I cried for a long time. My parched throat was dry, and my eyes stung every time I blinked, perhaps because they were bloodshot. My head ached terribly, perhaps because I had been heartbroken since late last night.

My heart ached, and I cried, but it was even more painful when my body ached as well.

Meanwhile, the corridor was quiet. It was quite some time, so the meal must have ended. Had my father, who had screamed like fire, driven that woman out of the mansion? I wished he had.

Then how would Isabelle, who had been angry with my father, feel now? Would she feel relieved? She must feel relieved…….

Curious, I strained my ears, but I was afraid to go outside lest the woman grab my wrist and run away.

When reason and instinct were conflicting, someone came up the stairs. Footsteps approached my room. I, who had become frightened once again, leaving instinct behind, tightly gripped the edge of my blanket.

“It’s me, Lise.”

I was worried about what to do if it was the woman, but it was Isabelle. Although it was better than the woman, Isabelle was the one who had tried to send me to the woman’s arms. Naturally, I hated her, and I hated even looking at her.

“……Don’t come in.”

“And yet you didn’t lock the door.”

Isabelle eventually opened the door.

“I told you not to come in.”

Even though I complained resentfully, Isabelle had already come into the room. She closed the door so that our conversation wouldn’t leak out.

I tried hard not to look at her face. However, my head naturally turned towards Isabelle’s face after a while. Isabelle was calm, even though she had made a mess of the house.

I was sure I hated that face. I hated it so much that my eyes, accustomed to pain, stung again.

As I closed the door and belatedly looked at my face, Isabelle’s eyes widened slightly.

I hadn’t looked in the mirror, but my condition was probably terrible. My swollen face would have no intact spots, and my lips would be torn with scabs on them.

But was Isabelle the type to be surprised at this? I touched my face slowly, and tears that had been flowing stuck to my fingers.

“Ah.”

I had not stopped for long and was sobbing again. How embarrassing to show this, especially in front of Isabelle.

As I wiped away the tears, they kept flowing strangely.

“……Why are you crying?”

She threw that as a question. Could it be that I’m crying because I’m happy and delighted? I’m crying because I’m miserable and sad. I wanted to say it sarcastically, but the words didn’t come out. Specifically, words came out, but they weren’t the ones I wanted.

Earlier, I had bitten my lip and wept quietly, but now I was crying out loud.

I had never done this before. Even as I cried, I was confused. Embarrassed by the feeling of being laid bare, and every time I felt Isabelle’s gaze, my heart ached. Why is this happening? I asked myself several times as I cried.

A clear answer did not come out. I just cried.

“Why are you crying?”

Isabelle asked again. Her face gradually distorted, making me feel more wronged. Unable to give a proper answer and only crying, Isabelle, unable to bear it, turned her back. As she turned the doorknob, my heart hurried without knowing.

“Don’t, don’t leave……!”

“…….”

Isabelle’s actions stopped altogether. I regretted saying it after saying I would make way for that disgusting face.

“Don’t…… don’t abandon me. I don’t want to go…….”

“…….”

“I want to stay here……! Next to my mother. Not by that unknown woman, but by my mother!”

The words came out instinctively, without going through my head. The sentences that were so difficult to utter this time flowed smoothly from my lips.

Although I spoke clearly, I did not have the courage to look directly at Isabelle, and I lowered my head. The tears that fell wetted the back of my hand.
“Please, please……. I’ll do anything. I won’t read books anymore, just like Mother said, and I won’t cause trouble! I won’t go outside without permission! So please…….”

I pleaded and pleaded. My voice lost its strength from how desperately I spoke.

“I…….”

“…….”

“I want to keep living as Lise Marsen.”

My last words came out clearly. That was all I had to say. I had nothing left to say, as I had no strength left in my body, relaxed from the tension.

Then, Isabelle, who hadn’t moved an inch, moved.

The sound of the door latch turning was heard. I lifted my head quickly but couldn’t see Isabelle’s face, who had coldly turned her back without even giving me a glance.

“……Let’s talk again when you’ve calmed down.”

That was the end. Only cold air lingered where Isabelle had left.

She didn’t hold my hand until the very end.

Time passed, and the door opened again.

“Lise…….”

I looked up, thinking it was Isabelle, but the person who opened the door was none other than Swell of the twin siblings. However, there were a few more heads peeking through the gap in the door.

The brothers lingered at the door, seemingly not here to tease me, but out of sympathy or concern.