episode_0170

Priscilla, who felt like she was seeing Genea from the past through Genea’s words, hesitated to speak despite the red letters that appeared in her mind.

In the past, Genea was truly a genius among geniuses. If he had returned to Genea back then――

‘My lies will be revealed soon.’

So now is not the time to speak out, but rather to observe the situation.

Priscilla, who was contemplating whether this was the right thing to do or the right way to go, was suddenly leaning towards telling Sarah about her younger brother, as Sarah had asked, but Priscilla did not find that fact strange at all.

Anyway, Priscilla decided to observe the situation for now and looked at Genea and asked.

“Why did you suddenly start thinking that way?”

Changing one’s attitude like flipping one’s palm in less than a day was something that anyone would find strange.

Genea also knew this, so she didn’t find anything strange about Priscilla’s question and answered naturally.

“After you went back to the room, I was left alone and thought about this incident once again, excluding all my personal feelings. And then I realized.”

“What?”

“There is no reason for Charlotte to poison the child, even taking on the risk that he might be accused of being a criminal.”

Genea sighed as she said that and gently closed her eyes and massaged her eyebrows.

“That child is the eldest daughter of the Rochelle family. It’s not that I lack ability, nor that I have less character. I’m not indecisive either. When you want to do something, you always do it decisively. He is not ignorant of politics, and his ability to read the situation is excellent. To take over the position of the head of the family, no. It is no exaggeration to say that he was born to become a monarch.”

Genea removed her hand from between her eyes and shook her head.

“So, the issue of succession to the title cannot be a reason for the child to kill him. Even if he were still alive, that child would have naturally taken over as the head of the Rochelle family and led the family over time.”

“Then, about wine… … .”

“It’s just like the letter I wrote to you back then. There was no problem with the wine the child bought. From production, distribution, and sales. There was nothing suspicious, nothing to hide. They were people who only sold wine transparently and honestly.”

“That means… … . Are you saying that someone in the mansion deliberately tampered with the food and wine that my brother-in-law was eating?”

After speaking so naturally, Priscilla remembered what she had just said and broke into a cold sweat.

I ended up doing it. Although I didn’t mention Charlotte’s younger brother, I did make my older sister aware that there was an enemy inside the mansion.

I committed it. As Priscilla was thinking such thoughts, Genea’s face appeared, looking at her intently. Priscilla quietly averted her gaze, unable to meet Genea’s eyes directly.

“… … Sorry. I said something meaningless… … .”

“No… … . Because what you say makes sense. Yeah, I was thinking that too. I was thinking about it, but… … .”

Genea trailed off and continued speaking with a slightly tired look on her face.

“I didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t want to accept it. No, maybe I was deliberately narrow-minded just because I wanted to feel comfortable because a series of difficult things had happened.”

“Sister… … .”

“That’s why I suspected Charlotte, who had the most suspicious circumstances. Because as long as that child is a criminal, you don’t have to worry about it anymore. That’s why it was like that. It must have been like that.”

Genea smiled bitterly as she said that, looked down at her teacup, and muttered.

“I can’t believe you’re questioning and pushing your daughter like that just to make it easier for yourself… … . I failed as the head of the family, and I also failed as a mother. I am… … .”

“Sister… … !!”

Seeing Genea belittling her, Priscilla almost raised her voice again, but unlike before, Genea looked straight at Priscilla and spoke.

“If you are thinking of defending and protecting me by saying that I am not that kind of person, please bury those words in your heart.”

“But.”

“Although I asked you for help, all of this is my fault due to my mistakes and mistakes. Just because someone pampers you, or just because you cover your eyes and don’t see the sin, doesn’t mean the sin you committed goes away. So, there is no need to try to cover up my sins. Because I plan to face and accept my sins. After I finish talking with you, I plan to go see Charlotte.”

Priscilla, overwhelmed by Genea’s sparkling eyes, could not say anything and just looked at Genea.

Genea’s upright attitude and upright spirit shone so brightly that it allowed Priscilla to see her own ugliness more clearly.

The act of looking into one’s own ugly side brought about a level of suffering that was different from just vaguely feeling that such a thing existed.

Feeling like she was suffocating, Priscilla spoke in a voice that seemed to be crawling.

“Okay… … . That’s right. Sorry… … .”

“It’s okay. I forgive you.”

As Genea said that, the head maid came up behind her and whispered that dinner time was almost over. Genea nodded slightly and opened her mouth, looking at Priscilla, who was depressed.

“Somehow the story got turned around a lot. The reason I called you before dinner was because I wanted to tell you that there was no need to make a confession.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Then I’ll just go see Charlotte. I’m sorry that I called you and only said what I had to say.”

“No. It’s okay.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

Priscilla smiled faintly at Genea’s words.

“I’ll wake up first. I think I need to go to that child as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I’m fine. Hurry up and go.”

Genea smiled slightly at Priscilla’s words, then got up and headed toward the door of the living room.

Then, Genea suddenly stopped in front of the door and spoke in a calm voice without looking back.

“Priscilla.”

“Yes, sister.”

“I’ll remember what you said earlier.”

Genea said that and left the parlor, and Priscilla, who remained in the parlor, repeated in her head what Genea had just said.

‘I remember… … . What did I tell you?’

[Are you saying that someone in the mansion deliberately tampered with the food and wine that my brother-in-law was eating?]

“Ah… … .”

Priscilla, who was trying to remember something memorable she had said, swallowed dryly when she remembered something memorable.

I ended up doing it. Unlike my sister who accepted her sins as they are and tried to repent for them, I blamed my sins on a child who had nothing to do with me.

Priscilla, whose self-hatred was at its peak, thought about disappearing somewhere and lifted her teacup with trembling hands.

‘write… … .’

The cooled black tea was too bitter.

* * *

Knock――Ttook――

The sound of water drops falling regularly on a puddle still resonates in the dungeon and lingers in my ears. Receiving the same stimulation over and over again in the black darkness was nothing short of torture.

No, it was not the same as torture, it was torture. Why, isn’t it said that even in ancient China, there was a torture that involved tying a person up in a dark place and dropping water droplets on their forehead?

There is even a story that when this was tested in modern times, the person who was tortured even burst into tears after over an hour.

‘I’m tired.’

Of course, that is the standard for the general public.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked around. Perhaps my eyes had adapted to the darkness, and I began to see my surroundings vaguely.

Six hours? No, it’s been about seven hours. I guess I’ve been in the dark for so long that my sense of time has gone awry.

“Kuhup, hmmm, hmmm.”

It’s only been a few hours, but I’m already starting to cough.

Before I returned, I spent half of my day in the dungeon, so I didn’t mind the musty atmosphere that was unique to the dungeon.

Isn’t it unreasonable to go back and have your body become a thing of the past?

“Big, cool!”

I felt a fishy taste hitting my neck and the feeling of warm liquid moistening the corners of my mouth.

Sure enough, there was a strong smell of blood right under my nose.

‘Yes, there is no way all internal injuries can be healed with just one potion.’

I smiled faintly, lifted my hand and wiped my mouth, and the lukewarm liquid warmed my cold hands a little.

‘Is it time now?’

I bent down and washed the blood off my hands with the water that had collected below, leaned against the cold stone wall, and quietly closed my eyes.

This is because the sound of heavy full plate armor footsteps could be heard from afar.

That meant it was time for dinner.

“Oh my god, what kind of water is this… … .”

At that time, a faint but familiar voice was heard.

It was the voice of my mother, Genea.

‘You came much earlier than I expected. Did you regain your composure earlier because you were with Priscilla?’

Well, how about this, how about that.

In the end, everything turned out as I expected.