“It’s not my fault. I didn’t do anything wrong, brother. Since Father and Mother didn’t keep their promise, I had no choice but to step forward.”

“I can’t listen to this.”

Leaning against the wall, Eric, who had been watching coldly, finally spat out in a chilly tone.

As Debra’s eyes filled with tears in response to the cold words, she discovered disdain in the way Eric looked at her.

However, without even thinking of wiping away the tears that fell, she stiffened in place.

“Brother, why are you looking at me like that?”

“Do I have to hear more?”

Without fully listening to Debra’s words, Eric, who had leaned against the wall, finally detached himself and prepared to leave.

“No, there’s no need for that. I don’t want to hear any more.”

The Duke and Duchess also rose from their seats.

Upon seeing this, Lady Clayton, in a desperate manner, grabbed the Duchess’s arm.

“Wait, please wait a moment. That child, our Debra, is not in her right mind due to shock right now. Doesn’t everyone make mistakes? So please, forgive her.”

“Forgive? How would you have dealt with it if something really happened?”

“But nothing happened. Alicia is unharmed. So please[Dash].”

“Last time Alicia fell at the Duke’s estate. That was also Debra’s doing.”

When Eric opened his mouth, everyone was shocked.

It was a statement made considering the parents who were weak in character, fearing that they might be influenced.

At that time, there was no clear evidence or witnesses regarding what Debra had done. However, given the current situation, even without such evidence, everyone believed it.

Eric had no intention of showing mercy to Debra.

He thought that if this happened again, with no guarantee that such an incident would not occur again, and if he became dissatisfied with this incident, he might completely cut ties.

“What? No, why are you saying that now?”

“Oh my. Debra, you.”

“Madam!”

As the marchioness held her head and swayed, the marquis quickly supported her.

“At that time, the marquis contributed to the duke, so Alicia asked to cover it up. Seeing it now[Dash].”

To leave the stuffy reception room, Eric turned his back and grabbed the door handle.

“It would have been better if we had revealed everything at that time. Then we wouldn’t have had to see this ridiculous scene.”

“Wait.”

The marchioness again clung to the marchioness.

“Please help me just once, madam. Our Debra is not in her right mind due to the shock. Doesn’t everyone make mistakes? So please, just forgive her this once.”

“But Alicia already forgave her once. Didn’t she?”

“Madam, what about mana? That child hasn’t even made her social debut yet. Didn’t Alicia also find mana attractive?”

At the mention of Mana’s name, the duchess’s expression shook for a moment.

Then the marchioness clung more desperately.

“Debra is not that kind of child. Madam, you know that well. You’ve seen her since she was young.”

“Well, I don’t know well now. Who would have known that she would stab me in the back like this.”

“What?”

When Debra’s name was mentioned, the composed words of the duchess made the hand of the marchioness holding her arm tremble.

“Let go of this hand. It seems that this story is over.”

As the marchioness, holding onto herself, completely separated the arm of the duchess without mercy, she and the duke left together.

Even after leaving the oppressive waiting room with Eric, Debra’s voice continued to be heard from beyond the closed door.

Recalling that time, the marchioness shivered, and as if comforting her, the duke patted her shoulder.

“Anyway, there’s no need to talk about that household anymore.”

“Yes.”

In response to the resolute declaration of the duke, Alicia remained silent.

Of course, she had nothing more to say about Debra.

The only thing that bothered her was her younger sister, Mana.

A few days ago, Alicia received a letter of apology from Mana regarding Debra’s actions.
The only person who apologized to Alicia in that household was Mana.

“She was a lively and good child. Honest.”

Although this incident had nothing to do with Mana, it would have a significant impact on her life.

She might not even be able to make her debut in high society, let alone ascend to the capital for a lifetime.

Alicia sighed softly at the thought that it was truly unfortunate.

“But it shouldn’t interfere with writing novels. If there’s ever anything I can help with, let’s work together.”

With that thought, Alicia concluded this matter in her mind.

And now, the task at hand was how to handle the Orange Sylet Tea business that the Marquis had been in charge of.

“Well, then, we need to find someone new responsible for the Orange Sylet.”

“To be honest, I feel like just getting rid of it right away.”

“But Eric and I both like that tea.”

“Yeah. So that’s the thing. I don’t know, so you handle it.”

Alicia nodded with a smile at the Duke’s declaration.

The person who had come up to the capital for a report with the Marquis last time crossed her mind.