Rachel Eden, who had been in the outer lounge, put down the water cup she was drinking and greeted them when Ellen and the others came rushing in.

“You’ve arrived.”

“How did it go? Did the surgery go well?”

“For now, I’ve fixed it in place with a metal rod inside. However, due to the nature of the fracture, it will be difficult to live as before, but if it heals well, daily life should be possible within limits that don’t strain it.”

“That’s fortunate. Is the young lady inside?”

“She’s resting in the inner bedroom. Right now she’s not quite herself due to the painkillers, so it would be better to see her later.”

“I understand. You worked hard.”

“And it would be good for the young lady to stay here for a while. I need to see if inflammation develops at the incision site right away. I’d like to manage her myself.”

“Since she says that’s necessary, what do you think, Count?”

“If it’s necessary, then we must do so. I understand.”

Count Sorbon finally seemed to lose strength in his body and slumped into his seat.

“Still, I’d like to see the child’s condition once before going. Would that be alright?”

“If you’re just going to look, that’s fine.”

Eden gave permission and approached the inner part of the room, opening the bedroom door.

May was sleeping with a splint on her arm.

“She’s already fallen asleep.”

“I can’t check her condition with the splint attached. The surgery went well, right?”

“I’ve done all the measures I could. Since she’s still young, I’m positively looking at her recovery.”

“Can’t I check for myself?”

“Not only would it be difficult for you to understand the condition even if you saw it, but removing the splint would be problematic.”

Then Count Sorbon frowned and spoke as if in a bad mood.

“You certainly have a lot to say.”

“I’m sorry. But it’s the truth.”

“That’s understandable. You said what you had to say as a doctor.”

Ellen interjected between the two.

“Then let’s quietly leave now.”

When the conversation ended like that, Count Sorbon left the room with a displeased expression.

Click, Ellen closed the door and came out, then the count said.

“Then I’ll be going now. Today has been an unusually long day.”

“Go safely.”

Ellen told the butler to see the count off and then come to her room, leaving the message first before going up to her room.

* * *

When she came out after washing lightly, she heard a small knock from outside.

Knock knock.

“Miss. It’s me.”

“Come in.”

He, who arrived at perfect timing, quietly closed the door and entered.

Ellen, who confirmed the door was closed, opened her mouth.

“Periwinkle is involved in this accident. I haven’t liked them for a while, so let’s take definitive action this time.”

“What should I do?”

“First, tell them that our subsidiaries won’t accept promissory notes from their family.”

“Will that be alright?”

“I’m doing it because we can endure it.”

Ellen spoke while swinging one of her crossed legs.

“Looking at Periwinkle alone, that’s natural, but will the surrounding forces just sit by and watch that tyranny?”

“What if they don’t? Can they stop it?”

“Mutual destruction should be possible.”

His eyebrows drooped as if he was genuinely worried this might be too reckless an action.

Ellen shrugged and laughed.

“If they’re determined, it would be possible, but if it were me, I’d abandon Periwinkle and extend my hand to Crient. We’re too appetizing to ignore.”

“Ah. I see.”

The butler, whose face finally relaxed a bit, immediately began taking notes on what she was saying.

“And buy up all the bonds related to Periwinkle. Secretly, here and there, separately so it doesn’t show that we’re buying them. I’m going to dump them all at once.”

“Yes. Miss.”

When prices plummet due to mass selling, people will become suspicious of the Periwinkle family’s financial situation.

That suspicion will spread to the family’s creditworthiness, and the stopped flow of money will also paralyze their business.

“I need to show them what the price of childish pranks is.”

* * *

The next day.

Ellen visited May early in the morning.

The family doctor who had come to work, Rachel Eden, greeted her.

“You’ve arrived.”

“How is Lady Sorbon? Is she alright?”

“So far, I don’t see any major problems. She’s probably in some pain and having a hard time though.”

“That’s unfortunate. Is the young lady awake?”

“Yes. You can go in.”

“Thank you.”

Ellen opened the bedroom door.

May didn’t have a completely bright face, but she looked considerably less worried.

“Ah. Lady Crient!”

“Did you sleep well?”

“Thanks to your consideration. It’s really thanks to you, my lady. To think I safely finished the surgery.”

“What did I do?”

Ellen smiled as if a bit embarrassed.

“Still, I should say it’s fortunate it’s only this much.”

“It is fortunate. I don’t have to lose my left arm without even being able to use my hand.”

May said this and smiled brightly.

“But Lady Sorbon. Even if this matter passes safely, I have no intention of overlooking this incident.”

“Pardon?”

May’s eyes widened at Ellen’s words.

“Your situation is regrettable, but Elsier also became a target.”

“A target?”

At the word that clearly suggested someone’s malice, May’s wide eyes narrowed.

“Ah…… Come to think of it, when I came yesterday, you were already asleep. I forgot that I hadn’t delivered the story yet.”

Ellen said while sitting on the stool placed in front of May’s bed.

“Yesterday at the academy, I met Oliver Austin. And he told me. That Miller Periwinkle and Tera Royce created this accident.”

“Periwinkle and Royce? Is it true?”

“Austin even signed his own name to it.”

Ellen said this and opened the small clutch she carried, taking out a piece of paper.

“……It really is true.”

May’s face, speaking as if dumbfounded, was full of irritation, embarrassment, and apology all mixed together.

“I don’t know what grudge they had to do such a thing to you, but anyway, since Elsier got involved, I have no intention of leaving it alone.”

“I understand. I would have done the same.”

“I feel much lighter hearing you say that. So—”

Ellen glanced at May while subtly beginning.

“I’m thinking of contacting Marquis Avalanche.”

“You mean my uncle?”

“Yes. Your father the count seems to have difficulty responding actively to this matter.”

“Ah……”

May left a short exclamation as if she understood.

“But if it’s Marquis Avalanche, the story is different.”

“I understand what you mean. But will my uncle step forward?”

“Of course. When I saw him at the party recently, I saw him enjoying stories about you.”

“My uncle has always been very fond of me. But that and power move with different forces. Just like how Father loves me enough too.”

May said this and clenched her right hand, the only hand she could move.

“I also wish those kids would face some kind of retaliation as you say, my lady. But if that happens and I end up living as an unwanted burden……”

May’s voice trembled slightly at the end.

“I wonder if I’m being too ignorant of reality and wanting too much.”

Ellen gently squeezed May’s hand, who couldn’t continue speaking.

“Don’t worry. Didn’t our El say so?”

That our goal was to catch and crush Periwinkle from the beginning.

Ellen smiled slightly.

“Just give me one token to show the marquis. If possible, a handwritten letter with the circumstances would be good too.”

* * *

When she came out of May’s room to the central hall, the butler hurriedly came looking for her.

“Miss. Duke Krembell has come to visit.”

“……Duke Krembell? Here at this time?”

“Yes. He says he came to see you, Miss. What should we do?”

“What do you mean what should we do, we should send him away. Tell him I’m out. I’m planning to go to Marquis Avalanche’s residence this way anyway.”

“Yes. I understand.”

The butler went straight back to Gillian and conveyed the message.

“I’m sorry, but the young lady is currently out. It would be better if you made an appointment and visited again next time.”

“I’m getting a sense of déjà vu. Isn’t that right?”

Gillian spoke without hiding his displeasure.

“This family’s masters never seem to stay put. Fine. Let’s go.”

Gillian turned away without any lingering attachment.

The butler was flustered.

Last time he had left only after making threats because he couldn’t control his anger, but this time his attitude was quite different, which was also unexpected.

Gillian, who got back in the carriage, instructed the coachman.

“Go to the back gate.”

“Yes!”

Crack, the sound of whipping the horse rang out.

* * *

‘Are you planning to keep doing this from now on?’

Gillian felt hot inside as if boiling with anger.

As if asking someone else with decision-making authority, the butler had gone into the mansion once and came out before bringing an answer.

He also knew that the count was out.

However, since Ellen’s whereabouts couldn’t be confirmed, he had come straight here, only to hear the message that she was out.

Gillian clenched his fist tightly.

‘That woman is here. If she’s not going to stay in the mansion continuously, she’ll probably try to slip out through the back gate when going out. So if I watch this place, she’ll pass by eventually.’

To think he was about to pour an unknown amount of time into waiting for just one woman like this.

Even he thought he was acting a bit strange right now.

It was the same when he came here.

As soon as he heard news of Elsier Crient’s accident and the crown prince’s movements, his feet were already moving.