SWMD 82

Chapter 82

“Catherine’s Meltdown and Alicia’s Gamble”

After storming out of Alicia’s room, Catherine headed straight to the Duke’s office.

She had planned to humiliate Aicel at the magic exam… but couldn’t even attend. That alone drove her mad with frustration.

On top of that, Aicel had become a certified junior mage, which meant…

“She got the diamond mine rights from Grandfather.”

Those diamonds were supposed to be hers.

She had planned to use them as dowry—deck herself in diamonds when marrying Sawyer.

Grinding her teeth in rage, Catherine flung open Calypso’s office door.

She was in a foul mood and needed retail therapy: new dresses, new jewels—anything to ease the sting.

“Father,” she said aloud.

Calypso, buried in documents, looked up.

“Catherine?”

She looked surprisingly well for someone who had coughed up blood.

“So, you’ve come to your senses.”

That cold, indifferent tone made Catherine almost laugh. Not even a hint of concern for his sick daughter.

Sure, he was always emotionally reserved—but this felt like he was talking to a stranger.

Was it because of Aicel?

If it was affection he was giving her… fine. She’d get what she wanted anyway.

“Yes. I’m fine now.”

She plopped onto the sofa and crossed her legs.

“The magic exam’s already over, isn’t it?”

“Yes… because you couldn’t—”

“It wasn’t that I couldn’t. I was drugged!”

She snapped, unable to contain her anger.

“Drugged?” Calypso asked.

“Yes! Mother gave me a sleeping potion. I couldn’t wake up!”

Catherine clenched her fists and scowled.

A maid brought her tea. Her throat was dry from yelling, but when she reached for the cup, she froze—catching her own reflection in the surface of the tea.

She looked like a loser. A defeated fool bested by Aicel.

Unable to face it, she turned her head away.

“Whatever. It’s over now.”

The anger still simmered, but she couldn’t rewind time.

She crossed her arms and got to her point.

“I want an allowance.”

“Allowance?” Calypso blinked.

“Yes. I’m in a terrible mood. Alicia ruined everything.”

The way she casually dropped her mother’s name made Calypso raise an eyebrow.

Then he shook his head. Ever since Diana returned and Aicel entered the estate, Catherine had become… unrecognizable.

Sure, she was always a little entitled—but not like this.

Calypso sighed and opened his drawer, placing a few gold coins on the desk.

“Take it.”

Catherine leapt up with glee—but her face soured when she saw the small pile.

“This isn’t enough.”

“Not enough?”

“This wouldn’t even buy a keychain with a tiny gem on it.”

She slid the coins back across the table.

“I want a new dress and jewelry. Give me a bank draft.”

Calypso’s cold eyes narrowed.

Aicel—who wasn’t even his blood—had given him mine rights.

But Catherine, his actual daughter, was demanding luxury in a time of financial crisis.

“Catherine.”

“Yes?”

“Do you even know what our house is trying to do right now?”

“What are we doing?”

She looked genuinely clueless.

Calypso sighed again.

He had always intended to pass the family down to Catherine.
Aicel had her own grandfather, after all.

But now… he wasn’t so sure anymore.

“Your mother—Diana—borrowed money for me. Aicel—”

“Aicel?! Are you really comparing me to her?”

Catherine’s voice turned shrill. Calypso’s eyes remained ice-cold.

“Lately… I’ve been feeling hurt,” she said, shifting to a pity tactic.
“No one cares about me. Only Aicel, Aicel, Aicel…”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Don’t you care how depressed I am, after missing the magic exam?”

Her voice trembled as tears fell.

But Calypso’s face showed no sympathy.

Catherine flinched at his cold silence.

“Then tell me…”
“Don’t you care about me trying to revive this family?”

“That’s your job. Isn’t it?” Catherine replied smugly.

“What?”

“You’re the head. It’s your responsibility. Why complain about it?”

How selfish…
Even if it was his job, this wasn’t something she should say to his face.

And ‘complain’? That was no way to speak to her father.

“Comparison…”

Calypso’s voice turned glacial.

“…is impossible to avoid now.”

“What did you say…?”

Catherine looked stunned.

How could he say something like that? Aicel wasn’t even comparable to her—right?

“We scraped together every last coin for this business venture. And you want jewels?”

He slammed the desk and stood up.

His own daughter—so selfish. So different from Aicel.

He blamed Alicia.

It was her inferior blood—so different from his noble line—that made Catherine this way.

If Diana’s child had survived, they’d have been far more elegant. Like Aicel.

“You’re beyond immature, Catherine!”

Calypso’s forehead wrinkled with rage.

If she had only asked for things sweetly, he wouldn’t have gotten so angry.

But she had trampled all over his sense of duty and effort with just a few careless words.

“F-Father…”

Catherine stammered, clearly shaken. She’d never seen him this furious.

But he no longer looked at her.

He returned to his seat and said:

“I have no gold for you. Leave.”

Cold. Final.

Catherine stomped out like a child being sent to her room.

Far ahead, she spotted Alicia. Her face fell when she saw her daughter’s stormy expression.

Something had clearly happened in Calypso’s office.

Even if Catherine stabbed her with harsh words, Alicia couldn’t hate her. She was her child.

Catherine passed her without a glance and went to her room.

Alicia lingered in the hallway, then gathered her courage and entered Calypso’s office.

It had been a long time since she’d gone in.

She shut the door softly.

Calypso didn’t even look up.

“…Calypso.”

He had been cold toward her since the banquet.

“Did Catherine visit you?”

She asked quietly. Her heart ached. The people she loved—both Calypso and Catherine—treated her like an outsider.

Calypso rubbed his face with both hands.

He had too much on his mind to deal with her on top of everything else.

“I’m tired. Let’s talk later.”

Still cold.

Alicia’s shoulders drooped. She had no energy to fight.

Catherine had already shattered her emotionally.

“Just… please pay attention to Catherine, okay?”

“Stop. You’re the reason she’s so spoiled.”

“Calypso…”

She wanted to tell him the truth—that Diana knew about their affair.

But he abruptly stood up, waved her off like she was exhausting, and walked out—slamming the door behind him.

“Haah…”

Alone, Alicia let out a deep, hollow sigh.

He wasn’t the one truly exhausted. It was her.

Like her body was bleeding from invisible wounds.

She wanted to protect Catherine.

Now that Diana knew everything, she needed something—anything—in her hands.

That’s when she noticed it.

“What’s this…?”

Shining gold lettering caught her eye.

The Diamond Mine Operating Rights.
The one Aicel had given to Calypso.

Alicia gulped.

If she had this… maybe Calypso couldn’t cast them aside so easily.

She looked around the empty office, then cautiously picked it up.

Trembling, she tucked the document into her clothes.

Her hands shook in fear—yet…

A faint smile bloomed on her lips.