IDEFYEM - Chapter 75
Black Man, I'll Do Everything For You Except Marriage!
"This is Lady Martha Wintersoar."
"..."
My heart sank as I heard my sister's name for the first time in a long time.
Melua said after noticing my expression hardened.
"Should I tell her that if you are not feeling well? I will postpone her visit until a later date."
"No, just a moment."
Why would Marta come all the way here to visit me?
I thought about it, but I couldn't come up with a good explanation.
We were already convinced that we had been instigated by the pan-Indian operative who leaked the wedding dress last time.
To be honest, I felt like I really didn't want to see her. Not only did I feel sick, but I also didn't want to feel bad when I saw Martha's face.
'But somehow I feel like I should listen to her.'
I pressed my lower lip and thought about it, then clenched my fist and spoke to Melua.
"Please let her into the room."
After Melua nodded and left, closing the door, there was silence for a moment. And soon the sound of shoes clicking down the hallway was heard.
"..."
The door opened at such a slow pace that I could feel a handful of hesitation even though I couldn't see it.
Looking at Marta's despondent look, I realized that she was as uncomfortable with this meeting as I was.
"Hello, Sister. I heard you hurt."
Martha, who had been walking hesitantly, put down the bouquet in her hand.
As her eyes widened and the corners of her mouth twitched, it seemed like she was momentarily surprised to see the flower baskets and gifts filling the room.
Martha was still semi-retired after the accident at the hunting banquet. Even if she tried to re-enter the social world, now wouldn't be a good time.
In addition to the Duke's business problems, Martha's friends feared damaging their own reputation by inviting her. She occasionally appeared at small tea parties or banquets, but that was it.
A strange mixture of longing and bitterness appeared on her face.
'I was thinking of making a sarcastic comment, asking if you came here to steal the dress again.'
When I saw that expression, I somehow felt like I couldn't say anything.
"How are you? No..."
Martha smiled a little awkwardly.
"What am I saying when I come to visit the hospital? It must hurt a lot."
"Actually, it doesn't hurt that much. The rumor started out strangely."
"If so, that's a relief."
I thought to myself when I saw her say just one word and close her mouth tightly. Was Martha always like that?
As she was stomping her feet, not knowing what to do, I gave her a chair.
"Thank you, Sister."
But even after that, Martha's lips did not come together as tightly as before.
She repeatedly flinched and pursed her tongue while trying to say something.
The headache wasn't going away yet, so I felt like resting. I hated this situation, where it felt like my patience was being tested. In the end, I couldn't hold back and spoke first.
"If you have something to say, can you say it quickly?"
There was no way she was used to and liked such a mean attitude. But looking at Martha's face reminded me of a past I wanted to forget.
On a day when I wanted to run away and get engaged to a man I didn't know, I was ridiculed by Martha and slapped by the Duke.
On the day I returned from overcoming the danger of death with Kael at the hunting banquet Martha betrayed me as if stabbing me in the back.
I recently witnessed with my own eyes a slave auction hosted by the Duke's family.
"..."
With the wealth she accumulated, Martha must have bought expensive dresses and jewelry.
Until I left, she lived happily as an aristocratic daughter who knew nothing and perhaps lived like that until the end.
When I thought about it that way, I couldn't tolerate this situation a tall.
Even though I spoke harshly on purpose, Martha showed no sign of opening her mouth.
Then suddenly her eyes became moist.
'Oh, no way...!!:
I groaned internally as I sensed an uncomfortable situation that would arise shortly.
As expected, tears soon streamed down her cheeks.
"I... I really didn't want to do that."
"I don't know what you're talking about, but first use this handkerchief."
Martha, burying her eyes in the handkerchief quickly handed to her, made a sobbing sound.
"I indeed hated my sister, but what happened at the hunting banquet...."
"Yes, yes, okay."
"Prey, huh. I thought I could get my father's approval if I intercepted it. He brushes me up every day..."
I still have no idea what that kid had in mind when she came here. I nodded mechanically, wary of this unexpected situation.
Martha sobbed for a while and then looked up, and then I noticed something strange on her face.
As she wiped away her tears, the redness on her cheeks, where her makeup had been removed, was noticeable.
The swollen scar beneath the faded bruise, as if I had seen it in front of a mirror sometime....
"No way,"
I stammered, squinting at the corners of my eyes and opening my lips.
"The Duke, hit you?"
Her eyes widened in surprise. I was certain that someday in the past, I would have made that kind of expression.
At first, Martha began to deny it with a quivering mouth.
"No, what nonsense..."
"..."
I didn't say anything and just stared at her.
Martha was about to continue speaking, but when she saw the look in my eyes, she lowered her head. Soon, she seemed to have complied and chose to make an excuse.
"My sister left and my father changed a lot. He can't sleep well."
I couldn't believe it, but I closed my eyes tightly as the shocking facts flooded my mind.
"My sister helped my father with magic, but I can't do anything right. I have lived in the shadow of my father and older sister."
I had never seen Martha look more shabby than this. Martha kept babbling as if she couldn't bear it anymore.
"So, because I was wrong...."
For a moment, I forgot about the relationship between us and opened my mouth.
"Do you think I don't know how it feels?"
Because it seemed like another victim was standing before my eyes.
"Because my magic power is gone, and I cannot fulfill my father's request."
"..."
"I thought you'd never thought that way?"
Martha's eyes, seen from the front, wavered greatly.
"I can see it now."
Martha's face bore no resemblance to me or to the Duchess.
She turned her head in disgust toward the Duke and continued speaking.
"I didn't suffer because I was Enrica, and you didn't suffer because you were Marta."
"What..."
"That kid is wrong."
The picture drawn in my mind was obvious.
The Duke was a person who could not bear to have someone to vent his anger to, to the extent that he could not make an exception for his daughter, no matter how much he cherished him.
As Enrica's actions gradually derailed his plans, he would have needed someone to blame for it all.
Because he is the type of person who cannot truly love anyone other than himself.
"But still, how can you call your father that kid?"
I chuckled at Martha, who was acting like I had broken a big taboo.
"Yes, of course, you were a bad person to me too. I almost forgot."
Martha's expression hardened as if she realized she had made a mistake.
"I didn't mean.."
"I know. If you have been loved by the Duke all your life, it will be difficult for you to accept it right now."
How did I end up in the position of comforting Martha?
Even though I thought it was a little funny, I said each word with sincerity.
"You said you didn't want to do that to me, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"If you don't want to do that, find a way to not do it anymore."
Her eyes widened as if it was something she had never thought of before.
"If you want to leave the house right away, I'll lend you some money."
Are these words too realistic and distant for a noble lady?
If it weren't for Kael's help, I wouldn't have been able to get out of there easily. But Marta thought for a moment and nodded as if she understood.
"I'm sorry, sister. And thank you."
It was a common-sense apology that I thought would never come out of her mouth. Maybe I, too, viewed her with quite prejudiced eyes.
'Well, it's not my fault.:
Didn't Martha also understand me only after she was in my shoes?
"I'm sorry for coming by unexpectedly. Please rest."
She got up and gathered her small belongings, preparing to leave.
Before getting up and heading to the door, Martha unexpectedly told me something that might be helpful.
"Keep watching out for our father. He's been very wary of you for some time now."
Martha's eyes, which had made a firm decision, were seen to have sunken deep into worry again.
"The same goes for the recent dress incident. My father planned this because of my sister's increasing influence in the social world."
I rolled my eyes for a moment before answering the words I never thought I would hear from her mouth.
"I understand, Martha. Thank you."
Martha stood up and smiled faintly.
Soon she left, and I leaned against the bed with a confused mind.
It seemed wrong to shake off my cold again tonight.
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