Chapter 61. The Truth I Don’t Want to Know

The cruise Helen mentioned was destined to be plundered by Sezad’s pirate ship. Initially, everyone would be frantic about their disappearance, but soon the focus would shift to who would take over Sezad’s business.

And the Duke of Blanche would seize this opportunity, choosing money over his daughter. Money enriched the family, but a daughter was just a nuisance. He was a man who would do anything for the family and money.

But things wouldn’t go as the Duke wished. Sezad planned to take everything before that.

What would the Duke’s reaction be when he realized the business he inherited was an empty shell?

On top of that, when he discovered the trust fund invested had vanished, he would realize he’d been scammed.

But finding a pirate who had fled to the sea would be difficult for the navy. The sea was Sezad’s domain, and the navy would be useless.

Camilla felt bitter seeing Helen, who might soon become the wife of a pirate captain.

If only she had lived better.

She pitied Helen who didn’t know her future would be painted in blood, not in pink.

“No matter what you say, I’m not taking you with me.”

“Why would you take me?”

Camilla tilted her head at the absurd declaration. Did Helen think she was so jealous she’d follow them on their honeymoon?

Camilla wondered how Helen’s thoughts led to such a conclusion.

Helen, seeing Camilla’s baffled reaction, spoke haughtily.

“Don’t pretend. I already know there’s something between you and Sezad.”

“…What?”

Camilla flinched at Helen’s bombshell. But Helen’s next words left her feeling hollow.

“I’ve seen you exchanging glances behind my back more than once!”

“You’re paranoid. You and Paris are both so self-centered.”

Camilla had forgotten that Helen, like Paris, suffered from a severe princess syndrome. Paris was so dominant that she had overlooked Helen’s affliction.

Camilla bowed, feeling there was no more point in engaging. Helen glared at Camilla’s retreating figure.

‘Stop pretending!’

Already deeply misunderstanding the relationship between Camilla and Sezad, Helen’s gaze was anything but kind.

* * *

A few days later, Alyssa moved into the Blanche villa. With Joseph moving in as well, Isabelle felt even more uneasy.

“What makes you think you can move in here?”

“Alyssa is my employer.”

Joseph’s prepared answer made Isabelle’s face turn red. She’s living under the same roof with a man she thought she’d never see again.

Isabelle felt more uncomfortable with Joseph than Alyssa. Seeing him reminded her of her life in Kamatie.

It was a time when she was poor but loved. But Isabelle, who valued money over love, would still choose the Duke of Blanche over Joseph if given another chance.

That fact hadn’t changed, but facing Joseph made her feel strange.

“Don’t go telling Paris any nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense. Paris has the right to know who his real father is.”

“Do you think he’ll be happy to know his father is a wandering minstrel?”

Isabelle hissed, making Joseph’s expression harden.

“So you’re finally admitting it. Well, it’s not like you can deny it with the evidence. So, what’s your plan?”

Joseph’s mocking question made Isabelle’s lips twitch. She knew it would be hard to deny it since Joseph showed her the pregnancy test. She had only been stubborn out of shock.

Of all people, it had to end up in Joseph’s hands.

She hadn’t taken it with her in her haste to leave after arranging the assassination. She wasn’t worried about it since she planned to kill and burn everything.

But finding out he was alive, and with evidence, meant Isabelle was cornered.

“What plan? You saw it yourself. Living here is better for Paris than that rundown house.”

“Well, seeing how badly you’ve raised him, I don’t think so.”

“Badly raised?”

“People in Apelli speak poorly of him. How do you raise a child to turn out like that?”

“I let him live as he pleased. What’s wrong with that? Do you think you would have done better?”

Joseph clenched his fists at Isabelle’s rebuke. In Apelli, Paris Blanche was a notorious scoundrel. He seduced unmarried women, took their virtue, and refused to take responsibility.

Many had died or been cast out of their families because of him. Joseph felt suffocated by how badly his child had turned out.

“It’s because you coddled him that he’s like this.”

“If he had been raised by a wanderer like you, he would have been worse.”

“You haven’t changed.”

Realizing the pointlessness of arguing, Joseph turned to leave, but Isabelle grabbed him.

“Joseph, I’ll arrange a place for you. Just leave this place.”

“Why would I leave my family?”

“Family? You and Alyssa are nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing?”

Joseph’s words implied that family didn’t need to share blood, making Isabelle visibly flinch. After a moment, she asked with fire in her eyes.

“…Did you sleep with her? Is that it?”

Joseph laughed bitterly. It wasn’t something he expected to hear from a wife who had sold herself to the Duke of Blanche. Joseph shook off her hand and said.

“Even if I did, what’s it to you?”

“……”

“You were the one who abandoned me. Don’t act like I’m yours now. It’s disgusting.”

With those words, Joseph hurriedly left. Left alone, Isabelle trembled as she watched his retreating figure.

Seeing him avoid answering made it clear that there was indeed something between him and Alyssa.

Isabelle’s gaze turned sharp. The thought of Alyssa and Joseph being involved stirred up jealousy within her.

It was deeply unsettling that her sister had taken in the man she had discarded. Just as she was about to confront Alyssa, she noticed someone rising from beneath the window. Startled by the presence, Isabelle’s face turned pale.

“Paris?”

How long had he been listening?

Judging by his expression, it seemed he had heard everything. Clenching his teeth, Paris spoke, his body trembling.

“What is all this about?”

He was confused. Paris couldn’t comprehend what he had just heard. He only stopped by the villa on his father’s orders. Coincidentally, Alyssa wasn’t there, and Paris wasn’t the type to wait around.

He had just decided to leave and come back another time when he overheard his name and approached quietly, never expecting to hear such shocking revelations.

‘Paris has the right to know who his real father is.’
‘Do you think he’ll be happy to know his father is a wandering minstrel!’

It was the same harp player he had seen before. He found it suspicious how the man stared at him intently that day, but he never imagined there was such a hidden truth.

“It’s a lie, right?”

“Paris……”

“Tell me it’s a lie! I’m a Blanche! The only legitimate son of the Duke!”

As Paris shouted in confusion, Isabelle reached out through the window and pulled him into a tight embrace.

“Yes. No matter what anyone says, you are the only legitimate son of the Blanche family. That fact will never change.”

Though she said that only meant to reassure him, Paris took it as a confirmation of the truth. He muttered weakly.

“……Who else knows about this?”

* * *

Helen’s wedding approached quickly. The engagement ceremony had been brief, leading to a faster schedule. Many had much to say about the double celebration occurring so soon after my wedding to Aster, but they were more interested in the fact that the groom was a southern noble.

Sezad had not publicly advertised his business, claiming to be recruiting limited partners.

Some families had belatedly expressed interest in investing in the Shepherd, but they were not accepted. From the start, only families allied with Blanche had invested in Sezad’s business. Sezad had specifically targeted notoriously corrupt families for his scam, so it wasn’t a major issue.

If this caused a rift among the families following Blanche, it would be an excellent outcome. Nothing undermined trust more effectively than financial loss.

By the time the Duke of Blanche realized he had been scammed, he would already be an accomplice. Having personally approved the Shepherd’s salvage, he would be seen as a co-conspirator, no matter how much he denied it.

Knowing the Duke’s nature, he would stop at nothing to capture Sezad, even using the Black Shadow if necessary.

That moment was the timing I was waiting for. It was difficult to track Black Shadow as the Duke rarely summoned them.

I had already planted a spy with the Duke. Ideally, I would locate the Black Shadow’s base immediately, but even if not, it would still be a prime opportunity to catch their trail.

Unaware of these plans, Helen was blissfully imagining a happy future, and Paris had become somewhat strange.

He had always enjoyed nightlife, but he had never been so aimless. As Paris’s nights out increased, the Duke’s mood worsened. The upcoming double celebration had everyone on edge, further sharpening his temper.

Their tension was evident even during breakfast today. The Duke scolded Paris, who reeked of alcohol and barely touched his food.

“How long do you plan to wallow in drink?”