C35
Countess Wallace took a deep breath to control her anger after shouting.
"Countess..."
Leandro, who was about to say something in response to my statement, looked at her in surprise. He was taken aback to see her cursing since she had always had a calm and decent image.
"How often does she verbally abuse her daughter?"
Will her true intentions be revealed in this short period of time? This also meant that the daughter's declaration of isolation was absolutely unacceptable to the countess.
Countess Wallace smiled awkwardly and waved her fan.
"I'm sorry, young duke. I got so angry for a moment that I showed a shameful side..."
"No. There's no need to apologize to me."
"If you don't mind, could you leave me alone with my daughter? I want to have an honest conversation between mother and daughter."
It's funny. You want to scold me while Leandro isn't here.
"Of course. I hope you can reason with my wife."
"Yes, of course. Our Ethel is a good girl by nature and very devoted to her parents."
Her gaze shifted down in a pitiful gesture.
"She's probably a little angry right now. I made a big mistake in the past."
Tears could even be seen.
"Well, it's all my fault. I hope this girl accepts my apologies."
Leandro, who was deceived by her outstanding acting skills, comforted the countess like a gentleman.
"Don't worry too much. My wife will soon realize her mistake and regret it."
"Thank you for your words."
"I will withdraw now."
Leandro left the room after giving me a long look.
Countess Wallace's next target was Vinetta.
"Please leave as well."
"It's impossible. I am ordered to stay by Ethel's side no matter what."
"Can I ask you to please? I want to spend time with my daughter."
Vinetta was as strong as a mountain even in the face of the countess's tears.
"It's not possible."
There was no change in her expression.
The corner of her mouth twisted slightly, but the countess sat without urging her again. At that moment, someone caught her attention.
"Mmm? Who is that?"
The servant behind me shrugged in surprise.
"I'm here as the errand boy."
"Errand boy? How long have you been there?"
"... I've been here for a while."
Yes. I used to work in the office and was the errand boy Sharon assigned to me before coming here.
"If something happens there, send Robbie here. He's more agile than he looks and very invisible to people."
As she said, Robbie, who made a small and blurry impression, had a light presence. Although he was always by our side, the Countess didn't even notice his presence.
"Anyway, could you leave?"
Robbie asked me.
"... Should I leave?"
"It's okay. Stay here."
"Yes, yes!"
At that moment, Countess Wallace gritted her teeth. However, she managed to maintain her composure and pointed to the table filled with sumptuous food.
"Anyway, sit down, Ethel. I want to see you eat to your heart's content."
She didn't forget to add a gloomy comment.
"I wanted to do it myself, but I couldn't."
It was so absurd that I burst out laughing.
Since Ethel could cook, she rarely entered the kitchen.
"Yes, there were occasions when she did something, like a bean sprouting during a drought."
At that time, Ethel was very excited and wrote a long diary about it, so I found out.
"Today my mother baked cookies. And she gave me an extra one without my little brother knowing!"
Ethel was a girl who cried and laughed over a single cookie, even though she was openly discriminated against. With that cookie, she pledged to be better to her mother.
"So maybe she loves me as much as my little brother."
Maybe that's why only Countess Wallace came here?
Unlike the other two who mistreated Ethel, she used sticks and carrots.
She generally beat her with a whip, but on rare occasions, she showed kindness as if on a whim. Then, Ethel would regain hope thanks to that small act of kindness.
"In reality, my mother loves me too. If I try a little harder, she'll look at me."
She believed foolishly.
I also received the kindness of the Countess during the time I was in that house.
This was my impression from a third-party perspective.
"Why are you being so condescending with just this? What do you want with me now?"
It was so insignificant. Ethel's joy.
I looked at the woman who had been taking advantage of her daughter for such a low price.
I didn't know that maybe this person had her own circumstances. She always complained to Ethel about her patriarchal husband and her arrogant son. She whispered that only she could be her strength.
I think it's a ridiculous excuse, but it could be different if I were in her place.
But Ethel, who had tried to understand her mother as best she could, had disappeared.
I am not this person's daughter.
"I have no desire to eat with you. If that's all you have to say, I'll leave."
"Don't do that, alright?"