I didnât have a slight exaggeration, but I deliberately spat out more thorny words.
If, by any chance, he steps forward to act as a father, all my plans will be in vain.
I had to cut it off in the first place so that I wouldnât have any lingering feelings.
âYou pretended to be there, even though you had no sympathy for me, let alone interest in me.â
Of course, there is no obligation for an uncle to take care of his niece who is left alone.
But while he pretended to be in responsibility, he actually did nothing.
He just enjoyed his moral superiority over others.
âTo me, you only pretend to be the saintly warrior who practices fairness and justiceâ¦â¦â
Do you know how much people around you sacrificed to protect that noble conscience?
Cedric finally opened his mouth.
ââ¦â¦ Everything you said is right.â
His shaking eyes hung on me like a beggar begging for mercy.
âI knew nothing, Selina.â
You know nothing?
What an easy answer.
His insincere excuse didnât even make me laugh.
âIt is until minors that ignorance becomes an indulgence, Uncle.â
Cedric meekly confessed to me with a painful face as if he had been stabbed with a spear in his chest.
âYou right.â
I could read the sadness overflowing in his eyes, but I had already come too far to just let go of the remorse.
âI pretended not to know.â
Oh, you even admit this.
I was a little surprised.
The fact that he had been deceiving himself so far was probably the hardest thing for him to admit.
âI could find out if I wanted to knowâ¦â¦ but I didnât even try to find out.â
Cedric, who had already escaped from shock, continued calmly as if he were confessing.
âI deceived myself that it was best, even though I suspected that the Countess would not be a good parent for you.â
To break down this railing, he took a method of straight-up rectification.
âEvery time I saw you, I was distressed. You remind me of Joannaâ¦â¦Â Also, you remind me of my brother.â
Cedric had no pretense now. He was being completely honest with me.
âBecause you were the daughter of the woman I loved the most with the man I hate the most.â
It wasnât surprising to hear that Cedric hated his brother.
I didnât expect a man like Cedric with a close sense of virtue to like Cayden Crawford.
âIt is also true that I thought you were a burden.â
I knew it.
Thatâs why he didnât like the fight between me and Camilla.
As I had nothing to say, I kept my mouth shut, and only silence flowed in the study.
By this point, the conversation seemed to be over.
âIt was the only thing you couldnât say. Well, nothing will change now.â
Slur, Cedric hastily opened his mouth as I stood up like a person who had lost my soul.
âIâm sorry, Selina. What can I do for you to forgive me?â
I looked at him with insensitive eyes.
âDo whatever you want. If you want, kick out the Countess and take the title yourself. Go to the temple and confess. And the fact about me being your daughter, this land, this family, and all of the propertyâ¦â¦â
I shook my head. That was the worst I could think of.
âDonât live as my father, Uncle.â
Cedric didnât deserve it.
âDonât think of me as your daughter. Donât expect me to treat you like a father. Forever.â
It is better not to reveal it even for the honor of my deceased mother.
âRemain to me as a name-only uncle with no sympathy, no affection, no interest. As always.â
âSelinaâ¦â¦â
I politely shook off Cedric, who was holding my shoulder as if he would collapse at any moment.
âGood nightãUncle.â
I greeted him as usual and left the study.
âºâºâºâ¼â»â»â»
âMy Lady, you look so unhappy. Did something happen in the barbariansâ village?â
Lying on my back and buried under a soft blanket, I murmured quietly, âNo.â
Fiona was restless as she looked at me since before.
âI feel like your voice is all hoarseâ¦â¦ Are you sick, My Lady? Head? Neck? Shoulders?â
Fiona hurriedly approached the bed and kept talking to me.
âDo you want me to massage your shoulders?â
âNo, itâs okay.â
âThen shall I give you a foot massage? Or your calvesâ¦â¦ Your calves are soft so it will feel good.â
ââ¦â¦ Itâs not for my sake, is it?â
Fiona was startled.
Oh, my. She has been so persistent when she touches me every night under the pretext of giving me a massage.
Fionaâs grip was really strong. It was incomparable to Penny.
âTha-thatâs not itâ¦â¦ Your skin is so soft, My Lady. The flesh is so dampedâ¦â¦ Itâs like a drug, so I canât get my hands off it.â
Yeah. What a shame.
Itâs not that I donât know how you feel, but I was so mentally tired today.
I want to be hugged and comforted by someone who fully understands me, but unfortunately, there was only a goose down blanket by my side.
âShall I heat up the milk? âIf thereâs anything I can do for youâ¦â¦â
For a moment Fiona stopped talking.
At the same time, a cool breeze passed by my face as I closed my eyes.
Tap tap tap-
Fiona rushed away, and I heard the balcony door open. A small whisper came in the wind.
It seemed that Fiona was telling something to the night-guest.
âAh! I just remember that I have a pile of sewing stuff!â
Fiona, who came back in, took her outerwear and headed to the dressing room loudly.
âIâm working overtime today, My Lady! Donât wait for me!â
Then she hurried out of my bedroom.
âHer workplace is here, but where are you going to work overtime?â
Fiona, who keeps on making cute ridiculous words, made me giggle.
Soon after, the pungent and cool scent came to the tip of my nose.
âGood smellâ¦â¦â
When I opened my eyes to the familiar scent, I saw long legs that did not match my lace-filled bedroom at all.
It was Valhail.
âSelina.â
He lowered his upper body and met my gaze with me lying down.
âWhatâs the matter? Where do you feel sick?â
It seemed that he was quite surprised to hear that I was in a bad mood.
His large hand carefully covered my forehead as if checking my temperature.
Lying down like a dead man and blinking, I stared at him and said.
âI am not in a good mood right nowâ¦â¦ Can you make me feel good?â