“The imperial palace seems really nice. I can eat foods I’ve never tasted before in my life, and the maids treat me well too. Above all, since I’m in the same palace as Prince Ruans, you don’t have to come all the way to the Count’s residence to see me.”

Lorencia examined Brant’s complexion. His face was full of irritation and fatigue.

“So there’s absolutely no reason for me to return to the Count’s residence.”

“Do you even understand the nonsense you’re spouting right now?”

“Of course I do. Did I say something wrong?”

“This monster, can’t even understand what I’m saying…”

Just as Brant was about to raise his voice, he closed his mouth tightly. If Teishar, who was outside, heard him shouting, he might take Lorencia and leave. Instead of letting out his anger, Brant bit down hard on his lower lip.

“You monster-like thing.”

“I thought you would slap me while getting angry like usual, but it’s really better being in the imperial palace.”

Seeing Brant’s face turn beet red from anger, Lorencia openly curled the corners of her mouth. Even with the Empress Dowager’s edict, if Lorencia herself said she wanted to return to the Count’s residence, she could go back regardless of the edict.

However, Lorencia had not the slightest intention of returning to the Count’s residence.

During her stay at the imperial palace, Lorencia decided to learn to read and write and acquire various knowledge. She also needed to build up her strength. But more than anything, in order to thwart Ruans’ goal, she had to keep Adrian and Charlotte alive.

“You came at a good time. Actually, I was waiting for you, Count.”

One of Brant’s eyebrows lifted.

“I was anxious that you might come too late. I wanted to send a letter, but as you know, I can neither read nor write.”

“What are you scheming?”

Brant suspiciously stared at Lorencia, who was suddenly acting favorably. At the Count’s residence, Lorencia would avoid eye contact with him while trembling or crying. But now, there was no such sign at all. Rather, even when their eyes met, she was at ease and even smiling with her eyes. He couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling.

Brant had entered the imperial palace with the intention of somehow taking Lorencia back. If he couldn’t take her back, Daniel said he would withdraw the investments in the business Brant had been doing. That would mean bankruptcy.

“Regardless of whether you return now or later, the only place you belong is the Count’s residence. It would be best for you to return to the Count’s residence while I’m asking nicely. If you follow me back to the Count’s residence now, I’ll feed you well for a while and won’t hit you.”

Lorencia couldn’t help but laugh. She looked at Brant, who was packaging his offer to feed her well and not hit her as if he was giving a wonderful gift. No matter how she thought about it, wasn’t it a ridiculous proposal? Did he think she would go with him over the promise of meals and not being beaten?

“Then please relay my words to Prince Ruans. You can do that, right?”

“What? Relay it to him?”

“Yes. If you don’t relay my words, Prince Ruans will get very angry later.”

“Lorencia Pol Heredian!”

If it were her past self from the future life, living like a marionette doll, she might have readily followed Brant’s words. But now, she had chosen a different life from that future. Now, none of their words could persuade her anymore. Now, she would be the one to persuade them.

“Please tell him that Duke Spencer cherishes me very much.”

“I will not relay your words.”

“If I were to return to the Count’s residence like this, Duke Spencer would return to the Polaroid Empire, so everything Prince Ruans wants to happen at the hunting tournament would disappear. Just tell him that and he will understand everything.”

“How dare you…”

Brant began to get angry, his veins bulging in his neck.

“You’re using me as an errand boy? You filthy monster.”

“Even if you don’t call me a filthy monster, I know very well that I am a monster.”

“We should have buried you with your filthy monster of a mother!”

Lorencia’s violet eyes grew darker and darker. And black smoke began to rise around her body.

“Wh-what! Why is there black smoke…”

Brant gulped.

“What kind of show are you putting on, you monster!”

Black smoke was smoldering like flames from Lorencia’s body. It was impossible. He couldn’t believe it even seeing it.

“Being constantly pointed at and called a monster… I guess I really became a monster. So I’ll convey my intentions like a monster.”

Lorencia slowly twisted her neck. Brant’s eyes were filled with only terror at the sneer on her lips. As Lorencia reached out her arm toward Brant, the black smoke began to move like burning flames.

“M-monster.”

Lorencia saw Brant’s face being colored by fear.

“It’s fascinating. To see the person who cursed at me and slapped me every day become so tense in front of me like this.”

“Stay away, you monster! I should have killed you when your mother died.”

For a moment, Lorencia felt like she was going to lose herself to the hatred and anger that boiled up with the past wounds that she had buried deep.

That’s when she faintly heard her mother’s lullaby.

Lorencia lowered her head. Her mother always held her in her arms and sang her lullabies. During those times, she could endure the hellish slaps, but the next day, her mother would struggle a lot.

As tears began to flow down her cheeks, the black smoke rising from her body gradually subsided.

She understood what her mother had told her.

“She was a real monster! A real one! Don’t look at me!”

As soon as the black smoke stopped emanating from Lorencia’s body, Brant ran to the drawing room door with a pale blue face. Running away was a shameful thing for a nobleman, but Brant couldn’t even think about the shame.

He had only heard from Daniel that she was a monster. She had never shown any monstrous side. At that time, he only did as Daniel told him in order to become the head of the Pol Heredian Count family.

But for the first time, Brant felt terror at Lorencia’s monstrous appearance.

“Entrusting such a monster to me! Goddess Ella! She’s a real monster!”

Brant wailed, opened the door, and ran out of the drawing room. Seeing Brant running away with a dumbfounded face without even greeting Adrian or himself, Teishar ran into the drawing room where Lorencia was at an incredible speed.

“Lady Lorencia. What happened…”

Teishar looked at the tree behind Lorencia. Except for the roots of the young tree, the tree, branches, and leaves were being consumed by black smoke.

“No.”

Startled, Teishar knelt down in front of Lorencia and looked at her bowing her head as she shed tears. Seeing her cry, Teishar felt distressed. He felt stuffy and kept getting angry. He didn’t know what Brant had said to the young tree, but the sight of the tree turning black certainly wasn’t a good feeling.

“What did the Count say to you?”

Teishar unfolded his bent knees and sat next to Lorencia. At the sound of her sobbing, Teishar carefully pulled Lorencia into his arms. And he gently patted her back.

“It’s alright. No one will harm you, Lady Lorencia.”

After some time passed, Lorencia began to come to her senses in Teishar’s arms. She buried her face in his broad shoulders and cried her heart out. His cool body temperature exuded a refreshing feeling. It felt as refreshing as washing her face in a forest spring.

“It’s okay, Lady Lorencia.”

Every time his careful hand slowly patted her back, Lorencia’s heart pounded. Teishar kept comforting her, saying it was okay.

“I’m sorry for showing you my tears.”

“Are you alright?”

“I’m sorry for showing you this side of me.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about. But what did Count Pol Heredian say to you?”

“He called me a monster like usual.”

Lorencia said as she pulled away from Teishar’s arms.

“He told me to quickly return to the Count’s residence, but honestly, I don’t want to go back there.”

“You don’t have to go back. No, I won’t let you return.”

“It’s reassuring to hear you say that, Duke.”

“If you wish, I can help you settle in the Polaroid Empire.”

Lorencia blinked. But she politely declined his offer.

“Please let me know anytime if you change your mind. I want to help you, Lady Lorencia.”

She knew Teishar was being kind to her. What would happen if she trusted and followed him as he was? But what if Teishar was someone like Ruans?

Once she dealt with the Ruans issue, she planned to take Leo and run far away to hide somewhere no one would find them, and till a potato field. She didn’t want anyone’s help. Sometimes when she saw Teishar’s red eyes, she wanted to try trusting him. But she couldn’t trust anyone. No, she wouldn’t trust anyone. So she felt sorry whenever he was kind to her. In fact, trusting someone was scary.

“I mean it sincerely, Lady Lorencia.”

Lorencia’s violet eyes were tinged with a dusky light.

“The Count ran out as if fleeing, did something happen?”

“I’m not sure. I was just angry that he called me a monster… I didn’t intend to get angry, but…”

Teishar recalled the sight of Brant running out pale-faced. Lorencia may have unknowingly used the power of Ella’s child. Brant, upon seeing that, must have fled in fear.

“Did he run away because I’m a monster?”

“Lady Lorencia, you are not a monster at all.”