Chapter 8
It was a complete lie.
Rayliel’s marriage to Delsen was never for her benefit, and the Duke had never been sincere towards her.
Well, maybe he was sincere about her untouched v*rg*nity.
“The Duke is a man of great character, wise enough to have many followers. Setting everything else aside, I’m worried if Rayliel could ever find a better match. And if rumors spread that she’s not a v*rg*n…”
“That must never happen!” Heinz shouted, his voice full of fury.
“Exactly, dear.”
Karin said, soothing him as if he were a child.
“I know exactly when Rayliel’s cycle begins.”
“…What did you say?”
“It should start the day after tomorrow. She’s never missed her cycle, so this time will be no different.”
Karin smiled warmly as she spoke.
“No matter how sharp the Duke is, he won’t be able to suspect anything.”
“……..”
“Of course, it’s deceiving the Duke, and I feel truly sorry for that, but what else can we do? After all, Rayliel’s secure future is what’s most important for us.”
Heinz’s mind raced quickly.
Karin was right. If Rayliel spent her first night with the Duke at the end of her cycle, he wouldn’t easily notice that she wasn’t a v*rg*n.
Moreover, the marks on her body would naturally fade over time, and there are ointments to help with the bruising. If that wasn’t enough, they could cover them with thick makeup.
“Yes…….”
Heinz’s eyes gleamed as he finally made up his mind.
“This is the right choice… for Rayliel, too. Isn’t that right, Karin?”
“Of course,” Karin replied with a sweet smile.
Karin spoke while imitating the role of a loving and noble countess.
“And it’s the right choice for all of us, for the Adelheit family. So, dear, don’t feel guilty about it.”
***
Rayliel had a dream.
A dream of her mother. As soon as she opened her eyes and saw her mother’s smiling face, she knew it was a dream.
“Mom, it’s so… so hard…”
In the dream, Rayliel couldn’t even explain what had happened or what she had endured.
It was too much to explain.
Too exhausting to recount.
All that escaped her lips were the words, “It’s so hard.”
Rayliel’s mother didn’t say it would be okay, nor did she offer any words of comfort.
“Rayliel.”
Instead, in a voice like a dream, she spoke of something entirely different.
“Should I tell you a secret, just for you?”
It was something she had heard many times when her mother was still alive.
“People think I was an orphan, but that’s not true.”
With a hint of mischief, words that were difficult to tell if they were sincere or not.
“Actually, I was a child of the temple. I was born and raised in the temple. Do you know what that means?”
“Mom, I… I…”
“When I chose to leave everything behind for your father, people said that the gods would never forgive me. That I was abandoning the gods. But that’s a lie.”
“I… I can’t handle everything that’s happening right now…”
Like dolphins on different frequencies, mother and daughter were speaking of different things. Tears welled up in Rayliel’s eyes as she watched her mother’s bright smile.
“The gods love me. I can feel it even now.”
“Mom…”
“I’ll give you that power. So, whatever you want, offer everything you have and pray. The gods will grant your wish.”
But no matter how hard I struggled, nothing changed. I died in the end. I was sold off and died.
Mom.
Mom….
Rayliel’s voice faded into the distance like a dream. Her mother’s gentle voice grew fainter, and her playful smile began to disperse into the air like mist.
And then…
“You goddamn slvt.”
Rayliel’s eyes snapped open at the familiar voice.
She looked up to see Seltin standing over her with her arms crossed.
“Figured you were up to something, but really, this is pathetic.”
Thud.
Seltin roughly shoved the door, and it closed weakly behind her.
She then walked briskly until she was standing right in front of Rayliel.
Rayliel slowly sat up, adjusting her posture, and stared at Seltin with her blue eyes, filled with anger.
“Why,” Rayliel asked, her voice steady. “Are you afraid you’ll be sold off in my place?”
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