Chapter 84. Let Them Suffer From Regret
Marquis Leroy thought she’d return right away if he asked her to. However, Leticia hid behind Enoch even more, to the point where she couldn’t be seen.
The Emperor had arranged the situation so that she could avoid seeing him if she wished. Marquis Leroy tried to ask for a little time, but it was after the order was already issued.
He had no choice but to back down for now.
***
“I’ll tell you up front. Do you know how worried I was that you might say you were leaving?”
As soon as they exited the room, Elle scolded her as if she was waiting. Leticia tilted her head in confusion.
“I thought you already knew.”
She thought it was a given. It was so obvious that Leticia didn’t feel the need to say anything.
‘I feel better than I thought.’
Leticia lowered her gaze with a more relaxed look.
She was worried that it would be more difficult. This time, she was letting go of her family, and not the other way around.
However, it was unexpectedly painless. Rather, her heart felt lighter now that she’d completely cut the connection between herself and her family.
But her family didn’t seem to think so.
“We’re your real family! So what? You don’t love your family now?”
Enoch, who first discovered the Marquis approaching with a ferocious look in his eyes, blocked his way. Leticia stood next to Enoch with a look that said it was okay, as she faced her family properly.
“I know that we made you sad.”
“….”
“But we’re still family.”
“….”
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“After you left, we worried a lot.”
Thinking that it was going wrong, Marquess Leroy pushed the Marquis out of the way, and approached Leticia instead.
However, she only stared at them without saying a word.
While Marquess Leroy never openly ignored and shamed her like the Marquis and her younger siblings did. However, she never took her side or said anything nice.
She quietly turned a blind eye to it.
With mixed feelings, Leticia smiled bitterly and grabbed Enoch’s sleeve.
At first glance, it seemed like she really regretted what happened and was sincerely apologizing,? but there was no way Leticia could be unaware of the fact that this was not the case.
“I know that it’s an insincere apology that doesn’t mean anything.”
“Leticia.”
“I know you need me, and you’re just trying to pacify me.”
She couldn’t help, but feel disappointed in her family for apologizing just for their immediate gain and greed.
“I won’t accept your apology.”
“Leticia!”
She thought it was rather strange that they looked so shocked.
Their confused expressions that said they could let her go, but never thought that Leticia would let them go.
“No matter how shy and pathetic I was, I never thought I would be kicked out.”
“Leticia, we…”
“As the Marquis said, we were family.”
“….”
“When I was abandoned, it was so hard.”
Everyone was ashamed of her, so she thought it was all her fault. She kept trying to find the reason for them abandoning her.
The despair she felt when she found out that it wasn’t her fault was indescribable.
If it wasn’t her fault, then why was she abandoned?
Where did it go wrong?
From the beginning, there was no reason for her to be thrown away.
However, she was able to quickly sort out the emotions that had piled up heavier than she’d expected. Even if they suffered, nothing would change anyways.
“I hope you live well.”
It sounded funny even after she said it, so Leticia corrected herself right away.
“Actually, I hope you don’t live well.”
If they’re thoroughly unhappy.
“That you suffer as much as I had.”
In fact, several times more than that.
“I hope you regret it and suffer.”
Leticia smiled brighter than ever.
Now it was her turn to abandon her family.
***
Correspondence poured in for several days after that, all of them were from her family. She didn’t want to know what it was about, nor did she care to find out, so Leticia didn’t bother opening them.
“I think we can use it as kindling.”
At Ian’s sarcastic remark, Leticia burst into laughter.
“Why do they keep sending them?”
She leaned back in her chair as she threw the letter that had arrived today on the table. Elle asked cautiously as she offered her a piece of strawberry cake.
“Do you really think of us as family?”
“Of course.”
“But we’re not really a family, right?”
At the heart of it, even though she said they were family, there was no official basis to say this. She didn’t understand Elle’s intention when she pointed it out, so Leticia just blinked in confusion.
“I guess that’s correct?”
“Then isn’t there a good way for us to become a real family?”
“….”
Leticia finally realized what Elle was trying to say.
“Enoch and I will discuss marriage on our own.”
“No, I’m afraid you’ll change your mind halfway.”
Elle glanced over at Ian, who quickly noticed that she was asking for help, and he moved to support her.
“Don’t you think it’s better to get married as soon as possible?”
Now that Ian had joined in, Leticia shook her head and let out a small sigh.
“If you keep doing this, I’ll tell Lord Achilles.”
“Sister, we just want to become an official family as soon as possible.”
“That’s right, sister. It’s better for everyone if we’re family.”
Their eyes looked at her desperately, as if they wanted her to know how they felt.
Leticia didn’t fall for it though.
“What if it doesn’t end with just weeding and chopping firewood this time?”
“….”
“….”
It was really hard on them when they had to weed and chop firewood all day, so the two stiffened up at the same time, as if they were in sync.
She was smiling at the funny sight, when Mary approached with a troubled expression.
“Um, my lady…”
“Hmm?”
“Someone is here.”
She had a good idea of who it was, but she didn’t voice it.
“Who is it?”
“It’s young master Emil.”
“….”
“Actually, he’s been here since this morning. He refused to leave until he met with you.”
She had told him several times that Leticia couldn’t meet with him, but it was useless.
He was stubbornly waiting outside to meet with Leticia. In the end, she couldn’t just leave him standing out front of the mansion forever, so she had no choice but to let Leticia know.
“Ha…”
Leticia looked tired, and let out a sigh.
She didn’t think her family would give up on her so easily, but it was uncomfortable and unpleasant when they kept trying.
“Okay, I’ll go and meet with him.”
“Hey.”
“Sister.”
When she got up from her seat, Elle and Ian stood up at the same time.
Leticia smiled as if she was okay, and told them they should sit again.
“I’ll be right back, so wait here.”
“But…”
“Still…”
Elle and Ian looked at each other and frowned slightly in discomfort. Enoch was worried about Leticia and had asked them to take good care of her.
“It’s really okay.”
“Then I’ll be waiting nearby. If something happens to you, I’ll never be able to face my brother.”
“That’s right. Please let us do that much.”
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Leticia had no choice, but to nod her head since it seemed like they wouldn’t back down.
She didn’t want to talk to Emil at the Achilles mansion, so she didn’t bother to invite him inside and just went outside. Emil was pacing in front of the gate, and looked up as soon as she felt her presence.
“Hey, it’ll only take a moment. Can I talk to you?”
Emil, who’d disappeared so rudely last time, asked politely and carefully.
Leticia nodded silently. Emil was relieved and moved to the tea house he’d reserved.
Elle and Ian followed slowly behind the two.
‘I want to hurry up and get this over with.’
Perhaps because of that idea, Leticia’s steps accelerated. Then she heard a sound of pain behind her, and looked behind her.
“Ah…”
It was only when she saw Emil, who was being assisted by one of his servants, that she realized that one of his legs was injured.
In the past, she would have apologized for being inconsiderate, but now it just made her feel uncomfortable. It felt like he was trying to make her feel sorry for him by acting pitiful.
However, Leticia sat on a chair without saying anything.
“What should I do?”
“What?”
“How can we… How can I convince you to come back?”
As soon as he sat down, Emil brought up the main topic.
For some reason, Leticia almost smiled at the way he was struggling to get her to return with him.
But it wasn’t a pleasant smile.
“You still don’t know what your priorities are.”
“What does that mean?”
“You aren’t very smart in these matters.”
Leticia kindly told Emil, who still didn’t understand what she was saying.
“Wouldn’t it be right to apologize first?”
“Sister…”
Emil stopped talking for a while, then he apologized quickly.
“I’m sorry I ignored you because I thought you were useless.”
“….”
Leticia wasn’t angry at his insincere apology, and just quietly looked at Emil.
“And.”
“What?”
“Isn’t there something else?”
“….”
He sat with an expression that said he didn’t know, no matter how much he thought about it. Leticia sighed and put down her teacup.
He still didn’t seem to realize what his mistake was.
“You spread false rumors about me.”
“I didn’t do that…”
“Emil.”
She remained calm while she faced Emil, who looked straight at her as if he was innocent.
“Father and mother may be fooled, but I’m not.”
“….”
“Your lies don’t work on me.”
She spent more time with her younger siblings than her parents did. She knew everything about their personalities, tastes, specialties and other trivial things.
To Leticia, her younger brother’s lies were obvious.
Emil closed his mouth firmly as if he still didn’t want to admit it. At that sight, Leticia stood up with a small sigh.
Emil paled as he realized she was getting up to leave, and shouted urgently.
“I…!!! That’s right.”
“….”
“It was all because of me. I’m the one who spread those bad rumors about you.”
“….”
“It’s my fault, sister…”
Even before she could ask why, Emil honestly conceded that he was afraid the family’s reputation would fall if it was revealed that Leticia had been kicked out even though she wasn’t capable of causing misfortune.
Leticia couldn’t hide her devastation when Emil said he had no choice, but to create rumors to save their family’s honor.
“I may have been wrong about you.”
She was confident that she knew her younger brother better than anyone else.
Now she wanted to bite her tongue for even thinking that.
“I’m sick and tired of it.”
“….!”
Leticia smiled crookedly, with an expression that said she’d run out of affection. Deep inside, Emil could hear something breaking.
It was already too late when he realized something was wrong.
“Reputation? Honor?”
“Sister…”
“I guess you didn’t think about how I would suffer from those rumors.”
“I’m sorry about that too.”
“Sorry?”
She felt her anger rise and her blood boiled.
She felt miserable when she was once again reminded that they never thought of her as family.
“You think you’re a very logical and rational person, but you’re not.”
Leticia fiercely clenched her teeth and stared at Emil.
“You’re just a dirty egoist.”
“Sister!”
“It’s amazing that you can rationalize with yourself and make the excuse that it couldn’t be helped.”
She never expected him to apologize properly, but his excuse was unexpected.
She didn’t think it was worth being here anymore, so Leticia said with a dry voice.
“Live like that for the rest of your life.”
To eventually be unhappy with yourself.
After saying that, Leticia firmly turned away. Emil stood up quickly, with a strong feeling that he would never be able to see her again.
“Sister, wait… Sister!”
He called out sadly, unable to follow her with his injured leg. Leticia walked away, even though she must have been able to hear him furiously yelling behind her.
“Please wait a minute, Sister! No…”
He was in such a hurry that he fell down. He tried to get back up to chase after Leticia, but it was hard for him to get up right away because his leg was broken.
As soon as Emil tried to get up again with a curse, he could feel her gaze on him. Leticia had stopped walking and looked at him with an expressionless face.
Leticia could’ve helped him stand again, but she just looked down at him coldly. He couldn’t let her go like this.
“I’ll do what you tell me to do.”
“….”
“Even if you ignore me for the rest of my life, I’ll take it sweetly if you do it.”
“….”
“If you come back, we can go back to normal.”
He could be happy again.
His father’s business would go well. His mother, who sometimes collapsed from fever, would be healthy again. Diana wouldn’t be in trouble anymore, and Xavier could win first place at the next Swordsmanship tournament. Maybe Irene will return from their uncle’s territory.
In addition, he would be able to proudly pass the next Imperial Civil service examination, and become the pride of his family.
“If we have you sister, then…”
Everything will be perfect again once they become a complete family.
Emil started to feel nervous when Leticia stayed quiet, and was about to open his mouth.
“I realized it after I was kicked out. I hadn’t been considered family for quite some time.”
It was a one-sided love. So many days where she was alone, and hurt by that unrequited love that would never be rewarded.
Sadly, she believed that one day her heart would reach them, but all she got back was neglect.
“There’s no way I would go back to a place like that.”
Now that she’d awakened, their attitude towards her had significantly changed from before she was excommunicated. This fact made Leticia more miserable.
“If I didn’t have an ability, would you have asked me to return like you are now?”
“Sister…”
It wasn’t a question that needed an answer. She just told the truth as it was.
Their relationship was just that shallow.
“There’s only one thing that I want.”
Even before Emil asked what it was, Leticia said the words first.
“Don’t show up in front of me again.
“Sister…”
“I don’t want to see your face anymore.”
A calm, but firm voice.
Emil felt his heart shatter miserably at the sincere look in her eyes.
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