Chapter 02
Crocan Piace
The maid pouring tea glanced nervously at me and my father sitting across from each other.
Looking at the half-empty bookshelf and the warm fireplace, my father spoke in a cold, emotionless voice.
“Still as strange as ever, I see.”
“……”
“Did you burn books because you were cold?”
The maid’s hand visibly shook as she tried to set the teacup down.
Watching her quietly, I twisted my lips into a bitter smile.
“Yes. I had no choice.”
“……”
“Even if I said I was cold, no one in this house would light a fire for me.”
“I-I would have prepared firewood if you’d told me, my lady!”
As expected, the maid quickly jumped into the conversation, probably because she’d been eavesdropping.
My father’s gaze turned from me to the sound of her voice.
The maid paled when she met the dark gaze of his left eye.
Then, Father softly muttered:
“Damon.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Damon, the butler of the mansion, answered right away.
Looking at the trembling maid, Father said quietly:
“Seems I’ve been neglecting the household. Don’t you think?”
Even without any trace of warmth, his voice made the maid flinch violently.
Damon, who had been by Father’s side for over 30 years, quickly responded:
“Forgive me. I’ll take care of it myself to avoid troubling you further.”
Hearing this, the maid’s face went sheet-white.
She dropped to her knees and cried out:
“P-please forgive me, my lord! I was wrong! Please, just this once!”
“……”
“I didn’t mean it! I won’t do it again! I’ll be good!”
“What’s your name?”
Father asked gently, smiling as if he were concerned.
Encouraged by the change in his expression, the maid answered with hope in her eyes.
“B-Benny, sir.”
“I see. Benny.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Do you know what I hate the most in this world?”
“Pardon…?”
“People who don’t know their place.”
The smile vanished from Benny’s face.
Father whispered softly:
“People like that are all talk and no substance.”
“……”
“So I always think—wouldn’t it be better to cut off such useless tongues?”
Benny froze in shock at his words.
Father continued, still smiling:
“What do you think?”
“……”
“Are you that kind of person too?”
Benny shook her head fiercely.
Without hesitation, Damon ordered knights to drag her away.
Her screams echoed through the room—then suddenly stopped.
Even though I knew the door had closed, silencing her cries, it felt like the final scream before death. My hands trembled.
Silence returned to the room.
Father picked up his teacup and spoke casually:
“Forgive me for showing you such an unpleasant sight, Rebelia.”
“……”
“Please understand.”
“It’s fine.”
He looked up at me as I calmly responded.
I smiled.
“It’s nothing new, after all.”
My sarcastic remark seemed to make his expression shift slightly.
Pretending not to notice, I lifted my teacup.
“If you have something to say, go ahead.”
“……”
“You didn’t come here just to see me, right?”
His cold gaze locked onto me.
Yes, this man was my father, but also the villain of this story.
I knew he’d eventually be defeated by the male lead.
Still, the fear and disgust I felt—built over 18 years of abuse and neglect—didn’t fade so easily.
Feeling his piercing stare, I turned my head away without meaning to.
Then, Father gave a slow, unpleasant smile.
“Seems I’ve upset you by neglecting you for so long, Rebelia.”
“……”
“Since you’re even talking back to me now.”
His low voice sent chills down my spine.
Did he realize something was different?
Naturally, I was no longer the same. Now I knew what kind of world this was.
The original Rebelia would never have thought of escaping, even if she understood her abuse.
She was a noblewoman bound by feudal ideas.
But I wasn’t.
I had lived through the 21st century.
I didn’t believe I needed a man—father or husband—to protect me.
So I didn’t fear him.
And if I had to leave this house one day, I knew I could take care of myself.
Still…
“It’s hard to endure the insults the servants throw at me.”
“……”
“…I’m sorry.”
Not yet.
I couldn’t afford to be thrown out of the house without a plan.
So, I had to remain his foolish daughter.
To keep him disinterested.
To make sure he wouldn’t interfere when I left.
He looked at me as if trying to see through me.
That stare—sharp like a snake—made my back break out in goosebumps.
Then, he smiled kindly.
“Yes. You are a true Piace.”
“……”
“But don’t worry. No one in this house will mistreat you again.”
Then, Father stood up slowly.
He glanced down at me, eyes scanning my body.
His bold stare made my skin crawl.
“Still, you should buy some new clothes.”
“……”
“We can’t have the name of Piace disgraced.”
I frowned without meaning to.
“The maid has been dealt with, my lord.”
“……”
“And I’ve informed the rest of the staff of your orders.”
Despite his words, Crocan said nothing.
He sat in his chair, tapping his finger on the desk.
Damon glanced at him, reading his mood.
Why the sudden change?
Damon had always wondered why Crocan was using Rebelia as a pawn now.
After all, Crocan had ignored her for more than ten years—pushing her to the edge.
She had never been to a real party, never even stepped outside the mansion.
It seemed impossible she could handle what was coming.
“What happened to that person?”
Crocan’s question startled Damon out of his thoughts.
After a pause, Damon lowered his head and answered:
“Officially, he will enter Zeroth one week before the party, ten days from now.”
“……”
“Unofficially, he’s arriving tomorrow with the Master of the Mage Tower.”
“The Mage Tower’s master?”
“Yes. I heard he’ll help when they ‘pluck the flower’.”
Crocan’s left eye gleamed with interest.
His lips twisted in satisfaction.
“Looks like the fool is serious about revenge this time.”
“……”
“All the better if his heart is truly in it.”
Watching him smile ominously, Damon realized something.
Crocan was involving Rebelia just in case this plan failed—so she could take the fall.
Lowering his head, Damon carefully asked:
“Will you not tell the young lady about the plan?”
“……”
“I just thought… if she knew a little, it might help you, my lord.”
Crocan silently stared at him.
Damon held his breath.
Was he about to be punished for speaking out?
But then Crocan finally spoke:
“Giving a heads-up isn’t bad.”
“Then…?”
“But I have a better way.”
“A better way, sir?”
Crocan gave a cryptic smile.
He spun the wine glass in his fingers.
Gazing into the swirling wine, he spoke in a low voice:
“A child who’s never known affection doesn’t seek it from others.”
“……”
“But that girl—she once received love from her mother.”
Damon frowned at the vague words.
Crocan sipped his wine.
“Imagine seeing someone else have that same love—so easily, so naturally.”
“……”
Damon finally responded:
“It would make me angry.”
“Exactly. That’s what I plan to show her.”
“…Sorry?”
Crocan smiled and set the wine down.
“That Heidi Eliana took everything she was supposed to have.”
The scenery outside the carriage passed by unfamiliar and fast.
This was my first time going outside since I tried to find my mother ten years ago.
“……”
Frowning against the sunlight, I turned my head.
Annie—that was her name, right?
The maid with curly brown hair didn’t seem pleased with this outing.
Biting my lip, I stared at her and sighed.
Then I remembered what Father said last night:
‘Don’t worry. No one will mistreat you anymore.’
…Really?
I didn’t truly believe him.
But he wasn’t the type to say things just to please me either.
Then what was his reason?
I recalled something else he said:
‘You should buy some new clothes. We can’t disgrace the name Piace.’
For ten years, I’d been locked in this mansion after trying to find my mother.
There was no one for me to disgrace the family name in front of.
So why the sudden gesture?
“We’re here. Please step down, my lady.”
Claude Boutique.
“This place is…”
“Too luxurious for you, miss. Only royals and the highest nobles get clothes here.”
Even as Annie glared at me, she handed me useful information.
I looked up at the boutique.
Father had never even bought me a simple dress, but now he was sending me here?
…So I’m going to meet those so-called high-ranking people soon?
I walked past the attendant holding the door and stepped inside.
Looks like the chance to escape this house might come sooner than I thought.
