SOWD Chapter 96

What kind of content was exchanged? Could it be that they have already been in contact multiple times?’

Laszlo’s suspicions grew as he heard about letters he had no knowledge of.

Dustin spoke to Idel as if trying to reason with her.

“I understand that you feel hurt by the family, but how could you send such a letter to your father?”

“What was so displeasing about it?”

“W-what? Haha… You’ve changed a lot. Are you saying you’re abandoning your parents and siblings just so you can live comfortably? I don’t remember raising my daughter to be so selfish.”

At his seemingly dignified but accusatory tone, Idel briefly showed a bewildered expression before letting out a hollow laugh.

“Are you laughing?”

“Wasn’t that what you intended with your words?”

Contrary to her words, Idel’s smile gradually faded.

“You said I’m living a life of luxury—do my clothes look better than yours? Is the food I eat superior to what you eat?”

“Don’t twist my words and try to grasp the deeper meaning behind them!”

“You made it sound as if I’m ignoring something important just to maintain my current situation. But what I wear and eat doesn’t hold any great value. I’m not distorting my principles just to live in comfort.”

“Then what was the grand reason for rejecting the hand I extended to you?”

Standing before her father, who looked as if he felt genuinely wronged, Idel felt a strong urge to just shut her mouth. No matter what she said, she knew it wouldn’t get through to him.

But if she remained silent now, it would only be seen as evasion.

Letting go of any expectation that he would understand, Idel began to explain the things he had done to her.

“You keep calling me ‘my daughter, my daughter,’ but you gave up all your rights over me more than a year ago. Thanks to that, you also escaped the responsibilities that came with them.”

“At that time, the family’s survival was at stake—I had no choice! No matter what, one cannot sever the bond between parent and child. Do you think we were at ease all this time? Can you even comprehend the torment of a parent’s heart?”

“Ah… Then, are you saying that you’re looking for me now to return the surname ‘Canyon’ to me?”

“T-that’s…!”

“If you’re questioning my responsibilities as a daughter, then that means you’re also prepared to take on your responsibilities as a parent, correct? Then officially petition His Majesty for my reinstatement and restore my name in the Canyon family registry.”

Idel knew better than anyone that he couldn’t and wouldn’t do that.

Dustin’s hands trembled with rage, unable to find a response.

“Do you have any idea how much I invested in you? There is a limit to ingratitude—how dare you…!”

Investment. Ingratitude.

It had been a long time since she’d heard those words after leaving the Canyon family.

Back then, she believed what her father said was true and even felt guilty about it. She had been young and naïve about the ways of the world.

But now, she knew better.

“You only invested in me for your own benefit, so why should I feel any gratitude? In fact, I fulfilled the duty you assigned me when I was sold to the Duke of Lancaster. That should have been enough.”

“That was all for your own good!”

“For my own good? Do you remember when I knelt before you and begged for the first time in my life? I pleaded for you to stop, crying and starving for days!”

The memory of that miserable time resurfaced, stirring her emotions. But Idel took a deep breath, forcing herself to steady her voice.

“After you sold me off and won the Duke of Lancaster’s favor, you didn’t even bother looking for me. That’s when I realized—my only worth to you was that marriage.”

She knew Dustin was capable of violence, but Idel did not stop speaking.

“After the Duke’s rebellion failed, I could understand why the Canyon family had no choice but to abandon me… I accepted that. So now, you should also stop forcing responsibilities and duties on me. You no longer have the right to do so.”

The moment she finished speaking, there was a sharp thud, and a flash of pain exploded before her eyes. Dustin had struck her head.

“You have nowhere in this world to rely on, and yet you dare to run your mouth so arrogantly! If not for the Canyon name, you would have been nothing more than a plaything!”

Even in his rage, he kept his voice low enough that it wouldn’t be heard beyond the adjacent room. Then, he struck her arm with his fist and kicked her leg.

Just like before, he made sure not to leave any visible injuries.

“Ugh…! Ngh…!”

Idel unconsciously swallowed her cries. Just like she used to.

“Do you think this would have been the end of your life if it weren’t for our family? Without us, you are nothing! You worthless insect…!”

Dustin’s hand, which had been about to grab Idel’s hair in a fit of rage, stopped when he thought he heard a clattering noise from somewhere.

He quickly looked around and held his breath. When no further sounds came, he exhaled roughly and continued in a threatening tone.

“Dragging you out of this house is nothing. Do you think I can’t even do that?”

“Then why don’t you throw me out onto the streets? Why did you bow your head to Count Chrysus?”

Despite being beaten for so long, Idel’s gaze did not waver. Dustin clenched his teeth.

The Idel of the past was not like this.

She was a meek and obedient child who would lower her head and beg for forgiveness with just a harsh scolding.

‘She must have shown her true colors after living among lowly mercenaries, doing filthy work!’

This was exactly the concern when they had bought the child of a distant commoner relative. The fear that her lowly bloodline would eventually reveal itself.

But now, it didn’t matter anymore.

As long as Idel fulfilled her final duty here, whatever happened afterward was of no concern.

“I am thinking of a way to restore your honor. Will you live a miserable life with the disgrace of having sold your body to a lowly mercenary, or will you reclaim the dignity of a noble lady who understands honor? Think carefully until we meet again. Unless you’ve lost your mind, the answer should be obvious.”

His words were supposedly for his daughter’s sake, but there was not a speck of affection or concern in them.

Regaining his composure, Dustin straightened his clothes and swiftly turned away.

“I will send a letter in Ludmilla’s name next time.”

“Don’t send it. I won’t reply.”

Idel quickly responded, but he ignored her and strode toward the drawing room door.

Margaret, who had been waiting outside, gave a slight bow.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“I will inform Count Chrysus. Please wait a moment.”

But there was no need for her to call for Laszlo. The office door soon opened, and Laszlo emerged.

“I heard the door open, so I came out. You’re leaving already? It hasn’t even been thirty minutes….”

“Ah, haha. I wouldn’t want to overstay my welcome and wait until the Count urges me to leave. Besides, my daughter seemed rather anxious….”

“Anxious?”

“She probably thinks our relationship is strained. Since she is bound to this place, she must be careful not to displease you.”

Laszlo’s eyes darkened at those words, and Dustin hastily added a justification.

“Ah, of course, I don’t mean to say that the Count is mistreating her! Women are naturally timid and worry about unnecessary things. Hahaha!”

“I’ve never met a woman as bold as Idel, so that is quite an amusing remark. In any case… I shall escort you to the entrance.”

Maintaining his composure as the head of the household, Laszlo treated Dustin as a guest until the end.

However, the moment Dustin’s carriage disappeared, his face hardened with fury, and he turned sharply. His gaze landed on Idel, who was descending the stairs.

He rushed up the stairs toward her and grabbed her wrist firmly.

“B—Baron…?”

Idel called out to him, but he said nothing and simply pulled her along.

She assumed he was going to interrogate her.

Laszlo had been the one investigating the Lancaster Duke’s rebellion, so there was no way he was unaware of the ties between the Canyon Count and the Lancaster Duke.

‘He must be suspicious of my father coming to see me.’

Idel had no intention of helping Dustin or the Canyon household. She would proclaim her innocence.

But whether he chose to believe her or not was entirely up to Laszlo.

She could hear the fragile peace she had painstakingly built starting to crack.

As soon as they entered the office, Laszlo slammed the door shut. He took a deep breath, as if he were about to say something, then turned toward her.

However, seeing Idel looking up at him with empty, indifferent eyes, he clenched his teeth and looked away.

He seemed confused, unsure of what to do.

The one who broke the awkward silence was Idel.

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