Chapter 60

 

The Marquis of Bringtiny gave 500 million gold to Baron and Baroness Redsia.

 

Baron and Baroness Redsia… took the money.

 

Promising not to mention the Marquis Brightini’s case any further.

 

While telling this story, Karina added.

 

[My parents don’t even have the courage to tell the Marquis that they don’t need this kind of money. Ultimately, money is tight in our house.]

 

[Thanks to the money the Marquis gave me, I was able to eat meat and dessert. I was able to buy new clothes and receive education. Above all, my younger sister Ceria got healthy after seeing a doctor… So this is what it has become.]

 

Liriette hugged Karina tightly, her eyes turning red.

 

She also knew.

 

The only people whom shameless people can properly apologize to are those with power.

 

‘If it weren’t for the Duke, they wouldn’t have heard a single apology.’

 

It was a cold reality.

 

Fortunately, Karina wasn’t too depressed. Instead, she became brighter.

 

Because she no longer suffered from Angela’s violence.

 

However, Liriette knew that Karina’s wounds weren’t completely healed.

 

Liriette, who had gestured the maids to go out, spoke.

 

“I’ll put some medicine on you, Karina.”

 

Karina nodded and lowered her collar.

 

The writing Angela had carved near her collarbone was almost gone.

 

If you look very closely, you can see the traces.

 

It was thanks to the medicine that Liriette applied to her a few days ago.

 

She wanted to remove the scars on Karina’s body. Then she remembered a memory.

 

In her past life, the High Priest drew her blood and mixed it into water.

 

Her watered-down blood didn’t heal wounds, but it had the effect of removing old scars or making hair luscious.

 

The High Priests sold it to nobles for a lot of money, calling it a ‘wonderful medicine.’

 

Maybe it will work for Karina’s wounds too.

 

Fortunately, Liriette’s prediction came true.

 

She said as she carefully applied the medicine onto Karina’s wounds.

 

“If you apply the medicine today, the wound will be completely gone.”

 

Karina was secretly surprised.

 

As the doctor said the ink was etched into her skin and she would never be able to get it off.

 

Yet her wounds disappeared like a lie.

 

Where did she get the medicine?

 

Instead of asking she laughed.

 

“Thank you, Liriette.”

 

Liriette also smiled brightly at Karina’s greeting.

 

After applying the medicine, the maids brought tea and dessert.

 

Strawberry cake and brown chocolate were beautifully placed on a round plate with flowers on it.

 

After becoming friends, the two learned something about each other.

 

They both love sweet food. But their tastes are subtly different.

 

Liriette was the fluffy cake type, while Karina was the chocolate type.

 

Liriette scooped up the cake with a fork and put it in her mouth, while Karina bit into the chocolate.

 

The two chatted with happy faces, like bees drunk on honey.

 

What happened yesterday. Things they’re learning these days. A book they enjoyed reading.

and…

 

“Did you hear about Angela?”

 

Karina’s expression turned cold at Liriette’s words.

 

She nodded as she placed the chocolate she was excitedly eating on her plate.

 

“Yeah.”

 

They heard that not long ago, Angela was in so much pain that she took a large dose of sleeping pills.

 

A moment of sympathy among the nobles was soon met with stronger criticism.

 

[Lady Angela deceived us with her innocent smile and pitiful tears. But this time, she’s trying to manipulate us by putting her body in danger.]

[This is truly creepy. That child is a devil disguised as a child.]

[If we leave it like this, it may become a disaster for the northern social community.]

 

A sense of betrayal, having been deceived by a child.

 

A desire to shake up the prestigious marquis.

 

A desire to impress the Duke of Windsor-Ice.

 

All kinds of emotions combined to push the nobles to the limit.

 

In the end, the Marquis and Marchioness left the north, taking Angela with them.

 

Liriette said.

 

“People are talking a lot, saying that the noble family that protected the north for hundreds of years left their hometown as if they were running away.”

 

Some clicked their tongues and said that they had gone too far, while others were angry and said that they cowardly ran away without taking proper responsibility.

 

“The Marquis of Brightini secretly left the north at night, but the Duke knows their current location exactly. So…”

 

“…”

 

“If Karina wants, we will bring Angela back to the north.”

 

The Marquis and Marchioness only gave money, but Angela never said a word of apology to Karina.

 

Liriette was so angry about that.

 

“Whether Karina accepts her apology or not, Angela must tell you that she was wrong.”

 

But Karina shook her head.

 

“I know Angela von Brightini. That kid isn’t the kind of kid who can offer a sincere apology. Of course, if she feels it’s needed, she will cry and say she’s sorry hundreds of times. In her mind, she treats me as if I were nothing more than a bug. There’s no need for such an apology.”

 

Karina continued in a trembling voice.

 

“I just hate Angela von Brightini. From now on, forever.”

 

Angela harassed Karina for about three years. Yet her pain andhatred would last her whole life.

 

And it seemed like the karma Angela had to take.

 

Liriette placed her hand on top of Karina’s with a bitter gaze in her eyes.

 

Like comforting her hurting friend.

 

 

After a while, Liriette spoke.

 

“Karina, should I tie your hair?”

 

Karina didn’t like people touching her hair.

 

But Liriette’s eyes were too sparkling for her to say no.

 

So she nodded her head.

 

Karina sat on the dressing table chair, and Liriette stood behind her.

 

Like a proud princess and a kind maid.

 

Liriette admired Karina’s red hair as she combed her hair.

 

“Your hair color is so pretty and soft. Just like silk thread made from roses.”

 

She loved the feeling of brushing so much that she wanted to just brush her hair all day.

 

‘But I can’t do that.’

 

Liriette put down the comb with difficulty and began smoothing out the red hair.

 

She first tied half the hair back, then put the hair up in a braid. She then twirled the hair and put it on either side.

 

Karina furrowed her brows as she watched her reflection changing from moment to moment in the mirror.

 

‘No matter how I look at it, it looks like she’s playing with me as a doll…’

 

Yet it didn’t displease her at all.

 

On the contrary…

 

Her hands caressed her hair as if she were handling a precious treasure.

 

Liriette’s eyes sparkle every time she perfects the new hairstyle.

 

Liriette’s smile, which says, “This hair suits you well, it’s pretty.”

 

She quite liked it.

 

‘Yeah, well. She likes it so much, let’s just let her play with it.’

 

Karina thought so and bit into the chocolate that Liriette had placed on the dressing table.

 

Clack.

 

A sweet taste filled her mouth along with a cheerful sound.

 

***

 

Inside a huge carriage loaded with luggage.

 

Angela was there.

 

The face of the girl who was called an angel just a few months ago was cruelly distorted.

 

The Marquis and Marchioness, who sat across from her, did the same.

 

The couple, who had been living peacefully, was mentally and physically devastated by the sudden incident.

 

All they could do was try not to be angry at their daughter anymore.

 

Angela bit her nails with a pale face.

 

‘Liriette von Windsor-Ice!’

 

‘Karina von Redsia!’

 

Angela thought of the two names countless times.

 

Each time, the hatred in her heart grew.

 

‘I will never forgive you. One day I’ll go back to the north and trample on the two girls who made me like this!’

 

Angela’s green eyes glowed eerily.

 

The Marquis saw that and thought.

 

‘As expected, my daughter is out of her mind right now.’

 

Angela was a child with a good and beautiful heart like an angel. There must be a reason why such a child turned out like that.

 

After much thought, the Marquis found the answer.

 

Angela’s mind clearly has been tainted.

 

Either she was used by an evil spirit or she was cursed.

 

‘Let’s have Angela stay in a quiet temple deep in the mountains. If she prays to God there every day and eats a good meal, her clearly clouded mind will be purified.’

 

Until she becomes the beautiful hearted girl she once was again.

 

It was several days later that Angela learned of her father’s plan.

 

Angela cried as she arrived at the shabby shrine.

 

“Father, don’t leave me. I can’t live in a smelly, musty place like this even for a day!”