Chapter 19. Without Any Romance

The fact that my father had a sense of responsibility towards me did not mean he was on my side.

Father was the kind of person who considered maintaining the Lopez family line as the most important thing above all else. Even if he was ridiculed as a half-noble staying in the capital after losing his territory, even if he was laughed at for being poor, he proudly regarded himself as a descendant of a once prestigious noble family.

That was why he took Margot, a commoner who had already been married once, as his second wife.

My mother had a phobic aversion to sleeping with Father, making it impossible for them to have an heir. Therefore, Father needed an alternative to obtain an heir.

If he couldn’t have a son while he was still vigorous, the family line would end.

There was also the method of me finding a husband and bringing him in as a son-in-law, but naturally, no man wanted to become a son-in-law to a baron family like Lopez.

So the remaining option was for Father to take a mistress or a second wife. However, even taking a mistress was difficult. What woman in her right mind would want to be the mistress of a penniless Baron Lopez? Maybe a legitimate wife, but not a mistress.

Father knew this well, so he seemed to have been constantly searching for a woman to succeed my mother, who frequently attempted suicide and might not live out her natural lifespan.

The woman who appeared during such a time was Margot.

She was in a dire situation, having fled to her sister-in-law’s house to escape her deceased husband’s debts, and she even had two children.

But Margot was beautiful. Even after having two daughters, her unfaded beauty was comparable to that of a goddess of beauty.

I don’t know for sure, but Father seemed to think that if he married her, he could have a handsome son.

Moreover, since she had no family and nothing to her name, she was not in a position to demand anything troublesome, which Father found pleasing.

A woman with no potential for financial or other complicated issues.

A woman who would not complain and would live quietly in this poor household.

Yes, as I grew older, I gradually realized it too. There was no romance in the remarriage of the beautiful widow Margot and Baron Lopez; Margot was merely a tool to bear a son.

So if I tell her that I pitied her once, what expression would Margot make?

I swallowed a bitter smile and opened my mouth.

“So, to Father, I was not a daughter but a tool.”

The worst kind of man who chose his lifelong partner as the ‘most suitable tool’ would treat his own daughter no differently.

It was a fact I already knew. Father had not an ounce of affection for me. It was never something I didn’t know, but still…

Confirming it again like this is painful.

I am truly unloved by anyone.

“I don’t understand what you’re suddenly talking about. I heard everything about what happened between you and Marquis Anderson from your stepmother. It seems you insulted him first at the Spring Ball. Shouldn’t you take responsibility to be considered a lady who knows honor?”

“……”

Father must have known that such absurd words would not persuade me. He was merely forcing me to ‘give up.’ Just like when he made me help with the cleaning and kitchen work in this mansion. By demanding sacrifice as if it were natural, saying everyone would be comfortable if I just quietly resigned myself…

“……”

Unknowingly, I bit my lips and clenched my fists. Something hot surged from within. …Fine, I can help with cleaning and kitchen work as much as needed. Those things are trivial. Once you’re skilled enough, they are as easy as breathing.

But marriage is different. Being forced into a marriage I don’t want is a completely different matter. My life could become even more miserable if I married someone like Marquis Anderson, and I’m supposed to accept that?

…No, I can’t do that. I can overlook everything else, but I can’t stand having my control in my own life taken away and ruined. With gritted teeth, I opened my eyes wide and spoke.

“No.”

“…What did you say?”

“I don’t want to marry Marquis Anderson. Father.”

“You…”

“He is much older than me, has no manners to the extent that he’s flirting with ladies at noble balls, and his thoughts are as rotten as his ugly appearance. You know Marquis Anderson’s reputation isn’t good, don’t you, Father?”

“……”

Father, who had been staring at me blankly, ran his hand over his face and sighed softly. Then he looked up and spoke to me with an incredulous expression.

“Where did you learn to talk back to an adult so clearly?”

“……”

“I am your father and the head of this household. Do as I say. Don’t overstep your bounds.”

A hollow laugh escaped me. Of course, he doesn’t listen. It’s not surprising at all. I brought out the words I had prepared in advance, ‘clearly.’

“Before being your daughter, I am an independent human being. I have the right to decide my own future.”

“What? This insolent…”

“I didn’t want to be so cowardly, but I have to say this, Father. Thanks to your marriage to my real mother, the Lopez family avoided bankruptcy. Don’t forget and keep in mind that I am also the granddaughter of the Raman family that indebted you…!”

Smack!

My rising voice, fueled by emotions, was abruptly cut off by a sharp sound.

I blinked blankly with my head turned to the side. It didn’t take long to realize that Father had slapped me.

The cheek that was hit started to burn and hurt.

“You must have made a scene at the party as well.”

“……”

“Because of you, I had to personally visit Count and Countess Lakers and bow my head to apologize…! Instead of behaving properly as a lady, you couldn’t control your anger and caused such a mess, do you know how much damage you caused to our family?”

“……”

“If you had just stayed quiet, there wouldn’t have been any disgrace to our family!”

The struck area was hot and stinging. I felt like crying. I was the one humiliated at the party, so why should I be the sinner?

Marquis Anderson was the one who disgraced himself, so why is he blameless and everything my fault? And originally, the one who caused this mess was Margot.

“Ugh, I didn’t know you were such an impudent girl. Maybe it’s because you have that Katar blood mixed in you…”

Father, looking at me like I was a bug, issued an order to leave. He added that he would proceed with the marriage to Marquis Anderson and that I should not refuse.

I barely managed to move my trembling legs and walk to the door, but I still managed to squeeze out these words at the end.

“…What if I find a better groom than Marquis Anderson?”

“…What did you say?”

Facing Father, who looked back with an incredulous expression, I moved my trembling lips to smile. My tear-filled eyes were stinging and wet.

“Of course, you wouldn’t believe the rumor that the Grand Duke of Bayern is courting me. You’d think he’s doing it out of mere sympathy. But… it might be true, you know.”

“Huh…?”

“Since I’m receiving the Grand Duke’s courtship, more gentlemen will start showing interest in me. Isn’t that so? They might even approach me out of curiosity…”

“……”

“Father, as you know, the only children in this family with the pure Lopez blood are Anthony and me. If you intend to marry off your daughters, I hold much more value than Helene or Melissa. So, please give me just one week. I will definitely find a better suitor than Marquis Anderson… someone who will be more beneficial for the family’s revival.”

“……”

Father looked at me with a slightly bewildered expression, as if he was seeing a side of me he had never known.

Mentioning ‘the pure Lopez blood’ was my last card. It was the thing Father valued the most. The only thing that somewhat increased the value of the ash-covered Ellenore. Though I consider such lineage to be a worthless shell that could be trampled underfoot.

If it could be my weapon, I would use it.

“…Fine. I will give you a week.”

“Thank you.”

“If you fail to find a suitor within that time, you must marry Marquis Anderson.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

With that conversation over, I left Father’s room and headed for my attic. I was hungry but had no appetite, so I didn’t feel like eating anything.

My slapped cheek had turned red and was swollen in an unsightly manner. I stared blankly at my reflection in the window and sighed softly. If I am to do something from tomorrow, I should first reduce this swelling.

‘If Anthony is out wandering again and not in his room, I’ll have to sneak in and use his ointment.’

As I walked absentmindedly with such thoughts, I felt a soft sensation brushing past and wrapping around my ankle.

“……?”

When I looked down, I saw a tricolor furball of white, brown, and black in my sight.

“Meow—”

It was Lucy, the kitchen cat.

“Lucy…”

As I let out a hollow laugh and sat down, Lucy quickly jumped into my arms. She rubbed against me and acted affectionately, as if trying to comfort me.

“…Thank you.”

“Meow.”

“You’re the only one in this house who likes me.”

“Meow.”

Holding onto the warm and soft little creature, I felt my heart weaken again, and tears threatened to fall, but I held them back.

It’s okay, I can endure. There will be a way.

I consoled myself with words that echoed my helpless anxiety.

***

These days, the social circles of the capital Schleswig were abuzz with a scandal that had risen like a new star.

The center of that commotion, the hottest gossip of the social scene, was Ellenore Lopez, and the article about her was prominently featured in the most popular weekly magazine, ‘Dramatica.’

[Seductress or Saint? The Woman Who Enchanted the Grand Duke of Bayern.]

It was a provocative headline that would make even passersby stop, pick up the magazine, and read it.