Chapter 2 – Part 7

“How can you face people like this? A Marchioness who can’t complete a single day of training? You’ll be a laughingstock. Everyone will mock you.”

After her father and mother died in the war, young Olivia was raised by the vassals. It would have been nice if someone truly cared for her, but such people were all driven away or met their end.

“Am I that stupid? Carlos said I wouldn’t become the head if I kept this up.”

Carlos Palmer had orchestrated it all. Now, Olivia wouldn’t just stop him; she’d bury him alive if she could. Of course, while he was still breathing.

“Ha, you may be far behind your peers, but if you listen to me, you’ll improve at least a little. You won’t be an embarrassment.”

“Really? I can get smarter?”

“Of course, my lady.”

“Trust me.”

“What a load of crap.”

Olivia clicked her tongue and shook her head. The sight of her exuding a palpable menace made Harry’s followers hesitate. As they debated whether to approach, Harry groaned in pain.

“You idiots, get over here now!”

Harry’s outburst prompted his followers to approach hesitantly, casting wary glances at Olivia. She watched them with a look that said, “Take him if you want.”

The followers swallowed hard. Where was the meek girl they once knew?

“Ugh… Crazy…”

Harry couldn’t even stand. Olivia had aimed for his ankle intentionally. Even if it had been thicker, it would have snapped. Her strength was incomparable to that of an ordinary person.

“Crazy b*tch… Doesn’t seem to be in her right mind, can’t even recognize her own master.”

Harry muttered to himself, feeling a chill as he turned his head.

“Can’t Mr. Palmer tell the difference between sanity and insanity?”

“What…?”

“Want me to break your other ankle too?”

Harry’s face turned white. The servants holding him faltered. Olivia’s menacing aura was overwhelming.

“You seem a bit slow, so let me explain again. In the past, I was surrounded by people like you, so I thought your words were all true. But now I know that’s not the case. How was it, having fun gaslighting a young girl?”

She didn’t remember, but records indicated her parents died when she was about four. Gaslighting her must have been easier than turning a hand.

The more time passed, the more Olivia pitied her past self. Growing up among power-hungry scum must have been so lonely. Even adults are deeply affected by hurtful words; how could a child endure such cruelty?

“Gas… what…? What are you talking about?”

“Since you disrupted me in front of people, I’ll let you off the hook by breaking your ankle.”

Olivia bent down to meet Harry’s gaze. He was being supported, so he had to look up at her, which only fueled his anger.

“Get a grip, Marchioness! What happened in those six months to make you like this? Apologize and come to your senses before you regret it!”

“Hey.”

Harry’s ranting was cut off by the single word Olivia uttered.

The atmosphere, already cold, froze in an instant. Everyone present was overwhelmed by Olivia’s momentum.

“I’m not out of my mind; I’ve just come to my senses. My vision was blurred because I was in that terrible environment you created.”

Her voice, controlled with anger, was even more chilling than before. Olivia brought her face closer to Harry’s. The arrogance in his eyes wavered. Olivia’s lips curled into a smile.

“So now that I’ve finally realized, our Harry is in big trouble, isn’t he?”

Though her tone was light, as if joking, Harry couldn’t say a word. Olivia’s smile gradually faded.

“You’re dead, you bastard.”

Olivia declared coldly.

Young Olivia was not stupid. In retrospect, she was quicker and smarter than her peers. It was this man who ruined everything.

Forgiveness? That’s something that’s only possible if there’s room for redemption.

“Roderick?”

“Y-yes!”

Roderick, who had been supporting Harry, responded instinctively in a disciplined tone.

“Once Mr. Harry Palmer’s treatment is complete, bring him to me immediately. This is an order as the Marchioness and the head of the family.”

Roderick found it hard to breathe. The Marchioness had been unable to move against them due to the weaknesses they held over her. Even when she knew their behavior was tantamount to insubordination, she couldn’t say anything.

Roderick knew. Olivia had been sane even before her disappearance. She was quick to learn, resembling the previous Marchioness and Marchioness in her intelligence. It was just that this was underestimated to the point that she herself had forgotten it.

If only she had been less clever. If she had been born into a less distinguished family, she might have lived a peaceful life.

But Olivia was the sole heir of the Marchionessate, and she learned quickly in both studies and swordsmanship. That’s why she had to be broken.

“Yes, Marchioness.”

Roderick bowed his head, avoiding Harry’s fierce gaze. Olivia passed by them without a second glance. No one dared to stop her.

* * *

Lottie paced anxiously in her room. By now, Olivia should have arrived at the mansion, but there was no word from Harry.

“I plan to give Olivia a proper scolding as soon as I meet her. She’s become such a delinquent that it might take some time, but Olivia will be helpless. Just like always.”

Harry had left confidently that day. Even if Olivia didn’t listen, he would have her committed to a mental hospital to be reformed. He added that she was a weak-minded woman who would soon return to her old self.

But there was no news, even late at night. Lottie, who had planned a nice meal, lost her appetite and shut herself in her room. Not that there was much else she could do.

“Why do you hate the Marchioness Charbert so much?”

A close friend once asked why she hated Olivia Charbert so much. Was it because Troy Marsden was always with Olivia?

‘If only they had seen it, they wouldn’t be able to say that.’

Lottie thought for a moment but quickly shook her head. The memory was disgusting every time it surfaced.

Lottie decided to wait a little longer, patiently. It was in the middle of the night, when everyone was asleep, that a maid brought news.

“Miss! There’s a message from Mr. Palmer.”

“What does it say!?”

Lottie asked, forgetting to tell the maid to close the door. The maid looked troubled.

“Well… he said it’s difficult to explain right now and he’ll contact you again later…”

“What does that mean? So, there’s no important information?”

When Lottie snapped, the maid lowered her head in fear.

Lottie felt uneasy. As a well-known figure in social circles, she was also well-acquainted with the wives of the imperial court officials.

Lottie had believed that no matter what Olivia had gone through, she had come back disgracefully broken. But then,

“They say she defeated ten imperial knights with a sword. Even the Emperor granted her an audience.”

“Wasn’t she held captive somewhere? That’s why she’s come back so hardened.”

The comments were… not entirely negative, which was the problem. The admiration people now had for Olivia, which had been rare before, made Lottie anxious.

“Ha… try contacting Mr. Palmer again. If you don’t get a clear update, don’t bother coming back.”

“Yes, Miss…”

The maid retreated, dejected. Lottie waited for her to disappear before pressing her hand to her forehead.

“Lottie.”

Instead of the sound of the door closing, a soft voice reached Lottie’s ears. She turned around quickly.

“What? Why are you here? I told you to rest.”

“He’s not back yet.”

A woman with delicate blonde hair smiled faintly. Her sorrowful expression only made Lottie angrier.

“You need to rest to recover. You need to have a healthy baby.”

Lottie closed the door and checked her sister’s condition. As expected, she was cold.

“Sister.”

Lottie sighed deeply.

“At least reconsider this.”

“…”

“Your fiancé is not in his right mind.”

Lottie’s gaze fell to her sister’s swollen belly. A white hand lovingly caressed it.

“I know, Lottie. But I’m the one who made him that way.”

A sad smile appeared on her pale lips.

“You’re right. But can I really do that?”

Lottie looked at her sister with a complicated expression. True, one couldn’t simply give up on love all at once.

“You know it too.”

Yes, because she knew.

That’s why Lottie felt both pity and frustration.

For her sister, Ronae.

No one had anticipated that Ronae would do something so foolish, driven by love. When a delinquent acts out, people are not surprised, but when someone like her does, everyone is shocked. The incident Ronae caused left people in great shock.

Who would have thought the daughter of a baron would use magic to manipulate someone’s heart? It would have been better if the truth were that she was secretly licentious like other nobles, rather than discovering her serious and earnest demeanor was all a lie.

“Have you eaten?”

But.

The misdeeds committed by the “model lady” Ronae were far beyond just that.

Ronae had carried out exactly what Lottie had only imagined in her dreams.

Lottie felt both exhilaration and disgust. Admiration teetered precariously.

“Not yet.”

“If you’re pregnant, you need to eat better. What are you doing?”

Lottie was automatically angry. The magic had been successful, and Gael had fallen in love with Ronae. However, he still couldn’t let go of the bothersome Olivia Charbert. That issue would be resolved soon, for Ronae’s sake and her own.

“I’ll eat something simple and go to bed. You should rest too.”

“Ronea!”

Before Lottie could nag further, Ronae left the room. Lottie sighed deeply. If she had achieved her goal through such sordid means, she should be happy. Why did she look so troubled? Lottie felt uneasy. It was as if Ronae’s current state was telling her that the method she was about to employ was wrong.

‘That can’t be.’

Lottie shook her head. To erase this deep-seated inferiority and win Marsden,

This was something she had to do.