TEWRIT 54

Episode 54

“Yes, yes! Please just check that Lady Eliano is still pure! We’ll all leave the room except for Pamela!”

At that, Duke Rosana finally calmed a little and loosened his grip. His daughter was the most desirable bride in the Empire—of course, even someone like Duke Howard would want her. He had to.

Eliano, gasping for air, pulled herself out of his grasp. Pamela tried to help her up, but Eliano pushed her away and shouted,

“Let go! Everything written in that proposal is true! There’s no need to strip me to check!”

The room froze.

The aides who had been rushing to leave stopped in place, stunned.

Eliano had to speak quickly—before her father lashed out again. If possible, she wanted to end this without more violence.

“Being the Grand Duchess of Howard isn’t such a bad thing! What’s wrong with a noble lady marrying him? His grandfather was once Crown Prince and the son of the former emperor. His bloodline is noble!”

Pamela shook her head wildly as if to say “Stop,” but Eliano scoffed.

“I’ve already taken him as my husband.”

Looking at her father’s furious face, Eliano knew there’d be no peaceful ending. She took a deep breath and raised the stakes.

“Who knows? Maybe I’m already carrying his child.”

Duke Rosana looked like he would explode. Eliano felt fear—yet strangely also satisfaction.

Her voice trembled, but she continued.

“Flint and I have spent countless nights together—like the stars.”

Her father’s face turned red with rage. He grabbed her again, and aides rushed to pull him off her.

“You filthy girl! You’ve ruined everything!! You dare go against me?!”

Once again, Eliano couldn’t breathe.

But then—smack. The pain came sharp and fast.

Pamela had stepped aside. The duke had started hitting her himself. Eliano curled up, gasping.

It was a familiar pain. But it still made her body tremble. It broke down even the strongest resolve.

Tears flowed. The sobs caught in her throat.

Pamela looked at her with a hard expression, silently mouthing “Beg for forgiveness.”

Eliano’s eyes flared.

Why should I beg?

Her father had just tried to kill her. Even in Zacador, where women’s purity was strictly guarded, the first to be punished was always the man, not the daughter. That was paternal love, at least.

But her father didn’t even have that.

“I’ll end this today. Tie her down tight!”

Fear was no longer stronger than her fury. Eliano raised her hand and shoved Pamela away. She didn’t have much strength, but she scratched a red mark down the old woman’s face.

Pamela glared and grabbed her again, shaking her violently.

Eliano screamed. Her ears rang. Her body couldn’t stay upright.

I should’ve gotten rid of Pamela’s other hand when I had the chance…

Then Duke Rosana growled low.

“I had a bad feeling. Even when Pamela said you weren’t in your room, I still believed in you.”

Pamela had seen Eliano sneak out the night before with Jane. Later, only Jane returned and warned the maids not to enter the room.

Pamela, curious, had peeked inside—and found only pillows in the bed.

She’d wanted to report it earlier, but the duke had been out on urgent business. By the time he returned and saw her written report, he’d still refused to believe it… until he saw the proposal letter on his desk.

“You dare defy me?! I told you to protect your dignity and honor as a Lady of Rosana!”

His booming voice filled the office.

He completely lost control.

“You said a Grand Duchess was good enough?! Don’t be ridiculous! You were supposed to become the Princess of Zacador!”

His early-morning outing had been for Zacador. They had proposed a marriage alliance—Zacador would send a princess to Bianteca and requested a bride suitable for their Seventh Prince in return.

The obvious choice was Eliano—not her younger sister Isabella, who had only just debuted at age 16. Eliano was of perfect age and status. A noble lady from a founding family. Even more qualified than necessary.

The emperor, Leopold, had approved. Privately, he’d promised Duke Rosana the return of a precious gemstone mine—a mine stolen long ago by Zacador as a test of loyalty.

Duke Rosana had been overjoyed. He’d gladly marry Eliano off for that treasure.

But now? His foolish, lowly daughter had ruined everything.

He was livid.

“Stop it, Father!”

The door slammed open. Isabella ran in.

Duke Rosana froze.

Isabella knelt in front of her sister and sobbed, shielding her.

“Please don’t hurt her! Please, I beg you!”

The duke’s fury doubled.

“Get out of the way!”

“How could you treat her like this?! How can you call yourself our father?!”

Her scream was shrill and tearful.

“You too?! You dare talk back to me after everything I’ve given you?!” His face turned red with anger.

“You’ve been poisoned by her! It’s all Eliano’s fault!!”

He swung his arm violently.

Servants panicked.

“My Lord, it’s the young Lady Isabella!”

“Please calm down! It’s the youngest daughter!”

Terrified, Isabella burst into tears.

Then—BANG—Damian burst in, shielding Isabella with his body.

A blow landed—he groaned and bit his lip.

“You bastard!”

Duke Rosana still raged, even at his son.

Damian wiped the blood from his lip.

“Father, this isn’t Eliano—it’s Isabella!”

The girl trembled in his arms. She couldn’t understand why everyone was treating her sister like this.

More tears came.

“If you go against me, you’ll end up just like your sister!” the duke thundered.

“She’s just a child! Please understand!” Damian shouted.

He looked at Eliano’s limp body with horror.

“Are you really trying to kill her?!”

“You think the royal family of Zacador would accept someone like her?!” the duke screamed. “I made a promise to the emperor!”

Isabella fainted.

Damian caught her tightly.

“She came back without anyone noticing! Zacador won’t ever find out! Just keep it quiet and send her!”

Eliano trembled and, with all her strength, began to speak…