Isabelle did not drive the woman away until the end.

“Since she’s a guest in the mansion, don’t treat her harshly. Dress her in good clothes, and if she says she’s hungry, give her warm food. However, always keep an eye on her actions. If the woman wants to leave, tell me right away, understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She ordered the maid to take care of the woman. The angry father went out of the mansion and has not returned yet.

Dawn came to the previously silent mansion.

‘……Father?’

Unable to sleep, I was just staring beyond the window.

I saw the figure of my father getting out of the carriage. Perhaps drunk, he stumbled with his legs, and his face was horribly twisted as he entered the mansion.

‘What’s going on?’

Inside the mansion, my father was surprisingly quiet. A little time had passed, perhaps, someone came up the stairs.

My door was flung open. The pungent smell of alcohol immediately told me it was my father who had entered. Instead of greeting him, I pretended to sleep, pulling the blanket over my head.

‘Gasp!’

My father violently pulled away my blanket.

“It’s because of you!”

He abruptly grabbed my arm. His face seemed terrifying, almost demonic, in the dark. Only his eyes sparkled with rage.

“Ah, it hurts!”

“Get out! Get out with that woman! Get out!”

“Let me go!”

My father was out of his mind. He grabbed my arm and pulled me into the hallway. I resisted with all my might, but I couldn’t overpower a drunken grown man. I was almost dragged, my body scraping across the floor.

My legs were pulled powerlessly, hitting furniture and wall corners. A cry of pain escaped my lips.

“Father!”

“Go away with that woman! Go with her!”

‘Damn it!’

He dragged me to where the woman was.

My father’s eyes, bloodshot and red, were merciless. Unaware that his actions were violent, he grabbed me without restraint. If I stood firm, he seemed ready to slap me, yelling at the top of his lungs.

That noise finally brought Isabelle out.

“What are you doing?!”

For the first time, Isabelle, who had been calm throughout, shouted in surprise at the situation. She approached my father and tried to pry his hands off me.

“Damn! Everything’s a mess because of that woman! She has to be thrown out now. Right now!”

“Is that why you’re dragging the child?”

“You brought that woman here in the first place. Didn’t you want this too? To send Lise back to that woman.”

The arguing woke the children, who opened their doors. Unable to come out, they watched their mother and father through the cracks, trembling with fear. Isabelle sighed, sensing their gaze.

“It’s late at night. And, my lord, you are quite drunk.”

“Drunk?”

“You’re not in your right mind.”

“Not in my right mind! I…”

Ignoring Isabelle’s words, my father pulled my arm again.

“Ouch!”

A scream I’d been holding back burst forth. My father, taken aback by the unexpected sound, finally looked at my face. When he loosened his grip, I swatted his hand away.

My wrist was red from his tight grip. The mark was throbbing and burning; I couldn’t even touch it lightly.

“Father!”

“……Child, children.”

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the children who had been watching the situation ran towards their father. Bernard, the second son, Felicia, and the twins all clung to my father’s waist, whimpering.

“Don’t send Lise away, please! Right?”

“Lise has done nothing wrong! So……!”

“Don’t fight! It’s all that woman’s fault, so just drive her out! Just her!”
그 애원의 말이 통했을까. 아버지의 표정이 점차 풀어졌다.

“Dammit……. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”

아버지는 어깨를 굽히며 계단 밑으로 내려갔다. 몸을 비틀거리며 계단을 내려가는 아버지의 몸뚱어리가 금방이라도 넘어질 거 같다. 이세벨은 그 뒷모습을 하염없이 보다가 뒤늦게 잠옷 차림으로 달려온 하녀들을 살폈다.

“The night is late, so put the children to bed first. And then, Betty.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Take care of Lise. Her wrist must have been quite sore, so treat it.”

이세벨은 이 얘기뿐. 나에게 어떤 말도 하지 않았다.

I don’t know how the weekend passed.

After the woman arrived, the family hardly ever came out of the rooms. In the case of Father, he refused to eat and lived in his study. Because of that, my brothers and I sat at the dining table for the first time without Father or Mother to eat.

Monday morning came, and Bernard and Felicia headed to school with gloomy faces. The twins were still quiet, perhaps not having risen from bed.

Looking at the time, it was past nine in the morning. I hadn’t seen the woman’s face in the mansion since. I couldn’t tell if the woman deliberately didn’t come out of her room or if Isabelle controlled her.

“As the Earl wishes, I’m thinking of sending her away today. I’m tired now, too.”

Heading to the dining room to eat some bread, I heard Isabelle’s voice. Turning my head, I saw Father’s room through the open door crack. They were talking there.