~Chapter 67~
Delphina shrugged.
“Family?”
“Yeah, did you forget all the years we spent together?”
“I didn’t forget. That’s why I won’t drop the lawsuit.”
“What?”
“Don’t you have a conscience? Can you really call those memories? That was just time you spent bullying me.”
Ivelina went silent.
The Delphina she saw in the North was no illusion.
Delphina had really changed.
‘How can everything she says be true—and so annoying?’
Everything Delphina said was true. But Delphina was never the type to speak up for herself, even if things were unfair.
Ivelina never thought Delphina would call her out on her wrongs.
“I’m sorry, Delphina. I know I did a lot of things wrong. That’s why I want to spend time with you.”
Ivelina covered her mouth with a fan and smiled.
“You liked going out together in the duchy, right? So I came to ask if you’d like to spend time with me. Will that make you feel better? Why are you so prickly these days, Delphina?”
Ivelina shrugged as she spoke. Out of habit, she wanted to belittle Delphina—like offering to pay if Delphina was worried about money.
But the words caught in her throat. She looked at Delphina’s dress.
‘What’s with that fancy-looking dress?’
Delphina’s dress had no flashy decorations, but the fabric itself was high-quality and elegant.
Ivelina had always hated Delphina’s beauty. Even some people who went along with Ivelina’s bullying in the academy still felt sorry for Delphina because she was so pretty.
That just made Ivelina bully her more.
‘Sending her to the North was a mistake.’
Ivelina clenched her fists. She always wanted Delphina to be miserable—physically and emotionally.
She made Delphina do hard labor to ruin her hands and feet, tried to ruin her skin by making her lose sleep, and forced her to wear ugly dresses and bad makeup to parties.
‘It was the only way I could keep up with her.’
The truth was, Ivelina had a deep inferiority complex toward Delphina.
That feeling was coming up again, because Delphina was beautiful, like the first time she saw her at the Rikeion house.
Graceful and beautiful Delphina.
‘Let’s see how long you can keep looking like that.’
Today, Delphina would hit rock bottom again and beg for mercy.
Thinking about that, Ivelina decided to tolerate her for now.
“You want to spend time together?”
“Yeah, there’s somewhere I really want to go with you.”
Delphina tilted her head like she was considering it. Ivelina didn’t even think about Delphina refusing.
“But you’re not really acting like you want to apologize.”
“W-What?”
“If you want to apologize, don’t just think about it—show it. If you’re sincere, then I’ll go with you.”
“What?”
“Anyone can say nice words. I want a real, visible reward, not just talk. You’ll do that for me, right, Ivelina?”
“W-What kind of reward?”
“I want to enjoy shopping today. I’m thinking of spending your money. Is that okay?”
“Huh?”
Ivelina’s face froze, seeing Delphina’s wicked smile.
Ivelina frowned in annoyance and turned away.
“Do whatever you want!”
Delphina quietly watched Ivelina’s back as she left.
But really, she was looking at a system window that appeared over something Ivelina was holding.
<Recording Sphere>
A magic tool that can record video.
Delphina tilted her head, looking at the system window.
Ivelina didn’t think much of it when Delphina said she wanted to go shopping.
Delphina was usually frugal and didn’t know how to spend money.
‘How much could she spend, really?’
It was unavoidable if it would make Delphina happier. But Ivelina’s expression hardened more and more.
Because Delphina was sweeping up everything in the shopping district.
“I’ll take everything from here to here.”
“Oh my, thank you!”
“Please put it all under Ivelina Rikeion’s account.”
Delphina went from shop to shop, saying, “I’ll take everything from here to here.”
“Delphina?”
Delphina looked at Ivelina and smiled brightly.
“What?”
“N-Nothing…”
“Oh, did I spend too much? After going to the North, I kind of lost my sense of money… In the North, this much is normal, but maybe it’s a burden here at the Rikeion house.”
“T-This much money is nothing to me!”
“Oh, then that’s good.”
Ivelina’s lips trembled. Delphina had already spent six months’ worth of Ivelina’s allowance.
But she still didn’t stop. In the end, Ivelina’s face turned white before Delphina finally finished.
Ivelina gritted her teeth and asked,
“So… Are you feeling better now?”
Delphina looked dissatisfied and tilted her head. Ivelina’s face turned red.
Finally, Delphina sighed.
“Hmm… I guess there’s a limit to how much material things can make you feel better.”
Ivelina gave a hollow laugh.
Now, Delphina’s face looked devilish to her.
Delphina turned to Sana next to her.
“Sana, please sell all these things and donate the money to the orphanage under the Rohaim family’s name.”
Sana bowed politely.
“Yes, Lady Delphina. You’re doing a good deed again today.”
For Ivelina, it was infuriating. Delphina was selling everything Ivelina bought and donating it—not even in Rikeion’s name, but in Rohaim’s.
But she couldn’t say a word in front of Delphina.
Delphina looked at Ivelina, feeling like she was seeing her old self—someone who couldn’t fight back when something unfair happened.
Delphina tilted her head toward Ivelina.
“So, Ivelina, where is this place you wanted to go?”
Ivelina’s eyes sparkled. She’d only gone along with Delphina so far for this reason.
“Do you know the dessert shop in Rikeion I always went to? I rented it out just for us.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, but… I want to be alone with you, so can your maid wait outside? I have something to say.”
“That’s no problem. Sana, wait here. I’ll be with Ivelina.”
Sana and Delphina made eye contact. Sana looked nervous, but Delphina was firm. Ivelina smiled darkly at the sight.
Ivelina and Delphina entered the dessert shop. Ivelina was wrong—there was another man inside besides the staff.
Delphina looked at Ivelina in confusion. Ivelina gestured dramatically to the man.
“He’s a distant relative of ours—Sir Alphong. Have you heard of him?”
“No, it’s my first time.”
“Of course. You hardly ever came to family events.”
Delphina corrected her.
“It’s not that I didn’t go. I wasn’t allowed to. Uncle and Aunt always said I didn’t need to go.”
“Ahem…”
“Ivelina, you didn’t bring me here to talk about how the family treated me, did you?”
