Hell, not Heaven
Elizabeth burst into Stella's room without warning, and she screamed.
"Oh what a surprise. Ellie! What disrespect is this?
It looked like she was putting on makeup. She frowned and began to correct the lopsided makeup.
Elizabeth walked up to her and said.
"Let's talk."
"Mom, I have to go. If you have something to say, just do it. It's because putting on makeup while listening has gone too far."
Stella responded nonchalantly and began to apply lipstick.
said Elizabeth, taking the brush from him.
“This is a serious story. Look at your face and speak."
“What the hell is this kid doing, looking at his mother wide-eyed like that? It's scary, kid."
Stella pursed her lips and crossed her arms as if to say something.
Elizabeth hesitated to ask him as soon as the conversation began.
Judging by Kierne's words when asking Stella what she did the day the duchess collapsed, there was only one thing she needed to ask.
The relationship between Stella and the Duke.
Determined, Elizabeth took her shoulder and said.
"Mom, what is your relationship with the duke?"
“What kind of relationship is there between the maid and the master? What do you ask?"
Stella smiled as if she had heard an unpleasant story. Elizabeth repeated with a rigid face.
"Do not play".
Then the smile disappeared from Stella's face. he asked with a cold expression.
"Why? Who said something between me and the duke?
“… … .”
“This is all nonsense. Know. There are a lot of kids who misunderstand that because my mom is so pretty, even if she just looks at me, she's nice."
Stella let out a deep breath as if she was tired and continued.
“There have been a lot of people flirting lately. I refused, so it seems that he holds a grudge and spreads strange rumors. Really, why do people live like this?
"mother."
“Anyway, men have a problem with their lower legs. Why is it so hard not to fall in love with something so beautiful when you see it? It's nothing and it's not funny."
"mother."
“Ellie, be careful too. Because among the men who talk about love, there is not one that is normal. What is love, what remains is money.
"mother!"
Elizabeth, who hadn't heard him, yelled as if screaming, and Stella stopped talking and looked at her with wide eyes like a frightened rabbit.
Elizabeth was sick to her stomach at Stella's excuses that didn't sound like them.
When Stella lied, her words would be long. She didn't seem to know, but Elizabeth, who had been watching her all her life, knew very well.
So I realized that he was lying right now. I have lost my mind.
Kierne's misunderstanding was not a misunderstanding. That fact dragged Elizabeth to hell.
"Mom, why did you do that?"
"What are you talking about. Isn't it?"
You can't do that to the lady. Yeah?"
“Elizabeth! Do you suspect your mother now? No no?"
Stella jumped up from her seat and put on a gloomy expression. He had an expression that he would kick and die of regret.
"How could you do that to me? How can you not believe your mother?
"Then tell me. The day the lady fell, where was your mother?
"That?"
“That day it rained a lot. You must have left early because you had an appointment with your mother. Who did you see with?"
At Elizabeth's unexpected question, Stella hesitated like one who is speechless.
The sound of Elizabeth's heart breaking once more was heard. What lies below must be a deep quagmire.
Elizabeth was stranded in the villa due to heavy rain that day and returned to Agafel's castle several days later, so she didn't know much.
It seemed that a typhoon had hit Agafel's castle during the five days that he hadn't been sure. The atmosphere in the castle was in disarray due to the sudden death of the duchess.
Because of this, he went on a long-term business trip, so he did not feel uncomfortable even when the duke, who should not be in the castle, was openly in the castle.
He thought that he had just heard the news from the duchess and hurried back.
In fact, Elizabeth couldn't ask anyone about the day. Everyone was sad, and it was sudden death, so I had no choice but to bury my curiosity.
I thought that standing by Kiern's side with a smile as if nothing had happened was a consideration for him.
It was caring, not caring. To truly care for him would have been to take his mother and leave Agafel's castle forever.
don't cover it
Elizabeth made her stomach boil, regretting her own stupidity in trying to bury the curiosity of the day.
It would be ok if I covered it up, I didn't know like an idiot until there was mold and a foul smell.
She unknowingly laughed with Kiern and comforted him. Isn't it really terribly low quality?
Elizabeth, whose legs gave out at the ugly truth, collapsed to a sitting position. Stella's puzzled expression waxed and waned between the tears in her eyes.
That day, Stella was with the Duke. And the Duchess must have collapsed in shock when she saw that.
Stella said as Elizabeth collapsed, devastated.
“Ellie, I couldn't help it either. The Duke suddenly said that… …I."
Stella's trembling hands gripped hers tightly.
Elizabeth looked down at the hand she was holding weakly.
Stella's tears fell down the back of her hand. He was trying to hold back tears, but she was shedding tears without hesitation.
"It was all for you. He said that if you stay by the duke's side, he will arrange a good marriage for you and raise you with the best things throughout your life."
I should have known. I had to dig up all the inside stories of that day, get my mother out of this castle and go somewhere that way.
"You know. My mother didn't have the energy to live, so she couldn't bear it for a month after leaving this castle. I just did it because she didn't want you to live like me."
If that were the case, Kiern wouldn't have been so disrespectful.
"Really. Trust me, Ellie.
She had no right to cry unless she knew the whole truth. I already knew that crying is something that only happens in fairy tales.
Having made up her mind, Elizabeth wiped the tears from her eyes and took the crying Stella's hand.
"Come on."
"That?"
Let's get out of this castle. When did I ask my mom to take charge of my life?
Stella trembled at Elizabeth's shrill voice.
Tears welled up in Elizabeth's eyes, despite the promise she'd made just before, when she thought she had no right to cry. I felt sorry for myself for not being able to hold back a single tear.
Her mother's vanity was well known to her. And it was all thanks to the Duchy's salary that he was able to afford such vanity.
If he hadn't worked at the Duke's Castle, he wouldn't have been able to enjoy that luxury, so he figured there was no job like this.
But when I thought that the money was mixed with my mother's ransom, ceramics came into being.
I really didn't understand what it meant for my mother's expenses to grow day by day. No, I didn't try to understand.
Like the daughter of an immature mother, I just put up with it and left it alone.
It's hard to think about my own life with an honest heart, but I didn't want to take responsibility for my mother's life.
The result was this. The mother ruined the Duchess's family, which was a lifesaver.
In the end, the man who lost his mother forever was broken, and it was Elizabeth herself who loved that broken man. without hesitation
Elizabeth was horrified to learn of this only after she confessed.
If I had known, I never would have confessed.
I would have lived hiding this heart.
No, if I had known, I would not have lived here with my mother shamelessly.
But all these are just assumptions. It all seemed to be Elizabeth's fault.
My mom and Kierne felt like they were living in hell because I pretended not to know.
This place was hell. This place where he laughed and thought it was heaven because of his stupidity was a terrible hell.
The place where the illusion was harvested seemed to be waiting for a hot sulfur fire. Heat caught Elizabeth's breath.
"Let's go out. With the money I've saved in the meantime, I can buy a small mansion in another realm. From there… … .”
Elizabeth, who was crying, hugged Stella tightly. And it was the car that was trying to say that it's not too late, let's start over together.
"No!"
he yelled, pushing Elizabeth away. Startled by the evil voice, he looked at her. Stella's eyes were as cold as ever.
"Where are you going?"
"mother?"
"Can you buy a mansion half as good as this castle with the money you saved?"
"oh?"
“What the hell are two women who have nothing to do with their lives? Are you going to live by sewing and gluing your mouth?”
Stella sat down at the dresser and began to fix her makeup. It seemed strange to put dust in his bloodshot eyes.
Elizabeth felt as if she had been punched in the face.
Stella didn't seem sad at all. Contrary to what she thought the duke had forced her to do, Stella was sure. she said, painting her lips red.
“It has already been done. You're getting your fair share."
"What do you mean? How do you say he deserves it?"
“As long as the duke is interested in me, I can enjoy all of this for the rest of my life, so where are you going? stupid thing."
“… … .”
“You just have to live as you are now. It's because everything is wrong when you see the fucking duke promise to be the duchess and then repeatedly delay him.
"that?"
I was suffocated by the fact that she was aspiring to be a duchess as well as having an affair.
How can a mother covet that position?
Elizabeth's lips trembled and she continued.
“I have to find a way to live like this for now. That is the only way for us to survive mother and daughter.”
Elizabeth yelled with a stunned face at Stella's crazy voice. I was afraid because I didn't think it was the mother I knew.
"Mom, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Stella smiled at Elizabeth's shocked expression in the mirror.
"Do you think this is all bullshit?"
I felt that my mom was not my mom. She used to always smile and be praised by people, but now she just looked like a fierce woman.
Stella scolded Elizabeth because she was stunned by the feeling of alienation and could not say anything.
“Crazy. At that time, I tried to persuade Kiern well. From the looks of it, it seems that he will vanish if you touch him even a little bit.”
"Why is Kiern here?"
Elizabeth frowned at the casual mention of the name. Mom couldn't do that. I shouldn't carelessly say his name, so why am I doing this?
Not a single word of what Stella said entered my mind.
What are you talking about?
It brought a strange chill, like the scenery inside a window that doesn't care about the outside in heavy rain.
Elizabeth wondered if she had misunderstood her mother all this time.
At that moment, Stella turned around and met his gaze.
“Oh, I didn't know. He has feelings for you.
“… … .”
“I thought immediately. Anyway, I can't even find my place if I'm naive. Even so, he took a big part, so you are better than me.”
Stella smiled and held the brush close to her. The soft touch of the brush touched her lips.
As Elizabeth froze and didn't say anything, Stella continued.
“It seems to me that he is holding back, but even so, he is also a man. She looks like a lady, and her temper is docile and upright, so if I persuade her a little, she'll commit to you.
“Mom, what the hell… … .”
"Shh. You can't talk when you put something on your lips. It spreads.
Stella spoke in a low voice as if talking about her daily life. It didn't matter if Elizabeth's face was wrinkled or completely disgusted.
“You look a lot like me. She's so pretty now, but what will she be like later?
At that moment, Elizabeth hated her own face.
Because every time Kiern looked at me, she thought of Stella, who had driven the duchess to despair.
'Why do you treat me so badly?'
'Because I want to treat you badly.'
Suddenly, what Kiern had said came to mind. Perhaps he thought of Stella as he watched Elizabeth at all times.
That's why I acted so bad because he hated me even though I was good to him as a friend.
Not knowing that, he scolded me for being a silly child and complained in frustration that he couldn't call me by name.
Elizabeth hated madly that she had rocked him before their engagement with this face that resembled Stella's.
Now I could see why Kierne had trampled on my heart so cruelly.
No matter how nice a person was, there was no one who would accept the enemy's daughter.
I must have felt reality shortly after kissing him intoxicated by the slam of the moment.
He and I must have realized that we should never be together.
So Stella was wrong. Kiern doesn't love himself.
Even if he was in love with me, it wouldn't be now.
Because he collapsed at the death of the duchess and lost his mind.
There was no place for the daughter of an enemy in the heart of a broken man.
I want to get that heart without shame, and I don't want to confess. It was so pathetic that he couldn't bear it.
“You make your mother's dream come true. You will become a duchess. The hostess of this castle. Then everything here will be yours.
Meanwhile, Stella dreamed in vain. Elisabeth didn't like it, so she coldly pushed her hand away.
"No."
Elisabeth, wildly frightened, wiped her lips on her sleeve. As red lipstick stained her white sleeves, Stella panicked and grabbed her.
"what are you doing!"
Despite Stella's dissuasion, Elizabeth didn't stop.
As I vigorously rubbed it, a button on my sleeve pricked my lips. Stella stomped on her feet as blood stained them.
“Elizabeth! Don't do this, you're hurt! Scars on your face!”
Whether she said it or not, Elizabeth didn't stop resisting. Then, I took out the accessories I was wearing and threw them on the ground.
Stella was shocked by the violent behavior. Elizabeth said desperately, hugging her.
"Mom, promise me. you will go out with me
“… … .”
"If mom says she can't go out, I'll go see the duke right now."
"Ellie!"
"So promise me. You said you wouldn't meet the duke again, and you said you'd walk out of here with me.
Stella reluctantly nodded, crying at the words of her daughter dripping with blood.
