Chapter 24
“The Hidden Truth”
Heidi couldn’t understand what was happening right now.
Why hadn’t Levelia come back to the estate since the ball last night? Why did her father seem so calm even though his daughter hadn’t returned?
And why was her own heart pounding with such unease?
She couldn’t find answers to any of these questions.
After hesitating for a moment, she slowly sat back down.
“Good decision,” Crocan said.
“You must feel there’s something we need to talk about.”
Heidi felt a chill run through her entire body at the way Crocan lumped her in with the word “we.”
She never wanted to be associated in any way with this snake-eyed man.
“I… I’d like to understand what Your Lordship meant earlier.”
“Are you saying Lady Levelia never returned to the mansion after the party?”
Even though she asked cautiously, Crocan remained calm.
He picked up his teacup and gently savored the aroma, acting as if they were talking about someone else’s child—not his missing daughter.
“Rather than saying she didn’t return, it’s more accurate to say she couldn’t return.”
“W-What do you mean by that? She couldn’t return…?”
“Did she get caught up in some accident?”
Before she could get an answer, Crocan interrupted.
“Let me ask you something first.”
He looked straight at her, clearly already guessing what her answer might be.
“Since when were you and my daughter so close?”
“Pardon?”
“Why did you switch clothes with her?”
“…”
“And how did you change your hair color? When exactly did you start planning this ridiculous little scheme?”
His voice came at her like an interrogation.
His eyes made it clear: he was blaming her for Levelia’s disappearance.
Heidi could feel the contempt and distrust in his gaze.
This isn’t fair…
She was the one who had been tricked.
She was the one who suffered through Crocan’s accusations and nightmares all night.
Now she was being blamed for everything?
Anger bubbled in her throat.
“Y-You’re mistaken, Your Lordship!”
“Lady Levelia and I are not friends! We met for the first time at that party!”
“First time?” he repeated, clearly not believing her.
Seeing his lips twist in disbelief, Heidi panicked and rushed to defend herself.
She truly believed every word she was saying.
“I… I only switched dresses because she convinced me to! And the hair color— I don’t even know how it changed!”
“…”
“It just changed after I drank the champagne she gave me! That’s the truth!”
The more she tried to explain, the more helpless she felt.
If she had done anything wrong, it was being naïve enough to trust Levelia.
Crocan smiled coldly, without a trace of belief in his eyes.
“Are you telling me to believe that?”
“Marquis Piace!”
“After what I told you last night, are you saying you didn’t want her out of the picture?”
“Wh-What are you saying?!”
Heidi was about to faint from frustration.
Why would she ever be jealous of Levelia?
It’s not like Levelia was jealous of her either!
“Because I know,” he cut in.
“Your father’s true love wasn’t your mother. It was Levelia’s real mother.”
Heidi froze.
She stared at him, unable to even blink.
Then her lips finally started to move, shakily.
“W-What did you just say…?”
“Edwin Eliana — your father — never forgot about the woman he truly loved: Levelia’s mother. Isn’t that why he gave his own daughter over to Esperos?”
It was a nightmare.
That’s what Heidi told herself. This had to be a nightmare.
After a long silence, she finally muttered:
“L-Lies…”
It had to be a lie.
Her father may not have loved her mother, but he would never cheat on her.
That much she was sure of.
“You’re lying, Marquis. My father… loves my mother!”
Her voice echoed into silence.
Crocan didn’t say anything, but the way he looked at her said enough:
He knew everything already.
He knew her parents didn’t love each other.
He knew they were only pretending.
How… how does he know this?
Heidi’s eyes trembled.
But truthfully, it wasn’t such a rare story.
In noble society, love came second to money. And money came second to power.
Marriage wasn’t about eternal love—it was about alliances between families.
Even so, they always tried to act like a loving couple in front of me…
She couldn’t remember when exactly she realized the truth, but it had been a long time ago.
What seemed like a happy family had actually been just an act.
And Heidi had played her part, pretending to be cheerful and happy.
But maybe others knew, too…
Maybe everyone knew she and her parents were pretending to be a perfect family.
Just like Crocan Piace.
Maybe everyone saw through her act of being the sweet, flawless Heidi — and just pretended not to.
That thought made her skin burn with shame.
Blushing deeply, she stammered:
“I-I’ve already said this many times, but it’s all a misunderstanding.”
“…”
“Lady Levelia was the one who suggested switching dresses. She gave me the potion. I didn’t know what it was!”
Crocan’s next words struck like a hammer:
“Unfortunately, my daughter — the only one who could confirm your story — is in Hestonia.”
“…”
“Specifically, at Grand Duke Esperos’s estate in the far north.”
Heidi was speechless.
The only person who could prove her innocence… had already framed her.
I never should’ve come here.
She felt sick.
Then Crocan asked, with a perfectly calm face as he picked up his teacup:
“Does the Crown Prince know about all this?”
“W-What do you mean?”
Heidi’s eyes went wide at the mention of Delphian.
Crocan slowly looked up from his tea.
His cold, sharp gaze made her flinch.
“Do you think the Crown Prince knows that my daughter was taken in your place?”
His quiet voice filled the room like a dark fog.
It dripped with anger.
Heidi snapped back.
“W-Why would His Highness need to know? This has nothing to do with him from the beginning!”
“Nothing to do with him?”
“Lady Levelia was taken because they thought she was me— I mean, why would I even be taken by the Grand Duke?!”
“Because the Crown Prince killed the Grand Duke’s younger brother.”
“…What?”
Heidi froze like she’d been struck by lightning.
She had never imagined such a thing — not even in her worst nightmares.
Heidi is strong, to hear all plot twist about her life in one sitting.