* * *

“Master, Miss Serena has sent a telegram.”

“A telegram?”

“Yes.”

Marquis Lavernia, Irdin Lavernia, received the envelope handed to him by his butler Slay.

The document was well-sealed, tied with a string and even stamped with a seal.

“What is this?”

He made a puzzled expression.

It was because he didn’t expect to receive such a document.

‘Is it because of the rainbow gold?’

But, from what he heard, it had been passed on to someone else.

They took less money, so they must have failed at the auction.

‘It’s probably not to return the money.’

Irdin Lavernia, though puzzled, opened the envelope with neat and tidy movements.

As he turned over the opened envelope, a folded letter and three bound documents fluttered out.

“…Documents?”

Irdin Lavernia’s expression hardened.

‘Surely she hasn’t caused trouble again.’

Serena Lavernia even wrote a letter?

Just how big of a trouble did she cause!

He wanted to shout like that but suppressed the urge.

Irdin Lavernia, unusually feeling dizzy, raised his hand to his head.

He pressed his straight fingers against his temples.

He needed to gather his thoughts. Then, he reached for the letter first instead of the overturned documents.

He didn’t have the confidence to look at the documents first.

Irdin Lavernia’s fingertips trembled slightly.

What on earth could the documents be about?

He hoped that whatever trouble his daughter had caused could be resolved without much difficulty.

[To Your Grace, Marquis Lavernia.]

“……?”

Irdin Lavernia’s expression slightly distorted as he read the first line.

‘…To… Your Grace… Marquis… Lavernia…….’

Well, there’s nothing wrong with the words.

It’s true that he is His Grace, Marquis Lavernia.

But, is there a need to be called that even by his daughter?

‘Is this an official document…?’

But how can such a half-folded letter be an official document?

He felt somewhat strange but moved his gaze to the next line anyway.

[I hope you’ve started a pleasant day. Your Grace.]

He paused again at the second line.

‘…What is this?’

Of course, the relationship between Serena Lavernia and Irdin Lavernia, that is, the father and daughter, wasn’t good.

Serena, who wasn’t an affectionate character since childhood, and Serena who went completely out of control after losing her memory due to an accident.

He wasn’t particularly close with either version of her.

In a way, it was natural.

Serena wasn’t the type to approach people first, and Irdin Lavernia was busy with work and devoted all his attention to his sickly wife.

His son, Nocturne Lavernia, who was the heir and now the young marquis, regularly visited him since childhood to receive various teachings.

It was his son who came to suggest having a cup of tea when he was overworking, it was Nocturne who often accompanied him on territory inspections, and it was Nocturne Lavernia who consistently came out for meals.

Yes, it was all just his son.

People say that if you have one daughter, she’s usually full of cuteness and often clings to you, chattering away and making you smile just by looking at her, but the Lavernia family was different.

Serena, who had lived as an orphan in her previous life and experienced a tough life in college, was dry in many ways.

Moreover, after realizing her role as a villainess, she recognized Marquis Lavernia as ‘someone who will abandon me in the future anyway.’

Above all, she was a working adult. If the other person seems busy or tired, she doesn’t bother them.

And in fact, Irdin Lavernia was always busy and tired.

In other words, there was nothing between the two.

When Serena went out of control, even Irdin Lavernia’s expression would sour at the sight of her.

‘…It was bleak, but.’

Still, you know…

‘Isn’t “Your Grace, Marquis” a bit too much?’

Irdin Lavernia thought seriously.

Even though it was dry, didn’t she properly call him ‘Father’ when they met this time?

He tried to push away the slightly strange feeling and moved his gaze to the next line of the short letter.

[Since you probably don’t want to talk much with me, I’ll get straight to the point. I’m sending you the documents I promised then. I originally intended to give them to you last month, but it was somewhat delayed. And I also received well the extra money you provided outside of the contents of the transaction. I will use it gratefully. Also, I’m sorry for causing a lot of trouble. Thank you for raising me. I’ll end it here as you’ll be uncomfortable. I hope you live long and healthy, and please convey my apologies and thanks to the Marchioness as well.

I will pray for the prosperity of the family.

— From Serena.]

‘What is this?’

Irdin Lavernia, having finished reading, couldn’t understand the content at all, so he read the letter once more.

But reading it again doesn’t help him understand. It’s just strange, that’s all.

‘The promised documents?’

What were they?

Irdin Lavernia was puzzled.

What is the ‘contents of the transaction’, what is the extra money provided, and what are these ‘promised documents’?

The handwriting was familiar, but the content was completely incomprehensible.

“Did she send a contract for purchasing something else instead of the rainbow gold?”

But why is there a wish for him to live long and healthy?

He finally couldn’t hold back and picked up the three overturned documents.

Irdin Lavernia took a deep breath.

And he quickly skimmed the top document after flipping it over, then froze.

— Family Removal Application (Approved) —

There was a document that was unbelievable. He raised the back of his hand to press and rub his eyes roughly.

He thought he might have seen it wrong.

Even when he looked down again, the content hadn’t changed.

Moreover, next to the removal application was the word ‘Approved’ along with the Emperor’s official seal.

‘Am I dreaming right now?’

Had he been stressed lately? Well, there was always something to stress over.

‘Did I hate Serena enough to dream about removing her from the family?’

He stared at the first page for a moment, then put it down and turned to the next page.

Similarly, Irdin Lavernia froze as soon as he saw the document.

There were words there that he simply couldn’t believe.

— Imperial Citizen Registry (Copy)_Lavernia Marquis Family —

[ Family Head Irdin Lavernia

Wife Charlotte Lavernia

Son Nocturne Lavernia

— Blank below — ]

He no longer thought.

He mechanically moved his hand to the next page.

The next document had content that confirmed the current reality to his trembling pupils, as if to deliver a coup de grâce.

— Family Removal Confirmation —

[This certifies that the eldest daughter of the Lavernia Marquis family, ‘Serena Lavernia’, has been removed from the Lavernia family.

Henceforth, Serena Lavernia cannot use the Lavernia surname, and her name can be erased from the family tree of the Marquis family.

This confirmation takes effect immediately upon issuance.]

‘Is this some kind of prank?’

Irdin Lavernia thought Serena might be playing a mischievous joke.

But this is Serena Lavernia! She was not someone who would give up power and money.

“It must be a fake made to look similar.”

He denied reality for now.

Irdin Lavernia’s fingertips traced over the Emperor’s official seal.

The special ink used only by the Imperial family was used. The seal is also detailed and genuine.

In other words, this is an authentic document.

“……It shouldn’t be authentic, right?”

Irdin Lavernia’s pupils shook violently as he reflexively muttered softly.

How could this even be approved in the first place! Irdin Lavernia never gave permission.

Whether it’s removal or erasure, what’s needed is the consent of the person being removed, the consent of the party requesting the removal, and evidence of a reason to expel from the family!

The person being removed is…… Serena. Yes. Since Serena brought it, that could be possible.

The party requesting the removal…… is not him. But what if it’s Serena?

In the end, both sides’ consent was there.

“No……”

Irdin Lavernia clutched his head with both hands.

“No, what is this?”

His expression, which had been indifferent throughout, finally cracked.