Now facing the fact that we're really parting, I shook my head calmly.
"Even if I get caught, I will take it myself, so you do not have to worry about it."
"Bella, you don't have to do that much.."
"Exactly. I did this much, but aren't you being too negligent, sister?
"Huh?"
What is she talking about now?
My older sister opened her eyes wide and looked at my face. You might have thought it was strange, but I was just about to start.
"Did you see my belongings? I have lived in this house for 20 years, and all I have is in that chest. Don't you feel anything as a human?"
"T-That is because... Bella, you were not greedy.."
"So, you believed that, not just to justify yourself?"
"..."
"Isn't that weird? We share the same blood, but one sister has desires for something, while the other doesn't have one?"
I pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief and fiddled with it.
From a distance, the knights would think that we were about to wipe away our tears, but the truth was the sisters in front of me were deeply taken aback.
"S-So, what are you going to do about it? We were so worried about you earlier.."
"That was because you don't want to feel bad about yourself. However, I don't want to regret not venting my frustration, so I am going to get it right."
"What do you want?!"
"What do you mean by 'what'? Compens-- No, payment."
As soon as I talked about money, I smiled and raised the corner of my mouth. My sisters took a step back, and I took the same step forward.
"I have worked in this house for free for 20 years, and even though it was my devotion as a sister, it's different this time. There should be a life pension, right?"
"Come on... You are leaving, right? You said if you go, everyone could live--"
"That's right. I am leaving to marry 'that' person instead of the two of you."
"..."
"The incarnation of evil, the master of murder, the bloody Grand Duke. Also... the cursed beast."
One by one.
When I mentioned his dreary nicknames one by one, my sisters' faces turned white. Swinging a pair of swords in front of their eyes would have been less frightening than this.
However, Melanie who came to her senses and raised her pride even though she was breathing hard.
"So what are you going to do? Bella, if you don't go, we will be all sentenced together. Even your beloved Rose and father."
"That's funny. Why are you taking yourself out?"
"What?"
"Same goes for you. For me, it doesn't matter if I go or not; the result will be the same. It is nice to have someone die with anyway. "
Welcome to reality, sisters.
I pretended to beckon to them as if I was at the threshold of the underworld. They swallowed their saliva with a face that they didn't even know they had right now.
"B-Bella! Are you really going to be like this?"
"Yes. If you understand now, give me all that you have."
"You know, we don't have any money…."
"Sister Melanie's bookshelf. At the end of the second row, 5,000 Gold in the bookmarked 'Economy and Chaos in the North' and 3,000 Gold in the bookmarked 'Empire's Applied Accounting'. As for sister Elijah, instead of money, bring all the emerald jewel pins and ruby brooches you got from your exes."
"How did you know about that?!"
"What do you mean 'how'? Who do you think cleaned up this house all this time? A maid?"
You are so naive.
I suppressed my giggles and kept my expression stern. We didn't have much time.
"I will give you one minute."
"Bella! How could you do that! If you said it sooner, I would have prepared it in advance!"
"If I had told you in advance, you would have hidden everything. Do you think I do not know you, sister?"
"You--"
"You really do not want to? Sure, then. Excuse me, Sir Jerome! I think I haven't told you my name earlier--"
"W-We understand! We will give it all to you!"
They ran inside like lightning. Who would have imagined that those were the ones who stuck to the bed and floor like a melted pudding?
Seeing Sir Jerome approaching me and asking what was going on, I shook my head.
"No, everything is fine. I was just feeling heartbroken when saying goodbye to my sisters... Lastly, I would like to say goodbye to my father."
"Be-Bella."
When I grabbed his collar tightly, my father froze.
Even when I was collecting payment from my sisters, he was stunned; thus, he just stood still. Then, when it was his turn, he didn't seem to be able to talk.
Tsk, tsk. How did you gamble with that kind of guts?
"Don't worry. I ask you for money, father."
"Bella."
"You don't have any money to give, so I will ask you for money. However, remember this one thing. Wherever you go in this world, parents who sell their children don't deserve to be considered as parents."
"..."
As Sir Jerome was watching, I held my handkerchief and patted the corner of my eyes with it.
No matter what my father's face looks like, I was saying goodbye to the one who gave me life, so I couldn't say I wasn't sad.
"I guess this is a goodbye, mister."
"..."
My twenty years of neglect ended by leaning my head against my father's empty pocket and patting it. From now on, I am the one who gets to decide whether my soul remains with me.
The inside of the seemingly terrifying carriage was surprisingly comfortable.
Aside from the all-black color of choice, everything from the velvet seat to the handle was of the highest quality.
How did I know that even though I have never seen a high-quality product?
Because no matter how much I thought about it, there was no way there could be anything of better quality than these.
"Huh…"
As I leaned against the soft backrest, my whole body seemed to melt.
I was struck with anguish and sighed as I wondered if it was really okay to give up my life like this.
Still, if I was more comfortable to be here than at home, I could have guessed how hard Bella's life had been.
"Lady, our destination is three days away. There are no villages where you can stay or rest on the way, so I am afraid you will have to sleep in the carriage. Are you okay with that?"
"Sir Jerome."
"We have prepared bedding and food in the carriage. If anything is lacking, you could tell me anytime."
Sir Jerome's voice came from outside the window.
I straightened my back with a little admiration of the surprisingly attentive side of him.
Now is not the time to be immersed in the sentiment of leaving home.
"I want you to take a little rest now. May I?"
"Of course."
Considering that he was thoroughly polite, he wouldn't open the door without permission, but there was nothing wrong with making it clear.
Hearing the sound of Jerome's horse moving away, I looked outside.
"Wow…"
The scent of wide plains and green meadows.
These were things that I had never experienced as a house-elf for 10 years. It was only now that I really grasped the fact that I was leaving this place.
After making sure that the knights were lined up in the distance, I locked the door tightly.
I swallowed my saliva to moisten my throat.
I squatted down, pretending to rummage through a pack of foods that he had prepared in advance.
When I opened the chest that I had loaded in advance nervously, a silver wavy hair came into view inside the carriage.
"Sister.."
"Shush, Rose."
She was not really loud, but I had to make sure to be careful. Grabbing the edge of the chest like a kitten, Rose really looked so small that she might get blown away at any moment.
"Come here."
My heart clenched as she was so light that I could lift her with my thin arms.
I told her to be quiet until I told her to come out. I asked her that, but she was just a five-year-old child, for God's sake.
It was heartbreaking that this little thing had to hold her breath this long to live.
"Look at me. Wasn't it stuffy there?"
"No, I am fine."
"You don't have to whisper, Rose."
Rose's whispering voice tickled my cheek.
How discouraged she must be.
She shook her head when I handed over bread and something to drink.
"What's wrong? You didn't even eat breakfast because you were hiding. We still have a long way to go, so you should eat."
"Then, let's eat together. You didn't eat either."
Oh my God! My child, my puppy, my treasure!
As an older sister, I couldn't hide my overwhelming feelings, and Rose's face turned red as I patted her butt proudly.
You had lived a virtuous path, Bella.
At least, there's someone in the family who cares about Bella.
First, I took off a piece of bread and put it in Rose's little mouth, and the skinny Rose munched deliciously.
She was only five years old, yet she couldn't eat well. If one guessed based on appearance, they might not know if she was three or four years old.
I mean, I couldn't eat well either, and thanks to that, I was skinny.
I had been responsible for my whole family, so it's exactly as if I've eaten my skin. In addition, it was not easy to ask for help from others because we had to save our noble family's face.
Noble family's face, my arse.
I was out of the house, and I didn't have to look after anyone else anymore. There was nothing to fear in the world except the man who would become my husband.
Regardless of that, at least I could be spared from being skinned, right?
I didn't know what kind of feeling it was, but when I first thought of becoming the Grand Duchess, I felt hopeless.
Yet, strangely, I became more confident compared to then.
Either way, there was only a few days difference, whether I sent my eldest sister away or I went instead and approached death myself.
It would be much more rewarding and less unfair if I died due to my own choice.
"What's wrong, sister? Did I eat too much?"
"No, no."
Rose, who barely ate one bite of bread, quickly noticed my mood.
I was furious about a man who was supposed to be called a father, who left his children unattended.
This little girl held my hand without hesitation even when I asked her if she wanted to come with me to the monster Grand Duke’s palace.
‘Thank you, sister. Thank you for taking me with you.’
If she hesitated, I was thinking of persuading her to come with me, yet what she did was she hugged my neck tightly and cried. Her trembling hands showed how scared she was being left behind alone in this house.
As I recalled that moment, my throat felt clogged. I wiped the bread crumbs from Rose’s cheek.
“Rose, are you really okay coming with me? If you follow me, you will have a hard time.”
“Yes, I am fine!”
“You can’t answer that easily. I told you, right? It might be hard for you if we continue what I have planned.”
“I am really fine, sister.”
Did she even understand the meaning of ‘I am fine’?
When I handed her the water, Rose took it and drank. She didn’t drink it all, leaving a few sips for me.
She looked at me as if telling me to hurry and drink it.
“Father would not even realize that I am gone, anyway.”
“...”
I couldn’t bring myself to say otherwise because our father, Viscount Mayfield, was capable of doing that.
“Rose...”
With a sad face, I hugged Rose tightly.
It was already dark outside, so Sir Jerome would probably come and look inside the carriage.
Before putting the young Rose back in that shabby chest, I had to put out the fire that was raging deep in my heart.
Now facing the fact that we're really parting, I shook my head calmly.
"Even if I get caught, I will take it myself, so you do not have to worry about it."
"Bella, you don't have to do that much.."
"Exactly. I did this much, but aren't you being too negligent, sister?
"Huh?"
What is she talking about now?
My older sister opened her eyes wide and looked at my face. You might have thought it was strange, but I was just about to start.
"Did you see my belongings? I have lived in this house for 20 years, and all I have is in that chest. Don't you feel anything as a human?"
"T-That is because... Bella, you were not greedy.."
"So, you believed that, not just to justify yourself?"
"..."
"Isn't that weird? We share the same blood, but one sister has desires for something, while the other doesn't have one?"
I pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief and fiddled with it.
From a distance, the knights would think that we were about to wipe away our tears, but the truth was the sisters in front of me were deeply taken aback.
"S-So, what are you going to do about it? We were so worried about you earlier.."
"That was because you don't want to feel bad about yourself. However, I don't want to regret not venting my frustration, so I am going to get it right."
"What do you want?!"
"What do you mean by 'what'? Compens-- No, payment."
As soon as I talked about money, I smiled and raised the corner of my mouth. My sisters took a step back, and I took the same step forward.
"I have worked in this house for free for 20 years, and even though it was my devotion as a sister, it's different this time. There should be a life pension, right?"
"Come on... You are leaving, right? You said if you go, everyone could live--"
"That's right. I am leaving to marry 'that' person instead of the two of you."
"..."
"The incarnation of evil, the master of murder, the bloody Grand Duke. Also... the cursed beast."
One by one.
When I mentioned his dreary nicknames one by one, my sisters' faces turned white. Swinging a pair of swords in front of their eyes would have been less frightening than this.
However, Melanie who came to her senses and raised her pride even though she was breathing hard.
"So what are you going to do? Bella, if you don't go, we will be all sentenced together. Even your beloved Rose and father."
"That's funny. Why are you taking yourself out?"
"What?"
"Same goes for you. For me, it doesn't matter if I go or not; the result will be the same. It is nice to have someone die with anyway. "
Welcome to reality, sisters.
I pretended to beckon to them as if I was at the threshold of the underworld. They swallowed their saliva with a face that they didn't even know they had right now.
"B-Bella! Are you really going to be like this?"
"Yes. If you understand now, give me all that you have."
"You know, we don't have any money…."
"Sister Melanie's bookshelf. At the end of the second row, 5,000 Gold in the bookmarked 'Economy and Chaos in the North' and 3,000 Gold in the bookmarked 'Empire's Applied Accounting'. As for sister Elijah, instead of money, bring all the emerald jewel pins and ruby brooches you got from your exes."
"How did you know about that?!"
"What do you mean 'how'? Who do you think cleaned up this house all this time? A maid?"
You are so naive.
I suppressed my giggles and kept my expression stern. We didn't have much time.
"I will give you one minute."
"Bella! How could you do that! If you said it sooner, I would have prepared it in advance!"
"If I had told you in advance, you would have hidden everything. Do you think I do not know you, sister?"
"You--"
"You really do not want to? Sure, then. Excuse me, Sir Jerome! I think I haven't told you my name earlier--"
"W-We understand! We will give it all to you!"
They ran inside like lightning. Who would have imagined that those were the ones who stuck to the bed and floor like a melted pudding?
Seeing Sir Jerome approaching me and asking what was going on, I shook my head.
"No, everything is fine. I was just feeling heartbroken when saying goodbye to my sisters... Lastly, I would like to say goodbye to my father."
"Be-Bella."
When I grabbed his collar tightly, my father froze.
Even when I was collecting payment from my sisters, he was stunned; thus, he just stood still. Then, when it was his turn, he didn't seem to be able to talk.
Tsk, tsk. How did you gamble with that kind of guts?
"Don't worry. I ask you for money, father."
"Bella."
"You don't have any money to give, so I will ask you for money. However, remember this one thing. Wherever you go in this world, parents who sell their children don't deserve to be considered as parents."
"..."
As Sir Jerome was watching, I held my handkerchief and patted the corner of my eyes with it.
No matter what my father's face looks like, I was saying goodbye to the one who gave me life, so I couldn't say I wasn't sad.
"I guess this is a goodbye, mister."
"..."
My twenty years of neglect ended by leaning my head against my father's empty pocket and patting it. From now on, I am the one who gets to decide whether my soul remains with me.
The inside of the seemingly terrifying carriage was surprisingly comfortable.
Aside from the all-black color of choice, everything from the velvet seat to the handle was of the highest quality.
How did I know that even though I have never seen a high-quality product?
Because no matter how much I thought about it, there was no way there could be anything of better quality than these.
"Huh…"
As I leaned against the soft backrest, my whole body seemed to melt.
I was struck with anguish and sighed as I wondered if it was really okay to give up my life like this.
Still, if I was more comfortable to be here than at home, I could have guessed how hard Bella's life had been.
"Lady, our destination is three days away. There are no villages where you can stay or rest on the way, so I am afraid you will have to sleep in the carriage. Are you okay with that?"
"Sir Jerome."
"We have prepared bedding and food in the carriage. If anything is lacking, you could tell me anytime."
Sir Jerome's voice came from outside the window.
I straightened my back with a little admiration of the surprisingly attentive side of him.
Now is not the time to be immersed in the sentiment of leaving home.
"I want you to take a little rest now. May I?"
"Of course."
Considering that he was thoroughly polite, he wouldn't open the door without permission, but there was nothing wrong with making it clear.
Hearing the sound of Jerome's horse moving away, I looked outside.
"Wow…"
The scent of wide plains and green meadows.
These were things that I had never experienced as a house-elf for 10 years. It was only now that I really grasped the fact that I was leaving this place.
After making sure that the knights were lined up in the distance, I locked the door tightly.
I swallowed my saliva to moisten my throat.
I squatted down, pretending to rummage through a pack of foods that he had prepared in advance.
When I opened the chest that I had loaded in advance nervously, a silver wavy hair came into view inside the carriage.
"Sister.."
"Shush, Rose."
She was not really loud, but I had to make sure to be careful. Grabbing the edge of the chest like a kitten, Rose really looked so small that she might get blown away at any moment.
"Come here."
My heart clenched as she was so light that I could lift her with my thin arms.
I told her to be quiet until I told her to come out. I asked her that, but she was just a five-year-old child, for God's sake.
It was heartbreaking that this little thing had to hold her breath this long to live.
"Look at me. Wasn't it stuffy there?"
"No, I am fine."
"You don't have to whisper, Rose."
Rose's whispering voice tickled my cheek.
How discouraged she must be.
She shook her head when I handed over bread and something to drink.
"What's wrong? You didn't even eat breakfast because you were hiding. We still have a long way to go, so you should eat."
"Then, let's eat together. You didn't eat either."
Oh my God! My child, my puppy, my treasure!
As an older sister, I couldn't hide my overwhelming feelings, and Rose's face turned red as I patted her butt proudly.
You had lived a virtuous path, Bella.
At least, there's someone in the family who cares about Bella.
First, I took off a piece of bread and put it in Rose's little mouth, and the skinny Rose munched deliciously.
She was only five years old, yet she couldn't eat well. If one guessed based on appearance, they might not know if she was three or four years old.
I mean, I couldn't eat well either, and thanks to that, I was skinny.
I had been responsible for my whole family, so it's exactly as if I've eaten my skin. In addition, it was not easy to ask for help from others because we had to save our noble family's face.
Noble family's face, my arse.
I was out of the house, and I didn't have to look after anyone else anymore. There was nothing to fear in the world except the man who would become my husband.
Regardless of that, at least I could be spared from being skinned, right?
I didn't know what kind of feeling it was, but when I first thought of becoming the Grand Duchess, I felt hopeless.
Yet, strangely, I became more confident compared to then.
Either way, there was only a few days difference, whether I sent my eldest sister away or I went instead and approached death myself.
It would be much more rewarding and less unfair if I died due to my own choice.
"What's wrong, sister? Did I eat too much?"
"No, no."
Rose, who barely ate one bite of bread, quickly noticed my mood.
I was furious about a man who was supposed to be called a father, who left his children unattended.
This little girl held my hand without hesitation even when I asked her if she wanted to come with me to the monster Grand Duke’s palace.
‘Thank you, sister. Thank you for taking me with you.’
If she hesitated, I was thinking of persuading her to come with me, yet what she did was she hugged my neck tightly and cried. Her trembling hands showed how scared she was being left behind alone in this house.
As I recalled that moment, my throat felt clogged. I wiped the bread crumbs from Rose’s cheek.
“Rose, are you really okay coming with me? If you follow me, you will have a hard time.”
“Yes, I am fine!”
“You can’t answer that easily. I told you, right? It might be hard for you if we continue what I have planned.”
“I am really fine, sister.”
Did she even understand the meaning of ‘I am fine’?
When I handed her the water, Rose took it and drank. She didn’t drink it all, leaving a few sips for me.
She looked at me as if telling me to hurry and drink it.
“Father would not even realize that I am gone, anyway.”
“...”
I couldn’t bring myself to say otherwise because our father, Viscount Mayfield, was capable of doing that.
“Rose...”
With a sad face, I hugged Rose tightly.
It was already dark outside, so Sir Jerome would probably come and look inside the carriage.
Before putting the young Rose back in that shabby chest, I had to put out the fire that was raging deep in my heart.
