Chapter 96……………………………..
Why was Minerva here?
Putting aside the reason, the mere thought that someone had seen her disgraceful behavior made Priscilla’s head cool rapidly.
But Minerva was someone of the same class as her.
For a moment, Priscilla hoped Minerva might take her side — but the instant she saw the other woman’s eyes, she knew she had to abandon that hope.
Even Minerva looked at her with contempt.
It was the gaze one gave to something less than human.
In truth, Minerva had to take a few deep breaths to keep curses from slipping out of her mouth.
Finally, the words that came out were just barely refined.
“So this is the Grand Duchy, and you call it your land, Lady Priscilla? That’s quite an odd way to speak. You’re not the Grand Duke. The current Grand Duke is Lloyd.”
“…Your Highness.”
“You enjoyed every privilege when it suited you, and now you show this kind of attitude? Isn’t that exactly the lesson you preached to others, Lady Priscilla? Didn’t you often do the same to those beneath you? So if you criticize the Grand Duke now, you’re only spitting on your own face.”
A mocking smile curved Minerva’s lips.
Once, Priscilla had begged her for support to restore her title — and now, Minerva was acting as though Priscilla were utterly unnecessary.
“And you — who are neither Grand Duke nor anything close — dare insult and threaten the daughter of an imperial princess? If His Grace hadn’t intervened, you would’ve thrown that teacup, wouldn’t you? I’m very curious, Lady Priscilla — where exactly were you planning to throw it?”
Minerva’s eyes slowly swept over Priscilla’s head, shoulders, and feet.
Here, perhaps? her gaze seemed to say.
Getting angry on Lloyd’s behalf, Minerva could understand.
But to truly think of that low-born girl as her daughter and scold her, Priscilla — the imperial Princess Minerva!
For Priscilla, born a noble of the highest rank, it was an unbearable humiliation.
To be rebuked by someone she thought of as her own kind made her tremble with betrayal.
Priscilla protested, speechless with outrage.
“But that child started it! And no matter if she becomes Your Highness’s adopted daughter, she’s still an orphan at her roots!”
Minerva smiled faintly.
Finding no value in further words, she simply pointed to the door.
“I don’t think I’ll need your help to regain my title. Leave the Grand Duchy before I report you for child abuse.”
* * *
Priscilla was practically dragged out of the Grand Duchy.
Whatever it was that shocked her so much, she seemed dazed, like someone whose soul had been sucked out, until the moment she left.
Once she recovered, she would surely seek revenge — but for now, it was over, and that was enough.
If only Minerva had reported her, it would’ve been even better, but Lloyd didn’t seem ready for that level of confrontation yet.
When the carriage finally disappeared from view outside the window, Lloyd let out a deep, shaky sigh and turned to me gratefully.
“You saved me. And earlier, too…”
He trailed off — his face red as a tomato.
He had been pale as a corpse earlier, so why was he blushing now?
Then I remembered what had happened.
To calm him down, I had not only hugged him but even patted his back.
My own face heated up — I wasn’t one to talk about embarrassment — but I forced a calm expression and said,
“No need to thank me. I just couldn’t stand the way that woman spoke.”
At first, I’d planned to use Priscilla for an easy path to restoring my status, then quietly cut ties later.
But after seeing what she’d done to Ayla, and what she’d tried to do to Lloyd, I couldn’t stomach using her at all.
As both Lloyd and I blushed in awkward silence, Ayla narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
To avoid her gaze, I reached out and gently patted her head, thinking she must’ve been shaken earlier.
“Ayla, don’t pay any mind to what Lady Priscilla said. And you did very well standing up for yourself. But next time, only do that when you’ve got someone there to protect you, alright?”
When I first heard Ayla had gone to talk to Priscilla, I’d been terrified.
But after secretly overhearing their exchange, I realized Ayla had handled it better than expected.
Honestly, calling Priscilla an orphan back was pretty satisfying.
You did great, Ayla.
If someone hits you for no reason, you hit right back — that’s only fair.
But Ayla didn’t seem to think she deserved praise. She fidgeted and asked softly,
“…You’re not mad at me? For being rude to Grandma?”
“Priscilla was the rude one first. And don’t even call someone like that Grandma.”
If it had been me, I’d have said far worse.
Who calls a child an orphan to her face?
People like that don’t change easily — not even when disowned by their sons and shunned by their granddaughters.
Maybe someday, when they’re all alone, they’ll realize what they did wrong. Maybe.
Honestly, given what she did, this outcome wasn’t too harsh.
If she had any conscience at all, she’d accept being cut off and insulted as a fitting punishment.
I ruffled Ayla’s hair once more and smiled.
Ayla finally relaxed and beamed up at me.
“Thank you for saving me, Mom. And you too, Dad.”
Her rosy smile reached Lloyd — and he looked utterly startled.
“…M-Me?”
“Yes! You were really cool earlier… Are you okay?”
Lloyd’s tension seemed to melt all at once, and he slumped down, sliding to the floor.
With his face hidden behind both hands, he almost looked like he was crying.
Ayla panicked and ran to him.
“Dad!”
I quickly approached to check on him.
Judging by his shoulders and breathing, he wasn’t crying — thank goodness.
But with his head buried, his voice was thick with emotion.
“I’m fine, don’t worry. I’m sorry for letting you go through something so unpleasant…”
Since Priscilla’s departure, Lloyd’s color had slowly returned, but he still didn’t look completely okay.
Ayla’s eyes welled up.
What did that woman even do to him…?
If only I’d hit her harder! Ayla’s fighting spirit flared up again.
“If that woman ever bothers you again, Dad, I’ll go scold her myself. Or should we report her, like Mom said?”
Lloyd went pale again and shook his head quickly.
“Thank you, but… there won’t be a next time. I’ll make sure we never meet again.”
“But…”
Ayla didn’t yet know the full extent of Priscilla’s cruelty.
The story she’d heard was far too vague.
After a moment, she asked hesitantly,
“Did that woman… hit you, Dad?”
“……”
Lloyd couldn’t answer.
Part of him wanted Ayla to never know what he’d suffered.
But keeping it secret forever might hurt her feelings later.
“When the time is right, I’ll tell you.”
She was still too young to hear it now.
But that answer seemed to satisfy her — she nodded.
Watching the two of them, I smiled fondly.
Then I caught sight of the darkened window and gasped.
“Good heavens, it’s already night! You must be exhausted, Your Grace. Take Ayla and get some rest. You both got soaked in the mine and haven’t even washed yet.”
“Your Highness is the same, isn’t she?”
The fatigue both Lloyd and I felt wasn’t just mental.
We’d worked in the rain, then run around all over the place.
We hadn’t even had time to change — our clothes were still damp.
“I’m going to wash up too. I also have to check on Aslan.”
Dependable as ever, Ayla puffed out her chest confidently.
“I’ll take Dad to his room, Mom. Don’t worry!”
Lloyd, feeling a bit insulted at being treated like a child, grumbled.
“What do you mean, Ayla? I should be taking care of you.”
“But Dad, you’re completely exhausted.”
It was true — but Lloyd couldn’t bear the idea of his daughter taking care of him.
He mustered what strength he had and stood up.
“I can still walk on my own. I’ll escort you, Ayla.”
“What if you collapse on the way?”
“Then the servants will help me. You just wash up and sleep well, or you won’t grow.”
Ayla burst into bright laughter.
We all left the study together, then went our separate ways.
“Good night, Mom.”
“Good night, Ayla. Don’t worry too much about Aslan — just rest.”
I waved after the two as they walked away, hand in hand.
Lloyd’s shoulders — once always slumped in gloom — looked a little lighter now.
According to him, today had been his first real act of defiance.
He had finally bared his fangs at the person he’d always feared.
I hope you dream well tonight, Your Grace.
I was still worried about the original story — but the Lloyd I’d met myself,
the Lloyd who had saved me, Aslan, and Ayla —
I couldn’t wish unhappiness on that man.
From this day on, I sincerely hoped he could start freeing himself
from the nightmare named Priscilla.
