Chapter – 17
The Marquis opened his mouth several times as if trying to say something, but no words came out. His eyes were shaking so much that it was obvious he couldn’t calm himself.
“……Beth!”
After a long silence, the only thing he managed to say was to shout at Elizabeth.
It was strange—this was the first time he had ever raised his voice at her.
The Marquis paused as if thinking, then spoke to Cedric.
“This… is a family matter. Go back for now. I’ll call you when things are settled.”
Cedric nodded.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, he quickly left the room.
Even after he left, the Marquis remained silent for a long time.
Rapine blinked and looked at him.
“What… does that mean? That I’m not your daughter?”
“Sit down first, my child.”
For the first time in her life, the Marquis spoke to her gently.
If what Elizabeth said was true, then everything suddenly made sense.
A father who was only kind to Elizabeth.
That strange difference in treatment.
She had always thought it was because Elizabeth was sick—that naturally, more care would go to the one who needed it.
That wasn’t strange at all.
But as time passed, more and more things didn’t make sense.
Small differences turned into neglect, and soon, Rapine’s thoughts and choices meant nothing.
Still, she endured.
Because they were family.
That’s what family was supposed to be.
But the gap between her and Elizabeth could never be filled.
Now, she finally understood the discomfort she had felt all along.
If she wasn’t truly the Marquis’s daughter, then everything made sense.
Rapine slowly spoke.
“Ah… now I understand everything.”
“No, that’s not it.”
“I just wish she would disappear!”
Elizabeth screamed, as if she had completely lost control.
“Elizabeth, be quiet! Rapine is your real sister!”
This time, the Marquis shouted.
Seeing that, it became clear—Elizabeth’s words were true.
Otherwise, the always composed Marquis wouldn’t be reacting like this.
Realizing that, Rapine spoke with a mocking tone.
“So you can still say I’m your real daughter, Father?”
“……”
The Marquis turned his head toward her.
There was nothing left to hide or endure anymore.
Her goal had always been to break the engagement and leave this house.
Rapine had once thought maybe it was her fault they didn’t treat her like family.
Maybe they had just forgotten her value because she was always there.
Maybe one day, they could smile together again.
But from the beginning, she had never been part of this family.
They had never intended to make space for her.
How ridiculous she must have looked, trying to force her way in.
Even though she thought she had let go of all her feelings when she decided to leave, emotions suddenly surged up.
“The day I fell from the tower… what do you think happened, Father?”
The Marquis frowned, clearly caught off guard by the sudden mention.
“Rapine, I was shocked when you fell. But isn’t your life more important than love?”
As expected, he believed Cedric’s words.
Rapine found even that laughable.
He had never once asked her what really happened.
What kind of parent doesn’t even ask their own child?
“See, Father? You never even thought of asking me the truth. You just believed Cedric without question.”
“What… what are you saying?”
Only then did the Marquis look shaken.
“Do you even know what happened that day? Elizabeth and Cedric—”
“Sister!”
Elizabeth tried to cut her off, but Rapine continued without stopping.
“They were kissing. And you’re telling me to continue that engagement, Father?”
“……”
The Marquis looked completely stunned.
“And when I got angry after seeing that, Elizabeth attacked me, and Cedric pushed me… that’s why I fell from the tower.”
As she said it out loud, a deep sense of injustice rose inside her.
The Marquis still acted like a father only on the surface.
He said he was worried, but he didn’t care about her pain at all.
It felt like something hot was bursting out from inside her.
“So what? You think I tried to kill myself just to get attention?”
“Ra… Rapine.”
“Don’t call my name. I’m not your daughter anymore. I refuse it!”
The Marquis’s face turned pale.
Tears had already filled Rapine’s eyes as she spoke rapidly.
She had always told herself she was fine, but that didn’t mean the pain disappeared.
All those past wounds didn’t vanish just because she ignored them.
Her voice sounded like a scream.
It was a child’s final cry to her parent.
“You didn’t care whether I became a miserable woman begging for love or not. From now on, don’t treat me as part of the Roblue Marquis family anymore!”
At last, Rapine put an end to this relationship.
And at that moment, the door burst open.
The one who entered was Bayern, his expression fierce.
He looked around in disbelief and asked,
“What is going on here?”
His sudden appearance made both Rapine and the Marquis freeze.
The Marquis didn’t recognize him.
Seeing that confusion, Bayern sighed, ran a hand over his face, and calmly introduced himself.
“I am Bayern, the Emperor’s aide, sent in His Majesty’s place today.”
Bayern had originally planned to finish his duties quickly and meet Rapine as the Emperor.
But he changed his mind.
Since Rapine didn’t believe he was the Emperor, he decided to use that.
He would hide his identity and help her in the way she wanted.
That’s why he came as Bayern.
But in front of her door, he heard something shocking.
“They were kissing.”
Rapine’s voice carried clearly through the door.
Who kissed who?
He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Elizabeth attacked me, and Cedric pushed me… that’s why I fell from the tower.”
‘Ha.’
He had already suspected Cedric wasn’t telling the full truth.
But hearing the real story from Rapine was even more shocking.
Anger rushed to his head.
Cedric pushed Rapine from the tower?
And dared to lie to him?
And in front of so many people, he made Rapine look like a madwoman?
None of it was forgivable.
His body trembled with anger.
“So what? You think I tried to kill myself just to get attention?”
Her trembling voice made his anger turn into pain.
“You didn’t care whether I became a miserable woman begging for love or not. From now on, don’t treat me as part of the Roblue Marquis family anymore!”
She sounded like she was about to cry.
He couldn’t endure it anymore.
He pushed the door open.
As soon as he entered, he looked at Rapine first.
Her stiff face and downturned lips showed her emotions clearly.
Did she even realize that this was her habit when she pretended to be okay?
Bayern spoke again.
“I will report everything that happened today to His Majesty exactly as it is.”
The Marquis had seen Bayern a few times before.
Back when he used to play with Rapine as a child.
Back then, he never imagined that shabby boy would become someone so close to the Emperor.
He had never liked them spending time together, but he also didn’t care enough to stop it.
And now, it had come back like this.
Hearing that everything would be reported to the Emperor, the Marquis finally snapped back to his senses.
“W-what do you mean?!”
