chapter 13
“…Ha! Hahaha!”
Luis burst out laughing like he had just heard a hilarious joke. But it didn’t last long. His face quickly twisted with anger.
“…You’ve all gone mad. Completely insane.”
He took a big step toward Echo. She stepped back in fear, but since they were in a deserted alley, there was no one around to see.
Then Luis grabbed Echo’s arm tightly.
“If you won’t come willingly, then I’ll just have to take you with me.”
“G-Grandpa…!”
“Come on, now! Who do you think fed and housed your father all this time? You need to repay that debt!”
Luis raised his voice. Echo struggled and tried to pull away, but it was no use.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
She didn’t want to go with her grandfather.
She didn’t care about money.
She just wanted to stay here, with Godell…
Just as Echo shut her eyes tightly—
She heard the sound of hurried footsteps coming from nearby.
Suddenly, the tight grip on her arm disappeared.
No—it didn’t just vanish. Someone else had grabbed her arm and pulled her gently toward them.
A familiar scent. A familiar warmth. Echo slowly opened her eyes.
“Get your filthy hands off my daughter.”
Godell was standing in front of her, fiercely glaring at Luis.
****
“You bastard!”
Godell bit his lip hard.
While running around looking for Echo, part of him thought he might be overreacting—projecting his own past onto her and worrying too much.
But he had been right.
If he had arrived even a little later, Echo would’ve been dragged away by that crazy old man.
Godell shoved Luis’s arm away. Luis laughed, completely dumbfounded.
“No greeting for your father after all this time? And what’s with that look in your eyes?”
“There’s no need to greet a kidnapper, is there, Father?”
“Kidnapper?”
Luis’s face darkened at Godell’s sarcastic remark.
He might be a fallen noble now, but once, he had been the head of the proud House of Hildegarde. And now this daughter of his—who couldn’t even inherit the title—dared to call him a kidnapper?
“You—you really have lost your mind!”
“No, you’re the one who’s insane. Even if you’re desperate for money, you should still act like a human being.”
Trying to forcefully take a child for money—this wasn’t just wrong, it was inhuman.
Godell’s harsh words made Echo cover her mouth in shock. Luis’s face turned pale with disbelief.
But it wasn’t over yet.
Godell looked at him with disgust, like she was staring at something vile.
“If you’re so desperate to leech off someone…”
Then she glanced at his belly and said,
“Why don’t you stick that straw into your own fat gut, you miserable excuse for a father.”
“……!”
The blatant insult and mocking tone made Luis’s face flush bright red.
He was on the verge of exploding, breathing heavily as he shouted,
“H-How dare you speak to your father like that…!”
Humiliation and rage hit him all at once, and he started flailing in fury. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t hide his bulging belly.
“Let’s go, Echo.”
Godell used the moment to try and leave. But Luis moved faster.
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
He grabbed Godell’s arm. She tried to shake him off, but the strength of this stubborn, thick-headed man was stronger than she expected.
“G-Godell…!”
Echo gasped in shock. She tried to come closer, but Godell raised her free hand to signal her to stay back.
“What, are you planning to hit me now?”
Godell suddenly raised her voice, intentionally drawing attention.
If enough people gathered, the city guards would eventually show up. That was when she would explain everything—especially that Gilbert was dead. That would make her and Echo the victims.
If things go well, this might even end up in court.
With that plan in mind, Godell glared at Luis. Her eyes were steady and unwavering, which only made Luis grit his teeth harder.
“…I know a nice place where crazy brats like you belong.”
Luis sneered.
“Spend some time cooling your head in a monastery no one ever visits. Maybe then you’ll understand just how important money is.”
“You—!”
“Who knows, maybe God Himself will feel sorry for you and save your soul.”
With a twisted smile, Luis yanked Godell closer.
“Let me go!”
“Come with me, now!”
The louder Godell shouted, the louder Luis yelled back.
Their shouting match grew so loud, it could be heard beyond the alley, drawing a small crowd.
“What’s going on over there?”
“I don’t know… but that man seems really angry…”
People murmured among themselves. A few even recognized Godell and Luis, but no one dared step in.
If a woman wasn’t married yet, no matter her age, she was still under her father’s control.
Which meant this kind of violence could be hidden behind the excuse of “parental discipline.”
Godell saw the growing crowd and raised her voice even more.
“What? Are you really going to show everyone here what kind of violence the noble Count Hildegarde is capable of?”
“You…!”
“Oh, right. You’re not a noble anymore. So I guess it doesn’t matter, huh?”
Godell struck a nerve.
“You little…!”
Blinded by rage, Luis raised his hand into the air. She braced herself, squeezing her eyes shut.
He’s going to hit me.
“……”
But nothing happened.
Slowly, Godell opened her eyes.
The people who had been hesitant to interfere suddenly froze, all staring in the same direction—above her head.
Godell, puzzled, lifted her gaze as if drawn by a spell.
Is it the guards finally? she thought.
But no—the crowd’s attention wasn’t on any guard. It was on the man standing above her.
A cool, quiet voice drifted down from overhead.
“I came by the house, but you weren’t there. I was starting to think you ran away.”
A voice that somehow sounded gentle, yet arrogant at the same time. It was unmistakable.
Godell snapped her head up.
“There you are, Miss Hildegarde.”
Their eyes met, and he gave a small, charming smile.
Thick eyebrows, blue eyes, and even the slight curve of his lips—he was a handsome man. It was Eden Bertenon. Godell blinked in surprise.
“W-Why are you here…?”
“I told you, didn’t I? That we’d meet again.”
Eden raised an eyebrow, pretending to be hurt, like he couldn’t believe she’d forgotten him so quickly.
“But I suppose you’ve had more pressing things to deal with.”
Then, his eyes slowly turned forward, taking in the scene in front of him.
“…Considering what’s happening here.”
His blue eyes, which had held a polite and warm glow, instantly turned cold as they landed on Luis.
Luis, who had frozen mid-swing, flinched without meaning to.
“Raising your hand against a woman? I’ve seen all kinds of people, but I didn’t think I’d meet someone this low.”
“……!”
Eden furrowed his brow like he was staring at a bug on the street. Luis, suddenly realizing how bad he looked, quickly lowered his hand.
Even at a glance, Eden didn’t look like an ordinary man. Luis felt like he should recognize him, but his tired, alcohol-clouded brain couldn’t place the face. He cleared his throat and tried a more formal tone.
“A-And who might you be, sir?”
“Hmm. No one ever taught me how to introduce myself to insects.”
“In… insects?!”
Luis’s face turned bright red at Eden’s blunt insult.
While Luis was fuming, Eden pulled Godell and Echo behind him.
He didn’t do anything dramatic—just stood in front of them. But with his broad frame, he completely blocked them from view. His voice sounded like it was coming from far away.
Luis, still trembling with clenched fists, hesitated. He was clearly intimidated. Forcing a stiff smile, he said,
“…I was just trying to discipline my daughter. Things got a little loud. Sorry for the scene. Now, kindly return my daughter to me.”
“Why should I?”
“…Excuse me?”
Eden tilted his head slightly.
“I saw everything with my own eyes. Only a madman would step aside in a situation like this. Isn’t that right, Miller?”
He glanced over at Miller, who was a short distance away trying to disperse the curious crowd.
Miller scowled, annoyed that Eden had suddenly dragged him into this. But Eden turned back to Luis with a fresh, polite smile.
“Seems he agrees.”
Eden’s noble air left Luis speechless.
Only then did Luis really notice the people whispering and staring at him.
This is bad.
Causing a scene like this wouldn’t do him any favors. So Luis tried to act bold and shouted,
“Th-this is a family matter! You have no right to interfere when you don’t even know who I am!”
“Family?”
“Yes! I am the head of this family. I have every right to decide how to deal with my daughter and granddaughter! She’s not even married—what right do you have, as an outsider, to meddle?!”
At his arrogant words, Godell clenched her fists tightly.
