ILOIML 30

Chapter 30

Walter suddenly slammed the table with both palms and stood up at my words.

“Walter, Bella. Both of you, stop it. What are you doing during a meal?”

At the Marchioness’s words, Walter clenched his fists, lips trembling in anger.

“Walter!!”

The Marchioness called his name in a firm but gentle voice. Walter looked at her, scoffed, and slumped back into his seat.

‘This household is a mess.’

I shook my head and clicked my tongue. Lewen came in with our meals on a tray. Watching her place the plates in front of us, I couldn’t help but ask.

“Is Lewen the only servant in this villa? I haven’t seen anyone else.”

Lewen paused while placing the dish. The Marchioness let out a laugh.

“How could Lewen manage this large villa all by herself? Say something that makes sense. The other servants are on vacation because we came here suddenly for rest. Lewen just had bad luck being the one left behind.”

“It’s alright. I don’t mind.”

Lewen resumed placing the plates. Her cooking skills weren’t great. The food looked unappetizing and killed my appetite. I took a small bite of the meat anyway. It tasted better than it looked. The meat reminded me of Leon.

‘I wonder if he enjoyed that huge steak.’

A quiet chuckle escaped me.

“What are you smiling like an idiot for? Don’t tell me you’re thinking about your bed-wetting husband. Please say no. If you’re seriously thinking about Leon Aster, just go die.”

“Let’s not even talk.”

I buried my head in the food, ignoring the Marchioness’s ramblings about memories with my father.

‘They were never close. Why go on and on like that?’

Once I was somewhat full, I stopped eating. Any more and I’d get sick.

“I’ll stay tonight because it’s late, but I’ll leave tomorrow, even if my father doesn’t regain consciousness.”

I wiped my mouth as I spoke. The Marchioness placed her fork on the table.

“You’re so heartless.”

“I’m just sticking to my schedule. Why say such hurtful things?”

“We took in a beggar like you and made you the Archduchess, and now you act like the world is beneath you? And your idiot husband being an Archduke?”

Words without any thought came pouring out of her refined mouth. If it had been true, I might’ve gotten upset, but it wasn’t worth it. I sighed and shook my head.

“We gave you everything you asked for. Bought you anything you wanted. You lived without lacking anything. But when I asked for one thing, you heartlessly refused. Now, when things are like this, you won’t even see your father?”

That request again.

“Why are you so obsessed with me? A beggar, huh? I’m more worried he’ll faint again if he sees me.”

“I won’t back down this time. I’ll take care of everything afterward. Just see your father before you go. That’s the least you can do for our family.”

I sighed and leaned back, biting my lip.

‘What should I do?’

The deep wine in my glass reflected my face. No—Bella’s face.

‘What do you think, Bella?’

The wine sparkled under the light, as if Bella were responding. After all, he was still our father. Why did Bella come to this house so often, despite everything? Whether I liked it or not, I was Bella now. I couldn’t say no—it felt like the last courtesy I could give her.

“Alright. I’ll see him before I leave.”

The Marchioness lit up and nodded eagerly.

Walter, on the other hand, stared at me intensely. I smiled at him.

“Lend me the communication stone you used to contact me.”

“That? Lewen broke it while cleaning.”

“Of course.”

I went back to my room and told Amy and Mary the sad news that I’d stay until the Marquess woke up. Then I sat at my desk and wrote a short letter to Leon. A knight took it and left for Aster.

“Tell Lewen if you need anything.”

“Yes, understood.”

Amy and Mary left the room. I sat tapping the desk. The thought of seeing the Marchioness and Walter for days made me dizzy. Should I have just kept my mouth shut? Whose sake was I even doing this for?

The world was ending soon. People would all be struggling to survive. Was I really wasting my time worrying about the death of someone like him?

It would’ve been better to spend this time flattering Leon to secure my future.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Bella.”

It was Walter. Why was he here at this hour? I held my breath and stayed silent.

“Bella!!”

He knocked again, calling my name. When I didn’t respond, the door opened.

What kind of lunatic just walks into someone’s room without permission? Where were Amy and Mary?

Walter poked his head in, looked around, and spotted me.

“You were in here. Why didn’t you answer?”

“Who barges into someone’s room like that?”

“That doesn’t matter. You need to leave.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Go. Go back to your idiot husband.”

“Why should I?”

Walter looked serious. Then he grabbed my shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

“Just go. Father isn’t going to wake up.”

“What… what do you mean?”

“Mother killed him. The one lying in bed is a corpse.”

I was speechless. My whole body went numb. Should I believe him? I didn’t trust him either. But his expression didn’t seem like he was lying.

“Go now. Why did you even come back after all that abuse? You’re seriously so dumb. After everything, do you still not understand Mother?”

“…”

The Marchioness, a murderer. It felt like a horror story. So she was living with a corpse? She was insane. Why did she kill the Marquess?

“Why? Why did Mother kill him?”

“We both know the answer. Everyone does. I even let her do it. But blaming you for it? That’s too much.”

She’d clearly treated the other family members the same way she treated me. I saw the hatred in Walter’s eyes as he spoke.

“She’s going to blame me?”

My head spun. This was a mess. I was already doing everything to survive monsters, and now I’d be accused of murder too?

“She must’ve asked you to kill Father.”

So that “request” was to kill the Marquess? If I became a murderer, Leon would suffer the consequences too.

“Why are you helping me?”

“Because you’re too dumb to help yourself. You really don’t think, do you?”

Walter roughly patted my head. His eyes were filled with worry. I pulled away but looked into his eyes.

“What will you do? If I leave, won’t Mother be the murderer? It might be okay for now, but if Father never returns to the capital, people will look for him.”

“Wow, you really strained your brain to get that far, huh? Save it. I don’t want your concern.I let fear control me and let things go this far, so I’ll take responsibility.”