MPO

CHAPTER XXV-26

Joy was palpable in her voice. To an outsider, she might have seemed a gentle stepmother treating a daughter not her own as if she were. However, each time Sarah was kind to her, Leila was reminded of everything that had been taken away.

Initially, her mother’s position was lost, and after that, those who had truly cared for her were wrenched away from her. Her reputation and part of her mother’s inheritance followed, and finally, her presence in this mansion was erased.

Had Anna not stayed by her side until the end, it was easy to imagine the treatment she would have received as a blind person who could not see ahead.

“A marriage proposal?”

“Count, the Marchioness has someone in mind for her. Count Wagner, a true gentleman appropriate for his age, and quite impressive indeed. He resides not far from the capital, in a fiefdom rich with mines and good soil, drawing many settlers.”

“Are there any unmarried lords near the capital?”

“Umm, he is unmarried. His previous wife passed away, so all Leila needs from her husband is love since he already has an heir.”

“Not bad.”

“Of course. He’s a passionate alpha, but since he’s an alpha, he’ll suit the omega Leila, won’t he?”

“…Yes, betas with betas, omegas should marry alphas for mutual happiness. It’s disgusting to think about their mating seasons.”

“Moreover, as a gift for his bride’s family, he’s offering a mine producing rubies just like my hair color, isn’t he?”

Despite there being a term for dowry, the way her father demeaned her and her omega mother by referring to it as a bride price made Leila clench her fists so hard her nails dug in.

She was sick of being treated like an object, sick of these nauseating conversations. With a resigned sigh, Leila thought this was all she could expect.

“Wow, I’m so jealous of you, Sister. It’s rare these days to find a man who offers a mine as a gift before the wedding, isn’t it, Mom?”

“Yes, Amel.”

“Elder Sister is so lucky. I’ll visit when you’re married.”

Without asking her, they had decided among themselves, and Leila could no longer bear it. She was too exhausted from the day.

“If you’re done talking, I’ll go up.”

“Yes, Mom will prepare your dowry well.”

“Understood.”

With a curt reply, Leila tapped her cane and slowly exited the office. While she left, her family was too busy talking among themselves to offer any help.

It was not surprising that the same people who mocked her blindness offered no help when she actually needed it.

As soon as she left the office, Anna approached.

“Miss.”

Without her, Leila’s life might have been even darker.

“Anna.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

Anna smiled shyly in response.

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Leila tightly held Anna’s hand, hoping that the Duke would come to see her just once more. Despite having met him only a few times, she trusted him more than her own family.