Chapter 92 - When You’re Attached To A Goose That

Chapter 92. When You’re Attached To A Goose That’s Already Gutted

“You mean you would do the same. Getting kicked out, and abandoned by your family?”

Marquis Leroy couldn’t hide the ridicule in his eyes while she spoke, but her voice didn’t waver a bit.

Leticia didn’t avoid his gaze, and faced it head-on.

“Can’t you do that?”

Does it mean that they could abandon her, but she couldn’t abandon them?

Does it mean that she had to understand, and embrace those that threw her away?

‘No.’

Leticia swallowed her anger and bit her lip.

In fact, what she’d abandoned was affection, expectation, and regret for her family. The process of placing them aside one by one was a suffocating process, as if blood was escaping her.

But she didn’t regret it.

“I don’t like it when I’m the only one who has to understand, and sacrifice.”

“Leticia.”

“I don’t want to.”

There was no reason to understand, forgive, and sacrifice anymore.

“You’re not my family anymore. Why should I do that?”

Even if they were family, she knew better than anyone else that unilateral commitment wasn’t right. Therefore, she had no intention of going back to her family.

“You’ve been saved thanks to someone else.”

“It’s all thanks to me.”

“….”

“Answer me plainly.”

Leticia calmly raised her head, and asked.

“Don’t you ever feel ashamed of throwing me away, then wanting to take me back after I’ve gone from being useless to useful?”

“What are you saying to your father?”

Leticia smiled bitterly as the Marquis raised his voice, as if he didn’t want to listen to her.

“My question was incorrect.”

At the same time as she said that, she slowly rose from her seat, and looked down at Marquis Leroy.

“If you had the ability to feel shame, it wouldn’t have come to this.”

It was no longer worth having a conversation with him. Rather, it was a waste of time to be sitting face to face.

“I knew this would happen.”

Nevertheless, she couldn’t laugh at the behaviour that didn’t deviate from her expectations.

Marquis Leroy spoke in a commanding tone, in the midst of an awkward atmosphere where neither of them wanted to back down.

“Sit down.”

He was trying to pretend to be calm, but his eyes were burning with anger. Knowing that, Leticia looked down, then turned firmly away.

She sincerely hoped that they would never see each other again after today.

However, the words she heard behind her dragged her back.

“Keena Erebos.”

“….”

Her gaze remained unchanged, but her fingertips trembled. Leticia turned slowly, and covered her hands with her sleeves.

As soon as their eyes met, Marquis Leroy smiled crookedly.

“Oh? I guess you know each other?”

With an ominous feeling, Leticia’s face became stern. Marquis Leroy had an appearance of the utmost satisfaction, and said.

“What if there are rumors that the Achilles family is in contact with that traitorous family?”

It was a question that he already had the answer to. Leticia was feeling very nervous, and she had no intention of answering.

“There’s no way anyone would believe such a ridiculous rumor.”

“Well, if someone saw you, Erebos, and the sister of Duke Achilles together. They might rethink those rumors.”

Rather, it was clear that they would believe it was a reliable story.

“People are interested in provocative rumors. In particular, stories where they can speak ill of others’ misfortunes, and slander is bound to attract people’s attention.”

It was an obvious threat to spread false rumors about the Achilles family if she didn’t return.

Leticia clenched her teeth, and sat back down.

“Can you handle it if the rumors are found to be false?”

“Even if the truth comes out, most people won’t know. People don’t care about the truth.”

“….”

“And I’m confident I can make those rumors real.”

Leticia was so angry that her mind went blank. In the meantime, Marquis Leroy spoke in a sweet voice.

“Think it over, Leticia. What’s in it for you?”

“….”

“I think you understand what I’m trying to say.”

After saying that, Marquis Leroy got up first. His expression was triumphant, with a relaxed attitude that he believed Leticia would eventually return.

“You’ll regret it.”

It was the moment the Marquis passed her with an amused look on his face. As he lowered his head, she met his evil-filled gaze head-on.

Eyes so full of contempt that she couldn’t recall the way he’d looked at her kindly.

Rather than being confused, he really thought that he’d won.

“Regret? Won’t that be you?”

“….”

“It’s you, and not me, who will come to regret it.”

In the eyes of the Marquis, her words were only seen as a last lingering attack. He just wanted her to acknowledge her situation, and come back without wasting time.

However, Leticia didn’t back down so easily.

“Then I’ll make you regret it.”

She couldn’t hold back her anger while talking.

Leticia didn’t know he would turn out to be so cowardly and shabby. The fact that he was her biological father was so shameful.

Even more infuriating was the fact that she could clearly see the malicious intent to harm the people around her.

‘I don’t want to be still.’

She was confident that she would do whatever it took to protect the people she loved.

Even if it meant losing herself.

“I must.”

***

“I don’t know what I’m going to tell your father.”

Marquess Leroy scolded as she fiercely lowered the letter. Lately, there was a constant stream of correspondence that Emil’s performance, and Xavier’s sword skills, were not the same as before.

She knew it was because their abilities had suddenly disappeared, but she still thought it was too much.

The people involved were embarrassed, and Emil and Xavier let out low sighs with pained expressions. Then the Marquess’ gaze went to Irene, who was sitting nearby. Irene was quietly reading a book by herself without paying any attention to her family.

“Irene, since you’re here, you should go back to the magic academy.”

Marquess Leroy slowly approached her. However, Irene answered without taking her eyes off the book she was reading.

“I already dropped out. How can I just go back to school?”

“Mother will take care of that on her own, just be ready to go again.”

While she tried to sound soothing, it ended up being a coercive order.

Irene slowly raised her head from her book, looked straight at the Marquess, and said.

“I don’t want to.”

“What?”

“I don’t want to.”

“IRENE LEROY!”

Marquess Leroy’s voice grew louder at the firm rejection from her previously obedient youngest daughter, who used to always listened to what she said, and did as she was told. However, Irene didn’t back down at all.

“I can’t even use magic, how can I go to the magic academy?”

“It’s fine, everything will be solved when your sister comes back.”

“….”

Irene shut her mouth when the Marquess said this as if it was only natural.

She was so sick and tired of their belief that everything would go well once Leticia was back.

“Sister will not come back.”

“What?”

“Even if she returns, I’ll send her back.”

Irene’s attitude was more forceful than ever. It was so unfamiliar to the Marquess that she felt perplexed.

At that time, they heard the sound of the front door opening nearby, and Marquis Leroy slowly entered the mansion. The expressions on the faces of the family members, who noticed him immediately, gradually began to harden. He’d been in a bad mood these past few days, so they were all uncomfortable.

For some reason, Marquis Leroy entered the mansion with a refreshed look on his face today.

“Madam, everything went well.”

“What do you mean, honey?”

“I’ve pacified Leticia, and she will be back soon to help the others.”

When he said this, the Marquess sighed in relief, and said that it was a good thing for Emil and Xavier.

Only Irene didn’t smile. No, she couldn’t smile.

‘Crazy home.’

It was clear that Marquis Leroy had threatened Leticia to force her to return. There was no way that the others didn’t know, so Irene lost all of her affection for her family that would smile as if it was a good thing.

The family, who were relieved at this fortunate turn of events, soon returned to their respective rooms with relaxed faces.

She watched them leave with a sigh, then saw someone walking past her.

“I think I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

Upon hearing Irene’s voice, the butler bowed deeply.

“I’m a butler that works for Marquis El.”

“Oh, really?”

Marquis Leroy and Marquis El had so many exchanges that it wasn’t strange that Marquis El’s butler was here.

But why?

Somehow it looked suspicious today.

“You’re here to give that to my father, right? I’ll deliver it.”

In the butler’s hand was a letter clearly marked with the seal of the El family. Irene reached out her hand, while trying to look as natural as possible.

“I was ordered to deliver it directly to Marquis Leroy.”

“Are you doubting what I, his daughter, is telling you?”

“But…”

Irene said in a pitiful voice to the servant, who was still hesitating.

“It’s because my father is in a bad mood today.”

“….”

“But you still want to bring it to him?”

When faced with Marquis Leroy, who couldn’t control his anger, he was often harmed. The butler’s expression quickly hardened when he remembered how many times he had been beaten.

“Then if you please, my lady.”

Finally, the butler thanked her, and returned to the El mansion. Irene confirmed that the butler had left, then quickly hid the letter in her wide sleeve.

She immediately went back to her room, and opened the letter. The contents were briefer and simpler than she expected.

Something about it was significant though, so she tilted her head slightly.

‘We’ll catch them soon, so wait.’

Who could he be trying to catch?

***

The first thing she needed to do was to find Keena. However, she hadn’t encountered her since the time she’d coincidentally received her help.

Still, Leticia needed to find a way somehow, so she secretly asked the owner of Pegasus’ to find Keena for her. Due to the high risk, she had to give up a lot of her hard-earned money. However, it wasn’t easy to find her because she was so talented at suddenly appearing and disappearing.

‘What should I do?’

Leticia’s hand shook, and she bit her lip. Marquis Leroy might already have Keena. She hoped it wasn’t the case, but she couldn’t even find a single strand of hair, and she was starting to feel worried.

“Leticia.”

“….”

“Leticia!”

“Oh, yes. Did you call me?”

Startled, Leticia lowered her hand that had been tapping on the table subconsciously. However, Enoch had already seen her nervous action.

“Is something the matter?”

“No, not at all.”

“Leticia.”

When he’d told her that it was okay to talk about it. Leticia decided to confide honestly to him, with tears in her eyes.

Leticia told him that if she didn’t return to her family, her father had threatened to spread false rumors about the Achilles family secretly meeting up with the Erebos’.

“I have to find Keena, but I don’t know where she went. What if the Marquis has her?”

“You don’t have to worry.”

“But…”

Enoch, who was sitting next to her, hugged Leticia’s shoulders. He told her that it would be okay, but Leticia just shook her head.

“You really don’t have to worry.”

Before she could ask him why, Enoch said.

“Because I’m with you.”