Chapter 96
“What was the content of the messages that were exchanged? Is it possible that they conspired together several times?”
Laszlo's suspicions increased as he spoke of the letters, about which he knew nothing.
Dustin spoke to Idell as if he were preaching to her.
“I understand that you feel resentful towards the family, but whatever the case, how could you send such a message to your father?”
"What didn't you like?"
“What, what are you saying? Haha… You’ve changed so much. Do you mean you’re going to abandon your father and brothers for your own personal comfort? I didn’t know I raised my daughter to be such a selfish person.”
Idil showed a strange expression for a moment in front of her father's scolding, who was pretending to be calm, but she soon smiled a bitter smile.
"Are you laughing?"
“Didn’t you tell me to laugh?”
Despite her words, Idil's smile gradually began to fade.
“You said I’ve become selfish, but do you think the clothes I wear are better than yours? Do you think the food I eat is better than yours?”
“Don’t take your father’s words literally, there’s a deeper meaning behind what I’m saying. Try to understand it.”
“You say I’m neglecting important things for the sake of my current situation, but clothes and food aren’t everything. I don’t change my personal beliefs for my comfort.”
"So what was the great reason that made you reject my hand that was extended to you?"
Idil felt like remaining silent in front of her father, who seemed to be accusing her, but she realized that whatever she said would not be understood.
But if she remains silent now, she will only be seen as a fugitive.
Idil gave up hope that her father would understand and explained to him what he had done to her.
“You always say ‘my daughter, my daughter,’ but you have already given up all your rights towards me for more than a year. And because of that, you have also gotten rid of your responsibility towards me.”
“At that time, the family was on the verge of collapse, and I had no choice!”
“But even at that moment, the bond between parents and their children cannot be severed. Do you think it was easy for us, the parents? Can you understand the feelings of the parents?”
“Ah… so, you mean you’re now looking for me to restore the Canyon family title to me?”
“That… that…”
“If you are asking me to take responsibility as a daughter, then you will also take responsibility as a father. So please, formally petition the Emperor to restore my lineage and return me to the Canyon family register.”
Edel knew perfectly well that Dustin would not demand her rights back and would not even consider it.
Dustin was silent, his hands trembling with anger.
“I have invested so much in you! You ungrateful woman, how dare you…!”
Investment. Ungrateful.
These words had been rare for Idyll since she left the Canyon family.
In those days, she believed her father was right, and she felt guilty. She was young and didn't know how things worked.
But now, she knows.
“You have invested only for yourself, so what is there for me to be grateful for? On the contrary, I have fulfilled the duty you gave me when you sent me to marry the Duke of Lancaster. Was that not enough?”
"It was all for your own good!"
“For my own good? Do you remember when I knelt before you for the first time in my life? I asked you to leave me in peace, I went hungry and cried for several days in order for you to change your mind!”
Idil remembered that tragic feeling and felt a sudden surge of anger, but she took a deep breath and calmed her voice.
“You sold me to gain the favor of the Duke of Lancaster, and then you didn’t care about me anymore. I knew then that marriage was all that mattered to you.”
Edel knew that Dustin might hit her, but she didn't stop talking.
“After the Duke’s plot failed, it was only natural that you would abandon me, but I accepted that. So please, do not impose any responsibility or duty on me anymore, because you have no right to do so.”
It wasn't long before she let out a sudden noise, and when Idell looked ahead, she felt flames erupt before her eyes. Dustin had struck her head.
“You arrogant woman, if it weren’t for the Canyon family name behind you, you would be nothing more than prey!”
Despite his intense anger, he spoke in a low voice, low enough that no one in the next room could hear him, then he punched Idil's arm and kicked her leg.
He used to beat his daughters like this, without any visible marks of the beating on their bodies.
“Ouch…! Ouch…!”
Idell swallowed her scream without realizing it, just as she used to do before.
“If you weren’t from the Canyon family, would you have reached this point in your life? If you weren’t from the Canyon family, you would be nothing! You worm…!”
Dustin was about to grab Edel's hair tightly when he suddenly stopped, as if he had heard a strange voice from afar.
He looked around quickly and took a deep breath, then began to scold her in a low voice.
“Getting you out of this family is easy. Do you think I can’t do it?”
“Then why didn’t you throw me out into the street, and why were you submissive to Count Crisis?”
Edel looked up with eyes full of anger, but her resolve remained unbroken, which made Dustin clench his teeth tightly.
Idil was not the same as before.
The child, who apologized and shook her head apologetically even if she exploded with anger, was very kind and easy to deal with.
"It's clear her origins have finally come to light! She lived her life in lowly occupations like a despicable mercenary family!"
This was the fear he felt when he brought the child, who was the daughter of a distant commoner relative. He feared that her lowly origins would be revealed by her illegitimate blood.
But now, he doesn't care anymore.
As long as Idil has completed her final mission in this place, he doesn't care what happens next.
“I am thinking of giving you a chance to regain your honor. Will you live your life bearing the shame of selling your body to a despicable mercenary, or will you live as a noblewoman who knows the honor of aristocracy? Think carefully until we meet again. And if you haven’t lost your mind, the answer is obvious.”
The words he spoke did not sound like love or concern for his daughter; there was less love than a grain of flour's worth of concern.
Dustin then began to ease his agitation, straightened his clothes, and turned around quickly.
“I will send you a message in Ludmila’s name next time.”
"Don't send it. I won't reply."
Edel answered quickly, but Dustin deliberately ignored her and strode powerfully towards the reception room door and opened it.
Margaret stood outside, and bowed slightly to greet.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes."
“I will inform Count Crisis. Please wait a moment.”
But she didn't need to go looking for Laszlo, as the office door opened and Laszlo came out immediately.
“I heard the sound of the door opening, so I went out. Are you really leaving? It seems that it hasn’t even been 30 minutes yet…”
Ah, haha. I shouldn't stay until the Count has to push me out. Besides, my daughter seems a bit worried…”
"She says she's nervous?"
“She seems to think that my relationship with the Count is not good. And since I am here, she has no choice but to be careful.”
When Laszlo's gaze dimmed, Dustin quickly added, as if justifying himself.
“Of course I don’t think the Count is bothering my daughter! Women are naturally fearful and have unnecessary worries, hahaha!”
“I have never seen a woman as brave as Idyll, really, that’s an interesting word. Anyway… I’ll walk you to the entrance.”
Laszlo remained hospitable and polite to Dustin the whole time, treating him like a guest.
But as soon as his carriage drove away, his face hardened menacingly, and he turned around quickly. When he looked, his gaze fell upon Idyll, who was descending the stairs.
He ran towards her, climbed the stairs she was standing on, and grabbed her wrist tightly.
"As a count...?"
Idel called out to him, but he didn't respond with a single word; instead, he dragged her along with him.
Edel thought he was going to start questioning her.
Laszlo was the one who verified the treachery of the Duke of Lancaster's family, and therefore knew of the connection between the Canyon family and the Duke of Lancaster's family.
'Naturally, he will wonder why my father was looking for me.'
Of course, Edel had no intention of helping Dustin or the Canyon family, and she would have defended her innocence.
But whether to accept or reject that depends on Laszlo's heart.
It felt as though there was a voice warning of a crack in the “quiet routine” that had barely been achieved.
Laszlo entered the office and slammed the door shut, then took a deep breath as if he had something to say before turning to Edel.
But when Edel looked at him with eyes that did not express much hope, he gritted his teeth and turned his head away again.
He appeared confused and bewildered, as if he did not know what to do.
It was Idell who broke the awkward silence.