Chapter 4

When I returned, Landon hurried over to me. "Isabel, where did you go? Why did it take you so long to come back?"

Looking at his hypocritical expression, I suddenly laughed.

"Tomorrow is the anniversary of my parents' and family's deaths. I went into town to buy them flowers, so I got back a little late."

Landon froze. Perhaps he had only just remembered.

The day the Conrad family was massacred was the day of my coming-of-age ceremony—and my birthday.

The first year after he brought me back to the Duke's estate, he promised that every year, he would celebrate my birthday with me the day before. Then, the next day, he would accompany me to pay respects to my family.

But this year, with Lucia having entered the estate and the two of them enjoying themselves together, of course my birthday had been forgotten. There was no need for him to waste any more effort pretending with me.

"Isabel, I..."

I didn't want to hear what he had to say. I cut him off and looked at my belongings scattered across the ground.

Landon suddenly seemed nervous. He stammered, "Isabel, Lucia has only just returned from Southvale, and she's still in poor health. The physician said she should stay somewhere with plenty of sunlight.

"Your courtyard is the most spacious and well-lit one in the entire estate, so I thought I'd let Lucia stay here for now. Once she's recovered, she'll move somewhere else."

I'd already decided to leave. What difference did it make where I lived?

I was just about to say that I could move out myself when I saw the servants carrying out numerous portraits and throwing them onto the ground.

I stared at them in disbelief.

Then I rushed forward and gathered the plaques into my arms. "Stop! Who gave you permission to touch my things..."

Before I could finish, Lucia walked out of the main house. A smug smile spread across her face as she slowly approached me.

"I told them to throw them out. Keeping portraits in the house is terribly unlucky. I was already in poor health. Why would I keep all these dead people around? Do I look like I want to die?"

I raised my head and glared at her with bloodshot eyes.

I don't know where I found the strength, but I broke through the two maids trying to hold me back and grabbed Lucia by the collar.

"Lucia, you threw away my parents' portraits and insulted my family. I'll kill you!"

I pulled the wooden hairpin from my hair and drove it viciously toward Lucia's neck. The hairpin sliced through her delicate skin before a large hand shoved me from behind.

I slammed into the stone behind me, and blood immediately spilled from the wound on my head.

Landon's face changed, and he instinctively reached out to help me.

But Lucia shrank against him and grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Landon, thank God you protected me in time. Otherwise, I might never have seen you again."

Landon's brow furrowed deeply, but he stared at me without saying a word.

He knew exactly how much the deaths of my parents and the rest of my family had devastated me. He had even personally promised that I could keep my family's portraits in my room.

Yet now, he had stood by and watched Lucia throw away the things I treasured most.

The moment he saw that I had hurt Lucia, even the pity he had shown me moments earlier vanished.

Landon frowned and called for the servants. "Someone take the Duchess to the west wing. She's distraught and not in her right mind. Keep a close eye on her."

I was led away by the servants like a lifeless shell.

As I left, Lucia gave me a victorious smile. It was as if she were saying, "We have plenty of time. Let's take this slow."

But I was the only one who knew that my time at the Duke's estate, where I had been living among them while waiting to make them pay for their crimes, was almost over.

I was locked inside a small, neglected room that had been unused for a long time.

Strong, burly servants stood guard outside both the room and the courtyard.