Chapter 150
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Isabelle felt as if she’d been given one last chance.
“Head maid, at least for the duration of my stay, I’d like you to assign me a maid.”
“Yes, please tell me.”
She didn’t miss the opening of the head maid’s visit and made her request.
“I heard Lady Weaver was demoted to a maid. Rather than have her do other work, wouldn’t it be more convenient for her to attend to me, even if it will be brief?”
Hearing her words, the head maid, Margaret, couldn’t hide her look of surprise. She knew the two of them weren’t on particularly good terms.
“Very well.”
In any case, seeing no point of contention, the head maid agreed readily, then relayed a message to Count Morado.
“The Duke has also passed word that you may depart once the snow stops.”
“Yes, understood.”
“Very well, then.”
Having said what she came to say, the head maid left the room. In the now-quiet space, Count Morado called Isabelle in a voice calmer than before.
“Isabelle, come sit here.”
“…Yes.”
Come to think of it, in their agitation they’d both been talking while standing. When Isabelle sat down across from him, the Count opened his mouth again.
“It’s hard for you now. But you must also know how to retreat. Do you think war is waged with sword against sword alone? You’ve been through high society, and yet you still don’t understand?”
“But, Father. Even so, I cannot back down. I’ve waited so long. Only for the day I could stand at his side.”
In a voice brimming with emotion, Isabelle burst into tears.
“I didn’t wait all this time, only to have my place snatched away by some woman of another tribe, whose origins no one even knows!”
At her words, the Count let out a long sigh and said.
“It seems I should have taken a new wife after all.”
“Father!”
“I never imagined the absence of a wife would feel so great.”
“…Why do you say such a thing?”
“You are deeply presumptuous, Isabelle.”
At her father’s calm voice, her heart sank.
“You’re acting as though the seat beside the Alpha was yours from the very start. You haven’t even won the Alpha’s heart, the thing that truly matters, so why do you dream such an empty, delusional dream first?”
Isabelle couldn’t get out a single word at her father’s remark. He truly seemed disappointed in her, and she even felt afraid. It was the first time in her life she’d experienced this, and she was confused.
The Count felt sorry for his daughter, but as a loyal subordinate of the Wolf Tribe Alpha, there were things he could not concede.
“To wolves, a mate is a most precious being. In the end, the only one who can decide on the Duchess is the Alpha’s own will. You’d forgotten the most important thing.”
Isabelle wanted to scream. That’s exactly what I mean! I’m begging you to help me by whatever means it takes!
But Isabelle, afraid her father might turn his back on her, forced a smile and answered.
“I understand, Father.”
“Yes. You’ll need time to sort out your thoughts as well. There’s time until the snow stops, so get your thoughts in order within it.”
“…Yes.”
After her father left, Isabelle bit her nails and waited only for Leslie. Somehow it felt that Leslie might give her a solution.
The knock she’d been waiting for came. Before Isabelle could even tell her to come in, Leslie strode into the room.
“Leslie!”
The moment she spotted her, Isabelle jumped up and approached. At Isabelle’s frantic appearance, the corner of Leslie’s mouth curled up.
“You must be pretty desperate, huh?”
“Don’t pick a fight. That’s not what matters right now.”
“The rumor’s already gone all around. They say that you’ve gotten on the Alpha’s bad side.”
Leslie leisurely made her way over and sat on the sofa. Though she wore a servant’s uniform, her bearing was quite elegant, as if she were still wearing a noble gown. With a face full of derision, she looked up at the standing Isabelle.
“What are you doing? Sit.”
“Ah, right.”
Hurriedly taking a seat, Isabelle, unable to wait even a moment, asked at once.
“Is there a way?”
“…I really don’t want to help you, but seeing you like this isn’t bad.”
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