Marchioness Camellia arrived at Marquisate Luden and got out of the carriage.

Two full days have passed. Marquis Luden was still breathing. But his consciousness did not return.

In lieu of prayers for the sick, the priest, who had been solicited secretly, performed the last sacrament. If even a miracle did not happen, he would die like this.

Marchioness Camellia went immediately to meet the eldest son of the Marquis.

“You’re here. Sit down.”

Luden Heir Apparent greeted Marchioness Camellia with a parched face.

“How is father?”

“Not good. I wonder if he can hold out until tomorrow.”

“I see.”

Marchioness Camellia answered formally.

She actually didn’t really care about it. Whether he lived a few more days or less, it was already known that Marquis Luden would die.

There were probably only a few people who were truly sad.

‘I’m glad that Her Grace isn’t here.’

Garnet, who loves her father, will not be able to stand the terrible sight.

Luden Heir Apparent looked at Marchioness Camellia with a weak face.

He is a man who lived his whole life as the Heir Apparent until the age of forty-five.

He probably couldn’t imagine himself becoming the Marquis. He would be confused about what to do now.

Marchioness Camellia knew it, so she did not wait for him to ask.

“I will try to stop the rumors as long as I can. But I can’t say for sure. The fire was so big and there were eyewitnesses.”

“I see. Still, just until the funeral, please. If mother knows…….”

Luden Heir Apparent stuttered and said.

It was a really terrible scandal.

It would have been better if it was the house owned by Marquis Luden, and the woman he was sleeping with was the Marquis’ mistress.

But the house belonged to the Head of the Merchant Association, and the woman was the Head’s mistress.

A great noble, like Marquis Luden, had an affair with the Head’s mistress. He also deceived the eyes of those around and sneaked in.

At the end of it, he fell asleep and then burned to death. The woman even ran out of the house naked. What could be more filthy than this?

The most terrible thing for a noble like Marquis Luden is not being told that they are cruel; being the object of fear was even something to be proud of.

What they didn’t like was being told they were dirty and ugly. Because ugliness arouses contempt, not fear.

Marchioness Camellia nodded her head.

She didn’t think it was going to go well, but she was determined to do her best. If the scandal of Marquis Luden spreads, there’s nothing good for Marquisate Camellia.

“Take care of yourself, brother. There will be an attack.”

“Attack?”

Luden Heir Apparent asked with hazy eyes.

“Yes. Businesses or vassals……. All because Father dominated them.”

Killing Marquis Luden is only the primary goal.

She didn’t kill him because she hated him, but what could be the purpose of the death itself?

The purpose was to take advantage of this opportunity to swallow up Marquisate Luden’s power.

“Even so, there was a lot of agitation. Because father has suffered like this, there must be some who have changed their minds, and there will be others who will take advantage of this opportunity to take it away.”

“…… you too?”

At Marchioness Camellia’s words, Luden heir Apparent asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you think so, too? Father was very harsh on you, and he must have left nothing for you in his will.”

Ludens Heir Apparent asked, shaking his hand.

“Isn’t it because you wanted me to rebel against father when you told me about Maideline’s arranged marriage?”

“Yes, that’s why I did it.”

Marchioness Camellia read the fear in Luden Heir Apparent’s eyes.

If he’s trembling like that, he shouldn’t have to say anything like that to make himself nervous.

Eventually he couldn’t say a word for Maideline. As he calls her his beloved daughter.

He couldn’t do anything for his daughter, how can he call himself her father?

If he couldn’t, it’s probably because he’s afraid she’ll be the next target.

Marchioness Camellia was heartbroken.

“I don’t need father’s legacy. You know. From the time I was originally registered, I wrote a memorandum of renunciation of inheritance.”

“Yes, you did.”

Luden Heir Apparent was silent.

Marchioness Camellia waited quietly until he spoke his words.

Luden Heir Apparent hesitated for a while, and then he managed to open his mouth. There was blood in his eyes.

“Negil, the merchant who owned the house…….”

“Yes.”

“He said that my father had a stinger seal that day…….”

Marchioness Camellia had to try to hide her bitter smile.

The merchant must have been suspicious of Marchioness Camellia. Seeing that he met with the Heir Apparent directly.

Luden Heir Apparent looked at Marchioness Camellia with an anxious face and then lowered his head.

“Forget it, I was talking nonsense. I remember hearing that someone had died of a stinger installed on the seal of Marquisate Camellia before.”

“It may be hard to believe, but I never wanted father to die.”

Marchioness Camellia said so,

“As I said, right now there are problems with Princess Leticia, there is also the problem of Ian, and the situation is complicated. When father dies suddenly, everyone is in danger. Even brother knows that much, right?”

“Yes. Right…….”

“It’s true that I designed a seal with the hidden stinger. But these tools are not the only ones I have created.”

This was an indulgence. It means that there is no need for Luden Heir Apparent to worry and doubt any more.

Luden Heir Apparent soon understood. Because he wanted to.

“That is true.”

“Do not worry. Brother, don’t think about anything else and just focus on controlling the household. You are now the master of Marquisate Luden.”

Luden Heir Apparent nodded his head saying that he understood.

Marchioness Camellia patted his back a few times as she comforted him, and then stood up.

She ran into the maids in black cloth in the hallway. The maids didn’t even make eye contact with Marchioness Camellia, so they swerved to the left and right of the hallway and bowed their heads.

Marchioness Camellia walked slowly. The maids hurried behind and made a rustling sound.

Marchioness Luden’s place of residence was quiet.

‘I thought Maideline would be here.’

If she wasn’t here she would be in Marquis Luden’s room. The lovely girl will be crying as she grieves that her grandfather, who loved her dearly, suffered such misfortune.

The maids of Marchioness Luden looked at Marchioness Camellia and frowned slightly. But they did not block her path.

Marchioness Camellia went inside quietly.

Marchioness Luden had an embroidery frame on her lap and sat looking out of the window.

“I’m here, Madam.”

Marchioness Camellia bent her knees politely in front of her, like a maid.

Upon her registration, their titles changed. She called Marquis Luden not as her master, but father, and Heir Apparent as her brother, not her young master.

However, only Marchioness Luden was the Madam. It would be until her death.

Marchioness Luden looked back at her with a skinny face. There was no glimpse of sadness on her face.

The long-accumulated fatigue was also well hidden, making it difficult to notice.

“What is it?”

“I just came to greet you.”

“Aren’t you here to look?”

Marchioness Camellia couldn’t help but smile.

“There is that, too.”

“You have nothing to worry about.”

“Madam treated me well.”

Marchioness Camellia said in a low voice.

“Actually, there was no need to forgive the illegitimate child, whom the maid gave birth to.”

This person is the only person in this world who can point the finger at Marchioness Camellia’s existence as dirty.

Marchioness Camellia thought so.

But Marchioness Luden did not.

She always closed her eyes. Even knowing that she lives in the attic of this house, stealing the lectures during the Heir Apparent’s studies.

It might have been a denial. She was comfortable pretending she didn’t even know the child existed.

As she pretended not to know of all the other illegitimate children.

But even when Marchioness Camellia seduced Garnet to use her as a springboard for her career, she closed her eyes.

Marchioness Luden said,

“I never forgiven you for being born.”

“Yes…….”

“But Sarah was a poor kid.”

Marchioness Camellia did not answer “yes” this time. She didn’t think so.

Marchioness Luden looked down at the embroidered frame for a moment, then turned her gaze away.

“I know. The fact that Sarah didn’t erase you or get the money the butler gave was because she was trying to fix her fortune after giving birth to you.”

“Madam…….”

“Just because you’re stupid doesn’t mean you’re not pitiful.”

Marchioness Luden murmured. She’s gone through too much of it to even think about it.

“Madam…….”

“You don’t have to worry about me. Afterwards……I hope you can comfort Garnet. Because she didn’t know what kind of person her father was until the end, even when she looked at you.”

“Because father treats me well in front of Her Grace.”

“Mia.”

Marchioness Camellia’s body trembled.

She changed her name when she was registered. Because she thought the name Mia was not noble.

But she would be Mia until her death to Marchioness Luden. Just like Marchioness Luden was the Madam.

“You are not my daughter, and you have never been Luden’s daughter. But you are Garnet’s one and only friend.”

“Yes…….”

“So there is no need to beg for my forgiveness. Please lead her well.”

Marchioness Camellia bowed her head and promised that she would.

She turned and came out, and her mind is indescribably complicated.

Marchioness Luden seemed to know that she was involved in this murder.

In fact, it was Marchioness Camellia who told Count Brennan about Negil and Negil’s mistress.

‘I did not know that such radical means would be mobilized.’

She thought that it was enough to cause a scandal to narrow the position and to leave Grand Duchess Roygar’s heart.

She is not arguing over dividing the pie. Because she hasn’t even taken it yet.

Count Brennan’s thoughts were guessable.

If they can’t touch Princess Leticia, they must grab towards being the regent.

However, there is no way Marquis Luden, who has worked so hard to become the Emperor’s outlier, would agree with it.

Therefore, she chose to destroy the problem by eliminating them in advance.

Count Brennan would take this opportunity to suppress Grand Duke Roygar and take the initiative.

‘A monarch would only need to be a symbol of helplessness.’

The same applies to Leticia and Grand Duke Roygar. At least for Count Brennan.

Marchioness Camellia did not agree with it. It was natural to wear the halo of Grand Duchess Roygar.

Regardless of her feelings, her political stance has always been consistent with Marquis Luden.

‘By the way, I didn’t know you would assassinate him?’

Marchioness Camellia answered the question, which suddenly springed from the depths of her heart.

‘No. I wanted him to die ugly, so I told you all about the house, information, and when father was going there.’

That was the truth.