The dress, made of fabric as soft as melting ice, not rough but smooth against the skin, was adorned with thick jewels, making her shoulders stiff, but she enjoyed the admiring glances. The high-heeled shoes were uncomfortable to move in, but the cheerful sound caught everyone’s attention instantly.

These things became more enjoyable than she had thought. Having experienced that joy, it was impossible to forget the moment she became the dazzling protagonist of the party.

If she could survive, she wanted to live like that forever, no, she would live like that.

Margaret clasped her hands tightly. It was time.

Knock [dash].

Once again, the knocking sound echoed.

Margaret’s lips twisted with displeasure.

It seemed that the foolish nanny, who hadn’t heeded her warning, had returned. Margaret scowled even more than before.
“I distinctly told you not to be a nuisance…”

Margaret was about to retort sharply, but she paused.

Something was off.

“…”

Margaret blinked and looked straight ahead.

Indeed, something was off.

The nanny was supposed to be of similar height to her. When she opened the door, their faces should meet directly.

But why wasn’t the gaze matching?

Margaret slowly lifted her head as if something had bewitched her.

And beyond the broad chest, thick neck, only when their eyes met did she realize.

Something was terribly wrong.

However, when she realized it, it was already too late.

Thud [dash].

With a chilling sensation piercing her stomach, Margaret’s head weakly lowered.

There was no way to deal with the situation that unfolded in an instant. Understanding the current situation was too overwhelming.

Where did that black figure suddenly appear, or rather, why was it piercing through my stomach?

Wait. My stomach?

Margaret finally realized the situation and raised her head.

At that moment, her spine shivered. The strange sensation from inside her stomach wasn’t an illusion.

It wasn’t too fast or too slow, and the blade revealing itself gave Margaret a shock.

Red blood flowed down the blade, staining the pristine white carpet.

“Kya, ugh!”

Margaret belatedly realized the situation and was about to scream, but instead, she choked on her breath, her throat creaking.

However, that small cry couldn’t be heard outside. The intruder’s hand was covering Margaret’s mouth.

Margaret desperately tried to remove the intruder’s hand, but it was in vain.

It was an overwhelming difference in strength. With just one hand, she was subdued. She couldn’t win.

Margaret’s eyes turned reddish.

She didn’t want to die like this.

“Ugh, ugh!”

If only she could make a sound, but with her blocked mouth, she couldn’t do anything. Each time she struggled, the pain from the blade in her stomach intensified.

She was really at her end. Thinking so, she felt something hot pouring over her face. Then, a heavy weight was felt on her body.

Margaret groped the object pressing against her in a daze. Her mouth was no longer blocked.

The object pressing against Margaret’s body was the intruder who had just covered her mouth.

Margaret’s pupils shook.

Another intruder.

“Pl, please spare me!”

With trembling hands, Margaret pushed the intruder who was covering her body, struggling.

The identity of the other intruder was unknown, but at least she survived thanks to them. At least it wasn’t a small number.

Of course, it didn’t take a long time to realize it was a misconception.

Margaret flipped her eyes, looking at the familiar but now undesirable yellow eyes. The shining eyes seen in the darkness were truly dreadful.

“Hello, nice to see you again.”

“You, you, ugh! Eugh!”

“Hush! You should be quiet at night.”

Cheshire’s lips spread wide like a mischievous child playing pranks.

The room was shrouded in pitch-black darkness.

Recalling the past, I slowly approached Margaret, who was sitting in a chair. She hadn’t received proper treatment, with her eyes and mouth covered, blood trickling down.

“Nice to see you again.”

“Uh! Ugh! Ugh!”

Margaret, recognizing me from my voice alone, twisted her body, letting out a scream.

While she managed to avoid a vital area, the wounds were still severe. Without proper treatment, her life would be in jeopardy.

Knowing this but pretending not to, I untied the cloth covering Margaret’s eyes and mouth.

“Rivianna, what is this nonsense!”

As soon as she regained her freedom, Margaret shouted. Her gaze was fierce, but the revealed eyes were swollen, diminishing the intimidation.

Originally, a small woman bound with injuries wouldn’t be frightening.

“It seems cold. You’re trembling.”

I sneered briefly. It was just darkness, but Margaret seemed to perceive it differently. Since awakening, she had been shivering.

It wasn’t incomprehensible. I, too, needed much time and effort to overcome the memories of that day. Frankly speaking, I still hadn’t forgotten.

Understanding this, Margaret had repaid me in kind.

But repaying to that extent was insufficient. No matter how much she compensated, she couldn’t atone for killing my daughter, who was priceless.

“Don’t make futile attempts. Never.”

“It depends on how you come out.”

“What?”

“Speak.”

“What are you asking me to say?”

“How you killed my daughter.”

I gritted my teeth to control my anger and stared straight at Margaret.

I still hadn’t heard the truth about Meriel’s death.

“I didn’t kill Meriel.”

“You’re doing this knowing you could say that. Creating a reason for you to open your mouth.”

“That’s absurd [dash].”

“In fact, there was no need to save a fake child.”

“…….”

Eyes filled with unknown words were already detecting anxiety.

“It’s too late, but congratulations. You’ve given birth to the child you longed for so much.”

I held Margaret’s face as gently as I could, wearing the most radiant smile. Then, with utmost tenderness, I whispered.

“It was a boy.”