I hesitated and then approached the room.

“Send her away? Is there a law that says she won’t come back?”

“Then let her stay here? Surprising.”

“I didn’t mean that…!”

Father stopped talking, excited.

“She might come back. That woman is no ordinary wicked person. The incident ten years ago is still vivid. Have you already forgotten?”

“Of course, it was shocking. She suddenly brought a newborn baby and messed up the mansion.”

“But to see her so shabby. Tell the truth, Isabelle. There was resentment back then, right?”

Father’s voice was crisp, as usual, when he didn’t drink. However, it still leaked a suppressed sound, as if he was still angry.

“Tell me quickly, huh?”

Father had no remorse, even though he was the starting point of it all. I knew he was like this from the beginning, but seeing it actually left no hope at all.

‘……My wrist still hurts.’

Just seeing that I couldn’t trust Father, who was connected by blood, even though Isabelle was not connected by blood, gave the answer.

“Don’t avoid it. Isabelle. There was resentment, right?”

“Yes.”

Isabelle answered honestly.

“What?”

Even though he asked first, Father seemed shocked by Isabelle’s answer.

“There was. Wouldn’t it be stranger if there wasn’t?”

“Isabelle…….”

“If the Earl had felt sorry for me, I would have wanted to give you a chance through that woman…….”

“Through that woman? Do you think that makes sense?”

Isabelle seemed tired now, and she closed her mouth.

“Isabelle, I told you. That incident was just one night, a single mistake.”

“That mistake’s result was raised by my own hands for ten years.”

“People can make a mistake once, can’t they?”

“That one mistake is quite scary. I’ll be left with a scar in the future. Right? Earl. Will you send me to the grave with one more mistake, Earl?”
Father did not apologize until the end. It was frustrating that he didn’t know what Isabelle wanted, when even I knew.

Did he really not know? Or was he pretending not to know?

“Isabelle. Weren’t we happy? Huh?”

“I’m tired now that you’re blaming everything on me.”

“So what I’m saying is Isabelle…….”

Father choked on his words. His hesitation was unlike him.

“I’m thinking of sending Lise to that woman.”

The words I expected finally came out of my father’s mouth. My legs almost gave way at my father’s words. All my senses and nerves were focused on my father’s words.

“……Lise?”

“Yes. Do you think that woman will easily leave the mansion? No way. She’ll surely endure. It would be better to meet her demands and let her go. You always hated Lise anyway.”

Father spoke smoothly as if he had been preparing the words.

“Do you think that woman will leave easily if you return Lise to her?”

“Do you not know and say that? Even if she does something strange, deal with it then. Right now is urgent. I want to get rid of that woman as soon as possible.”

“My Lord.”

“I think it would be better to return Lise to that woman. The more I think about it, the more it seems right.”

Father’s words were firm. He was thinking of getting rid of me and the female trouble at once. The hunger and thirst were all gone.

I thought to myself, what a miserable life. Being reborn into this family as the youngest daughter after dying because of the family. The disillusionment rushed in with my second unfortunate life.

Did I betray the country in my previous life?

“You’re only thinking about yourself till the end.”

Isabelle muttered quietly.

“What did you just say? Isabelle.”

“I’ve investigated the woman. There are backers. It seems they meticulously planned it.”

Isabelle continued her words.

“Lise has more influence than you think, My Lord. From the Marsen family. The woman plans to use Lise to exploit the entire Marsen family. It’s not just about money.”

“……It’s impossible. I won’t fall for such tricks.”

“Really? Even if the woman uses Lise to create unfavorable rumors and public opinion about the Marsen family?”

“…….”

“Don’t you know how wicked that woman is, My Lord? She’s no ordinary person, making up plausible stories like witch hunting or memory loss to get into this mansion, and there’s someone controlling her behind the scenes.”

“…….”

“You can’t send Lise to that woman.”

As soon as Isabelle finished speaking, Father cursed. He was very angry, and for quite a while, he did not calm down, wildly cursing. Isabelle listened to those words silently.

“You were so weak. And then you let that woman into the mansion! Didn’t you talk as if you would send Lise to that woman?”

“It was revenge. And Lise is…….”

Isabelle paused for a moment.

“I took a little revenge on Lise too. She wouldn’t know, but she provoked me.”

What?

There was a lot to question, but it seemed insufficient to say that Isabelle was provoked by just that. I was about to think for a moment when someone covered my mouth.

“……!”

I looked up at the forceful hand covering my mouth, and the woman’s face entered my sight. The madness in the woman’s eyes, which were almost unfocused when I first saw her, was swirling.

“Be quiet. Okay? Baby.”

She whispered in my ear.

‘What?’

I couldn’t grasp the situation, and I was taken aback by the woman’s sudden tirade.

‘Damn it!’
Isabel knew that she was trying to drive herself out and was planning to forcibly take me.

When did she come? Why didn’t I notice?

I looked around, but strangely, the maid was nowhere to be seen. Could it be that this woman has tied even the maid’s feet?

Could it be… Silke and Swell too?

‘I must tell!’