<Chapter 5> Not Heaven, But Hell (Part 2)

Elizabeth was horrified to learn this fact only after she confessed.

If she had known, she would never have confessed.

She would have lived hiding this feeling deep inside.

No, if she had known, she wouldn’t have shamelessly lived here with her mother, smiling. But this was all just a hypothetical. Everything seemed to be Elizabeth’s own fault.

It seemed that both her mother and Kiern were living in hell because she pretended not to know. This was hell. This place, where she foolishly lived thinking it was heaven, was a terrible fiery hell.

In the place where the illusion was lifted, a hot sulfur fire seemed to be waiting. The heat made Elizabeth’s breath catch in her throat.

“Let’s leave. With the money I’ve saved, we can buy a small house in another kingdom. If we start anew there…….”

Elizabeth, speaking through tears, suddenly hugged Stella. And she was about to say that it wasn’t too late, that they could start anew together.

“No!”

She pushed Elizabeth away and shouted. Startled by the voice filled with malice, she looked at her. Stella’s gaze was colder than ever.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Mom?”

“Can you buy a house as good as half of this castle with the money you’ve saved?”

“What?”

“What are two women with nothing supposed to do to live? Are you suggesting we live by sewing for a living?”

Stella, as if she hadn’t cried, sat at the dressing table and began fixing her makeup. Her applying powder to her reddened eyes looked grotesque. Elizabeth felt like she had been punched in the face.

Stella didn’t look sad at all. Contrary to what she thought, that the Duke had forced her, Stella was confident. She spoke while applying red to her lips.

“It’s already done. I’m just receiving my rightful share.”

“What do you mean? How can that be your rightful share?”

“As long as the Duke is infatuated with me, I can enjoy all this for life. Where do you think you’re going? Foolish girl.”

“…….”

“You just need to stay as you are. Seeing how the damn Duke keeps postponing the promise of making me the Duchess, it’s all over.”

“What did you say?”

The fact that she not only had an affair but also coveted the Duchess’s position took Elizabth’s breath away.

How could her mother covet that position?

As Elizabeth’s lips trembled, she continued.

“For now, we need to live like this and find a way. That’s the only way for us to live.”

At Stella’s insane words, Elizabeth shouted with a stunned face. She was suddenly frightened, as if this wasn’t the mother she knew.

“Mom, what nonsense are you talking about?”

Stella smirked as she looked at Elizabeth’s shocked expression in the mirror.

“Does all this seem like nonsense to you?”

It felt like her mother wasn’t her mother. She was always polite and praised by people, but now she just looked like a vicious woman.

Elizabeth, dazed by the sense of disconnection, couldn’t say anything, and Stella sneered.

“Foolish girl. Instead of wasting time, try to win Kiern over. He seemed like he’d fall for you with just a little push.”

“Why is Kiern being mentioned here?”

Elizabeth frowned at the name mentioned without hesitation. Her mother shouldn’t have done that. She shouldn’t have called his name carelessly, so why was she doing this?

None of what Stella was saying registered in her mind.

What on earth was she talking about?

It was like a bizarre, eerie scene inside a window, indifferent to the storm raging outside.

Elizabeth wondered if she had misunderstood her mother all this time. Just then, Stella turned to meet her gaze and said,

“Oh, you didn’t know. He has feelings for you.”

“…….”

“I knew it long ago. Anyway, you’re so naive you can’t even find your place. Yet you’ve caught a big fish, so you’re better than me.”

Stella smiled sweetly and brought the brush toward her. The soft touch of the brush touched her lips. As Elizabeth remained silent, frozen, Stella continued.

“He thinks he’s holding back, but in the end, he’s just a man. Since he’s gentle and upright like Madam, I’m sure if you persuade him a little, he’ll want to get engaged to you.”

“Mom, what on earth…….”

“Shh. Don’t talk when I’m applying something to your lips. It’ll smudge.”

Stella spoke in a fluttering voice as if talking about everyday matters. She didn’t care whether Elizabeth frowned or showed blatant disgust.

“You really do take after me. You’re already this pretty, so imagine how much more beautiful you’ll be later.”

At that moment, Elizabeth hated her face that resembled her. Every time Kiern looked at her, he must have been reminded of Stella, who drove the Duchess to despair.

‘Why are you being so mean?’

‘Because I want to be mean.’

Suddenly, Kiern’s words came to mind. Perhaps he had been reminded of Stella whenever he looked at Elizabeth.

That’s why, as a friend, he was nice to her but then acted badly because he hated her.

Without knowing this, she foolishly criticized him as a bad young master and whined about not being able to call his name.

On top of that, she shook him with this face that resembled Stella, despite him being on the verge of engagement. Elizabeth hated herself for it.

Now she realized why Kiern had trampled on her feelings so cruelly. No matter how kind-hearted a person was, no one would accept the daughter of an enemy.

He must have felt reality after kissing her on a whim.

He must have realized that they should never be together.

So Stella was mistaken. Kiern didn’t love her. Even if he had feelings for her, he wouldn’t now.

He had lost his heart, broken by the Duchess’s death. There was no place for the enemy’s daughter in the heart of a broken man.

Shamelessly wanting to win that heart and confessing was something she couldn’t bear about herself.

“Fulfill your mother’s dream. Become the Duchess. Be the mistress of this castle. Then everything here will be yours.”

Even in this situation, Stella was dreaming a vain dream. Disliking it, Elizabeth coldly pushed her hand away.

“No.”

Elizabeth, who had snarled fiercely, wiped her lips carelessly with her sleeve. As the red lipstick stained her white sleeve, Stella grabbed her in horror.

“What are you doing!”

Despite Stella’s attempts to stop her, Elizabeth didn’t stop. As she rubbed vigorously, her lips got pricked by a button on her sleeve and bled. Seeing the blood, Stella stomped her feet.

“Elizabeth! Don’t do this, you’ll scar your face!”

Regardless of whether she tried to stop her, Elizabeth didn’t stop resisting. She then took off the accessories she was wearing and threw them on the floor.

Stella seemed dazed, perhaps shocked by her violent behavior. Elizabeth grabbed her and said desperately,

“Mom, promise me. Promise you’ll leave here with me.”

“…….”

“If you won’t leave, I’ll go to the Duke right now.”

“Ellie!”

“So promise me. Promise you won’t meet the Duke anymore, that you’ll leave here with me.”

Hearing her daughter’s words, spoken while dripping blood, Stella reluctantly nodded with a tearful expression.