TREV 26

Chapter : 26

The duke approached, lightly smacking the palm of his hand with a switch.

“If you don’t like it, then leave this mansion immediately.”

“……”

“Know this—once you walk out, you will never be able to return. I won’t protect you anymore.”

Seeing that I seemed to hesitate, the duke added on.

Of course, he only said that because he knew well I wouldn’t be able to leave.

Right, it wasn’t time yet.

I had no money, and I hadn’t fully adapted to this world.

I didn’t even know how safe it was here, or how to earn money and survive.

Still, wasn’t this too much?

The fact that he used the knowledge that I couldn’t leave as a way to threaten me.

“I don’t know if a thing like you could survive outside, but you have a decent enough face. Sell your body and you might scrape by.”

The duke sneered.

Tap, tap.

As if he already knew my answer, he tapped the floor with his switch.

In that moment, the fear evaporated and my senses returned.

“I’ll leave.”

“…What?”

“I said, I’ll just leave.”

The duke’s face twisted completely at my answer.

“Even if I starve to death out there, I think I’ll still be happier than here.”

When he said he’d let things go three times, I realized maybe a person really would get this angry if you messed up three times.

And then it hit me—maybe I really had done wrong.

When he told me to leave if I didn’t want a beating, I even thought getting beaten might be better.

Because like he said, if I tried to live outside, I really might die.

At least here I had a soft bed, good food, and no need to worry about heat or cold.

And enough money to buy dresses and jewelry.

There were things I hated, but if I endured just a little more, I could walk away with money—so I’d tried to endure.

“Ha, unbelievable. That you would even think of staying in a place like this.”

But earlier his words shook me awake.

This man wasn’t my father, nor Patricia’s.

Maybe I should have left the day he said he’d take money for me and sell me to some old man.

This place was wrong.

Deliberately ignoring and isolating one’s own daughter.

Throwing words that crushed every shred of self-worth without hesitation.

Forbidding someone from going outside for no reason.

It was wrong.

“If I have to endure that kind of filthy talk, I’d rather live alone.”

Maybe staying was the rational choice, anger or not.

Maybe I wasn’t thinking clearly right now.

Even so—even if I regretted it later—

I didn’t want to be here anymore.

I was becoming strange myself.

The duke apparently hadn’t expected this and could only stammer soundlessly.

“In the short time I’ve known you, you have never been a good parent.”

Leaving that with the dumbstruck duke, I walked out of the office.

Clack!

Servants loitering outside wrinkled their brows when they saw me.

What are you looking at.

I shot them a glare and hurried down the stairs.

Part fear he’d come running after me, and partly because there was nothing worth money in my room anyway.

Emma and Carlos…

First, Emma didn’t seem to be in too much trouble.

She was crying, but she was with the other maids.

She wasn’t tied up or guarded. It didn’t look like trouble would reach her.

Carlos…

Once I got settled somewhere outside, I’d have to come back for him.

If he even wanted to come with me, that is.

“……”

Actually—more importantly.

Where was I supposed to go?

I picked up my hat from the stairs.

Must’ve dropped it while being dragged earlier.

“Tch. They couldn’t bother to pick this up?”

With nowhere to go, I suddenly felt like I’d been thrown out.

“No. I’m walking out on my own. This isn’t being thrown out.”

I pulled the hat low and walked forward.

As if I had not a shred of regret.

As if I feared nothing.

As if I had every confidence I’d thrive on my own.

A sigh nearly slipped out, but I bit my lip and kept moving—right through the front gate.

“Haa…”

Letting out a deep sigh, I looked around the now-familiar room.

The chandelier, the carpet, the sofa, and the porcelain on the table—everything was exactly as before.

I stared silently at the tea in front of me and tugged my hat down further.

“…Ha.”

I’m insane.

I must be insane.

I couldn’t believe I’d gone to the Gerhardt mansion.

But after leaving the Herarreilla estate and wandering aimlessly around the plaza, I somehow ended up here.

Honestly, other than the people at Herarreilla’s, the only person I had any connection to in this world was Laurence.

The problem was, it wasn’t a good connection.

Click.

Suddenly the door opened and someone walked in.

His face was hidden under a wide hat brim, but it was definitely Laurence.

“What brings you here?”

“……”

“Patricia.”

He glanced briefly out the window.

Darkness had already settled outside.

It surprised him that I’d come so late; his gaze returned to me, and I bowed deeply.

“…Did something happen at home?”

Nod, nod.

I nodded miserably.

Laurence was the young lord of House Gerhardt.

He had the ability to arrange somewhere for me to stay.

It’d be easy for him—if he wanted to.

Hadn’t he said he’d help if I needed it?

“It’s just… I don’t really know anyone besides you, my lord.”

There was no one else I could ask.

“……”

“I have nowhere to go.”

Silence stretched.

Worried he’d tell me to leave, I opened my mouth again.

“You said back then you would—”

“All right, sit.”

At his calm words, I looked up.

But his hat brim still hid his face.

“Tsk, are you all right?”

“…Yes.”

“Do you need a physician?”

“No.”

“Stay as long as you want.”

“Uh…”

The unexpected generosity made my voice falter awkwardly.

“Thank you.”

“No thanks. Get up. I’ll show you to a room.”

Laurence sighed and stood.

He seemed annoyed, maybe frustrated.

I stood quickly so as not to offend him and followed.

“My lord…”

As we left the sitting room, his aide Simon called him.

Clearly, a late-night guest like me wasn’t welcome.

“I’m giving her a room.”

“What? But—”

“It’s already decided. That’s enough.”

Laurence gestured sharply for him to stop.

“I’ll escort the lady myself.”

Simon exhaled heavily, resigned.

“I’ll do it. You go shut the servants’ mouths.”

Laurence glanced at me and seemed irritated.

Was the conversation dragging on too long for his liking?

“Yes, sir.”

Noticing his lord’s foul mood, Simon hurried off.

“Come.”

Only once he disappeared did Laurence resume walking.

Step, step…

Climbing stairs and walking the corridor, only the steady rhythm of our footsteps filled the silence.

It was strange.

He didn’t scold me for barging in.

He didn’t ask why.

He simply offered a room.

He asked if I was all right as if he knew everything, though he knew nothing.

Click.

Laurence stopped and turned a doorknob.

The room was dark—unused, maybe. He slipped inside, then returned with a lamp.

“Go in and rest.”

I accepted the lamp.

“I’ll assign you a maid. Ask if you need anything.”

He jerked his chin toward the room.

“But…”

I knew I should just go inside and rest, but—

“Why aren’t you asking anything?”

I couldn’t help it.

“Aren’t you going to get dragged into rumors because you’re helping me? Why bother helping?”

Laurence and I had no tie.

We weren’t blood relatives, and our houses weren’t especially close.

If word spread that Patricia was living at the Gerhardt estate, it would hurt him more than help.

And he wouldn’t even have a good excuse.

So why?

“Our house knows how to keep quiet. No rumors.”

“Aren’t you curious why I was kicked out?”

He let out a small sigh.

Then reached out and brushed the back of my head.

The brim lifted, and my face tilted up.

At last, his red eyes appeared.

“Do you want to tell me?”

He scrutinized me, brow faintly furrowed.

“If you want me to. Since I’m the one asking a favor.”

I shrugged lightly. He lifted one corner of his mouth.

“Were you beaten?”

His gaze moved to my forehead.

“I wasn’t. It’s just… I hit my head on a carriage.”

My voice trailed off, and he nodded as if that made sense.

“I’ll have food sent up. Go rest. I’ll ask the rest later.”

“…Okay.”

I didn’t like walking into the dark room alone.

But I couldn’t trouble him further.

So I turned my back and stepped inside.