Chapter 3

The carriage came to a stop in front of the Niberius estate.

No sooner had it stopped than the door flew open violently from inside.

Jordan, the coachman waiting to open the door, flinched and stepped back in surprise.

“M-Milady. Are you all right?”

Her face, usually as dazzling as lavender, was twisted in fury.

They say a beautiful woman is terrifying when angry. That couldn’t be more true.

Cecilia stepped down from the carriage without anyone’s help, brushed past Jordan, and entered the estate.

“I don’t know the details either. The royal family just suspects your house, that’s all. The rumors are already spreading in the capital.”

“That’s why your father asked me to take you west right after the wedding.”

As Cecilia strode quickly down the corridor, Aaron suddenly jumped out in front of her. He smiled broadly and raised a hand.

“Oh, Milady. How was the meeting…”

He abruptly cut himself off. Cecilia swept right past him.

It felt like a murderous aura had been left behind in her wake.

Aaron rubbed his goosebump-covered arm and shivered.

“At this rate, she might’ve actually killed her suitor…”

But the direction she was heading…

Aaron shook his head as he watched her retreating figure.

It felt like a storm of blood was brewing.

Bang!

The office door was thrown open with a loud crash, startling her father and Uncle Olga, who were quietly sipping tea on the sofa.

They clumsily wiped the spilled tea from their hands and turned toward the noise.

“W-What? Milady?”

“Cecilia? What about the meeting?”

They stared at her with wide eyes.

Cecilia slammed the door shut behind her and walked in, standing behind her father.

His previously round eyes slowly narrowed in suspicion.

“Why are you back so soon? Don’t tell me you…!”

“I have something to say.”

“What?”

“And something I want to hear.”

Despite the stormy air around her, Cecilia’s voice was low and gloomy, as if crawling across the floor.

Seeing her so different from usual, her father’s intensity eased. He sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead.

“…I’m talking with Olga right now. Come back later.”

“It’s urgent.”

“Cecilia!”

He scolded her harshly, but Cecilia didn’t budge. She wore a stubborn expression.

She glanced sideways at Olga. Her amethyst eyes shimmered with unease.

Olga smiled gently, as if giving in.

“All right, all right. I’ll step out so you can talk.”

“Sit down, Olga. Cecilia, leave now.”

“I’d rather leave than see Milady cry. It wasn’t an urgent matter anyway. And when has our Milady ever been this stubborn, hmm?”

Olga winked at Cecilia.

“Thank you, Uncle Olga.”

“Don’t mention it. Just don’t bully our lord too much.”

He exited calmly. Silence fell over the room, and her father let out another long sigh.

He gestured to the opposite sofa.

“Sit. Let’s hear what was so urgent that you kicked Olga out.”

“I want to ask something first.”

Cecilia spoke while still standing behind him.

“Is it true our family is under suspicion from the royal family? That we’re on the brink of collapse, and that’s why you’ve been rushing my marriage?”

His shoulders twitched slightly. Then he let out a bitter laugh.

“What nonsense. I told you to go to a meeting and now you’re spouting rumors?”

“Is it really nonsense?”

“…”

“Then tell me it’s not true.”

Cecilia pleaded.

Her father had never been good at lying.

Or rather, even when he tried, it showed. His upright nature had cost him much.

Other nobles called him foolish and dull, but Cecilia saw his stubbornness as kindness.

She wanted it to be a lie.

She wanted to believe that envoy had been spewing nonsense in a fit of rage.

But the anxiety hadn’t left her since the ride home.

It had always seemed odd.

All of her suitors had ties to foreign countries.

The first was a famous merchant’s son, the second a diplomat, and now, a western envoy.

The others on the list had similar professions.

If what today’s suitor said was true, it all made sense.

Her family wanted to marry her off to ensure she could flee the country if disaster struck.

That meant the meetings weren’t for her marriage—they were for her removal from the family.

Her father stayed silent.

He remained facing forward, unmoving.

“Say something!”

Finally, unable to hold back, Cecilia raised her voice.

When she pressed him, her father slowly tilted his head back, covering his eyes with his hand.

“…Haah.”

So much emotion was packed into that short sigh. It felt like an unbearable weight, one Cecilia could scarcely comprehend.

“I asked them not to tell you.”

“…So it’s all true?”

“Yes.”

Her father stood and turned to face her.

His face was more serious than she had ever seen. His duller violet eyes were dark and lifeless.

He smiled faintly.

“Niberius is under royal suspicion. I’m innocent, but I have no way to prove it. Still, I don’t resent the royal family. It’s something that happened because I’m the lord of Niberius.”

“…”

“So if the worst comes, I’ll take responsibility. I don’t have long to live anyway.”

He truly looked like a man with no regrets.

But the moment his gaze landed on Cecilia, it all fell apart.

His face twisted in sorrow.

In his eyes, filled with overflowing love, she was reflected.

Cargo gripped her shoulders and lowered his head.

“But not you. If something happens to you too, I couldn’t face your mother even in death. That’s why you need to marry quickly and go to another country. If you marry someone with foreign citizenship, you’ll legally become a citizen too. The Empire won’t be able to touch you.”

Cecilia remained silent.

“My daughter. My beloved little chick. You must live freely, apart from the name of Niberius. That’s the only thing this father asks of you.”

He sniffled.

To some, it might be a touching moment.

Cecilia, the daughter enveloped in endless love.

The parental affection she had always longed for was right there in front of her.

But she felt no joy.

Her jaw clenched.

A strange sensation—her chest burned, but her head was cold.

Cecilia took a step back. Her father’s hand naturally slipped off her shoulder.

He raised his head.

The tears in his violet eyes were quickly consumed by her own gaze, blazing with fury.

Cecilia’s anger was unmistakable.

“You want me to abandon my family and run? What happens to the family if I do? What about you? What about my uncles?”

Through clenched teeth, she enunciated each word.

“I am Niberius. Cecilia Niberius! I’m not going anywhere!”

Her suppressed sorrow erupted.

Her father’s teary eyes dried up under the lava of her fury.

“Don’t be stubborn! Just this once, listen to your father!”

“Then say something worth listening to! What the hell is going on?!”

Her father dragged his hands down his face in frustration.

“You don’t need to know. And I’ll never tell you.”

“Why don’t I need to know? This could mean the end of our house!”

“You’re my daughter, but you’re not the heir.”

“Then make me the heir!”

Cargo groaned and clutched his forehead.

“Oh, I’ll die of stress before any illness gets me.”

“Don’t try to change the subject!”

Every time something came up, he acted like he was dying. Cecilia fumed, and her father pulled himself together and spoke firmly.

“Do I lack qualifications as heir? I’ve always contributed to the estate’s prosperity!”

She pounded her chest confidently. And she was right—Cecilia had used her keen insight from a young age to solve security and tax issues in the domain.

Thanks to her ideas, the Niberius estate was safer and more livable than most.

But this was a different matter altogether.

“No means no. Get out.”

“Father!”

“Dekermann, are you out there? Take this wild girl out!”

At his command, Dekermann, his personal guard, entered and gently took Cecilia’s arm.

Even as she was dragged out, Cecilia shouted defiantly.

“Are you really going to keep this up?!”

“Confine her to her room for now. Post guards to watch her.”