“You ungrateful wretch!”

A thunderous voice boomed from the frail figure.

Olivia, dragged back to the Lancelot Hotel, was bewildered by the unexpected situation.

“How dare you, ungrateful for everything…”

A harsh hand flew towards Olivia’s face. Reflexively, she raised her arm to block it but couldn’t withstand the force. The sound of a slap echoed loudly, and the old man’s angry voice rang in her ears.

‘How dare you in this place…’

The voice seemed younger than now. Olivia was six years old when she first encountered her lineage at the Blanchett Earl’s house.

Recalling her grandfather, the Earl of Blanchett, Olivia felt dizzy.

How did I get here…

The answer was painfully obvious: the scandal from the Rose Ball.

“How dare you divorce the duke without a word!”

Again, the old man’s rigid hand rose. Ann, not knowing what to do, jumped in front, took the hit, lost her balance, and knocked over a table.

A newspaper on it fell to the ground, revealing the embarrassing scene.

“You shameless thing!”

Panting heavily, the Earl of Blanchett mercilessly slapped his granddaughter’s cheek.
“You’re not like her at all, yet you’ve managed to imitate your mother in this!” barked the Earl of Blanchett furiously, his dissatisfaction evident as he raised his cane.

Elena Blanchett.

Known as the ‘Lily of Rondos’, she was the pride of the Blanchett family and the belle of society. She was more beautiful and beloved than anyone, and there was no one who did not love her.

When Elena smiled, everyone around her was happy; where she went, the shadows faded, and bright light shone.

Everyone had thought of her as the perfect match for the crown prince. It was as natural as the progression from spring to summer, then autumn and winter.

Her world was perfectly peaceful until she fell in love with her best friend’s husband.

“I suffered such humiliation because of that wretched man. Our family’s name was tarnished because of whom? And you dare to leave your position?”

The Earl couldn’t forget that day.

Johann Leopold.

Even his ascent to a dukedom was, in a way, thanks to the Earl.

To be looked down upon like a bug, those contemptuous eyes.

He didn’t expect a warm welcome after the divorce, but he never imagined this kind of humiliation.

‘I thought the price for selling off your daughter had been sufficiently recouped.’

‘Your son-in-law.’

‘Earl, get the title right.’

The Earl of Blanchett, reminiscing his private conversation with Johann, struck down with his cane in fury.

“No, you can’t do this… Please stop, master.”

Ann, trembling with fear, yet again bravely shielded Olivia. Olivia, who had been standing dazed, locked eyes with Ann, whose lips were bleeding. That’s when she regained her composure.

“Stop! …Please leave.”

Olivia spoke coldly.

The Earl’s cane trembled in his grip.

“I am an adult now, and I will make my own decisions.”

Olivia’s firm gaze met the Earl’s, as she spoke clearly.

“I believe any gratitude I owed for raising me has been paid off with the money you have been taking from the Ducal house.”

“How dare you? Do you think the value of raising you in my house was just that? The shame you brought to our family, the Blanchett name tarnished because of you?”

The Earl scoffed.

Outside, the fog had turned into a pitch-black darkness. In the dimly lit room, the Earl’s voice echoed ominously.

“You still have a long way to go.”

“I am aware that we’ve received enough help. And the business failures were because of my uncle…”

Olivia’s head spun violently, her vision going dark.