Episode 26. I'll Thoroughly Ruin You
“Who is your father?”
Cedric glared at Rose with a fierce gaze that seemed to devour everything. Rose wasn't surprised by Cedric's cold response, refusing to accept her greeting. She knew full well how Cedric and Tercia had treated her. Rose walked toward Cedric, his voice crackling. The servants all swallowed dryly at Rose's slow pace.
Only then did Rose realize why they'd come running so breathlessly. Their worried expressions and their hands full of napkins. They had come running to comfort her. Every day Cedric visited, Rose, without fail, wept.
“Thank goodness Madam didn’t cry today.”
Rose felt a lump in her throat as she saw the servants running to her aid.
‘What can someone like me do...’
She doesn't know how Rose treated them in the original, but she doesn't remember her being particularly kind to her servants. Of course, she wasn't mean to them either. She hadn't done anything for them, yet they cared for her like a friend, like family... It was a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time. It felt like someone was there for me, not alone.
“We are always on your side.”
Just one word, why is it so comforting?
“Thank you all.”
She'd thought she was alone, but she wasn't. The servants, huddled together, embraced her. A warm, fuzzy feeling rose within her. Spring had passed, but the gentle breeze of spring seeped into her heart, warming her heart.
'Cedric.'
The image of Rivera, smiling, her eyes closed into crescent moons, flashed before his eyes, accompanied by the hallucination of her beautiful face calling him. Cedric shooed Rivera away, her face swirling in his mind.
'That's unpleasant.'
He quirked an eyebrow and bit his lower lip. Then, he and his men walked into the cellar within the mansion. The cellar of Count Wence's family, off-limits to unauthorized entry. Someone was hiding in this secret cellar, where no one should be present.
“Oh, really. It really did roll in here.”
It was Jane. Unaware that Cedric was coming, Jane was stamping her feet, searching for something. Jane's ring had rolled down the basement stairs and disappeared through the crack under the door. While everyone's attention was focused on Rose and Cedric, she had secretly taken the basement key and unlocked the door, sneaking in. If anyone had found out, she would have been kicked out and even severely punished.
Someone behind her covered Jane's mouth.
'Ugh, I've been caught!'
There was someone else in the basement besides herself! Fear consumed her body, draining her of all vitality. The more Jane struggled, the more tightly the mysterious hand tightened around her.
“Who is your father?”
Cedric glared at Rose with a fierce gaze that seemed to devour everything. Rose wasn't surprised by Cedric's cold response, refusing to accept her greeting. She knew full well how Cedric and Tercia had treated her. Rose walked toward Cedric, his voice crackling. The servants all swallowed dryly at Rose's slow pace.
Rose's appearance, as if she were walking on thin ice, made them unknowingly tense. Rose looked different than usual. Rose, always so eager to bow before Cedric, straightened her back. With Cedric, she had always been like a trembling herbivore before a beast, but today she seemed strangely relaxed. The servants exchanged anxious glances and whispered softly.
“Is the Countess alright?”
"She suffered from short-term memory loss after the miscarriage. She doesn't remember who the previous Count was, does she?"
“I don’t think she's completely forgotten, considering he called me father... I’m so worried that something might happen if this keeps up.”
The servants stared at Rose with anxious eyes. Rose, perhaps aware of their concern, remained relaxed. Standing opposite Cedric, Rose lowered herself onto the sofa.
“You called me.”
“...”
Cedric glared at Rose with bleary eyes. The way he raised one eyebrow when he was upset was just like his son, Eric.
'How dare you come out so confidently?'
Rose's unusual appearance was unfamiliar. Rose, always the one who couldn't even meet his gaze, her eyes rolling anxiously. Even when she spoke, she stuttered, her frustration so palpable that it was impossible to understand what she was saying. What on earth was blowing today that made her look straight into his eyes?
'...How cheeky. Just like her mother.'
With her pale skin, her pink hair, and her delicate features, Rose looked just like her mother in her youth. That damn woman who fooled him with her innocent face, then married his rival, Count Serviat.
'Rivera...'
He was reminded of his first love, Rivera, over Rose's appearance. The woman he had given everything to, only to have him discarded like an old shoe.
“Is the Countess alright?”
"She suffered from short-term memory loss after the miscarriage. She doesn't remember who the previous Count was, does she?"
“I don’t think she's completely forgotten, considering he called me father... I’m so worried that something might happen if this keeps up.”
The servants stared at Rose with anxious eyes. Rose, perhaps aware of their concern, remained relaxed. Standing opposite Cedric, Rose lowered herself onto the sofa.
“You called me.”
“...”
Cedric glared at Rose with bleary eyes. The way he raised one eyebrow when he was upset was just like his son, Eric.
'How dare you come out so confidently?'
Rose's unusual appearance was unfamiliar. Rose, always the one who couldn't even meet his gaze, her eyes rolling anxiously. Even when she spoke, she stuttered, her frustration so palpable that it was impossible to understand what she was saying. What on earth was blowing today that made her look straight into his eyes?
'...How cheeky. Just like her mother.'
With her pale skin, her pink hair, and her delicate features, Rose looked just like her mother in her youth. That damn woman who fooled him with her innocent face, then married his rival, Count Serviat.
'Rivera...'
He was reminded of his first love, Rivera, over Rose's appearance. The woman he had given everything to, only to have him discarded like an old shoe.
'I told you I'd make you regret not choosing me.'
He knew full well how shabby the fallen Serviat family lived. She was probably madly regretting marrying Count Serviat instead of him.
'It's too late for you to realize how incompetent and insignificant that bastard you chose is, and how great I am.'
The love he had for Rivera had long since vanished. What filled his empty heart was not longing or affection, but rage. Rivera's treasure, Rose. Cedric wanted to completely destroy Rose. It would be the utmost pain he could inflict on Rivera, who hadn't chosen him. Cedric imagined Rivera kneeling at his feet, weeping, and the corners of his mouth quirked up in a bitter smirk. He slowly traced Rose's porcelain-like skin. His eyes, like those of a venomous snake, flashed with madness.
'You can't just get a divorce.'
After the divorce, it was clear that she would seduce another man with that half-and-half face that resembled Rivera's. Although he didn't admit it, Rose was legally the mistress of the Wence family. It was unforgivable for her to join another noble family. His son, Eric, was planning to remarry, but he absolutely could not stand to see Rose marry again.
“Don’t you even know why I came?”
Cedric looked at Rose with a pitiful look and scolded her.
“I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Rose pretended not to know what Cedric was talking about and opened her eyes wide.
“Is your brain just for decoration?”
Cedric casually blurted out insults. Rose's gaze grew cold at his attitude. Cedric didn't miss the fleeting moment when Rose's expression changed.
'They say even an earthworm will squirm if you step on it. How funny.'
It was refreshing to see Rose, who had always trembled like a frightened rabbit, staring at him with defiant eyes. Just as Cedric was about to taunt her with more, a cold-looking man squeaked through the door. One eye was covered by a black blindfold, and his face was covered in hideous scars. He took his place by the door and stared at Cedric. Then, as if signaling, he nodded.
'I guess things went well.'
A satisfied smile appeared on Cedric's face at the man's nod. But that was fleeting, as he glared at Rose with a fierce expression.
“Tsk, I have nothing more to say to a worthless guy like you.”
With those words, he stood up and strode briskly out of the meeting room without looking back.
“What? It’s bland...”
She was worried she might get slapped in the face, but contrary to her expectations, Cedric backed off without a hitch.
“Why on earth did you call me? Did you just call me to swear at me?”
Rose couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. She sensed something ominous from Cedric, who stared at her with maddened eyes until the very end.
“Am I being too sensitive...”
Rose trailed off and stood up. It was a bit awkward, but in the end, nothing happened, so it was all good, she thought. She sighed deeply and walked out of the meeting room. She grabbed the red handle and pulled. Rose opened the door, unable to hide her embarrassment.
"Ma'am!"
Because servants were swarming the door. Their arms were full of napkins as they looked at Rose with worried expressions.
"What's going on, everyone? Why are you all gathered here? What are you holding?"
“Are you okay?”
“Madam! Are you okay?”
Instead of answering Rose's words, they looked at her face with tearful faces.
“Yes? Are you okay? What?”
“The former Count came and went, didn’t he?”
“Did he have nothing to say today?”
The servants crowded around Rose. They were all filled with concern for her.
'Surely... Are you all gathered here because of me? Because you're worried about me?'
He knew full well how shabby the fallen Serviat family lived. She was probably madly regretting marrying Count Serviat instead of him.
'It's too late for you to realize how incompetent and insignificant that bastard you chose is, and how great I am.'
The love he had for Rivera had long since vanished. What filled his empty heart was not longing or affection, but rage. Rivera's treasure, Rose. Cedric wanted to completely destroy Rose. It would be the utmost pain he could inflict on Rivera, who hadn't chosen him. Cedric imagined Rivera kneeling at his feet, weeping, and the corners of his mouth quirked up in a bitter smirk. He slowly traced Rose's porcelain-like skin. His eyes, like those of a venomous snake, flashed with madness.
'You can't just get a divorce.'
After the divorce, it was clear that she would seduce another man with that half-and-half face that resembled Rivera's. Although he didn't admit it, Rose was legally the mistress of the Wence family. It was unforgivable for her to join another noble family. His son, Eric, was planning to remarry, but he absolutely could not stand to see Rose marry again.
“Don’t you even know why I came?”
Cedric looked at Rose with a pitiful look and scolded her.
“I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Rose pretended not to know what Cedric was talking about and opened her eyes wide.
“Is your brain just for decoration?”
Cedric casually blurted out insults. Rose's gaze grew cold at his attitude. Cedric didn't miss the fleeting moment when Rose's expression changed.
'They say even an earthworm will squirm if you step on it. How funny.'
It was refreshing to see Rose, who had always trembled like a frightened rabbit, staring at him with defiant eyes. Just as Cedric was about to taunt her with more, a cold-looking man squeaked through the door. One eye was covered by a black blindfold, and his face was covered in hideous scars. He took his place by the door and stared at Cedric. Then, as if signaling, he nodded.
'I guess things went well.'
A satisfied smile appeared on Cedric's face at the man's nod. But that was fleeting, as he glared at Rose with a fierce expression.
“Tsk, I have nothing more to say to a worthless guy like you.”
With those words, he stood up and strode briskly out of the meeting room without looking back.
“What? It’s bland...”
She was worried she might get slapped in the face, but contrary to her expectations, Cedric backed off without a hitch.
“Why on earth did you call me? Did you just call me to swear at me?”
Rose couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. She sensed something ominous from Cedric, who stared at her with maddened eyes until the very end.
“Am I being too sensitive...”
Rose trailed off and stood up. It was a bit awkward, but in the end, nothing happened, so it was all good, she thought. She sighed deeply and walked out of the meeting room. She grabbed the red handle and pulled. Rose opened the door, unable to hide her embarrassment.
"Ma'am!"
Because servants were swarming the door. Their arms were full of napkins as they looked at Rose with worried expressions.
"What's going on, everyone? Why are you all gathered here? What are you holding?"
“Are you okay?”
“Madam! Are you okay?”
Instead of answering Rose's words, they looked at her face with tearful faces.
“Yes? Are you okay? What?”
“The former Count came and went, didn’t he?”
“Did he have nothing to say today?”
The servants crowded around Rose. They were all filled with concern for her.
'Surely... Are you all gathered here because of me? Because you're worried about me?'
Only then did Rose realize why they'd come running so breathlessly. Their worried expressions and their hands full of napkins. They had come running to comfort her. Every day Cedric visited, Rose, without fail, wept.
“Thank goodness Madam didn’t cry today.”
Rose felt a lump in her throat as she saw the servants running to her aid.
‘What can someone like me do...’
She doesn't know how Rose treated them in the original, but she doesn't remember her being particularly kind to her servants. Of course, she wasn't mean to them either. She hadn't done anything for them, yet they cared for her like a friend, like family... It was a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time. It felt like someone was there for me, not alone.
“We are always on your side.”
Just one word, why is it so comforting?
“Thank you all.”
She'd thought she was alone, but she wasn't. The servants, huddled together, embraced her. A warm, fuzzy feeling rose within her. Spring had passed, but the gentle breeze of spring seeped into her heart, warming her heart.
***
At that moment, Cedric and the man emerged from the meeting room. The two looked around, exchanging secret glances.
“Yeah, I hope you’re doing well?”
“Yes. I left ‘it’ in Rose’s room as instructed.”
“You must have written a good letter, right?”
"Don't worry. I've also enclosed a letter in Count Eric's name. She probably doesn't know anything about it, but she'll be delighted that the Count gave her a gift."
Cedric's expression softened with satisfaction at the man's words. Cedric's purpose in visiting Rose today was clear: to make her pay for her presumptuous behavior. While he was with her in the reception room, he had his subordinate leave a "gift" in her room. He hadn't forgotten to tell him to decorate it as if it were Eric's. Cedric, who usually treated Rose poorly, had thought that giving her a gift himself might arouse suspicion.
“It is only natural that she should be punished for speaking without even knowing the topic.”
“You are right, Master.”
The man nodded in agreement with Cedric's words, who seemed pleased.
“Yeah. There weren’t any mistakes, right?”
“Everyone was so focused on the meeting room that they didn’t even pay attention to that woman’s room.”
“Good job. My plan worked.”
Cedric's bitter smile had a dark aura that rivaled that of Satan.
“The effect is certain, right?”
"Don't worry. We've completed the biological experiments on animals and prisoners alike. The effects have been sufficiently verified, as you reported."
"I'm looking forward to it. This 'product' is being introduced to the world for the first time."
Cedric's face was a mixture of excitement and thrill. But strangely, a sense of awkwardness crept up into his mind. Everything was clearly going according to plan. Rose's face loomed before Cedric's eyes. Or, more accurately, her mother, Rivera.
“Yeah, I hope you’re doing well?”
“Yes. I left ‘it’ in Rose’s room as instructed.”
“You must have written a good letter, right?”
"Don't worry. I've also enclosed a letter in Count Eric's name. She probably doesn't know anything about it, but she'll be delighted that the Count gave her a gift."
Cedric's expression softened with satisfaction at the man's words. Cedric's purpose in visiting Rose today was clear: to make her pay for her presumptuous behavior. While he was with her in the reception room, he had his subordinate leave a "gift" in her room. He hadn't forgotten to tell him to decorate it as if it were Eric's. Cedric, who usually treated Rose poorly, had thought that giving her a gift himself might arouse suspicion.
“It is only natural that she should be punished for speaking without even knowing the topic.”
“You are right, Master.”
The man nodded in agreement with Cedric's words, who seemed pleased.
“Yeah. There weren’t any mistakes, right?”
“Everyone was so focused on the meeting room that they didn’t even pay attention to that woman’s room.”
“Good job. My plan worked.”
Cedric's bitter smile had a dark aura that rivaled that of Satan.
“The effect is certain, right?”
"Don't worry. We've completed the biological experiments on animals and prisoners alike. The effects have been sufficiently verified, as you reported."
"I'm looking forward to it. This 'product' is being introduced to the world for the first time."
Cedric's face was a mixture of excitement and thrill. But strangely, a sense of awkwardness crept up into his mind. Everything was clearly going according to plan. Rose's face loomed before Cedric's eyes. Or, more accurately, her mother, Rivera.
'Cedric.'
The image of Rivera, smiling, her eyes closed into crescent moons, flashed before his eyes, accompanied by the hallucination of her beautiful face calling him. Cedric shooed Rivera away, her face swirling in his mind.
'That's unpleasant.'
He quirked an eyebrow and bit his lower lip. Then, he and his men walked into the cellar within the mansion. The cellar of Count Wence's family, off-limits to unauthorized entry. Someone was hiding in this secret cellar, where no one should be present.
“Oh, really. It really did roll in here.”
It was Jane. Unaware that Cedric was coming, Jane was stamping her feet, searching for something. Jane's ring had rolled down the basement stairs and disappeared through the crack under the door. While everyone's attention was focused on Rose and Cedric, she had secretly taken the basement key and unlocked the door, sneaking in. If anyone had found out, she would have been kicked out and even severely punished.
But the ring was so precious, she risked it and sneaked in. Thump-thump-thump. Jane heard footsteps. Fearing being noticed, she couldn't even turn on the lights, and as she looked around, she realized too late: the footsteps of people were approaching.
“Huh! Seriously. Who’s coming?”
She had to hide quickly! Jane froze, her body stiffening as the footsteps grew louder. Her heart pounded rapidly.
'Oh, what should I do?'
Jane, flustered, was unable to do anything when suddenly, the doorknob turned. Her unfocused eyes wavered like aspen leaves. The basement was pitch-black. As the old iron door creaked open, Jane's pupils dilated. A ray of sunlight filtered through the narrow gap. With the sound of footsteps, a gigantic shadow descended the stairs.
'I'm sure the former Count has come.'
Cedric, who had visited the count's residence early in the morning, came to mind. His face flashed before her eyes. Only the Count and his family could enter this forbidden place. Jane barely regained consciousness and glanced around, trying to find a place to hide before they finally descended. As she turned her head anxiously, a sudden bang!
“Ugh!”
“Huh! Seriously. Who’s coming?”
She had to hide quickly! Jane froze, her body stiffening as the footsteps grew louder. Her heart pounded rapidly.
'Oh, what should I do?'
Jane, flustered, was unable to do anything when suddenly, the doorknob turned. Her unfocused eyes wavered like aspen leaves. The basement was pitch-black. As the old iron door creaked open, Jane's pupils dilated. A ray of sunlight filtered through the narrow gap. With the sound of footsteps, a gigantic shadow descended the stairs.
'I'm sure the former Count has come.'
Cedric, who had visited the count's residence early in the morning, came to mind. His face flashed before her eyes. Only the Count and his family could enter this forbidden place. Jane barely regained consciousness and glanced around, trying to find a place to hide before they finally descended. As she turned her head anxiously, a sudden bang!
“Ugh!”
Someone behind her covered Jane's mouth.
'Ugh, I've been caught!'
There was someone else in the basement besides herself! Fear consumed her body, draining her of all vitality. The more Jane struggled, the more tightly the mysterious hand tightened around her.
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