I sold the country in my previous life… Ah, I was Yun Gaeul in my previous life.

Does that mean I did something on par with selling the country in my previous life?

There’s no way this calamity would have happened otherwise!

“What are you talking about? I lived honorably as a lawabiding citizen!”

Blaming my previous life turned into a failure.

Then why has this trial come to me?

The place where I am now is inside the carriage of the Ferdia family.

All the members of the Ferdia family were sitting inside this carriage, the largest and most splendid one owned by the family.

The Duke and Duchess, their two sons, and finally, myself.

“Please save me.”

I feel like I’m going to die from suffocation.

With a heart full of longing to go home, my eyes met with the Duchess across from me.

Gasp.

I involuntarily inhaled sharply and stiffened my body.

This was the first meeting after I was fired from my secret alchemist position by the Duchess.

“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like she’s told the other family members…”

I was worried that the Duchess might have talked about my powers or my goal to be independent, but it didn’t seem like it.

Of course, even if I do become independent, they probably won’t care, but I still wanted the rest of the family to be unaware until I gathered enough money.

The Duke and Duchess sat across from me, and unfortunately, Yansi and Carlott sat on either side.

The seating arrangement itself was very merciless, miserable, and awkward since I was in the center and couldn’t even look out the window.

“Sob sob, I want to be on the edge too…”

I looked to the side with regretful eyes, and my gaze met Yansi’s.

Yansi smiled warmly at me and opened his mouth.

“It’s not bad for all of us to go out together like this. How did you think of this, Mother?”

“It’s not bad to catch some wind as a family. It’s refreshing and nice sometimes. Your father readily agreed.”

Then Duke Ferdia, who was sitting with his arms crossed and eyes closed, opened his eyes and glanced straight ahead.

And in that direction… there I was.

Why, why are you looking at me?

Soon after, the Duke spoke in a leisure leisurely tone.

“Elodie, it’s the restaurant you wanted to go to.”

“Ye…yes?”

I’m sorry?

I was hearing this for the first time. The Duchess then smiled at those words.

“I told you, Elodie. It worked out well, didn’t it?”

I could only nod at her subtle, coercive gaze.

But I only felt more anxious since I had no idea what the Duchess was thinking.

Sitting trembling in the center of the carriage, we soon arrived at the restaurant.

It was said to be a restaurant where even a lot of money would require a reservation six months in advance.

Yet the Ferdia family managed to get in the same day without waiting. They were indeed extraordinary.

‘Let’s just enjoy the food since we’re here.’

I naturally tried to get off the carriage alone, but Yansi, who had already alighted, reached out his hand.

“Liri, hand.”

I held Yansi’s hand and stepped off the carriage.

Then I thought I heard Carlott go “tch” from behind.

Why is he suddenly throwing a tantrum, that one?

“Shall we hold hands like this, Liri?”

“No.”

As I quickly walked away from Yansi’s burdensome kindness today, I accidentally bumped shoulders with a man who was coming towards me with his head bowed.

It was a light contact, so I tried to dismiss it and go inside, but I couldn’t.

Because the other person looked at me and got angry.

“Hey! Are your eyes just for decoration? Open them and loo—!”

The man who was scolding me widened his eyes as he saw the family gathering around me.

“Fe, Ferdia?”

Instead of me, who was flustered, it was Carlott who stepped forward.

Carlott glared fiercely, blocking me, and spoke.

“Hey, horned head. Who are you to hit someone and not apologize? Eyes? Did you say eyes? I’ll smash them! What are you staring at?!”

“I’m, I’m sorry!”
Carlott fired back relentlessly, and the man quickly apologized.

Considering his frequent visits to this restaurant, he must have been a noble with some fortune, but it was a face I had never seen before.

Despite the nobleman’s apology, Carlott growled and glared quite fiercely at him.

“Not to me. Do it to someone close. Wow, he doesn’t understand. Father, shall we bury this child with only his head left above ground?”

At Carlott’s sudden outburst, I turned to Duke Ferdia, mouth agape.

As the head of a family, as Carlott’s father, I had a firm belief that Duke Ferdia would stop the boy’s excessive anger.

But then…

“Not bad.”

My faith was shattered!

The situation had become critical, with a real risk that Carlott might bury the nobleman with a ground collapse.

“Father.”

The previously silent Yansi came forward.

I was relieved. Finally, someone sane is stepping up!

But that was not the case.

“If it’s within my power, Father, I can finish this without harming those around us. Carlott’s power might be a bit hard to contain, don’t you think?”

Yansi was stirring the pot…

My head hurts.

‘I will… withdraw from Ferdia.’