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Chapter 38

-Chapter 38-

"If you're going to betray us, do it. Because when you're worthless, I'll kill you and hold the Ludwigs responsible."

I understood Sophia's point, even as tears welled in my eyes from the suffocating pain in my throat.

She'd be able to make it look like I'd been murdered by someone in the Ludwig family, and use my death as a weapon to stab the Ludwigs.

No one would ever imagine that Count Rigelhoff, who was famously fond of his daughter, would have killed her.

'This is why he pretended to love me.'

They are truly terrible people, so terrible that Count Sinclair seems more human.

Just as my mind was going blank, Sophia released her grip on my neck.

I choked frantically and wrapped my arms around my stiff neck.

"So, if you don't want to die, just be a pretty little doll like you've always been."

Sophia's voice was eerie.

But I didn't feel the slightest bit like giving in to her.

Edith, who has been abused since she was a child, may be afraid of Sophia, but I know she can't be the one to kill her.

In this world, the only person set to kill Edith is Killian Ludwig.

Not some shitty extra whose death is never explained.

"You're going to regret this, Sophia," I said, my voice hoarse.

I thought she was going to slap me again, but she just looked down at me with a ridiculous look.

* * *

Killian

I fiddled with the embroidery of a light gray bird biting a laurel leaf, lost in thought.

The day after I returned from my inspection of the Ryzen estate, it was the day before Countess Ermenia's annual bazaar.

In fact, my only impression of the event was, "I'm tired, and I have to go there tomorrow."

Until I heard the news from my mother.

"And Edith embroidered a bird on her handkerchief, do you know what color it is?" She asked me.

"Why would I know that, does it matter?"

"Hohoho. It's the color of your eyes."

"......huh?"

"She embroidered it while thinking of you. Isn't that cute?"

The answer was so unexpected.

My mother laughed, saying that Edith had even told her not to tell me, but I wondered what Edith had meant by that.

'Maybe she was just trying to impress my mother.'

When I arrived at the bazaar the next day, I realized that Edith, Lizé, and Cliff had all gone to walk around in the bazaar, so I followed them.

But because I was late, I saw that Edith and Lizé had already returned from their walk.

Just as I was about to feign ignorance, a group of women blocked their path.

'Countess Breen? I hear she's gone down to the estate to recuperate, but she's back.'

The Countess of Breen had a reputation for being outspoken, but her position as Countess of Breen and her caring nature meant that she had many followers.