“Did I add an unnecessary remark?”

Charlotte tangled her curly hair by twisting it. The hair flowing down to her hips was cumbersome.

“I wonder if I unnecessarily complicated my uncle’s feelings.”

“You mean Lord Aster? He went out to visit some business sites today, but he seemed the same as usual.”

Becky carefully untangled the knotted strands of hair and smoothed them out with a brush.

“So my uncle is away?”

“Yes. Are you going out somewhere today as well, miss?”

“I have somewhere to stop by briefly today. The weather is nice too.”

“Miss, you’re messing up your hairstyle. Stop fiddling with it.”

When Charlotte sat twirling her brushed hair with her fingers, Becky gently tapped her shoulder.

Though the hair flowing down to her hips could be troublesome, Becky skillfully secured and braided it.

Becky inserted a lily-like hairpin among the curly red locks, which somewhat softened Charlotte’s gloomy expression.

“Your grooming is finished. Then I’ll take my leave. Please call if you need anything.”

After Becky left, the terrace doors soon opened. Beyond the terrace doors, a cool breeze swept through the reception room.

Benjamin entered through the terrace doors of the reception room. Perched on the terrace window, he immediately approached Charlotte.

“The house is empty.”

“Yes. Both my grandfather and uncle are away.”

“Cesar Windsor too?”

He was Charlotte’s great-uncle.

“He’s not home either.”

“I heard he was away on business, seems he’s not back yet.”

But I heard he’s expected to return soon. Benjamin moved a bit closer and sat across from her.

Benjamin had a distance about him that was hard to define.

Was it the distance that came from their difference in physique?

Yet, there was a subtlety that drew one’s gaze.

A grip that held and pulled people in? That subtlety broke down the wariness between us.

“Charlotte.”

Benjamin brought his face closer.

“What are you staring at so intently?”

“You.”

“Seems you’re more comfortable now.”

You were never difficult from the start. The gap between us rather brought about a subtle attraction.

“Did you look into what I asked?”

Benjamin placed a note on the table.

“This is the address of the person you asked about. Henrietta is currently 5 years old. She’s Chloe’s son, but for now it seems the Tudor family is simply in the position of guardians.”

Benjamin wrote the address on the note and passed it over.

“Thank you. You found it.”

Though Charlotte’s birth mother was dead and gone, even that household was a family, but that family fell apart.

My mother is already dead, but you all still remain.

My family fell apart, how dare you live in peace?

‘As long as that lifeline remains, you’re under my control.’

Leaving them out of sight just makes control more difficult. It’s better to keep them in hand and ponder whether to grasp or discard them.

“They were close by.”

“Houses need to be close to manage two households. The Tudor Marquis isn’t exactly diligent either.”

Charlotte skimmed the note perfunctorily and passed it back to Benjamin. Benjamin caressed Charlotte’s cheek. He stroked her fair cheek with his index finger, wiping away black ink, and smiled.

“Why is there ink on your face?”

“Ah, I used a fountain pen after a long time.”

Charlotte wiped her cheek once more with her sleeve. But it must have been the wrong spot again, as Benjamin pulled out a tissue and finished wiping it for her.

This body had died once before. In her past life, she was able to experience various big and small matters in advance. So while practicing to get used to handwriting, she wrote various essays and ended up like this.

“Seems you’re not used to handwriting.”

“That’s right. Handwriting still feels unfamiliar.”

The sensation of her senses stiffening rigidly is still vividly recalled. Ah, even if it’s due to Lupertic disease, should I get a diagnosis once?

Still, that’s an issue for at least twenty years later, so there’s time.

“Charlotte?”

Charlotte barely managed to snap out of her reverie.

“Yes. Please speak.”

“Why? Isn’t it a basic part of etiquette lessons?”

“Everyone has their own circumstances.”

Benjamin doesn’t understand. Charlotte’s limbs were paralyzed by Lupertic disease, and all the nerves in her fingers stiffened. It took quite some time to adapt to this sensation.

“Are you going out?”

“Yes. I need to go.”

“Then you should get permission from Aster first.”

“Do you need an escort?”

“Not particularly. Why?”

“If you don’t need an escort, just go out.”

Benjamin nodded, saying to do as she pleased.

“I’ll just let the servant know.”

Charlotte only told a servant she was going out briefly, and left right away.

* * *

The carriage stopped in front of a quiet mansion. White fences surrounded the mansion, and the main gate was closed.

“As planned, I would only set foot in the Tudor house years later.”

But there’s no need to wait until then.

“Ah, this is quite wretched.”

An artificial voice flowed faintly. Charlotte got off in front of the gate and tapped the door handle with the back of her hand.

The gate joints were loose. As she stood at the gate, a child walked up to her feet.

The child grasped the gate with small hands and tilted their head. Charlotte smiled at that innocent face.

“Hello.”

The child smiled back at her.

“Henrietta! How far did this child wander off alone!”

Charlotte carefully took in Chloe’s expression. She looks younger than she remembered. Ah. So fair and pretty.

Mother. When you were ill, your hands and feet were so crippled you could barely walk, what should I do?

“Who are you?”

Charlotte stared down at the child. Chloe, sensing something suspicious, quickly scooped up the child and held them protectively. Right now, Henrietta has fair skin with plump cheeks.

“Are you Miss Chloe?”

“Yes, but who are you?”

“I was sent by Marquis Tudor.”

Charlotte lowered her head and twisted her lips. Chloe hurriedly asked again.

“You were sent by the Marquis?”

Be glad. I’ll throw you into that household earlier than planned.

“There were instructions to check if the child is doing well.”

“Ah! How fortunate. I can’t tell you how relieved I am. The Marquis hasn’t visited lately, and he hasn’t come to see Henri either…”

Chloe answered while tapping the child’s nose as if finding them cute. Charlotte grasped the gate bars and tilted her head. You take after your father. Since you resemble that bloodline, your life will be quite arduous too.

“But where’s the usual person…”

Chloe looked around.

“Who are you?”

“…”

“I’ve never seen your face before, are you really sent by the Marquis?”

Chloe didn’t recognize her. It was largely because Charlotte didn’t resemble her birth father.

But you know what? You should still recognize me. You may not know I’m that family’s daughter, but you should at least recognize I’m that man’s bloodline. At least as a mistress, you should show that much consideration. She rubbed her forehead and twisted her lips.

“Is that important?”

She immediately dropped the formal speech. You know what? When I show compassion and push you into the Tudor house, you just need to keep your mouth shut and go in.

“An opportunity has come for you to enter the Tudor house. Don’t ask me. Do you think you’re in a position to be proud? I mean to curb your pride. If you’re not going to play games with the child’s life, take the child and go to the Tudor house.”

Charlotte closed her eyes.

This was also knowledge from her past life. Henrietta will suffer from a fever and end up with a limp in one leg. Of course, this can be corrected with treatment, but it’s better to fix it now if possible. Even now, the child’s cheeks are flushed with a slight fever.

Your existence is not your sin. But you know what?

My disliking you is not my fault either.

‘I hate that purity.’

The child reached out to her. Eyes full of curiosity were innocent.

“You’ll end up going there soon anyway, I’m just moving up the timing a bit.”

As she smiled broadly and was about to leave, Chloe asked softly.

“What’s your name, miss?”

“Charlotte.”

She deliberately revealed her name.

If you ever meet father.

Please mention that name once.

Though it’s been days since she left home.

To that man who doesn’t even look for his daughter, please relay this news of me just once.

“It’s Charlotte.”

Charlotte whispered softly.

* * *

Bear it even if it’s unfair, Charlotte.

Kill your existence.

If you can just preserve that life, that’s enough for mom.

That’s what her birth mother told her before dying.

‘It’s almost completely erased from memory now.’

What did you tell me to endure? What did I have to endure? What more do I need to endure to breathe in that damn household?

“My lady?”

Leandro’s aide hurriedly moved aside.

“Is grandfather inside?”

“If you mean Lord Leandro, he’s in the study.”

Charlotte clutched her hair that had been fixed with hairpins and tore it loose. Then she twisted one corner of her lip.

“Please tell grandfather I have something to say to him.”

His aide entered the study to inform Leandro of Charlotte’s visit.

Now is the time to cut off rotten relationships.

Cutting out rotten flesh allows new flesh to grow. Cutting off rotten roots allows new sprouts to emerge.

Even if the roots shake from that act, rotten roots can’t function properly in the first place.

“I heard you have something to say, so why aren’t you speaking?”

So she visited Leandro’s study. The blade to cut those rotten roots was in his hands.

“I want to be disowned.”

Custody is basically given to the birth father.

Charlotte is nineteen now, so even at this point approaching twenty, she’s under her father’s control for another year.

To take away that custody, the only way is for her birth father to give it up himself.

“More context seems necessary.”

Leandro interlaced his fingers and gestured at her. Add more explanation.

Charlotte had been pondering steadily even before opening her mouth.

What story should I start with? How should I speak to minimize hurting my maternal relatives?

There is no answer. So she tried to convey the facts as calmly as possible.

“Father has a mistress.”

This relationship had continued since her mother was alive.

They had been in an affair since Charlotte was young.

‘It’s disgusting.’

The feeling is too disgusting.

“Soon, those people will come to the Tudor house.”

Leandro’s expression crumpled unpleasantly. He’s bringing his mistress into that damn household.

“People, you say?”

“There’s a son. He’s five years old. Since he was born five years ago, they must have met at least six years ago.”

Instead of doubting her words, Leandro chose silence.

She’s not asking to punish them particularly. She just wants to be removed from that household, at least herself.

It was something that needed to be said someday. Charlotte, you’ve done your duty too.

“You, when did you find out about this?”

She found out when her father brought in the mistress. This was also a memory from her past life, so it was a distant memory now.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Your father is really…!”

That was all he managed to mutter.

“Please help me be disowned.”

Leandro’s lips moved several times. He seemed to want to say something, but his lips closed weakly again.

This repeated several times.

“I need time to think alone as well.”

Leandro answered after a long silence. His expression barely changed. He looked quite exhausted.