Chapter 13
The sudden mention of the name made me simply nod.
“She’s going to have that kind of relationship with Marquis Azbeck?”
“Yes. Belian is very pretty. That’s probably why Father has always been unusually fond of her. He even openly praised her in front of us… I had a bad feeling about it from the start.”
The Marquis was already crazy about women. And now a maid he favored…
“You like pretty women, I see.”
“Pretty and young, especially blondes. That’s why all of us siblings have blonde hair. He’s said the image of a blonde with blue eyes from our childhood stuck in his mind. Disgusting, really.”
“Blonde with blue eyes… What are the chances she’d fall for him?”
“Two…”
“Twenty?”
“No, 200%.”
Anz clicked her tongue in disbelief.
“He’ll go crazy over her.”
“Thanks for the info.”
“Info? This is just me complaining about Father. Honestly, I want to curse him for three or four days straight. How did Mother survive being with such a man…?”
Her eyes blazed with passion as she held her mother’s hand tightly.
But Lily said gently,
“Anz, don’t hate your father too much.”
“How can I not hate him!”
“At least he was sincere toward you.”
“Even if he was, I don’t care. Being sincere or not, he hurt the mother we love, and I cannot accept that.”
Lily smiled warmly.
The carriage slowed as we approached. I looked outside and saw a two-story townhouse in the city, just as I had been told. No garden, simple but well-kept.
“We’ve arrived. Madam, young lady, lawyer.”
“Let’s get out now.”
“Mother, brace yourself. People who cheat are shameless. Whatever you hear, don’t be hurt. Okay?”
“Don’t worry, Anz. I’m not weak. The time for being hurt is over. Nothing to worry about.”
Watching them, I finally opened the carriage door and stepped out.
A clean two-story townhouse. Red brick, weathered, with cracks on the walls. Ivy clung to the facade, partially hiding the wear. Still, it was an old house.
Without hesitation, I knocked on the red door.
“Hello? Anyone there?”
A voice ran to the door, excited. But when Belian saw the unfamiliar figure in front of her, her expression froze. Blonde hair, blue eyes, pale and clearly beautiful.
“Belian?”
“Who…? You?”
Seeing her hesitation, I went straight to the point.
“I’m here about the Azbeck Marquis household.”
“Oh, he sent you?”
“He? Didn’t Marquis Azbeck send you?”
“Indeed, it seems she has a special relationship with Marquis Azbeck. Unfortunately, I’m here on behalf of my client. I’m Rabiel, the lawyer for the Marchioness divorcing the Marquis.”
“Oh.”
Her lips trembled slightly for the first time.
“I guess your lover mentioned me, huh?”
Now fully aware, Belian’s eyes were filled with caution as she gripped the doorknob.
“This is rude. I don’t know who you are, so leave.”
She tried to shut the door, but Anz slid her shoe in to stop it.
“If you truly didn’t know, you wouldn’t rush to close the door, Belian.”
“……”
“You won’t pretend to not know me in this situation, right? We’ve seen each other every day for ten years at the Marquis’s household.”
Belian struggled to close the door, but Anz was stronger. She even grabbed the doorknob, and Belian’s hand slipped off.
“Why? Pretend you don’t know me?”
“No. Why are you here, Miss?”
“I just heard you suddenly left the household. I wanted to make sure you weren’t sick or anything.”
“No need to worry.”
“Really? But leaving so suddenly… could it be that you were carrying Father’s child?”
Anz spoke bluntly, and Belian quickly shook her head.
“W-What are you saying!”
“Never mind. I just don’t want another sibling. Too many people throw themselves at Father for money. I thought you were one of them. Are you a money-chasing worm?”
Belian snapped in anger.
“I’m not after money! It’s love!”
That’s when I decided to step in. Love, she said… how amusing. Cheaters always claim the same “love.”
“So you’re passionately in love with Marquis Azbeck, Belian?”
“……”
She realized my mistake and bit her lips so hard it almost hurt.
“Don’t bite your lips so hard. What if you hurt your pretty face? The Marquis would be upset, you know?”
“……”
“Even denying it now would look funny. Be honest, Belian. The Marquis planned to come today, right?”
She didn’t answer, but I wasn’t here to get a response. I continued.
“Now that the Marquis has divorced, love would be even more intense. How dreamy it must feel for you.”
“……”
“But do you think the Marquis will actually make you his Marchioness?”**
The words struck a nerve, standing on the edge of a dangerous truth. Belian’s temper flared.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
Of course. This is how she was being tempted—promised to become Marchioness while he secretly handed over his wealth elsewhere.
‘Clever, indeed.’
Even if the Marquis’s children hadn’t sided with their mother, giving the wealth to the family would still allow for legal recovery. But giving it to an outsider like Belian complicates the matter.
He transferred it perfectly to her. And to keep her compliant, he hinted at making her the Marchioness.
But that was all. He forgot something crucial: human nature and greed.
“Listen carefully. Belian, Marquis Azbeck is very clever.”
“Yes. He is.”
“So he’s transferred all the wealth to you.”
Her expression hardened as she naturally reacted to my words.
I wasn’t speaking to inform; I only wanted to confuse her.
“You already know the wealth has been returned to you. With the divorce and alimony confirmed, it’s easy to see where the assets went.”
“You shouldn’t be greedy; it’s not even yours.”
Anz clicked her tongue, arms crossed, but I shook my head and met Belian’s gaze.
“I don’t expect you to give it willingly. That’s why I’m here to file a restitution lawsuit.”
Her face paled.
“Your lover didn’t mention this possibility?”
“So what. It’ll be protected anyway.”
“That’s not how it works. During this process, it will be revealed that you were the Marquis’s mistress.”
“Doesn’t matter; he was supposed to marry me.”
How pitiful.
“He will never marry you.”
“What do you know!”
“Think about it. After being divorced once and having to secretly move all his wealth, would he marry anyone? No. He’s smart enough to avoid that. And since he fathered children elsewhere, he’ll just enjoy this situation more.”
