rest assured, Alessia punched the wall with her fist. The old wooden wall rotated like a revolving door, revealing a narrow, dark path. Alessia entered inside with Aileen on her back.
She couldn't see the floor, let alone what was ahead, but Alessia strode forward without hesitation. Aileen recalled the time when she had escaped from the Grand Duke's Residence through the Secret passage. Back then, she had walked alone, trembling with only one lamp.
While Aileen was vaguely lost in reminiscence, Alessia put Aileen down. She had already arrived at the exit.
"We've arrived. Please wait here for a moment in case it's dangerous. I'll go out first."
Leaving Aileen hidden in the darkness, Alessia went ahead and opened the door. The outside air rushed in, and the moonlight and lamplight merged together to illuminate the passage. At that moment, neither Aileen nor Alessia could say anything.
Soldiers were already standing guard outside the door. A slender woman stood alone among the soldiers in uniform. Her blonde hair, bathed in moonlight, sparkled vividly. Alessia swallowed a painful groan and called out her name.
"Malena…"
Malena squeezed her eyes shut in anguish. Aileen shifted her gaze to the soldier standing right next to Malena. Rohan stared at Aileen with a expressionless face and said.
"We've come to escort you, Aileen."
