"However, I'm a little curious. What about me upset you so much that you tried to kill me?"
"Miss Evely. It's a mistake. We have been mean to you, but we have no connection to the attempt to kill you. Really."
"Tell that to the judge."
Evely spoke sternly and took another step back. Then she stared at the couple for a moment, laughed casually, and turned to leave.
"It is said that children are a reflection of their parents."
Evely spoke without turning back to look at the couple. Their expressions stiffened due to her remark, but Evely couldn't see it. Even if she had seen it, she wouldn't have cared, as she considered them enemies.
"When I compare you to Rashta, that phrase fits the bill perfectly, although she grew up separated from you. Your other daughter must be just as despicable as the three of you."
The Isqua couple couldn't hold back their tears. They wanted to tell her the truth, but neither could speak due to the lumps in their throats.
With every echo of Evely's footsteps on the stairs, their hearts fluttered. When the door slammed shut, they collapsed on the floor and burst into tears.
After a while, Viscountess Isqua clenched her fists and said bitterly,
"We won't tell her we're her parents."
When Viscount Isqua looked at her in surprise, she crossed her arms around her chest and whispered,
"She hates us deeply. How can we tell her that we are her parents? If she knew, it would hurt her to remember what we have done to her, and it would also hurt her to remember what she has said to us."
"You're right, my wife."
Viscount Isqua reflected for a moment, and then he punched the wall with determination.
"We won't reveal the truth to Evely. But we have to deal with Rashta, who hid our real daughter from us and caused us to hurt her."
"That's right. Besides, if Rashta gets her way, she'll definitely try to hurt Evely."
"Yes, Rashta might have worsened the carriage incident. She might have ordered the same man we hired to cause an accident that would kill Evely."
The Isqua's statements at the trial were true. They had given an order to cause an accident that would scare Evely away. They never ordered the man they hired to kill her.
At the time, they deeply despised Evely, but had no intention of taking her life.
After the incident, they wondered how such a big misunderstanding happened. But, until that moment, they never thought that Rashta could be involved.
However, they changed their minds upon learning that Rashta had hidden Evely's true identity. Now, Rashta seemed evil enough to order Evely's assassination.
The couple exchanged cold glances.
Rashta was the current empress, so even if they testified against her in Evely's case she would only receive an insignificant punishment. That wouldn't be enough to take revenge on Rashta.
"We have to do whatever it takes to remove Rashta from Evely's life so that she doesn't hurt her again."
***
"Why...?"
Heinley suddenly announced that he would test the knowledge and ability in basic martial arts of the noble children who had not made their debut in high society.
I did not understand him at all. Noble families had private tutors to educate their children based on their preferences. Was it really necessary for Heinley to intervene like this?
