THHAAWMF

Chapter 71

"..."

"It was the Count who taught my mother how to contact Grim Reaper. He was also the one who brought the poison and the note to my mother's room and made father lose faith in her..."

Gerald was too angry to continue speaking.

He let out a shaky breath. Then he barely added the latter words.

"It was him."

"..."

"Ciella, I heard you and Count Lindel were looking for a way to beat Essit. "

Gerald leaned his head back. His red eyes were blazing with vengeance.

"Help me too. I'll do whatever you say."

"... Well,"

I said, deliberately vague.

"Whatever the process, it was me who made your mother that way. Don't you hate me as much as you hate Essit?"

The fire in his eyes shook.

Gerald dropped his gaze, avoiding my eyes. Frozen for a moment. Holding his eyes with his arms, he murmured.

"If I didn't hate you, I'd be lying."

"..."

"But I understand. I'm trying to understand... And it's not my place to tell you any more than I already have."

The voice was watertight.

Yes, honestly, it was amazing that he didn't just ask me to help his mother.

If he had asked me to do that, I would have mercilessly dug him out of the family registry. Because it would have meant that he didn't think for a second about the pain I went through.

"Help me. I'm begging you. I will never drag you down or let you down."

"What can you do?"

Gerald was startled by the harsh words.

I didn't ask that question to be sarcastic. I continued calmly.

"I can not entrust you with the inner workings of the family. The vassals will take it and stand up for it. The others have already done the work of investigating the external movements of the Essit. Then there's only one thing left to do. "

"... infiltrating the interior."

"Yes. Can you do that?"

Gerald was silent. He realized what I was talking about.

I didn't have long to worry. He said gloomily.

"I have to do it."

"Think about it. They'll basically say bad things about you, and if things don't go my way, I may not be able to get you out. You might die together."

"Don't worry. I'm prepared for that."

I looked at Gerald.

And I sighed lightly at the unbreakable sincerity in his eyes.

"I'll start a rumor that I'm the one who prepared the poison and the note to nurture your mother's sin."

"What? Why would you do that-"

"That way, you will have a justification for revenge on me."

Gerald froze.

Hmm. I don't know if he can do it with such a soft heart.

But, being the animals that people are, I decided to play Gerald's hand.

"Go to Essit and tell them that Isabella is going to die because of me, that your family's surname was taken from you as well as your position as successor. Make your goal in life to break the Lavirins."