chapter 25
“What… what are you even saying right now?!”
It was so unexpected that Lianne couldn’t string her words together.
It wasn’t as if the others took it calmly either. Everyone’s eyes went wide, trying to understand what they’d just heard.
“Just what I said. Big sister was removed from the family registry. She’s no longer part of our family, so wouldn’t it be better for her to stay here?”
Serena deliberately provoked Caroline, who stood stiff and speechless.
“Right? Sister, you’re not the Baroness of Rosegold anymore—you’re the Count’s daughter of Rozelantis. Then you should stay here.”
Serena had no intention of humoring Caroline’s spoiled tantrums anymore.
Honestly, a grown firstborn whining to the youngest was ridiculous in itself. And she’d done it her entire life—right up until death.
If you get older, shouldn’t you at least mature somewhat?
But that miracle had never happened for Serena’s sisters.
No—if anything, they only got worse. Every day, Caroline found some new, bizarre way to torment Serena.
“Please, Uncle. Let Caroline stay at the Count’s estate.”
Jeremy stared hard at Serena—just like he had the first time she greeted him. With that same “what an odd kid” expression, he looked between them in silent thought before finally asking Caroline:
“Caroline, is this what you want too?”
It was a ridiculous suggestion—and if Caroline said yes, Jeremy seemed like he’d allow it.
Lianne, panicking, tried to stop it.
“Th-that makes no sense…! Serena! What on earth is wrong with you?! The Count must be busy, stop causing trouble!”
But no amount of scolding changed anything.
Serena dodged her mother’s reaching hands and looked directly at Caroline.
“So? What will you do, sister? Will you stay here and live as a Count’s daughter, or are you coming back to Rosegold?”
“You—! I said stop it!”
Presented with an absurd choice once more, Lianne exploded, grabbing Serena’s clothes to yank her back. This time she grabbed hard, but Serena had already said everything she meant to.
And as expected—the shaken Caroline was visibly trembling.
“You decide. It’s your life.”
That final push made Lianne pinch Serena’s arm and scream.
“You! I told you to shut up! Caroline! Go to the carriage right now!”
“No. I’m staying here.”
“…What?!”
Lianne froze.
Caroline’s eyes no longer wavered. Her decision was final.
“I’m staying.”
“Have you gone insane…?!”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Caroline replied immediately, making it obvious she wasn’t changing her mind. She stepped back past the estate’s front door, as if crossing an invisible line.
Then, she bent her knees and gave a polite farewell.
“Please go back safely.”
“Oh my…!”
Lianne went pale. She looked like she would collapse if she didn’t grab onto something. She stumbled, shaking, and grabbed Serena’s shoulder.
Funny how she had no problem digging her nails into me before.
Serena bowed and smoothly pulled herself free of Lianne’s grip.
“Take care, sister. Uncle, please look after Caroline.”
Ridiculous as this was, Jeremy now had no reason to refuse. He nodded, saying he would.
Lianne braced herself against the wall just to stay upright. Serena ignored her and walked to the carriage.
That’s when Lianne’s suppressed rage finally burst.
“You! Stop right there!”
But her shoes were uncomfortable and didn’t fit well—she couldn’t catch up.
Serena easily got ahead, climbed into the carriage, and settled into her seat. Ashbel, who had just been about to read a letter, lifted a brow.
“You’re late. I heard shouting—did something happen?”
“Caroline said she wanted to stay here.”
“…What?!”
“She doesn’t like being the baron’s daughter anymore. She wants time to cool her head. Uncle agreed.”
“No, come on—what is that supposed to mean?!”
“She said she won’t go. So what can we do? Will you convince her? Or stop mother from yelling?”
Just imagining that gave Ashbel a headache. His mouth shut tight.
His eyes drifted to the letter in his hand. Honestly, he didn’t care—he just wanted to hurry up and read it. It wasn’t as if they abandoned Caroline in some dangerous place. He didn’t want to interfere and end up exhausted for nothing. None of them were the type to listen anyway.
“So once Mother gets in, we leave. It’s better if she screams alone than if the two of them scream together.”
The moment she finished talking, Lianne yanked open the carriage door.
Face flushed red, mouth open to scream—Ashbel grabbed her wrist and shoved her inside.
“Driver! Go!”
BAM BAM BAM—he pounded the ceiling, and the coachman started moving immediately. Ashbel didn’t care whether she fell onto the floor in the chaos.
“W-what is wrong with you?!”
“Be quiet! The girl said she wants to stay. Learn how to leave things alone!”
“How can you just abandon a child—your own child—there?!”
“Oh please! Jeremy will take care of her. Or do you not trust him?”
“That’s not the point!”
Her shriek echoed inside the carriage. Ashbel, done arguing, cleared his throat and opened his letter.
This was about their child—and he didn’t even want to talk about it.
Lianne, realizing her husband had zero intention of listening, covered her face with her hands in despair.
Daisy, panicking, hurried to help Lianne up from where she had collapsed to the floor. Serena grabbed Lianne’s other arm and helped her onto a seat.
“You…!”
Lianne’s eyes blazed red with anger as she glared at Serena.
You caused this—and now you pretend to help?
“Mother, do you think sister can survive well at the Count’s estate?”
“Of course not! How would she live alone there?!”
“I agree. With Caroline’s personality, lasting a day or two would already be impressive.”
Serena replied calmly. Lianne looked at her as if she’d lost her mind.
“So you don’t need to drag her back. She’ll come on her own.”
“If you hadn’t created this mess in the first place—!”
“And what after that? Will you explain things clearly to her? That she has to live as the Baron’s daughter now? If you can, then tell the coachman to turn around. We’re not far.”
They had barely left the Count’s estate. The carriage wasn’t even going fast.
If Lianne truly worried, she could bang on the driver’s seat, or open the door and jump out—there were a dozen ways to go back.
But Lianne wasn’t that kind of person. She always yelled, but never acted. She wanted everyone else to fix her problems.
Serena had always been the one cleaning up the mess. If Lianne had ever taken responsibility for even one thing, she’d never have left Caroline behind.
As expected, Lianne bit her lips, unable to argue anymore once she imagined dealing with Caroline afterwards.
…Figures. Not surprising at all. She always orders everyone around, but never does anything herself. She’s no better than Father.
Serena didn’t even feel disappointed. Honestly, she was relieved—seeing everything play out exactly as she expected meant she didn’t have to feel guilty about any of it.
Just as she turned her cold eyes toward the window—
Ashbel suddenly screamed and jumped to his feet.
“AAAAAAAHHHH!”
“…?!”
Everyone grabbed their chests at the thunderous roar. Daisy practically glued herself to the wall in shock.
“F-Father…! How could you—how could you do this to me?!”
Ashbel wailed dramatically.
Crushed in his right hand was the wrinkled letter from the Count of Rozelantis.
