Chapter 8

“Whether you are like family or not, I do not know. But the reality is that you cannot even be listed in the ducal family registry. A mere vassal’s daughter dares to act so recklessly before me—this is no longer something I can overlook.”

“Like family,” she said—Heila could not hold back a scoff.

After her death, would Uriel have eventually taken that position?

Most likely.

But in this life, she would not be allowed to have anything she desired.

“Count, how long must I continue to suffer such humiliation because of your daughter? Does your house share the same thoughts as she does?”

At that moment—

“Father!”

Uriel clutched her stinging cheek in shock.

“How dare you show such disrespect to Her Highness! Your mother and I did not raise you this way. Apologize immediately—on your knees if you must!”

Count Bettia rebuked her sharply, his voice filled with anger, and struck her across the face once more.

This time, the inside of her mouth split, and blood trickled out.

At his shout, Uriel’s eyes trembled, and tears welled up in her beautiful eyes.

Heila remained completely unmoved, speaking with a cold expression.

“A parent disciplining their child is your family’s affair, Count, so I will not interfere. But judging by the young lady’s attitude, it seems it will not be easy for her to truly understand her wrongdoing.”

As Count Bettia raised his hand once more, the tears that had pooled in Uriel’s eyes finally fell.

With a distorted expression, she turned and tried to leave.

But she was blocked by Heila’s knights.

“My heart, startled and wounded because of the young lady, still aches. Her tongue is sharp, and I worry she may hurt someone again. So for her own sake, it would be best to correct this bad habit completely today.”

It meant the punishment was not enough and should continue.

Count Bettia forcibly grabbed Uriel and made her kneel.

“Apologize at once. Now!”

“Your Highness, I was wrong.”

With tears brimming in her eyes, she looked up at Heila.

Dressed far more splendidly than herself, Heila’s gaze toward her was filled with contempt and anger, her expression as cold as ice.

Reflected in those clear, jewel-like eyes was her own disheveled state, struck and ruined—Uriel felt her head spin with humiliation.

Looking down at her, Heila curled her lips.

“Count, judging by the young lady’s attitude, it seems she may cause trouble again if left as she is. Wishing to maintain a good relationship with your house, I would like to make a proposal for the sake of both your daughter and your family.”

Ignoring the unease that surfaced on Count Bettia’s face, Heila continued calmly.

“I heard that the young lady, despite her age, has not even become engaged yet. So I was thinking of finding her a suitable match.”

“Though Uriel is four years older than Your Highness, she is not yet of an age where one could say she has missed her time for marriage. I am grateful for Your Highness’s proposal, but Uriel still has much to learn, and it is our wish—mine and my wife’s—to keep her by our side and guide her.”

At the mention of marriage, Uriel’s eyes widened, and before she could cause another scene, Count Bettia hurriedly declined.

He feared his daughter might disrupt things once more, but since that was his stance, for now it had to be left at that.

“I see.”

Heila smiled as she spoke.

It was a more compliant retreat than expected.

Yet by leaving room for the future, she kept both of them uneasy.

“I will keep that in mind.”

Count Bettia said with his head bowed.

Compared to the father and daughter, whose faces were filled with misery, Heila’s complexion looked far brighter than before.

From afar, the servants who had been watching with tense expressions began whispering among themselves, forgetting even their duties.

To see the arrogant and fierce Uriel kneeling before someone—it felt almost like a dream.

Even Heila, who had once seemed gentle and kind, appeared completely different now.

At the same time, they could not help but worry about how Kersian would react once he returned and heard of this.

“If you understand, then I will let this pass just this once. But for the time being, I do not wish to see the young lady’s face, so it would be best if we do not cross paths.”

***

On the way back to the count’s estate, the atmosphere inside the carriage was heavy.

Uriel sniffled, her eyes filled with venom, and unlike her neatly adorned appearance when she had arrived, she now looked disheveled—her hair in disarray, her cheeks swollen.

“Isn’t that woman completely insane? Does she think this is the imperial palace? What does she think she can do here? Acting all meek and proper in front of people—it was all a lie. Does she really think she can hold onto His Grace with such shallow tricks? She’s just a young girl, so where did she even learn such vulgar methods?”

Tears like beads streamed down Uriel’s face as she clenched her teeth.

“There’s a limit to delusion. If not for her family, she’d be nothing special—yet she’s acting all excited and spouting nonsense. It’s like she’s desperate to gild her own face.”

“Enough!”

Count Bettia shouted sharply.

Startled, Uriel looked at him, but upon meeting his sharp gaze, she quickly shut her mouth.

Looking at her tear-filled face, he spoke in a dark tone.

“Close that mouth.”

“Father!”

“It seems I have spoiled you too much. Even after bringing such disgrace upon us, you still cannot reflect on your actions.”

Unable to argue further, Uriel bit her lip and turned her head away.

The metallic taste from the split inside her mouth still lingered.

She would never let this go.

Recalling the grudge from earlier, the sinister glint in her eyes deepened.

Upon arriving at the estate, Uriel ignored the shocked gazes of the servants at her disheveled appearance and, the moment she returned to her room, summoned her personal maid and gave an order.

“Tell the servants of the ducal house that when His Grace returns, they are to report that the princess had me and my father beaten and driven out.”

***

Heila sat on the sofa, drinking the now-cold tea.

Today, she had seen Uriel in such a ruined state for the first time, and she felt a faint sense of satisfaction.

But it was still far from enough.

With reddened eyes, Heila glared into the empty air as if those two were still standing before her.

Kersian, the people of the ducal house, the Bettia family, and all those who had taken part in the rebellion…

She would not let a single one of them go.

“I never knew you had such a resolute side, my lady. To be honest, it was satisfying… but will this really be alright?”

Heila was a new bride, and not long after her marriage, she had already caused such a disturbance.

Her response had been cathartic, but if word spread, people would think she was excessive and cruel, unable to measure her actions.

The Bettia family was a deeply rooted noble house here, and this incident might not only turn them against her, but also those connected to them.

Before she had even settled into this place, her reputation was already cracking, and she had made enemies—her future seemed uncertain.

“It’s fine.”

After answering, Heila rose from her seat.

She called for a merchant, selected a dress for the upcoming banquet, and after finishing her meal, evening began to fall.

As night approached, she went to the training grounds and called for Heinrich.

“My lady, what brings you here?”

Heinrich asked.

“Sir, have you found anything inconvenient while staying here?”

Heinrich was a loyal knight she had known since childhood.

Solid as a small mountain and bearing a gentle, kind impression, he was a guard she had personally appointed and someone she relied on second only to Marlin.

“Everything is fine. It cannot compare to the imperial palace, but the training grounds are incredibly spacious, and the treatment is good as well. But what about you, my lady? You seem paler than a few days ago.”

Heinrich asked with concern.

Heila was about to answer that she was fine, but for some reason, the words seemed to catch in her throat.

Seeing the worry deepen in his eyes, she forced a smile.

“Actually, I came because I have a favor to ask. I need a close guard—someone who can stay by my side at all times, whether inside the estate or outside.”

The emperor, concerned about Heila living far from home, had selected Heinrich and a few others from the imperial knights and sent them as her guards.

They usually trained in the grounds and accompanied her when she went out, fulfilling their duties as escorts.

But hearing her words now, it seemed she was wary not of outside threats, but of danger within the estate itself.

Heinrich carefully spoke.

“I heard about what happened earlier today. Is it because of the Count’s daughter?”

“It’s not just because of one person.”

“My lady, what do you plan to do from here on?”

The look in Heinrich’s eyes as he gazed at her was serious.

Meeting his sincere gaze filled with concern and affection made her chest tighten.

Heila’s eyes wavered, and his expression darkened further as he watched her.

For a while, she said nothing.

Her lowered gaze seemed heavy with thought.

After some time, she finally spoke.

“I’m sorry. I’ll tell you when I’m ready. It won’t take long.”

“I understand. I will wait, so please tell me when you feel ready. But it worries me that you seem to be carrying this burden alone. Please don’t forget—I am always on your side.”

“Thank you.”

She could endure cold treatment, disregard, harsh words, even physical pain.

But at this moment, a single warm sentence weakened her resolve.

Holding back her tears, Heila smiled.

“I have one more request. You must know that there is a large group of bandits in the forest near the duchy. They often come down to plunder the villages, and not long ago, they even set fires—many people died.”

Heila spoke with a heavy expression.

A trace of guilt could be seen on her face.

She hesitated, unable to continue easily.

As the silence stretched, Heinrich, tense and resolute, waited for her next words.

“Soon, you will likely receive a proposal to join a subjugation force against those bandits.”