Chapter 37
“Ah… Ah…”
How many times had Lavelier fainted and woken up again in the pitch-black underground prison?
A voice woke Lavelier, who had lost all sense of time.
“Lavelier. You may leave.”
Creak—. The eerie sound of the iron bars opening was heard.
Lavelier weakly lifted her limp body.
Leave…?
After blinking her blurry eyes several times, she saw that the prison door was indeed wide open!
Excited, Lavelier crawled on the ground, barely managing to climb the stairs.
‘Light…!’
Squinting at the bright light seeping in from the top of the stairs, Lavelier ran towards it breathlessly.
How long had it been since she had tasted the outside air…?
She was itchy and smelled foul from not being able to wash. She had survived on spit to stave off hunger and used air as a blanket during her miserable days.
But now it’s over! I’m free!
With a heart filled with joy, Lavelier stepped out onto the ground.
“Ha…!”
Lavelier took a deep breath and smiled. The air was so fresh and warm.
It seemed spring had come without her knowing.
Enjoying the warm sunlight on her skin, Lavelier began to walk slowly.
No one had come to fetch her.
Well, that was fine. She didn’t feel like scolding anyone in her good mood.
Lavelier quickened her steps towards the mansion’s front gate. But with each step, her face gradually hardened.
The castle was too desolate.
Why was no one there? Not a single servant or maid was in sight.
Strange.
Feeling as if she had just woken up from a dream, Lavelier hastened her steps. She was almost running by the end.
“Huff, huff.”
Out of breath, Lavelier arrived at the castle’s main gate and blinked several times at the strange sight that caught her eye.
“Father…? Brother…?”
Why, why are you up there…?
“Father, Father.”
Lavelier ran and reached out towards the tall, sturdy gate. She needed to bring her father down.
Standing on her tiptoes, she reached out desperately, not realizing she couldn’t reach.
Something sticky dripped onto Lavelier’s face as she looked up at her father, whose head was impaled on the sharp iron bars at the top of the gate.
When she wiped it with her hand, it was dark red blood.
“Ah…?”
Only then did Lavelier realize that only the heads of her father and brother remained and collapsed to the ground.
Shivering, she remembered someone’s voice that struck her like lightning.
“Please execute the Margrave and his son, and spare the daughter’s life.”
So it wasn’t a dream?
Lavelier touched her neck.
It was intact. Indeed, as Estira had said, she alone survived.
“Lies… this is a lie…”
“Oh, it’s not a lie.”
When Lavelier turned around, a man with red hair smiled and greeted her.
“Was the prison comfortable?”
“…?”
“Oh, you look well.”
Oops, my mind.
The man muttered to himself and flipped through some documents.
“I am here as the Duke’s representative. Ah, ahem. Now, listen carefully.”
“The Duke…?”
“Yes. ‘By the authority vested in me by His Majesty the Emperor, I, Dezereth Ragnar, hereby revoke the title of the Glioced family.’”
Imitating the Duke’s deep voice, Clovin read out the decree.
“All debts incurred by the Glioced family are to be inherited by the Margrave’s daughter, Lavelier, and she is prohibited from leaving the country until the debts are fully paid.”
“W-What…?”
“Lavelier is ordered to atone for all the sins of the Glioced family for the rest of her life.”
Clovin, looking proud, neatly folded the document and gently placed it at Lavelier’s feet.
“Well then, goodbye!”
As he lightly walked away, Clovin turned back and added.
“Oh, the inherited debt alone is over ten thousand gold. It will increase, so don’t be disappointed by the amount.”
Ten thousand gold. That was the annual budget of a wealthy noble family.
Lavelier’s body went limp.
“Ah… Ahaha. Ah…”
Slowly, she turned her gaze to look up at the cold, dead faces of her family.
“Ahahaha! Hahahaha…!”
Lavelier’s blue eyes gradually darkened as she laughed madly, like someone who had lost their mind.
You should have just killed me too, Estira.
Why… did you leave me alive? Why?
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