Chapter 2

Lorentz declared that he would take the temporary role of the family head. He was not substituting for her. He was taking her position. Maribelle, for the first time, understood and felt what it meant for one’s floor to collapse under the feet.

If the temporary role was given to Lorentz, Maribelle would not have a place to stand. Literally, the floor under her feet would collapse. Her father, Ikart Edenberg’s status, property, would all become Lorentz’s.

“U-uncle. What do you mean?  I am an adult now….”

“Arinel had mentioned that you often were burdened with the weight you would soon bear on your shoulders. If you want to live alone then I can find you a separate house. As you said, you are an adult now.”

“Uncle, I never said such….”

“Maribelle. Do you not know that this is all for you. You are too vulnerable to support this large family. When you are fully ready, I will undoubtedly hand over the seal to you.”

Maribelle was clever. Even at the age of twenty, she could read the greed from Lorentz’s face. It seems like I will not be able to get the seal. Maribelle had no choice but to realize abruptly.

I was foolish.

If she thought about it, Lorentz was right. It was very foolish of her to think that if she quietly grew up, she would be able to obtain the seal. She had to prove that she was capable of taking the seal. Then she would have been able to say something in front of those shameless words.

Suddenly, there was a thought that crossed Maribelle’s mind.

Did Arinel really not know that things would turn out this way?

“I-I didn’t know!”

“……”

“Sister, you know how much I like you , right? I really only wanted to live, with yo-u, heuk, heukk, really, ahyaa.. believe in me….”

Arinel’s tears were effective. Maribelle felt her heart softening but she pulled herself together. She still had something to ask.

“Why did you tell Uncle that I said I felt burdened by the position? I don’t remember saying such a thing, Arinel.”

“Tha-at is, sister….because you kept wanting to go outside. I thought that….you were…heuk, feeling burdened.”

Maribelle was not such a cold person that she would leave her crying younger cousin alone. In the end, Maribelle covered up her doubts and embraced Arinel’s shoulders.

Looking back, there was nothing more stupid than that.

Arinel definitely must have known her father was coveting the position. What Arinel had said- ‘Maribelle being burdened by the position’ not only tied her feet but also set aflame her Uncle’s greed.

Eventually, Maribelle continued to stay at ‘Uncle Lorentz’s house.’ And her uncle’s family also stayed in a vague position of not being the direct descendent of the Duke of Edenberg.

The ‘vague position’ gradually drove Maribelle into a corner.

-Sister, I don’t think I will be able to go to today’s party so what do you think about attending yourself?

The hostess of the party Maribelle went in place of Arinel was an esteemed daughter who had publicly humiliated Arinel at the ball. It was Maribelle who ended up receiving all the insults meant for Arinel.

-I have to go out for dinner with the minister of finance but there are not enough helping hands. You are intelligent and older so accompany me.

At the meeting Maribelle followed Lorentz to, she did tasks only maids would do. She stood behind the back of Lorentz who was eating for the entire time.

That was not all. There were also times where she sat down prettily when she was ordered to and was also falsely accused at times. She was willing to do all that. She was able to do all those unhappy tasks willing because of one thing, faith.

Faith in her family.

At one point, Maribelle’s Aunt started to mistreat her noticeably. Lorentz was also not very different. She trusted them because she believed they were together, but at one point her position began to visibly shrink. She could not help but think it was unfair.

-Can you do it for the sake of our family?

For the sake of our family. That sentence was like magic. All the injustice she went through was for the glory of the family. For the sake of my family’s glory and the security of the family members I love. She felt like she could tolerate anything if she thought about that.

-Sister, I really like you!

There were times when she doubted herself, but when she saw the never stopping smile on Arinel’s face, her doubt seemed to be sinful instead.

That’s right, because you are here. Because you smile.

This was the only reason Maribelle was able to endure. Her Uncle’s greed for the position? She could understand the reason. He is a human so he must have some greed. Her Aunt being displeased with her? She could understand that as well. How could a woman who freeloads in the house look pretty in her eyes.

Even if they said this or that, the personal greed is definitely meant for the sake of the family. They wouldn’t do those things in order to ruin the family. There will be someone working for the revival of the family.

She followed everything with that thought. She believed everything. That no matter how much her Aunt mistreated her, no matter how much her Uncle disregarded her, she believed those actions were not to poison her. There is no way they would do that to me when Arinel is here. It is all actions meant for the family. She firmly believed them.

Maribelle held on with that one belief. She lived by faith. She endured it. The shallow love was fragile like a sugar shell. It was easily shattered.

Therefore, when Maribelle saw ‘that situation,’ she could not help but be shocked.

“…please inform him well.”

“It seems that this day will be a good day to move the troops. I can do the work of keeping them away from the Emperor’s side.”

“The very first thing we have to do is punish and deal with the Emperor. To prepare for the worse….”

The scene of conspiracy of treason that she happened to see. Without even noticing herself, she sank to the floor.

Bang! The tray she brought with her fell to the floor and made a loud noise. The documents on top of the tray rained down. Maribelle was stunned as she looked down at the papers scattered on the floor and backed away flustered.

It was distinctly quiet inside. They realized that someone had overheard. Before the doors opened, Maribelle gathered the papers. She picked up the tray. She held it in her arms. And she ran away.

While she was escaping, she ran into Arinel.

“Sister? Did you see Father?”

Despite Arinel asking Maribelle a question, she was pale and did not say anything. She was only able to catch her breath. There was no way this would not look strange in Arinel’s eyes.

“Is there a problem?”

A hand reached out with worry. Maribelle was startled and took one step back. She could not hide her flustered state. It was because what the people in that room were talking about was treason.

‘He said the Emperor will be punished first.’

Punished. It was an expression that meant eliminating a corrupt person rather than just killing. Only traitors would be people who used this expression. What Maribelle heard was an excessive statement.

‘How can Uncle….’

From Maribelle’s view, this was something that was utterly unacceptable. Maribelle glanced at her lovely cousin who had a face expressing that something was strange. As always, she held Maribelle with a worried look on her face.

“Is there something wrong? Can you tell me?”

Instead of replying, Maribelle looked at Arinel. Uncle is trying to rebel. Does Arinel know about this?

“….Arinel.”

“Yea?”

Maribelle paused the conversation and hesitated for a moment. Can I say this? What should I say? That Uncle is planning to kill the Emperor?

‘How can I say something like this?’

In the end, Maribelle changed her words. If Arinel found out about such a heavy topic then it would be a big shock to her. Because Arinel is a gentle and fragile child.

“It’s no big deal. Thanks for worrying. I think I am not feeling well.”

“Really? Then it is a relief….shall I brew some warm tea?”

Maribelle nodded her head and lowered her gaze. Due to that, she did not see Arinel exchanging eye contact with Lorentz who was standing on the stairs behind her back.

JABAJAJAJAJA* * *DUMBDUMBO

“Sister, I have something to say.”

Arinel offered tea to Maribelle and began to speak.

“We will rebel against the current emperor.”

Those words spoken by Arinel were a shock in itself for Maribelle who was drinking tea. So Arinel also knew. After the shock, she tried to fix her demeanor. The family wants to revolt and Arinel and Uncle agree. Then the attitude she had to show was…

“So sister, you have to go ahead and die now.”

What?

“I have fooled you enough and there are no more reasons to let you live. Father took over your position, and I will be taking over the position of Empress. If I have to say it again, there is no more use for you.”

“What are you saying…?”

“I watched over you wondering when you would realize, but how can you be so stupid?”

The words Arinel spat out was the truth Maribelle had been turning a blind eye to for years.

How could she explain the sense of betrayal she felt rushing in all at once when the thin layer of curtain covering the truth was drawn back. Even if you swallowed lava, it would not be as hot as this. She felt like her insides were heating up so much her eyes would pop out, that her blood was rushing upside down, and that her mind was so blank white she became speechless.

Maribelle’s teeth clenched as if they were glued tight.

“How could you…”

“How? That’s why you should have spoken up earlier. You are the one who stayed with your mouth shut like a shameless person, so why blame me?”

A cackling laughter rang in her ear. The day Maribelle faced the whole truth also became the day of her funeral. You die if you know too many secrets. Truth belongs to the books and not to a person.

To me, how could you?

Like that, Maribelle died with hatred and vengeance.

“Sister, sister, open your eyes! Why are you not moving!”

She had returned to the past from 1 year ago.