Elaina tossed and turned all night.

“……”

Fatigue was clearly visible on Elaina’s face as she blinked while lying down.

However, regardless of her exhaustion, dazzling morning sunlight was pouring outside the window, and Elaina eventually got up from her spot with a sigh.

…Had Melvin gotten up?

In fact, except for Elaina, the members of the Aswald family would barely wake up around noon. So unless there was something special, there was a high chance they were still sleeping in even now.

There was no longer any need for time to think. So it was time to tell Sinclair about her decision.

Perhaps the fastest way would be to visit the Imperial Palace where Sinclair resided.

‘It’s too much to go to the palace with these legs.’

The Aswald family and the Imperial Palace were quite far apart, too far to walk. Especially for someone like Elaina with a disability.

‘But given the circumstances, I can’t arouse suspicion.’

After causing such a scene yesterday, even just going out required sneaking around. Yet blatantly calling for a carriage was almost like a suicide attempt.

‘I’ll just call a coachman after leaving the Aswald estate first.’

If she was lucky, she could go and return before noon, before Melvin woke up.

No, she absolutely had to.

Having finished her thoughts, Elaina tidied up her appearance while looking in the mirror and slowly got up from her spot. Then, leaning on the railing, she began descending the stairs, keeping the noise to a minimum.

But it was right after reaching the bottom of the stairs that Elaina witnessed a completely unexpected sight.

“Where are you going so early in the morning?”

Elaina’s eyes briefly wavered upon discovering Melvin sitting on the reception room sofa.

‘Why is he awake at this hour?’

But the surprise was short-lived, as she could easily figure out the answer to that.

He must have been keeping watch like that, worried that I might give Sinclair an answer.

His uncharacteristic diligence was absurd.

Anyway, Melvin, with bloodshot eyes as if he hadn’t slept all night, glared at his daughter and shouted.

“I asked where you’re going, Elaina!”

“…I just wanted to get some fresh air for a bit.”

Elaina answered in a small voice.

“Are you not even allowing me to take a walk now? Father.”

Honestly speaking, Melvin had no real excuses. Elaina often went out for walks on days with good sunlight and pleasant weather. Even if it was with a limping gait.

“Or are you planning to confine me to the mansion until you sell me off to Duke Hank?”

At her words that hit the nail on the head, Melvin’s eyes silently glared at Elaina. But she showed no reaction. She just waited meekly for his next words.

In this situation where Melvin already suspected her, she knew well that carelessly adding words could lead to irreversible consequences.

“…Let’s have a talk.”

Melvin was the first to part his lips.

“Bring some tea here.”

Not long after his words, a maid was seen pushing a tray.

Soon, teacups with faint steam rising were placed in front of the two.

What trick is this again? Melvin serving me tea? Unless it’s water used to wipe rags or stagnant sewage water.

Elaina looked down at the teacup with suspicious eyes.

“What, afraid I poisoned it?”

Melvin asked sarcastically, and Elaina gave no answer.

“No matter how bad our relationship is, you are my daughter.”

“……”

“There’s no way I would do such a thing.”

Right. Despite the countless things that had happened, Elaina was still Melvin’s daughter. He had no idea how cursed and unfair that fact was. Elaina tightly clenched her fist under her old sleeve, out of Melvin’s sight.

“I don’t doubt Father to that extent.”

Elaina slowly parted her lips.

“Because you have to sell me off, right? There’s no way you would kill me.”

Melvin’s face turned subtly cold. He gazed at Elaina with a strangely contemptuous look, then began to speak again in an icy voice.

“I know it well too. Given the circumstances, it was hard for you to have affection for our family.”

‘Our family’? It was ridiculous. Just hearing those words made it clear. From the beginning, the one who never considered the other as family was none other than him.

“But I also tried hard. I strived to make the Aswald family more prosperous and worked hard so that my wife and daughters could live comfortably without any worries. Even you can’t deny that fact, no matter what.”

Well. If you’re saying you worked hard only for the ‘family’ you speak of, of course I can’t deny it. Elaina thought.

“It’s the same for you too. Not a single day passed where I didn’t think about where to send you, with your unwell body, for my peace of mind. Especially after you reached marriageable age.”

“……”

“Since our relationship soured, although I didn’t show it, I kept paying attention. Of course, you may not believe my words.”

“So, are you trying to talk about the matter with Prince Sinclair?”

When Elaina directly mentioned Sinclair’s name, unable to bear the absurd nonsense, Melvin’s face became even colder than before.

“…Sinclair Butler is not suitable for you. That’s even more true putting aside the impact on our family.”

“……”

“I intend to send you to a place where you can be treated and loved to the fullest extent possible. You may not understand a father’s heart. But I can’t send my daughter to a place where hardship is clearly foreseen.”

Melvin rambled on while sipping his tea.

“You won’t be able to properly handle that bastard, and the treatment at the Imperial Palace will also be harsh. You’ll clearly face constant disrespect and become the topic of idle gossip. Is that really the life you want?”

Well?

The life here wasn’t any different for me either?

“I know you’ve been resenting me. But I just quietly, calmly accepted it. Because no matter how much you wander, the fact that you’re my daughter doesn’t change.”

Melvin’s crazy talk continued.

“…So don’t think I’m selling you off, but that I’m carefully considering the most suitable place for you. I’ve actually been doing that. This is the only sincerity I can express to you.”

If I think twice, he’d sell me off to street gypsies too.

Moreover, trying to persuade me like this? It would have been less absurd if he had thrown all sorts of insults and slapped me like he always did, or kicked my stomach until I lost consciousness, as he usually does.

No matter what farce he brings, can it even compare to this situation now? Elaina genuinely found Melvin’s words ridiculous.

So she showed no reaction.

“……”

When Elaina just stared at him without a word, Melvin realized his persuasion, squeezed out overnight, had failed.

He gritted his teeth, glared at Elaina as if he would kill her, tightly clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly until blue veins bulged.

And Elaina knew well from countless experiences what was about to happen next.

Well, he’ll beat me like a dog.

But surprisingly, that didn’t happen.

Instead, Melvin began moving his lips again.

“But, Elaina.”

It was at that moment when Melvin’s eyes, gazing at Elaina, gleamed ominously.

“…Are you really not going to drink it?”

“No, I’m sorry but my stomach is not well.”

He may not have put poison, but he could have put some other drug. Elaina wasn’t stupid enough to fall for such a shallow trick.

However, Melvin’s answer was a bit strange.

“Then it can’t be helped.”

“What do you…”

What do you mean?

Elaina couldn’t even finish her words.

Suddenly, a handkerchief soaked with something covered her mouth and nose in an instant, and before long, she fell limp like a corpse.

“You had no intention of listening to the end.”

Melvin, who slowly got up from his seat, muttered while looking down at the unconscious Elaina with disgust.

“Take her away.”

Then he spoke as if throwing the words to the man standing behind Elaina. The man nodded as if understanding and put the handkerchief that knocked her out into his pocket.

“As I said, it’s the most suitable place for you.”

Melvin, taking heavy steps, had already reached right in front of Elaina.

“Duke Hank will cherish you a lot.”

Melvin continued.

“Actually, His Grace has a bit of a unique taste. He was secretly pleased to hear you can’t move properly.”

“……”

“Saying this way you won’t be able to run away.”

Melvin laughed.

“So, do your best. But it’s better not to act out of line and try to climb up like you did to me. Duke Hank is someone who lacks patience, unlike me.”

Those were the last words he spat out to his daughter. Soon, Melvin left the reception room without any lingering feelings or regrets, without looking back.

And pitiful Elaina began to be dragged away by the masked man, carried like a dog.

Still unconscious.

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.