Chapter 078Ā
“Who came, you said?”
Theo and Stephanie were picking out clothes when they heard something unexpected.
“Count Solovis has arrived, Madam.”
Count Solovis?
Who was that again? Waitā¦ Oh! Charlotteās original last name was Solovisāso that must be her father. Oh wow.
“Where is he now?”
In the novel, I only remembered hearing that the Solovis family fell from power. I didnāt know much else. I just heard Charlotte got kicked out and protested. So he appears like thisā¦ What does he want?
“Heās waiting in the drawing room. Shall I tell him to leave?”
“Can I really do that?”
Luna gave an awkward smile at my question.
“Actually, he said he wants to see both you and the Duke. He says heās here as the Emperorās representative.”
“Where is Cassius right now?”
“He went to the forest.”
Oh right. Lately, the yetis had started weapons training. They were doing joint training, so he must have gone there. I nodded. I couldnāt just send him awayāsomeone had to host him. Alright, Iāll figure out what heās up to.
“Letās dress the children in these today.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Lady Yurena politely accepted the clothes. We briefly talked about the childrenās schedule for the day.
“Oh, andā¦ Itād be best if they didnāt run into the guest. Maybe change the plans and take them to the art museum instead?”
“Iāll arrange an outing.”
“Thanks.”
After finishing up with Lady Yurena, I got ready too. He showed up without any notice anyway. He didnāt even take Charlotte back in after she was cast out in the original story. So I wasnāt expecting much.
I finally went down to the drawing room.
“ā¦Itās been a long time, Charlotte. You really made your father wait this long? You havenāt changed a bit.”
He kind of looked like Charlotte, but not really. He had a similar aura, but while Charlotte was a classic beauty, the Count looked more beast-like.
So this is my father, huh.
I stayed calm and spoke.
“You came without notice, Father.”
I shrugged and sat down.
“I have a lot to do, you know.”
“ā¦Iām sure. Are you doing well here?”
“Yes.”
“How is your relationship with the Duke?”
Count Solovis asked while sipping his tea. It sounded like a casual question, but I knew it wasnāt. He was definitely fishing for something. To ask something like that out of the blue…
“Wellā¦ Itās not too bad.”
So I answered vaguely. I didnāt feel like being honest with Count Solovis.
He frowned.
“Is that a yes or a no?”
“Why are you so curious about our marriage?”
Youāre not even asking how Iām doing. Clearly not a caring parent. Iām sure heās just here sniffing around for something useful. I clicked my tongue and gave him a crooked stare.
“ā¦Youāre my daughter, Charlotte. Even if weāve been apart, weāre connected by blood. Does a father need a reason to worry about his child?”
“You didnāt even ask me once how Iāve been,” I pointed out.
To me, Count Solovis was no different from a stranger. No matter how friendly he tried to act, I didnāt feel anything. I was just looking at him objectively. Trying to figure out what kind of person he really was.
“Ahem! Wellā¦ Some things donāt need to be said to be understood!”
“I donāt think that kind of unspoken bond exists between us.”
“Wowā¦ Still as sharp-tongued as ever. But I get it nowāyouāre doing just fine!”
“Then may I leave now? I really have a lot to do.”
Honestly, since it didnāt seem like he had a good relationship with Charlotte anywayāand since he clearly had shady intentionsāI wanted to end this quickly. But the sly Count Solovis grabbed my wrist.
“I came because I have something to say. No matter how much you avoid me, Iāll be staying here for a while. Itās better to get this over with quickly.”
At that, I sat down again.
It was better to hear what he wants than keep seeing his face. Not that I was going to give him what he wanted.
“I heard something, by the way.”
I sipped my tea, planning to ignore most of what he said.
“I heard you have holy power.”
“Pfft! Cough!“
I spit out my tea. The Count was completely splashed. He slowly wiped his face and grumbled in irritation.
“Be more careful, will you!”
“ā¦Where did you hear that from?”
“From all over. I still have ears, you know. Honestly, you shouldāve told me first if something like that happened!”
The Count of Solobis scolded me like I had done something wrong.
From what I know, Charlotteās holy power was something she was born with.
But no oneānot even her own familyāknew about it.
Thatās how little they cared.
And now he comes here, acting all offended? I almost laughed.
“Why should I tell you?”
“What? Because weāre family, of course! That power of yours doesnāt just belong to youāitās something passed down from me and your mother! That means it should be used for the sake of the family!”
I took a deep breath and thought about Charlotteās family background.
Letās seeā¦ The current Countess isnāt her real mother.
Her real mom died when she was young, and just two days later, this guy brought in his mistress as the new Countessāalong with her children, who were only a year younger than Charlotte.
Wow. So he was cheating. And now he has the nerve to act all righteous?
Do these people buy scripts or something for how shameless they are?
He even turned Charlotte away when she went to him after being kicked out.
Only shows up now that sheās useful again. And this is what he calls “family”?
Unbelievable.
“You want me to use my holy power for the family? Do you even know what happens when I use it?”
“Ahem… Wellā¦ Thatās just sacrifice for your family. Itās only natural.”
“Aha.”
I seriously wanted to kill this guy.
Now I understood why people commit murder. No joke.
Now I get why Charlotte hid her power.
If anyone had found out about her power, she wouldāve been used and used until she was dead.
And all by her so-called family.
“If I had known you had that kind of power, I couldāve asked for a bigger dowry! The North is loaded! There are even rumors the Duke of Istheria is richer than the Emperor!”
So that’s what this is about.
He needs money. Someone mustāve found out about the power and tipped him off.
Definitely someone who meant harm.
Not many suspectsāprobably Lorencia or Janice.
And now that thereās a new nanny, Janice doesnāt have much power left.
Maybe sheās getting desperate.
“So, youāre here because you need money?”
“ā¦Well, partly. Charlotte, whatās gotten into you? Did they brainwash you up here in the North?”
“Whatās so weird about me?”
“ā¦I just think you forgot where you come from. When things go wrong, weāre the only ones whoāll be there for you!”
Yeah, right. I saw how things really were.
I gave a bitter laugh.
Seeing my face, the Count slammed the table in anger.
“I donāt know what the Duke told you, but blood is thicker than water! Thatās the truth!”
So thatās why you abandoned me, huh?
“First of all,” I said with a sigh,
“I donāt have holy power.”
“What? Donāt be ridiculous. I know the truth. I heard the young lord with the rare illness came back to life! People said it was because of you!”
“ā¦Thatās thanks to Mr. Miller. I didnāt do anything. So, youāre barking up the wrong tree, Father.”
The Count glared at me.
What, did you think Iād just obey you?
People like this really exist, huh.
I mustāve gotten too comfortable living in the North.
I forgot how cruel and selfish the world can be.
