“Where are you raising your voice? How uncouth. Well, what kind of manners could you have learned in that household?”

“Why do you have the letter addressed to me, Madam?”

“Is that important right now? When there’s a thief in the house. Hah, I can see why Viscount Vasquez sent you to the Abrams.”

Arnold sneered, chiming in with Helena’s words.

The only one remaining silent in this place was Baron Lancaster. He cleared his throat softly, as if he hadn’t expected the sudden change in atmosphere, and observed the situation.

Cordelia spoke, trying hard to steady her ragged breathing.

“A thief? There seems to be a misunderstanding. I never intended to-”

“You’re saying it’s not true? Then how do you explain this letter? It clearly states here to send 100,000 linkit to Vasquez!”

“We must expel her from this castle immediately. Who knows what she might do otherwise. Mother.”

Helena shouted, waving the letter. Lily, seizing the moment, insisted that Cordelia should be driven out right away.

Cordelia’s anger surged at the continued insults. She wanted to jump up from her seat and shout at them to stop talking nonsense.

She had bitten her lip so hard that she could smell blood. Her nails had dug deep marks into her palms from clenching her fists. Even her throat stung.

“Madam. Please calm yourself. Let’s hear what the Countess has to say.”

“Ah, Baron Lancaster. I had momentarily forgotten you were here.”

The baron, who had been quietly silent until now, spoke calmly. Helena acted overly dramatic, as if she had just noticed his presence.

“Ahem. Well, this is quite an unfortunate incident during a meal with the baron after such a long time.”

“She must have been the one manipulating Craig behind the scenes, making him believe strange rumors about Mother.”

“With a letter like this discovered, there’s no room for excuses.”

“What excuses? Hmph. She should be grateful we’re not throwing her out with just the clothes on her back. Oh, my head. How did we ever let someone like that into the family.”

Helena spat out venomously, then exaggeratedly pressed her hand to her forehead. Arnold clicked his tongue and shook his head. A blatant smile formed on Lily’s lips.

Faced with the torrent of insults, Cordelia reflexively told herself, ‘Be patient, be patient.’

Then suddenly, a thought struck her.

‘Why should I be patient?’

The moment she realized this, her boiling head and heart cooled in an instant.

“May I take a look?”

“Oh, yes. Baron, please examine it too. As you read the letter, you’ll see how brazen this mother and daughter are.”

“Hmm. Well. It’s difficult to hastily suspect the Countess based on this one letter alone. It’s merely a request, and it’s hard to say whether it was actually sent, isn’t it?”

“My goodness, what more conclusive evidence could there be? Judging by how casually she talks about sending money, it’s clear she must have done this numerous times before!”

Baron Lancaster handed the letter back to Helena. Lily snapped at the baron, thoroughly agitated.

However, the baron remained consistently calm.

“Let’s at least hear what the Countess has to say.”

“It’s obvious what she’ll say, isn’t it? Right, Mother?”

“Let’s not waste time and call the castle’s finance minister right away. As Lily said, this might not be the first time she’s committed such theft.”

At that moment, a lightning-like realization struck her. All questions were instantly resolved.

‘Helena fears me.’

Normally, she wouldn’t have paid any attention, but the reason she was being so sharp towards Cordelia and had deliberately invited Baron Lancaster, who held considerable influence in the family, to dinner was clear.

She was trying to pull the tilting scales of power back to her side by any means necessary.

Cordelia was overjoyed at this situation. She could barely contain her laughter.

Because she realized she no longer needed to lower herself flat on the ground and beg for their mercy.

“That’s an excellent idea, Madam.”

All eyes turned to Cordelia.

She drew the sharp blade she had been honing for so long.

“What did you just say?”

“Let’s call the castle’s finance minister right away.”

“Oh my. Are you planning to confess?”

Lily sneered, taking a sip of the wine beside her.

“Confess? That’s not a bad idea either. Why don’t you go first, Lily? If you confess, I’ll consider not having you exiled.”

“What? What confession should I make? Are you crazy?”

“Lily has so many things to confess. When you got married, you secretly raided the Abrams warehouse without the previous Count’s knowledge, making quite a profit for yourself. Remember?”

“You… What, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Lily’s complexion turned pale, then quickly returned to normal.

It was worth memorizing the report Leonard had given her.

“Shall I tell you about the things you stole from the Abrams vault? You secretly took five paintings by Deschamps and twelve sculptures by Le Medi and sold them to a fence. Should we call the finance minister to check? Maybe that will jog your memory?”

“Stop lying! Do you have proof? Do you?”

“In such situations, you should say you don’t know anything, Lily.”

“Y-you!”

Red-faced, Lily jumped up from her seat, unable to contain her anger. In her hand was a glass half-full of wine.

Her hand, which looked threatening as if about to pour it over Cordelia’s head, was stopped by an unexpected figure.

“You seemed unsteady. Are you alright?”

“… Let go of me, Baron Lancaster.”

The baron whispered, “Excuse me,” and released Lily’s arm. Lily glared at him fiercely.

Cordelia scratched the back of her hand under the table. In fact, not just her hand, but her entire body was itchy. Her throat had been stinging like it was bitten by ants, but she endured it.

“It seems you’ve picked up some strange rumors somewhere.”

“Ah, you’re here too, Viscount Dyllan. Of course, I’ll give you a chance to confess your crimes as well.”

“What? You’ve gone mad…”

“You raped two married women from your territory, beat them, and drove them out, didn’t you?”

Cordelia recited the crimes with a calm face. However, contrary to her seemingly composed expression, her internal organs were churning as if bitten by a snake.

She knew something was wrong, but she couldn’t back down here. She had to tie up the loose ends before leaving.

“You’ve been spouting nonsense since earlier. Something must be wrong with your head.”

“One had red hair with a slightly curved nose tip, and the other had black hair, black eyes, and a mole on her neck.”

“…!”

Arnold Dyllan inhaled sharply at the overly detailed description.

“Ah, what were their names again? Daisy and…”

“Shut your mouth!”

Arnold shouted urgently. He could hardly hide the anxiety in his voice.

Judging by the reaction, it seemed Emily had gathered accurate information. A relaxed smile appeared on Cordelia’s lips.

As the situation took an odd turn, Helena bit her lip hard and breathed heavily. Baron Lancaster watched Cordelia intently with a very interested expression.

“Don’t cloud the issue. We’re talking about the theft you committed right now.”

“That’s right, Madam. We were talking about theft.”

Cordelia smiled brightly, affirming Helena’s words.

“Craig might have let it slide that day, but the theft you committed, Madam, is not something to be easily overlooked. You received the Manhaus mansion in exchange for handing over tax collection rights to Reynold Aswu, didn’t you?”

“Well. This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“Is that so? The three of you seem to be having quite a few memory problems today.”

Cordelia pinched the back of her hand hard under the table. She had to do something about the intense itching all over her body.

Ignoring her fiercely stinging throat, she recalled the contents of the report.

“What should I say to jog your memory? Ah, there were several mistresses hidden in that mansion, shall we call them as witnesses?”

“You, you…!”

Helena’s eyes widened as much as they could. Cordelia drove the final nail.

“By the way, your taste is quite consistent, Madam. Blonde hair and blue eyes. Weren’t all the previous mistresses you brought to the castle similar?”

“You’re making some interesting statements, Countess.”

At that moment, Baron Lancaster, who had been observing the situation, spoke up.

“Of course, you have reliable evidence for all of this, don’t you?”

“Of course, Baron. How else could I bring these three before a court of law?”

Everyone in the room held their breath at the word ‘court’.

For whatever reason, being brought to trial is a disgraceful affair for a noble.

“Justice must be upheld in Abrams. Of course, it’s what Craig desperately wants too.”

Moreover, the evidence is overflowing.

Based on the report handed over by Leonard, Cordelia had servants gather more detailed evidence.

She thought there would surely be a chance to use it someday. She didn’t expect that chance to come so quickly.

“I’m the one who should bring you to trial. With this kind of fabricated evidence, what do you think you’re-!”

“Give me the letter.”

Cordelia held out her hand towards Helena. Helena trembled, as if unable to believe this reality.

“Or shall we hold a trial? I don’t mind either way.”

Helena’s lips quivered. The tide had already turned in Cordelia’s favor. Everyone in this room knew it. Even Arnold was speechless.

‘Itchy, itchy, itchy.’

Cordelia gritted her teeth. If she showed even a slightly disheveled appearance here, Helena would surely pounce again.

The reason for this all-over body itching was obvious.

Peanuts.

She had a severe allergy to all nuts, especially peanuts.

After nearly dying from thoughtlessly eating them as a child, she had never gone near them again.

Everyone in this castle, including the servants, knew this, but the reason why Cordelia had eaten that food was obvious.

At that moment, the dining room door burst open.

“Craig!”

Helena’s expression instantly brightened. She waved at him happily, as if seeing a savior.

“Come in quickly. I was just about to tell you something. My goodness, that woman has been secretly embezzling money behind our backs…”

“What’s wrong with your face?”

Leonard didn’t even glance at Helena. He strode over and stood beside Cordelia.

“The letter.”

“What?”

“Madam has my letter.”

Cordelia felt as if her entire body was being eaten by ants. However, her eyes never left Helena.

Under that fiery gaze, Helena flinched and then handed the letter to Leonard.

“Th-that’s right! Craig, you should read this letter too!”

“What kind of letter is it?”

Leonard received the letter from Helena, skimmed its contents with his eyes, then carelessly dropped it on the table.

“Send it.”

“What?”

“I said send it. Don’t tell me Abrams doesn’t even have 100,000 linkit in its vault?”

“Are you out of your… Are you in your right mind? Why should we send money to Vasquez?”

“Craig, what’s wrong with you? Why are you taking that woman’s side?”

Helena and Lily were in an uproar at the unexpected answer. On the other hand, Leonard arrogantly leaned back and said,

“How much is that paltry sum anyway?”

“Paltry sum? Craig, you don’t seem to understand, but 100,000 linkit is by no means a small amount.”

“So? Are you saying we don’t have that money? Or do we have it?”

Leonard swaggered as he looked around at those present.

His attitude was so disagreeable that it felt annoying even though he was taking her side.

“Ha. Craig.”

Helena gritted her teeth and forced a smile, lifting the corners of her mouth.

“It’s not that we don’t have it, but it’s money that needs to be used for important matters.”

“Important matters? That’s perfect. It’s important that my brother-in-law needs to go to the academy.”

“Craig!”

“Ugh.”

This was really the limit now. It was beyond a level that could be endured by willpower alone. As her body visibly swayed, Leonard hurriedly grabbed Cordelia’s shoulders.

“What’s going on? Are you really sick? What’s wrong?”

“Leave her be. More importantly, Craig, about sending money to Vasquez. No matter how I think about it…”

Helena frowned and continued to ramble on about her own concerns.

“Kuk.”

Cordelia took a deep breath. However, the air entering through her throat was barely a handful.

She urgently grabbed Leonard’s clothes. Leonard was visibly flustered and shouted at the nearby servants.

“What’s suddenly… What are you doing! Don’t dawdle, call a physician immediately!”

“Pea…”

“What?”

She used all her strength to pull his shoulder and whispered in his ear.

“Pea… nuts.”

“Why peanuts?”

“Oh my! What a shame. She must have carelessly eaten peanuts somewhere. That’s why I told her to be careful.”

Helena clicked her tongue and looked at Cordelia with her arms crossed.

Cordelia could feel Leonard roughly shaking her body. He was shouting something, but not a word entered her ears.

Sadly, that’s where her memory ended.