She had just been scolded by Hertian on her way back.

Osen could only watch, thereby failing to contain her anger.

Though Anette rushed in to comfort her, she was still angry. It was the first time Hertian had ever been angry with her.

And now she had even made a request to the despised Cursians. Pretending to be family with her fake sisterinlaw also displeased her.

“Liri, Miss… but the lady prepared this diligently.”

“So? Should I feel grateful in this mood?”

She had wrecked the lovely cake and gifts that Anette had prepared.

She did it thinking it would relieve her anger.

Her anger wasn’t completely gone, but she didn’t want to fake a smile and pretend to be a family while wearing the ribbon Anette had given her.

“Isn’t it strange for you too? Always doing something with the Cursians like you’re caught by them.”

The maids looked at each other with troubled faces.

“But she is trying to rescue our citizens.”

“You’re funny. Would it be uncomfortable for people who ate, slept, and lived well in Cursia to come here? I would have just died there.”

The maids gulped at her bold and blunt words.

Liri’s occasional utterances were difficult for them to understand.

But there was nothing they could do about it.

“You guys can go. I’ll ask other maids to clean.”

“Yes, Miss…”

The maids sighed as they exited the room.

“It seems Liri doesn’t get along with the lady.”

“I didn’t expect her to tear apart the gifts prepared for her birthday.”

“I was a bit scared, you know?”

“You have cream on you.”

The maids wiped off the cream from the cake Liri had thrown, and then a shadow appeared behind them.

“Liri tore up my gift?”

It was Anette.

(This is a time separator.)

The image of Liri shedding tears was vivid in my mind.

Between our squabbles and Hertian driving her into a corner, she would be crying her eyes out by now.

That’s why I sent Liri to a room alone with the gifts. She wouldn’t feel like opening birthday gifts with me in this state.

“But we still have to blow out the birthday candles together, right?”

After contemplating in the room for a while, I hurried my hesitant steps.
And before going out for the hunt, I headed to the beautifully decorated room. In front of it, two maids were just coming out.

I hurriedly approached them, wondering if they were already tidying up.

“Is there trouble between Miss Liri and the mistress?”

“I didn’t think the mistress would tear up the gift she received for her birthday.”

“I was a bit scared, you know?”

She tore up the gift?

For a moment, I thought my ears had deceived me.

Even if Liri dislikes me, she wouldn’t be so reckless as to tear up a gift.

So, doubting that, I asked.

“Did Liri tear up my gift?”

The faces of the maids turned pale as they looked at me. It seemed unbelievable, but it appeared to be true.

“Mi, Mistress.”

“Let’s go in and check for ourselves.”

The maids reluctantly followed me. As the door opened, they clenched their eyes shut. The reason became immediately clear.

The sweet smell that filled the air. The cake was no longer in one piece, so no candles could be inserted. The ribbons that had been hung all over the room were now in tatters, causing a mess. And there in the middle of it all lay Liri.

I was at a loss for words.

“Should we take the jewels since they’re valuable?”

Liri examined the jewel in the middle of the ribbon that I had gifted her.

The sight irritated me.

“At least you liked that.”

“Si, Sister?”

“Seems you liked the gift. Anyone would think we’d had a yearend party here.”

I couldn’t help but make a sarcastic remark.

“The jewel is useful. I’ll put it to good use.”

As Liri stood up, she spoke. Her voice was shameless. She didn’t even look surprised.

“Good, make good use of it.”

I turned around and left. My desire to get along with Liri had vanished.

“Ah, that’s your last allowance, so spend it wisely.”

I fired back coldly. It wasn’t my problem whether Liri came to her senses or got angry.

“Planning to cut off my allowance? Fine, then. I’ll just ask Hertian brother for it.”

“Go ahead. Keep begging the Duke. Soon, he’ll find out just how shameless you are.”

Liri frowned. She realized she couldn’t suppress me either with words or with power.

I looked around the ruined room and spat out.

“You’re responsible for what you’ve done, right? Clean up this room, and I won’t touch your allowance.”

As I turned to leave again, Liri screamed out with exertion.

“Sister! You don’t know, do you? Hertian brother has another woman he likes.”

What kind of nonsense is this?