Chapter 90
She looked like she’d been through a lot in the past few days, possibly because of the stress, the environment around her had changed. She had lost a lot of weight, and her thin ankles wobbled dangerously, like they might break at any moment as she approached the bars.
Her once shiny golden hair was now greasy and tangled. The sweet scent of perfume that used to cling to her body had been replaced by a foul odor.
Amanda, who had a weak stomach, stepped back in disgust.
“Ugh, don’t come any closer. You really look terrible.”
“Haha… yeah, it’s a bit much, isn’t it?”
Ella gave a shy laugh and stepped back.
Amanda frowned at the smell, but she couldn’t help but admire Ella’s beauty—even in this state. Covered in grime, she still looked like a fallen angel. Amanda, who valued beauty above all, truly felt it was a waste. No one would look better next to her son than Ella.
“Thank you for coming to see me right away.”
“You should be grateful.”
Amanda lifted her chin high.
“I only came because I’m soft-hearted and because of our history together.”
“I’m always thankful. I know you’ve always cared about me a lot.”
Ella placed her hands on her chest as she spoke, and Amanda made a strange face.
“Well, I used to care.”
It was clearly in the past.
Ella’s smile froze for a moment, but Amanda didn’t seem to care. She yawned and asked:
“So, why did you call me, Ella?”
“I’ll tell you. But first…”
Ella paused and looked at the guard. He blushed and coughed awkwardly.
“Ahem! I’ll leave you two alone.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Vector. You really are a good person.”
“Ah, n-not at all…”
“No need to be modest. Whoever marries you will be lucky.”
Hearing that, Vector puffed out his chest proudly and grinned.
“R-Really? I don’t think anyone needs to be jealous though…”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, nothing! Ahem! Well then, I hope you two have a pleasant time.”
He hummed a tune as he walked away with exaggerated steps—showing no hint of professionalism.
“You’ve really charmed that man.”
“Charmed? We’ve only talked a few times. Madam.”
“Madam?”
Amanda covered her lower face with her fan. Her sharp eyes narrowed even more.
“Girl, I’m not your mother anymore.”
“Ah… right.”
“From now on, call me Lady Amanda properly. And just so you know—I’m not going to help you. You’re not my daughter, and I’ve got no reason to go out of my way for you. Understand?”
Amanda drew a clear line. Ella slowly closed her eyes, then opened them again.
“I’ll be sure to mind how I address you, Lady Amanda. But I’m a little hurt. I always thought of you as a mother.”
“What can I say? You got yourself dumped.”
“Still…”
Ella whispered softly:
“I did do some things for you behind Kaiden’s back, remember?”
“…!”
Amanda’s brows lifted. Ella was clearly referring to the private estate Amanda used for her “hobbies.”
“You’re not trying to blackmail me, are you?”
“Well…”
Ella didn’t deny it.
“It depends on whether you’ll grant my request.”
“Hah!”
Amanda snapped her fan shut with a sneer.
“You’re trying to threaten me from inside a jail cell? What do you think you can do?”
Amanda turned away, regretting that she had even come. She thought she would’ve been better off spending time with her favorite servant instead.
Then Ella called after her.
“Lady Amanda, do you really think I can’t do anything from in here?”
Amanda instinctively stopped at the eerily calm voice.
“Why do you think I gave you that estate? Because I wanted to look good as your future daughter-in-law?”
Ella laughed as if the idea was absurd.
Amanda turned back, eyes slightly teary and red with rage.
“If you want to believe I’m powerless, go ahead.”
Ella smiled with a sparkle in her golden eyes.
“But if the testimony of one of your old servants made it into the gossip papers, and stories about your dirty little secrets spread through society… I think Kaiden would love that.”
“Ella!”
Amanda couldn’t take it anymore and threw her fan at her. It hit Ella’s shoulder through the bars.
But Ella didn’t flinch. Instead, she stepped even closer and smirked as if daring Amanda to try again.
“Yes, Lady Amanda? Did you call me?”
Amanda stormed up to the bars, shouting with fury.
“Which of my old servants did you seduce?”
“I can’t tell you that. But do you think it was just one? Maybe two? Maybe more?”
Ella reached out through the bars and suddenly grabbed Amanda’s hand with a firm grip.
“If you want to know, help me. It’s not a loss for you—your son is the next duke anyway.”
“…”
“If not, well, you can read all about it in the papers after my trial next week.”
Her beautiful golden eyes sparkled dangerously. For a moment, Ella—still stunning despite her ragged look—appeared chilling and creepy.
Amanda gulped.
The grip on her hand felt like a snake crawling up her arm. She tried to pull away, but Ella only held on tighter.
She could see it clearly now—Ella would do whatever it took to get what she wanted. And if she failed, she would drag Amanda down with her.
‘Damn her.’
Amanda had once liked her and even tried to help her fix things with Kaiden.
‘And this is how she repays me.’
Amanda clenched her jaw. She had no choice now.
“…Tell me what you want.”
After all, her son Kaiden was the next duke. Better to take a small loss than live with shame forever.
Ella’s eyes sparkled with victory.
“You made the right choice, Lady Amanda.”
Time passed. It was the day of another volunteer visit to the orphanage.
I leaned back in the carriage, listening to Anna and Finn whispering behind me.
‘Harold should be there by now.’
He left earlier than me, so he probably arrived already.
I stared out the window, going over my plan one last time.
I would take the 5,000 gold from Harold and open a bank account under a fake name to buy a house in the Prolang Kingdom. Then, I’d apply for immigration under that name, find a smuggler ship, and escape in secret.
The money I had tied up in investments could be recovered later through the Anais Guild—so I wouldn’t worry about that now.
‘So next time, I’ll ask him to apply for immigration and find a house.’
Once everything was set, I’d just need the boat—and then I’d be gone.
“Gone…”
The word stuck in my throat like sandpaper.
Soon, the carriage gently stopped. We had arrived.
I stepped out with the help of a guard, but froze at what I saw.
“Ma’am?”
Anna and Finn behind me gasped.
Children were crying in the yard, and the headmistress was trying to calm them down.
Madam Mayer and the other adults all looked upset.
I looked around carefully and walked toward them.
Sensing my approach, Madam Mayer turned her head. I gave her a polite nod.
“Madam Mayer, something seems off today. What happened?”
She furrowed her brow, then slowly opened her mouth.
“Well…”
