SWMD 36

Chapter 36

Seeing Catherine dreaming her foolish dream was so absurd it almost made Diana laugh out loud.
Suppressing her laughter with a cough, she glanced at the clock.

It was time for Icel’s walk with Calypso.

Catherine was a wicked child who did not deserve happiness. Not even for a fleeting moment.

“Catherine?”

“Yes? Yes, Mother.”

Startled out of imagining herself standing next to Young Lord Sawyer, Catherine hurriedly answered.

“Shall we take a walk together for the first time in a while? The weather seems nice.”

“…Yes!”

She thought this was her chance to regain Diana’s favour.
If she could act adorably during their walk, Diana would melt like chocolate, she was sure.

“Let’s go, Mother!”

Catherine jumped up excitedly, grabbing Diana’s hand to lead her out like a child eager to please.

How easy it was…

Diana let herself be pulled along, feigning an expression full of motherly affection.

When they stepped into the garden, dazzling sunlight poured down.

“The weather is so nice today, Mother!”

Catherine called out cheerfully, stepping ahead to appear like the loving daughter.

“Indeed. Let’s go to the garden.”

But suddenly, Catherine froze as if seeing something horrifying.

“What’s wrong, Catherine?”

Though Diana already knew, she pretended innocence, approaching her.

Catherine’s gaze was fixed on Calypso and Icel.

Icel was wearing Calypso’s jacket and hugging his waist tightly, while Calypso looked down at her with loving eyes.

Catherine’s face turned ashen.
She felt like Icel had stolen her mother, and now was stealing her father too.
Rage bubbled within her.

Diana watched her with a lazy smile.

“Father…!”

Her sharp, harsh voice shattered the warm atmosphere around them.

Calypso slowly turned his head to see Catherine stomping towards him.

“Catherine.”

“What are you doing?”

Her eyes glared at Icel wearing his jacket.
She had never worn her father’s clothes before—though she had never walked with him to need his jacket anyway.

But that didn’t matter.

What mattered was that Icel was clinging to her father right in front of her.

Fire burned in her eyes as she approached Icel.

“What do you think you’re doing? Who do you think you are to walk with my father?”

“…Catherine.”

Her words sounded like childish whining.
Calypso frowned, feeling a headache returning, and protectively placed Icel behind him.

Seeing that, Catherine let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha… Father!”

“I asked her to walk with me. It’s not Icel’s fault.”

His voice was gentle, even using Icel’s name.
It was a clear betrayal.

Icel smirked at Catherine from behind Calypso, lips curling mockingly.

Catherine’s face reddened with fury.
Icel stepped out from behind him.

“Catherine, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you liked walks. Shall we go together from tomorrow?”

“Why would I walk with you?!”

“I’m walking with Father every day.”

Icel cut in calmly, stabbing her words deep into Catherine’s heart.

“Every day…?”

Catherine’s eyes trembled like lilacs in the wind.

She knew she hadn’t been affectionate towards her father, but he had always been busy.
She didn’t want to bother him.

But now… he was walking with her every day?

Suddenly, affection she thought she had lost welled up again.
If he was to walk, it should be with her, not Icel.

“It’s not worth getting so upset about, Catherine.”

Calypso said gently, seeing her flushed face.
But her anger only burned brighter.

“How can I not be upset?! Look at what you’re doing!”

“Catherine! How can you speak to your father like that!”

Diana, who had followed quietly, finally intervened.
She and Icel exchanged looks, thinking the same thing:

Stupid Catherine.

“Some beggar thinks she can take my place! Who do you think you’re walking with?!”

“Beggar? How can you say that as a lady!”

Calypso’s face turned cold.
No matter how dear she was to him, this crossed the line.

His expression stiffened like stone, and Catherine flinched.

With a low, growling voice, he called her name:

“Catherine.”

“…It’s your fault, Father!”

But she couldn’t stop now.
Rolling her eyes to read his mood, she shouted again out of wounded pride.

A poor choice.

His face was now beyond cold, his eyes icy as he glared at her.

“You should stop now. Unless you’re trying to test my patience.”

His voice was so cold it sent chills down her spine.

“F-Father…”

She reached out to him, trembling.

But he slapped her hand away without hesitation.

It was a face she had never seen before.
He had always been gentle.

This shocked her deeply.
She thought he would always be on her side.

First Mother… now Father…

She blamed Icel for everything, but couldn’t speak.

Silence fell over them.

“Father.”

The silence was broken by Icel.

“It’s okay.”

She tugged his shirt lightly, and his hard expression immediately softened.

“She’s right. I did… grow up poor.”

She emphasised the word ‘poor’, piercing Calypso’s deepest insecurities.

Catherine’s insult had triggered his own inferiority complex.

Icel recited Catherine’s insult again, like tasting bitter poison.

“‘Beggar’… she’s not wrong.”

Calypso opened his mouth to speak, but Catherine interrupted, sneering.

“At least you know your place…”

But before she could finish, a loud slap echoed.

Catherine’s head snapped to the side.

Icel watched silently, Diana covering her mouth in shock.

It was Calypso who had slapped her.

“How dare you say that to someone who’s suffered so much.”

Icel looked up at him calmly.

It was as if he was being brainwashed. How easy it was to control him.

The cracks between him and Catherine widened visibly.

“H-How…”

Holding her cheek, tears filled Catherine’s eyes.
Her heart hurt more than her face.

Fake Mother, fake Father… they all chose Icel.

It’s because I’m not real…

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she bit her lip until it bled.
But Calypso showed no pity.

“It seems your mother spoiled you too much. You’ve become arrogant.”

“All my fault, dear.”

Diana bowed her head humbly.
But her lips curled up faintly where no one could see.

Icel met Catherine’s eyes and mouthed silently:

“Stupid girl.”

Rage filled Catherine’s eyes as she lunged at Icel, ready to rip out her hair.

But before she could touch her, Calypso and Diana stopped her firmly.

Calypso shook his head in disbelief.
She was nothing like the elegant Icel.
Even if he married her off, she would only bring shame.

“Catherine, you will stay in your room for a week. No outings.”

“But Father!”

“Come, Icel.”

“…Yes, Father.”

Icel followed behind him lightly, her face glowing with triumph at Catherine’s twisted expression.