Chapter 8 – Part 9

After Matilda and Sylvia also left, only the Count, Eliana, and Oliver remained.

“I’d like to speak with Eliana for a moment.”

At the Count’s words, Oliver excused himself.

“Eliana, when I received your letter, I was unsure what to believe. But after hearing the news from Oliver, I knew I had to come home.”

“It was a good decision. If left unchecked, who knows what Paul might have done.“

“I’m truly disappointed.”

“I knew from the start that this business would never work out.“

“I had been educating Paul on business matters for a long time, so I trusted him. He repeatedly emphasized to me that it would succeed, and Matilda agreed as well.“

“…”

“But to end up like this… it’s really giving me a headache.”

The Count leaned back in his chair, clutching his forehead as he sighed.

“I think the bigger mistake lies with Mother, who misappropriated funds while claiming to support Paul.”

At Eliana’s words, the Count slowly nodded.

“I’m thinking of stripping Matilda of her authority to use the funds.”

“…”

“She’ll be shocked, but it can’t be helped.“

“You’ve made the right decision.”

Eliana said this while looking at her father.

“Father, did you really plan to send me to the Benroze Academy?”

Eliana needed to confirm what Matilda had said. The Count looked at Eliana.

“Yes.”

Although his answer was unsurprising, Eliana still felt a wave of disappointment.

“Matilda said it would be a good way for you. She mentioned that noble daughters who failed at home education or marriage would emerge as new people after attending that place.“

“Did you think I needed to become a new person?“

“I didn’t think leaving you as you are was right.“

From the look in his eyes, it was clear that her father had also intended to send Eliana there to mold her according to their wishes.

‘Without asking my opinion, they plan to control my life as they please.‘

“That place isn’t as bad as you think.“

“No, you’re saying that without knowing. Even if it’s a good place, I have no intention of going. I can take care of myself. I’m past the point where others need to teach me. Besides, Mother, who abused me under the guise of discipline since childhood, has no right to tell me where I should or shouldn’t go.”

Eliana spoke firmly.

“Eliana, abuse…?“

“If it wasn’t abuse, what was it? When you weren’t around, she physically hit me. I tried to win her favor, but all I was left with were scars.”

The Count’s face grew more serious. It was clear he had no idea Eliana had felt this way.

“I acknowledge that Matilda was excessively strict with you. But she has also done things for this family.“

“What exactly did she do?“

“Didn’t she care for the family while I was away?”

That response left a bitter taste in Eliana’s mouth. Even knowing that Matilda had deceived him, her father still trusted her. Matilda was no different from Paul in that regard.

“Maybe she tried to undo the 10 million gold loss by ‘taking care of the family‘ while hiding the truth.”

Eliana replied coldly.

“That was undeniably a major failure on Matilda’s part.”

“…”

“I plan to keep Paul away from the family for a while and strip Matilda of her financial authority. I’ll ensure Sylvia is well-educated so she won’t make the same mistakes as Paul. I will manage the household, and you should go to the Benroze Academy to see if you can improve your reputation. Changing the environment might bring you good experiences and help you form new connections. People will forget you were ever broken off from your engagement.“

“No.”

Eliana shook her head firmly.

“I don’t need any of that.“

“Eliana.“

“If this were the past, I would have followed your wishes without question, but not anymore. I’m not going there. Even if you force me, I’ll escape.“

“What do you mean…?“

“So, don’t waste your efforts from the start.“

“Eliana, the broken engagement with the royal family has been a huge blow for me. Even if my injured arm heals, if you don’t make a good marriage, the wound I’ve suffered will never recover. You may feel fine now after the breakup, but as time passes, you’ll realize it’s far from okay.“

“No, I won’t.”

“Listen to me. Uncovering Paul’s misdeeds was commendable. I wouldn’t have known we had lost 10 million gold without you. But I want you to return to your proper path, nothing more. One way to do that is to fade from people’s memories for a while. I heard you even crossed paths with His Highness at the Madrino family’s party and Duke Calix.“

“…”

“I don’t know what you were thinking, but if such incidents continue, you won’t be able to live properly in Moira.“

‘I have no desire to live in Moira.’

Eliana thought to herself.

“If you don’t want to go to Benroze, then spend a few quiet months in a convent.”

The future Eliana envisioned could never be found in this household. Her father would never change either. He wanted to take her back to the time before she knew Cedric.

‘Well, when was it ever any different?’

There was no reason to be newly disappointed. It wasn’t the first time they had disagreed.

‘I just need to walk my own path.‘

“Father, I cannot grant you that wish. I have my own desires.“

“Are you saying you want to continue investing?“

“That’s one of the things I want to do.“

“That’s fine, but that’s not what I want for you.“

“I will live my own life. I mean that I will do what I want and won’t be swayed by others’ expectations anymore.“

As Eliana remained resolute, a look of worry spread across Count Austin’s face.

‘Eliana is broken off from her engagement, and Paul has betrayed me…’

It seemed that was what he was thinking.

“I can’t allow your wishes.”

“…”

She could have said much more, but there was no point in prolonging the conversation.

‘I’m not living for someone else’s understanding or approval.’

* * *

‘I can’t forgive Eliana.’

Matilda bit her lip hard. She wanted to grab Eliana by the hair right at that moment.

Eliana had exposed Paul’s wrongdoing, dug up everything Matilda tried to cover up, and even made Hilda reveal the truth.

‘When did she start harboring such malice toward me and my son?’

No matter how long they talked, Eliana didn’t seem to be leaving the Count’s room.

‘I won’t let Hilda get away with this either. I’ve helped her and her siblings with living expenses more than I can count, yet she dares to betray me and my son?‘

Matilda marched off to the maid’s quarters. She swung the door open. At the far end by the window—that was Hilda’s bed.

“Madam.”

The maids, startled by Matilda’s sudden appearance, quickly stood up. Matilda stormed over to Hilda’s bed and yanked the covers away. Hilda was nowhere to be seen. Only a pile of old pillows was there.

“Where is Hilda?“

“I don’t know, madam.”

When Matilda questioned Doris, she shook her head.

“You don’t know?”

She must have known Matilda would come for her, and she had run off. But there was no way Hilda had managed it alone.

‘Someone must have helped her. And, of course, that someone is Eliana.’

Matilda was sure that Eliana had orchestrated everything—making Hilda spill unfavorable truths about Paul at the decisive moment and blowing Paul’s mistakes out of proportion to turn it into such a significant issue.

Furious, Matilda angrily began throwing everything from Hilda’s bed to the floor.

“Madam, please calm down!”

The sound of breaking and shattering echoed through the maid’s quarters. Matilda continued her rampage until Oliver arrived, having heard the commotion, and tried to intervene. Even after all the yelling and throwing things, her anger didn’t subside.

“The Count has retired to his bedroom, madam. If you keep causing such a ruckus, it’ll also reach his ears.“

That comment meant the conversation between father and daughter had ended. Almost running, Matilda stormed toward Eliana’s room. She flung the door open, breathing heavily as if she was about to slap Eliana, and stepped close.

“What’s this about?”

Eliana looked at Matilda with calm eyes.

“You…! How could you do this to me?“

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.“

“Do you think you can get away with what you did to me and Paul?“

“And if I can’t?”

“What?“

“You went through all that trouble trying to send me to Benroze Academy but look at this. In the end, it’s Paul who’s been thrown out of the house. He’s committed the grave sin of tampering with the family’s finances, and who knows when he’ll be allowed back? If he never returns, no one would be surprised.”

At the thought of Paul potentially never returning, Matilda lost all self-control.

“This is all you’re doing!”

Matilda raised her hand, lunging to grab Eliana’s hair. But Eliana was faster. She shoved Matilda back with such force that Matilda stumbled, nearly losing her balance.

“Madam!”

Mila, seeing Matilda about to fall, rushed forward to support her. Mila had no fondness for Matilda, knowing how Eliana had suffered at her hands, but she couldn’t let her get hurt.

“Don’t ever lay a hand on me again.”

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.