Chapter 345

“You probably won’t believe me, but I find your condition interesting. So, here’s a kind reminder. You’re not suffering from a terminal illness. You’ve been poisoned.”

Eliza’s tone was indifferent, but her words widened Benedict’s eyes in shock. “Poisoned?”

Benedict’s face was filled with disbelief. “But that’s impossible! I’ve either been to the estate or the High Council. How could anyone have poisoned me?”

Realizing how his words might sound, he quickly tried to explain. “No, I didn’t mean to doubt you, Eliza. I’m just...”

“There’s no need to explain yourself, Benedict. I’ve grown used to it.”

The words “grown used to it were spoken so lightly as if it didn’t seem to affect Eliza. As for Benedict, hearing them was like a dagger to the heart.

“How could anyone get used to that? It’s all my fault, Eliza. I was blind and foolish back then, causing you so much pain. I was wrong, I-” Benedict’s voice faltered.

Before he could finish, Eliza cut him off impatiently, “I already said, no explanations needed. Can’t the Duke’s eldest son understand simple words?”

Her words hit Benedict like a knife to the chest, twisting deeper with every syllable. The pain was suffocating. Benedict had so much to say, but she no longer wanted to hear any of it. It was just like how he had treated her in the past.

“Benedict, I swear I didn’t hurt Sophie. We were playing together, and I didn’t do anything!”

“If you didn’t do anything, why does Sophie have so many bruises?”

“I don’t know! Benedict, please believe me!”

“Enough. Stop lying and making excuses. Get out of this house and don’t come back until nightfall!”

“Benedict, please listen to me. It wasn’t me!”

Eliza was so naive back then. She wanted to be a good figure for her adopted sister. She took Sophie out to explore the bustling streets of Hasen City, treating her to delicious food and even spending her savings to buy Sophie clothes and jewelry.

But the next day, Benedict stormed into her room, dragging her out of bed and demanding to know why she had bullied Sophie.

Eliza had been utterly bewildered. After all, she never bullied Sophie.

Eliza had spent the entire day happily playing with her. Yet no matter how much she tried to explain, her brother, who had once doted on her, refused to listen.

It wasn’t until Eliza saw the bruises on Sophie’s body–marks made by someone’s hands–that she realized something was wrong.

With tear–filled eyes and a pitiful voice, Sophie cried, “Benedict, it’s not Eliza’s fault. She didn’t do anything. I accidentally fell yesterday. Please, don’t blame her.”

Even if Eliza had been naive, she could hear the deceit in Sophie’s words. She couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Sophie hadn’t fallen that day. But why is she lying? Why is she deceiving Benedict?‘

Hearing Benedict’s order to leave the house until nightfall, Eliza finally understood everything. Sophie had done it on purpose.

She was framing her.

‘Why won’t you listen, Benedict? Why do you always believe her over me?

‘I’m innocent, damn it!

‘Benedict, why won’t you trust me?‘ The painful memories echoed deep within Eliza’s soul. It was as if she could see where she had faced Sophie’s repeated false accusations before Benedict.

No matter how much Eliza explained, no one believed her. In the end, she broke down completely, consumed by despair, reduced to a pitiful, shattered version of herself.

“Eliza!” Benedict’s eyes lit up when he saw her emerge. He stood in the stone–paved corridor of the palace. His teeth clenched so tightly that blood seeped from the cremers off nich Successfully unlocked!

He seemed completely unaware. His eyes filled with new pan and regret as he stared at Eliza, who stood away from him. With a heavy voice, he said, “I regret it. I truly do.” He did regret it.