Chapter 15
Hoo. Verita took a sharp breath. Her lips parted slightly. It was too innocent a reaction for someone who had betrayed her sworn sister and committed adultery with her husband.
However, as if she had always expected this moment to come, she lowered her trembling eyes and spoke calmly.
“Sister, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why would you ask me about my brother-in-law’s well-being?”
“Not long ago, while I was pitifully crying in the corner of my residence, you left for a trip with Devon. The day before, you comforted me when I was heartbroken over Devon’s infidelity.”
That wasn’t all. I nonchalantly pushed my hair back with the back of my hand and spoke. I already knew everything from reading the original story.
“You two enjoyed your romance in secret at the mansion. Playing footsies under the dining table, kissing behind doors. And in his bedroom while I was asleep at dawn… I won’t say more. It’s too disgusting.”
“S-Sister, I think you’re misunderstanding because you’re too shocked by your husband’s affair. How about calling a physician for a thorough checkup?”
Hah, blaming me to cover up her own sins? I curled my lips and shot her a sharp glare. Verita flinched.
“Do you think I don’t know that you purposely recommended the Shadow Guild to create a rift between Devon and me? And yet you shamelessly did business with the guild to keep your own affair hidden. You must have had a great time. Playing the innocent fool, treating me like an easy puppet to manipulate.”
“N-No, you’re wrong! I only suggested the guild because you kept doubting your husband! Sister, do you realize you are insulting me?”
Verita gazed at me pitifully, her eyes glistening with tears. To an outsider, I would have seemed like the villain.
But I deliberately softened my expression and smiled sweetly.
“Oh, Verita. If you think this is an insult, you shouldn’t. This is just the beginning.”
Seeing my unusual response, Verita’s face turned pale. Frozen in panic, she abruptly stood up.
“I-I can’t do this. I can’t talk to you while you’re so upset. Please invite me when you’ve calmed down.”
So, when cornered, she chooses to flee?
I smirked at her shallow tactic and gracefully picked up my teacup.
“Sit down. Before I lose my patience and grab you by the hair.”
Verita, who was about to walk past the table, flinched.
I leisurely tilted my teacup and looked up. Our eyes met.
Her throat bobbed nervously. Was she afraid that her sins would now be exposed? How amusing.
She stared at me in confusion for a long time before finally sitting back down, lowering her gaze. For a moment, I caught a glimpse of resignation in her eyes.
“How did you find out…?”
“Does it matter?”
What matters is that you betrayed me with my husband. As I calmly took a sip of tea and placed the cup down, she gasped and, as if waiting for the right moment, let out crystal-clear tears.
“I-It was too hard for me. I didn’t mean to, but I ended up loving him…”
Hah. I was curious about what excuse she’d make, but to think it would be mere self-pity.
Verita had never once considered how much Etricia’s heart had been shattered by the betrayal of her sworn sister and husband.
Fine. Let’s see how far this goes. My interest waned, and I tilted my chin and crossed my arms.
“What was so hard for you?”
“The day you introduced him to me, it was my first time seeing a nobleman. The men I had known were always dirty and smelled bad, but he was different. He shone so brightly… I was always lonely, and he comforted me—”
“So you sought comfort in his bed? In my own home?”
I cut her off coldly, and Verita anxiously opened her mouth.
“Y-You know I’m an orphan. You never attended social gatherings with me or acted as my chaperone. I was getting older, but as a commoner, I had no chance to meet men—”
“Just get to the point.”
Seeing my indifferent reaction, Verita bit her lip hard. She had expected me to wail in sorrow, begging how she could do this to me. If I had, she might have tried to weasel her way into becoming his mistress. I could see through her.
Verita hesitated before looking up at me with innocent eyes.
“Sister, he loves me. He said I’m his everything. That even if he met every woman in the world, none would be better than me. So, can you let me have him?”
“…What?”
I had been waiting for another excuse, but my mind went blank.
What did she just say? Instead of begging for forgiveness, she dares to ask this?
For the first time, I truly understood what it meant to be at a loss for words.
Reading my expression, Verita lowered her eyes and meekly added,
“T-This is for your own good too. If two people who don’t love each other stay together, they’ll only be unhappy.”
Despite my sharp gaze, Verita kept mumbling excuses.
“A-And Devon’s affair was just a way to express his frustration… He was angry that, during the wedding, the central nobles slandered him and opposed his promotion, yet you did nothing to defend him.”
“So you’re saying it was my fault he took a mistress?”
Verita pressed her lips shut as if confirming it. Tears like pearls fell between her flowing hair.
“Y-You have everything, Sister. You don’t need him. But I… The former count only gave me a shabby old house…”
Oh, really? I twisted my lips and tapped the table.
Verita was a child abandoned by a servant of the Buell Count family. Her father was a con artist who disguised his identity and worked there, eloping with a maid after stealing the count’s valuables. They abandoned young Verita.
The former Buell Count took pity on her and raised her as a foster daughter, giving her the same education and upbringing as a noble.
Perhaps because of that, Verita grew up spoiled, believing her sweet smile could absolve her of everything. She forgot her place and thought she was one of the swans.
She took Etricia’s kindness for granted. She mocked Etricia’s devotion, thinking she could take the most valuable thing she had.
Grinding my teeth, I let out a voice full of cold rage.
“Verita, did you know?”
Verita trembled and watched me cautiously.
Her deceitful expression made me scoff.
“You haven’t even apologized to me yet.”
Verita froze. Realizing her mistake, she grabbed my hand on the table.
“S-Sister, I’m sorry! I was just so shocked and overwhelmed—”
“Shut up, Verita.”
I harshly swatted her hand away.
“I don’t want to hear your pathetic excuses anymore.”
I stood up and declared coldly,
“You wanted Devon? Fine, take him. You were always good at stealing what was mine.”
Then I sneered and added,
“When you marry my husband, let me know. Because I’ll have him assassinated and make you a widow.”
