Chapter 5: Inner Turmoil
* * *
Led into the reception library, Sabrina couldn’t help but gape at the vast collection of books. Tens of thousands of volumes lined the walls of the spacious hall. The library in her own home couldn’t even begin to compare.
Thinking of Lyra living in such luxury made her stomach churn with displeasure.
She dismissed the maid who had followed them in and turned her attention to Lyra. It irritated her to see how the girl walked in like she belonged here, casually taking a seat as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Sabrina belatedly took her seat across from Lyra. That’s when Lyra spoke first.
“Say what you need to say.”
The impudent thing. Speaking as if she were the lady of the house. Sabrina studied Lyra, who had turned to look out the window, then opened her lips.
“Very well, I’ll keep this brief.”
She fixed her gaze on Lyra’s profile and gave a cold smile. With the Duke absent, there was no need to keep up the charade of maternal affection.
“You can’t imagine how it pains this mother to see you being so willfully obtuse.”
Lyra turned her head toward Sabrina. Seeing the hostility in her gaze somehow made Sabrina want to laugh.
“The bond between parent and child isn’t something to be severed carelessly. Just as between you and me, and between you and your birth mother, wouldn’t you agree?”
A gentle smile hung on Sabrina’s lips. Lyra’s brow furrowed.
“I’m saying this because you seem to have forgotten. *Sigh*, what can I do? If you’re so heartless as to deny blood ties, I’ll have to respond in kind.”
Sabrina watched with satisfaction as Lyra’s face gradually contorted. Just as expected. As if someone like her could ignore something she held so precious.
Though it had vanished without a trace and wasn’t in her possession anymore, what did it matter? That simpleton would never know anyway.
Sabrina cupped her chin in feigned concern.
“I worry your mother must be crying in heaven. If I were to burn it… Well, what choice do I have? If a child wishes to abandon their parents, I should respect that wish.”
At that moment, Lyra shot to her feet. What right did this woman have to threaten her mother’s keepsake? Was this punishment for trying to turn a blind eye? Her body trembled.
“D-don’t you dare!”
“What did you say?”
Sabrina’s eyebrow arched sharply. Her look challenged Lyra to repeat such insolent words. Lyra’s voice cracked in response.
“Give it… back.”
“Give what back?”
A round smile played at Sabrina’s lips. Lyra’s face, biting her lip, was quite a sight to behold.
Sabrina studied the insufferably arrogant Lyra for a moment before rising from her seat. Walking to her side, she whispered softly.
“Who do you think you’re being so insolent to? Who do you think I am, Lyra?”
“…”
“I taught you better, yet you still refuse to answer.”
Moving to stand in front of Lyra, Sabrina placed her hand on her stepdaughter’s shoulder. She gently stroked the shoulder, which had filled out somewhat since before, then suddenly gripped it hard.
Lyra glared fiercely at the devious woman, her brow furrowing at the unpleasant pain.
Unfazed, Sabrina gently caressed Lyra’s eyelids. Her slender fingers danced teasingly, hovering at a threatening distance.
“You’ve picked up such terrible habits here.”
The soft voice boring into her ears finally snapped Lyra back to her senses. When she violently knocked away the hand, Sabrina’s face crumpled like paper for a moment at the stinging sensation.
“Don’t touch my belongings.”
“Why should I listen? I’m merely disposing of what you’ve abandoned.”
Sabrina smoothed her expression and returned to her seat.
“Sit down. Do you mean to make me look up at you?”
Though she was irritated at not having fully repaid the humiliation she’d received, now was the time to get answers from that sharp tongue. She had no desire to remain in this uncomfortable place any longer than necessary.
“Come now, promise. Promise you’ll return home with your mother.”
“Then you promise too.”
“‘You’?”
Ha, there seemed to be no end to her impudence. But unable to ruin things here, Sabrina smiled thinly and asked:
“Promise what?”
“That you’ll return my mother’s keepsake.”
“Well, that’s only natural, isn’t it?”
“And.”
“Go on.”
“That you won’t sell me to anyone.”
Sabrina’s lips snapped shut like a clam.
‘So it was a lie after all.’
There had to be a reason why this woman, who had always found her presence irritating, would come all this way to retrieve her.
Lyra hadn’t forgotten. That moment of being traded for money, being sold like property.
There had certainly been moments when her resolve wavered. Even having decided to give up, the only keepsake from her birth mother carried too much meaning to simply write off.
It was her only connection to her birth parents, the only way to imagine the mother she’d never known.
But that was enough now. Though she was sorry to her mother, her own life was more precious. And hadn’t she already made a contract with the Duke? In exchange for his protection, she would help him. Until she helped remove one woman, she was bound to him.
Lyra steeled her heart. That’s when Sabrina spoke again with a leisurely smile.
“I promise. If that’s what you want, it’s not too much to ask.”
“No. Let’s pretend this conversation never happened.”
Lyra quickly changed her mind and stood up. If they would use even her mother’s keepsake as leverage to persuade her, there was no point in further discussion. It was likely their first and last weapon.
“Sit down. I’m not finished speaking.”
Sabrina’s face hardened at the sudden change in attitude.
“No, we’re done here. Please leave. And don’t ever come back here again.”
Having said her piece, Lyra walked straight out. Though she could hear angry muttering from inside, she ignored it. More accurately, she didn’t have the presence of mind to care.
She leaned against the corridor wall for a moment to catch her breath before returning to the reception room. Back to the man who would be her strength.
* * *
Kaylon and Baron Norris sat in silence. Both waited for the two women to return, each lost in their own thoughts, indifferent to the other.
Kaylon wondered what conversation the two women might be having and how Lyra would behave, while Baron Norris desperately hoped Sabrina would succeed in persuading Lyra.
However, whenever Kaylon’s gaze fell upon him, the Baron couldn’t completely ignore it, clearing his throat awkwardly and watching for reactions. He was clearly still conscious of having raised his voice before the Duke earlier.
Though much younger, Kaylon was still a Duke, and this naturally made the Baron’s shoulders hunch—though he remained unaware of his own posture.
The door knocked, and Lyra entered alone.
Baron Norris stared at his daughter entering by herself, then looked behind her. Strangely, there was no sign of Sabrina.
‘Oh, Sabrina.’
He knew instinctively. Sabrina had failed to persuade his daughter. His face slowly contorted.
Just then, Lyra approached Kaylon’s side and quietly spoke.
“Our guests will be leaving.”
Kaylon uncrossed his legs and stood up. He looked down at Baron Norris.
“Is that so?”
Perhaps the amusement in his voice was irritating. Baron Norris decided to direct his anger at Lyra instead. His harsh voice shot straight at his daughter.
“Child, Lyra.”
The Baron, about to say more, found himself cut short. Footmen had appeared and began escorting him out, almost like guards leading away a prisoner.
His brow furrowed deeply when he saw Sabrina standing quietly outside the reception room, swallowing her anger. Moreover, the color drained from his face at being forced to leave like this.
“Have a safe journey home.”
With those words, Kaylon turned away. But Lyra kept watching the Baron and his wife being practically dragged out. She wanted to clearly witness the ugly spectacle of those who had suppressed and scorned her.
At that moment, Baron Norris, who had just stepped outside, suddenly whirled around and rushed at Lyra. No matter how he thought about it, he found her utterly contemptible.
Already in the humiliating position of being dragged out, and not even a word from the Duke about treating them with respect. How dare this worthless girl treat her parents so dismissively? He struck her face hard.
“You ungrateful thing! Even a beast’s offspring would be better than you!”
His roar echoed through the room. Kaylon, who had been heading toward the east wing, stopped abruptly. The faces of the servants seeing off the Baron and his wife also turned pale.
“This is how you treat your parents? Do you think you’ll get away with this!”
Baron Norris couldn’t contain his boiling rage. He shouted furiously and shoved Lyra with his finger.
“After we fed and raised you, this is how you repay us! Aren’t you ashamed before the Count who graciously wanted you as his bride?”
“…”
“How many more sins will you commit against him!”
Lyra, holding her stinging cheek, raised her head. She looked straight into the green eyes so similar to her own and opened her bruised lips.
“What… sins have I committed?”
