The moment she realized it was just like the day her mother died and Eshella was sick, the Duke spoke softly.

“You’ve spread that disgusting misfortune to Eshella as well?”

Thump. A loud noise resonated. Something that had been supporting Olivia seemed to collapse. Olivia clenched her fist tightly.

“I didn’t bring you here for that.”

The Duke covered his eyes with his hand and let out a deep sigh. His sincere words continued to break Olivia down, paying no mind to her as he passed her by.

“If only I could. I would erase you from my life.”

Her heart pounded as if it would burst. Tinnitus rang in her ears, and reality seemed strangely distant.

This must be a dream.

The news of Eshella’s fainting, and the words from my father, must all be lies.

We’re family, after all. A brief period of resentment is all it is.

Beyond her dazed vision, she saw Conrad rushing over. Olivia reached out to him as if seeking salvation.

His usually expressionless face showed concern, and the moment Olivia saw it, his face twisted.

“…It’s you again?”

“Are you trying to catch not only mother but now Eshella as well?”

How could he be so much like his father?

Olivia blinked. It would be nice if this nightmare would end. Conrad’s harsh criticism continued to destroy Olivia from within.

“I told you if you don’t know, to write it down. At least remember not to go near Eshella.”

With a chilling warning, Conrad entered Eshella’s room. Olivia knew the second pillar had collapsed as well.

When the hope she’d haphazardly pieced together shattered miserably,

“Olivia!”

Jade’s excited voice yelled. He dashed up the stairs from below and roughly grabbed Olivia’s shoulder. Olivia swayed like a paper doll under Jade’s grip.

“I told you. Don’t let Eshella find out! How could you not even keep that one thing?”

Jade’s voice broke, growling like a beast. His hasty anger was aimed solely at Olivia. Olivia met Jade’s eyes blankly as she swayed.

At that moment, Olivia realized.

The day I’ve longed for.

The day when my family would smile at me.

Will never come.

My best efforts are worthless.

Her breath caught. Olivia slowly blinked. Without noticing Jade’s hand losing strength, she looked past him.

“You. Go see Eshella, and then we’ll talk again.”

The low threatening voice of Jade had hurriedly gone to Asella’s room. Olivia, unknowingly, touched the vicinity of her neck. She grabbed and tore at the necklace she felt in her hand, but the sturdy lock would not budge.

Longing for a breath, Olivia started walking aimlessly.

In her fleeting blurry vision, she caught glimpses of servants looking at her with sympathy, of Sally frozen stiff holding flowers, of a councilman hastily rushing in.

And the last was a portrait hung on the first floor.

“Ha, ha.”

A hollow laugh burst out. Tears must have dried, for she could see the portrait clearly. In the portrait of the Madelleine family, there stood a young version of herself, awkwardly tense.

Pitiful and foolish Olivia.

It was so clearly out of place.

Why hadn’t she realized it until now?

Olivia smiled a hollow smile.

Unlike the bustling stairs, the first floor was empty. Olivia opened the door and left the mansion.

The dark night stretched over the garden. Where should she go? Olivia’s mind moved slowly. Even a nearby hotel would do. Anywhere seemed better than this mansion.

The knights standing at the main gate must have sensed her, for they looked at her with puzzled eyes. One of them silently opened the door for Olivia as she walked on.

The tall gate opened, and as she stepped out of the mansion, Olivia looked up at the sky and breathed. The thin breath seemed relieved as if a layer that had been stifling her chest was loosened.

“Miss?”

At the drowsy call, a surge of emotions flooded in. When Olivia turned her head, there stood the Duke.

Leaning against a large carriage, the Duke waved his hand. The jewel pin in his hand sparkled in the moonlight, and he spoke cheerfully.

“Oh. Came out to meet me because of this jewel pin,”

The Duke’s words cut off abruptly. The portrait had been clear, but strangely, the Duke’s face was not.

Olivia shrugged.

“Good evening, Your Grace.”

Her voice was calm but cracked. Every time she spoke with her sunken voice, Olivia coughed. Her throat stung.

The Duke rushed to Olivia and stood before her.

“What happened?”

“It seems something has happened.”

Olivia spoke disjointedly and then chuckled a bit. The Duke’s worried face made her laugh.

Why does that man always look at me like that?

Why does he always make a sorrowful face?

A face he doesn’t even show to his family.

It was an impulse. An impulse that suddenly came when she saw the Duke.

Olivia smiled broadly.

“How much can you help me?”

“…Maybe there are things I can’t do that can be counted on one hand.”

“Then please help me.”

I have nowhere to go.

Olivia swallowed her words and smiled.

In her red eyes that seemed to burst, even the tears had dried in her green pupils. The Duke, facing Olivia’s eyes, unknowingly clenched his fist.