ITETP Chapter 24

Miona, what should I do? Huh?

 

As soon as she got home, Allice frantically searched for Miona. However, Miona was not at the mansion, having gone to visit her grandmother at a nursing home.

 

“Milady, do you have any good ideas?” Eric, the manager in charge of the Moonlight Flower project, asked with a weary face. His eyes held a glimmer of hope. “There must be a breakthrough. Please offer your wise opinion.”

 

“Y-Yes…”

 

“If anyone can do it, it’s you, Milady. You’re a capable person, after all.”

 

Despite Eric’s words, his eyes were full of doubt. Just a few days ago, he had looked at her with admiration.

 

What’s that look? He thinks I’m completely incompetent. That was the look he gave Allice!

 

No. It can’t be like this. This was something Allice had built with her effort. But how could it crumble so quickly?

 

F-First, stay calm. I need to gather information. Miona had always said that ‘information collection and field investigation’ are the most important aspects of business.

 

I should visit the black market.

 

The place where the first illegal transaction of the moonlight flowers occurred was said to be a large tavern in the backstreets of the city called ‘The Red Boots.’

 

Feeling scared to go alone, Allice quietly headed to Carl’s room. She intended to ask her dad to accompany her, but—

 

“How could you do this!”

 

A tearing scream echoed from inside the room. It was Sandra’s voice!

 

“How could you expel Huan from the Windsor family?! How!”

 

“Do you know what that b*stard did?”

 

Her dad, who usually tried to calm her mom down, didn’t back down this time.

 

“Huan is the mastermind behind the crash of the moonlight flowers, Sandra.”

 

“D-Don’t be ridiculous. Do you have proof? Do you?!”

 

“You better hope we don’t find any proof. If we do, not just Huan but we all will be in trouble.”

 

Allice was shocked. Her parents were fighting like this? And Uncle Huan was the culprit behind the crash of the moonlight flower market?

 

The sudden situation left her confused, but Allice pulled herself together and turned away. L-Let’s pretend I didn’t hear any of that.

 

She considered bringing guards with her but gave up.

 

If she tried this hard but achieved nothing—

 

“You are a capable person.”

 

Eric’s words would become confirmed doubt. People would believe she got this far just by luck, and everyone would be disappointed. That would be such a disgrace—

 

N-No. I’m not afraid of being humiliated. I just don’t want people to lose hope.

 

With determination, Allice pulled her hood deep over her head. Yes, even if it’s scary, she must be brave—for their sake.

 

It’s scary, but let’s go to the tavern alone. I can do it.

 

She could help her parents make up later. As for Uncle Huan… she decided just to keep that in mind for now.

 

* * *

It was a few hours later. Allice regretted her bold decision.

 

“What are you doing! Spin that roulette properly!”

 

‘The Red Boots’ was no ordinary tavern. It was a pub, an illegal trading den, and a gambling house.

 

“Wahaha. This round, I’m taking it all!”

 

“Damn it. Cut that guy’s wrist off!”

 

And everyone was clearly drunk.

 

S-Scary. Allice clutched her robe tightly and nervously scanned her surroundings. This was where the first trade that caused the moonlight flower crash supposedly took place. So if she wanted information, it had to be here…

 

Maybe the person responsible for the crash is here right now.

 

While she was glancing around, checking each face—

 

“Allice?”

 

Someone grabbed my hand abruptly. Startled, she was about to jerk away when…

 

“…Uncle Huan?”

 

It took her a moment to recognize him. Huan, her uncle who had been missing for days.

 

“Uncle, what are you doing…” She trailed off.

 

Huan looked terrible. His face was swollen like he’d been stung by bees. His two front teeth and two bottom teeth were broken.

 

Allice was shocked by his ruined appearance. She had only heard that he was hit three times by her dad. But could just three hits have done this?

 

“Your dad did this to me and kicked me out of the Windsor family.” Huan spat out, his voice reeking of alcohol. “He said he’d kill me if I approached Danae again. How could my brother-in-law do this to me, huh?”

 

“U-Uncle.”

 

She had known he was expelled, but not that he’d been beaten to such a pulp.

 

That can’t be. Dad isn’t a violent man. But then again… Dad hit me too. Moreover, with a cane. Just because of Dana. Right, Sister Dana.

 

Suddenly, it clicked. Dad turned violent because of Sister Dana. He hit me with a cane also because of Sister Dana. What if Sister Dana has deliberately caused this? Jealous of Dad’s affection for me, manipulating things wickedly from behind? Why would Sister Dana do such a thing?

 

Suddenly, Dana’s calm face flashed in her mind. At her engagement ceremony and at the celebration of the moonlight flower business—Dana always seemed relaxed and in control.

 

Is she denying reality… and trying to destroy it?

 

It was clear that Dana was determined to destroy the unacceptable reality, the reality in which Allice had become the protagonist.

 

“Your business will fail within a month.”

 

That’s why she confidently hurled such a curse.

 

Allice’s lips trembled, tears welling in her eyes. “It’s because of Sister Dana…”

 

“What?”

 

“Sister Dana… she’s jealous of me…”

 

“Huh? That’s ridiculous.”

 

Huan looked at her as if she was talking nonsense. But soon, he smirked. Realization flickered in his eyes as he nodded.

 

“I think so too, Allice.”

 

“Re-Really?”

 

“Yes. And there’s more. My brother-in-law is completely blinded by Danae’s wealth. Danae is ruining him.” Huan whispered slyly. “So isn’t it better to get Danae out of the Windsor family?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Danae. Just bring her to me.”

 

“B-But, how could I…”

 

“It’s for the sake of family! Danae is ruining everything!”

 

Allice hiccupped.

 

“My brother-in-law, your dad, did this to me this time. But next, it could be you! He’s gone completely mad!”

 

“No! L-Let me go!”

 

Then Huan’s eyes started to gleam with anger. “Take responsibility and do something, Allice! If you hadn’t meddled in the moonlight flower business, none of this would have happened!”

 

He’s lost his mind! Allice struggled with all her might and ran away.

 

Flustered, Huan chased after Allice and grabbed her. “I’m sorry. Don’t go, Allice! I just said that in the heat of the moment!”

 

“Let me go!”

 

“Forget what I just said. Okay? I didn’t mean it, Allice.” Huan slumped his shoulders, feigning frailty, and spoke pitifully. “If I disappear like this, Sandra will be heartbroken. You know how much your mother cares for me.”

 

“S-Still!”

 

“Let me at least say goodbye to her. Please, Allice. I’m begging you.”

 

“…”

 

“Or at least let me apologize to my brother-in-law. They’re the only family I have left. I don’t want to be completely cut off like this.”

 

Allice bit her lip, anxiety, and confusion washing over her. What should I do?

 

Then, Huan tearfully grasped her hand and said, “You’re a good girl, Allice.”

 

“…”

 

“I know everything. You can’t be wicked enough to force me and my sister to part forever.”

 

Huan’s words were right. She wasn’t that wicked.

 

That had always been Allice’s problem. The problem of being too kind.