The plea was so desperate that anyone who saw it might have felt that he was truly Rivianna’s father.

Margaret looked at my clenched hand blankly. Although it was an old story, it still seemed like the smell of blood when I thought about it.

But it wasn’t pity. Seeing the gradually fading life, Margaret sneered.

Laughing was the only thing that came out when she saw the foolish foster father who crossed over the meager favor Rivianna showed and even threw away his life.
“Neither I nor Rivianna had a drop of blood mixed with the foster father. In fact, I spent more time with my daughter since she was a baby. It was incomparable to the time when the foster father started working for Crayton.”

“But the foster father always talked about Crayton’s work. He complained about how the nobles treated him and praised how well Crayton treated people.”

Even so, it was okay. Even if the foster father rambled on, it was a story from a different world.

At least until the moment Margaret believed that she was the foster father’s daughter.

On the day she heard the secret of her birth that the foster father revealed, Margaret was so happy. Even when she heard that the foster father was terminally ill, she felt the same. She always wished to escape from the musty straw and the smell of horse dung.

From that moment on, she believed without a doubt that if she found the lost bloodline, her life would completely change. Like a story from a fairy tale.

However, one day, suddenly changing one’s status and life was possible only in fairy tales.

No longer waiting for parents to come, the adoptive mother, who found her daughter first, had already passed away. There was only the foster grandfather who sent the baby to the foster father, fearing that her daughter might be surrounded by bad rumors.

The foster grandfather cried loudly, saying that Margaret resembled his daughter.

Until then, it was somewhat touching to reunite. Except that the foster grandfather was a fallen noble, and except for the fact that all his assets had collapsed outside the castle, or more precisely, not just excluding that.

The foster grandfather spent almost all of his remaining wealth to send Margaret to the academy. It wasn’t pure goodwill to do anything for his granddaughter.

Although she couldn’t distinguish right from wrong in the academy yet, everyone knew that there were many vigorous noble young ladies inside.

Of course, the grand ambitions of the foster grandfather never came true.

Margaret was pretty, but there were too many beauties claiming to be noble within the academy.

Moreover, even though they were young, they were nobles. They understood how the class system worked too well, and accordingly, they naturally formed groups that matched their own levels.

The positions Margaret could take were limited from the beginning. Especially since she entered the academy much later than others, it was even more so. Everyone knew there was always a reason for late admission.

If Rivianna hadn’t come forward and acted as if she didn’t know, Margaret would have been bullied throughout the semester. She only found out later and was truly grateful. She wanted to sincerely beg the foster father for the privilege of praising Crayton, just like the foster father.

As it turned out, the favor was given by the exclusive foster father of Rivianna, but the foster father said that he asked Rivianna because he was worried about Margaret, who was unfamiliar with noble society. But in reality, Margaret wanted to sincerely wring the foster father’s neck for bringing up that story.
Rivianna knew everything from the beginning, and Margaret couldn’t forget how infuriating her expression was at that moment. No matter how she presented herself, to Rivianna, she was just the daughter of the caretaker she controlled. Even though Margaret knew that Rivianna adhered to the equality of the wordless academy and treated all students kindly regardless of their status, her actions didn’t look favorable. Margaret couldn’t erase the feeling of being one of the trout greedily eating the feed she threw.

“…Everything that Rivianna Crayton enjoyed.”

Her heart raced.

Margaret pressed her chest with both hands. Just bringing it up made her scared. She was afraid of being ridiculed, thinking it wasn’t something she should say.

But now there was a man in front of her who reassured her. And that man was the ruler of this vast empire. He was truly a capable person who could do anything.

Margaret took a deep breath.

“I hope to have everything that Lady Crayton enjoyed.”

“It will be yours.”

“Ah…”

Unlike her frightened self, the man nodded his head as if it were obvious. Margaret felt her nose tingle at that sight. Once again, Lujen willingly handed her a handkerchief.

“Especially if Calix can’t control his emotions, the opportunity will come soon.”

“Calix, the Duke of Pierren?”

“Words are quite interesting. Whatever you say, if you use them well according to the situation, they can be stronger than any sword.”

“I don’t really understand what you mean.”

“Choosing a traitor and selecting the loyal subject who prevented it is my job. Especially if one side is missing. The mouth of the dead can be borrowed as much as you want.”

Lujen winked with one eye. It was a light tone. But Margaret didn’t feel it light at all.

“…So what are you going to do?”

“That depends on Calix himself. He knows me well. He probably realized my intentions since I brought up the letter story.”

“Is it really okay, though?”

“Of course, it’s okay. Emotions are always like that. Even if you know everything, you can still be swept away by emotions and do something irreversible.”

Especially in a situation where you are looking at a helpless enemy right in front of you.

Lujen playfully tapped his eye. Although it was a light tone of regret, Margaret didn’t feel it was light at all.

“…How about you? What do you think Calix will choose? Will he spare Lady Crayton?”

“…”

“Don’t make that expression. I also wanted to tame him if possible, but what can I do? Unfortunately, it seems he won’t forget my father.”

Well, in my own way, I didn’t think I resembled my father much, though.

Lujen sighed regretfully, but he was actually smiling as he made that statement.