Chapter 19: BWCGD

Chapter 19

An icy, sticky drink filled with crushed ice ran down Evelyn's face, soaking her from head to toe.

"Wh-What is this...?!"

Before she could recover from the shock, a woman with dazzling blonde hair stormed over and grabbed Evelyn by the hair.

"Hey! Tell me the truth! You planned all of this, didn't you? Just what I'd expect from someone with filthy blood, you sneaky bitch!"

The woman shouting venomously was Erze.

Judging by how she had appeared the moment Evelyn stepped outside, she must have been following her.

"Ah! What are you doing? Let go first!"

Veins bulged across Evelyn's smooth forehead.

The sudden attack left her completely bewildered.

As she rubbed the drink out of her eyes and struggled to break free, Erze completely lost her temper.

"Mother's being locked up because of you! What's so wrong about punishing a lowborn brat who doesn't even know where she came from?"

Evelyn froze at those shameless words and glanced around while her hair was still being pulled.

People from nearby shops had begun gathering one after another to watch.

Since this was the commercial district where most people were commoners, there was little chance rumors would spread through noble society.

Still, they had to move before attracting an even larger crowd.

Fortunately, Erze seemed to think the same.

Her face burning red, she grabbed Evelyn by the collar.

"Come with me! Today I'm going to ruin that pretty little face of yours!"

Not long afterward, they reached a deserted alley.

Smack!

As if she had been waiting for this moment, Evelyn calmly slapped Erze's hand away.

"Hey! You little—!"

Grinding her teeth, Erze charged like an enraged buffalo.

Fortunately, Evelyn stepped aside.

Had she reacted a moment later, Erze would have crashed straight into her.

"Damn it!"

Nothing was going her way.

Stamping her foot in frustration, Erze glared at Evelyn as though she wanted to devour her.

"I don't understand it no matter how much I think about it! That Grand Duke never cared about anyone else's business, so why is he interfering in yours? Why?!"

The Evelyn who had always suffered in silence was suddenly fighting back.

It seemed to have shocked Erze.

But Evelyn had no intention of giving her the answer she wanted.

There was no reason to satisfy her curiosity.

"How should I know?"

"What do you mean, you don't know? You seduced the Grand Duke with your body, just like your mother did! Otherwise why would he care about you? I'm far better than you are!"

Seeing the jealousy burning in Erze's eyes, Evelyn suddenly let out a laugh.

She remembered how, in her previous life, Erze had become so jealous that she had barged naked into the Grand Duke's bedroom.

"Then why don't you try it yourself?"

"...What?"

"If you're so confident, go seduce him."

At best, she'd only end up being thrown out naked in front of all the servants.

As Evelyn answered indifferently, Erze's expression became even more vicious.

Her face, which had been full of confidence moments ago, turned so red it looked ready to burst.

"You're laughing? Just what I'd expect from a prostitute's daughter. Like mother, like daughter— Ahhh! Hey! Let go! It hurts! It hurts!"

At last, Evelyn lost her patience.

She seized Erze's wrist, which was blocking her path, and twisted it sharply.

Crack.

With an expression so cold it bordered on emotionless, she said,

"Don't insult my mother."

"Aaagh! Hey! It's going to break! You're going to break it! Are you completely insane?!"

Watching Erze scream over nothing more than a twisted wrist was almost laughable.

It was hard to believe this was the same woman who had once smashed young Evelyn's hands over and over with fist-sized stones.

Evelyn released her wrist.

Looking calmly at Erze, who clutched her arm in pain, she said,

"Say something like that one more time, and I won't hold back either. That's your warning."

Startled by Evelyn's chilling voice, Erze quickly sneered.

"So you've completely lost your mind? What are you going to do? You spent your whole life picking through trash, and now that you've hooked one man, you've gone cra—"

Smack!

As Erze angrily rolled up her sleeves, her head suddenly snapped to the side.

Her eyes widened.

What just happened?

Then—

Smack!

The instant she turned her head back, Evelyn struck her across the face again.

"W-What..."

Erze held her burning cheek, staring in disbelief.

Her eyes trembled violently.

She simply could not accept that she had been humiliated by an illegitimate daughter.

"You... you actually hit me?"

"I told you."

"I said I wouldn't hold back."

Evelyn stepped closer to the staggering Erze.

Memories of everything Erze had done to her surged through her mind, and indescribable rage consumed her.

"Aaah! Sister, it hurts! Please stop! It's too hot! Please!"

"What? Sister? Hahaha! Have you lost your mind? A beggar like you dares call me your sister? Come here. If you hate fire so much, let's play in the water instead. Today you're going to learn how to swim. Aren't you happy, little sister?"

Splash!

She remembered being shoved into the lake.

Even after that, Erze had stood on the shore, laughing as she repeatedly jabbed her with a long pole whenever she tried to climb out.

The memory made Evelyn feel sick.

Even now, the burn scars from the heated stones remained on the inside of her thighs.

"Sister."

You said even raising a beast would be better than raising me?

"Are you angry because I'm standing beside the Grand Duke?"

Without realizing it, Erze took a step backward.

"...What?"

"You've lived your entire life getting everything you wanted. I only refused to waste the single chance that finally came to me... Is that really so unforgivable?"

She was staggering from only two slaps.

Compared to everything Mother and I endured...

...this was nothing.

Evelyn glanced at the scars on her wrist before looking down at Erze with a calm expression.

"Well... even if you don't like it, what can you do? It's already happened."

In that respect, Erze was exactly the same as the Countess.

Both were devils wearing human skin.

"But, Sister... isn't this the wrong thing for you to be worrying about right now? You're the only one left who's going to marry the murderer."

"What nonsense are you talking about, you crazy bitch?! You think I'll let this go? That's ridiculous!"

Erze screamed hysterically through gritted teeth.

Talking to her felt no different from talking to a wild animal.

Still, Evelyn showed nothing on her face.

"Why? Are you scared? Don't worry too much. Surely he wouldn't kill you. You're the only legitimate eldest daughter of a holy family, after all."

She merely smiled as she watched Erze slowly retreat, her teeth chattering.

* * *

Th-That crazy bitch... what the hell happened to her?!

With a face twisted in fury, Erze backed away before suddenly turning and running out of the alley.

It wasn't because she was afraid of being hit again.

She was simply avoiding someone filthy.

Bang!

The carriage door slammed shut.

Humiliation twisted Erze's face.

Who does that bitch think she is, slapping me?!

If only she had known that the monster who had visited the tower that day was the Grand Duke.

She never would have let that worthless girl steal the opportunity.

She would have cared for the injured Grand Duke herself and won his heart.

Then her mother never would have been arrested.

The union of the Guardian Family and the Holy Knight Family! If that bitch hadn't gotten in the way, it would have been the marriage of the century!

From that day onward, Erze had done everything she could to meet the Grand Duke.

She followed him wherever he went.

She had even thrown herself in front of his carriage to force a "chance encounter."

But the Grand Duke never met with her.

She even tried persuading him that a legitimate eldest daughter like herself would be far more suitable than an illegitimate younger sister.

He didn't even bother responding.

No matter how many letters she sent requesting a meeting, there was only silence.

So early that morning, Erze had personally visited the Grand Duke's estate.

Instead of receiving a welcome, she wasn't even allowed to step inside the vast grounds.

While grinding her teeth at being ignored so completely, she happened to see Evelyn leaving the estate.

So she followed her.

The result...

...was utter humiliation.

Now she had nothing left.

With her mother branded a criminal, her dream of marrying into a wealthy and prestigious noble family had become almost impossible.

You think I'll just give up? Just wait. I'll find a way to survive, and I'll make you pay for today's humiliation!

* * *

Around that same time...

Chaos had also erupted at Count Lawrence's estate.

"Count! Where is the Count?!"

Viscount Fairfield, who had come excitedly to take home his young bride, stormed through the nearly empty mansion with a face red from rage.

He was the first guest to arrive since the Countess had been arrested by the city guards.

"I was told that girl had never stepped outside the territory, yet she's disappeared? And now the Countess is in prison? How dare you play games with my money?!"

The Viscount mercilessly slapped the butler who tried to stop him.

He had always been violent and arrogant.

Now that the woman he considered his property had vanished, he had completely lost his mind.

With no guards remaining—not even the maids—there was no one left in the estate capable of stopping the old brute.

Rampaging through the mansion like a mad beast, smashing everything in sight, he finally found the Count's office.

Bang!

He kicked the door wide open.

"So this is where you've been hiding! Bring that girl to me this instant! Do you have any idea how much money I spent to get her? A full one million Derks! One million!"

The Count, who had been silently staring out the window, finally turned around.

His appearance was haggard from trying to deal with the sudden crisis threatening his family.

"As you can see, my house is standing at the edge of ruin. I'll contact you later, so return home and wait."

Rumors that House Lawrence was on the verge of collapse had already spread rapidly throughout the capital.

It was only natural that nobles, merchants, and collateral relatives who had lent money or extended credit to the Countess would come swarming like ants to recover whatever they could.

Bang!

"Don't play games with me!"

The Viscount slammed his fist onto the desk before throwing the contract violently against the Count's chest.

Then, making it clear he had no intention of leaving until this matter was settled, he sat heavily in the chair behind the desk.

"You were just some insignificant holy knight who gained an empty title thanks to the High Priest's favor. Now look at you. This is the price for defiling a body that was supposed to remain pure!"

Just then—

"My lady, the Count is currently receiving a guest—"

"Shut up!"

Bang!

The office door flew open.

With a furious expression, Erze shoved the butler aside and stormed into the room.

"Father! File an official complaint with the Grand Duke and demand that Evelyn be returned! That girl belongs to our family! This is obvious kidnapping! Kidnapping!"