CHAPTER 008
"Why don't we just sell it?"
The countess opened her eyes wide.
"On a whim? Isn't it a gift from the Tower Master?"
"Aren't we always receiving gifts? Once it's sold, what can he do? We'll say we used the money for urgent matters and promise not to do it again."
"Well, we did raise her after all. We can share some of what she received."
"Exactly, exactly."
The count nodded.
There were so many gifts, that one missing wouldn't be noticeable.
The count and countess didn't think much of it.
They didn't realize how special that golden wand was to Selina.
"My magic wand!"
Where did it go? I went to the library, and now the magic wand was missing.
"I was sure I left it here. Did someone accidentally throw it away while cleaning?"
"No, miss!"
When I asked the maids, they all shook their heads vehemently.
Then, a maid standing to the side confessed with a nervous face.
"The thing is... actually..."
Oh my god.
As soon as I heard the whole story, I went to find my parents.
I felt uneasy when Mother looked at it with sparkling eyes last time, and it turns out she took it.
My parents had already finished their meal without me.
Since I had been skipping family meals lately, it wasn't a big deal.
With determined steps, I walked into the dining room. My parents, having tea after their meal, looked at me with wide eyes.
"Why? What's the matter?"
What's the matter, you ask? They sure can act!
I spoke bluntly.
"Give me back the gift Marquis Bloomberg gave me."
"Oh, that? I thought it was something serious."
Mother laughed, brushing it off lightly.
"We said it was urgent, didn't we? We sold it."
"You sold it?"
These people... It was clearly my gift.
Even though I always prefer 'keeping the peace,' I couldn't let this slide.
"I told you I was in a tight spot."
"We'll pay you back later."
Later? How vague can you get?
"When, exactly?"
Mother's smiling expression slightly hardened.
"You receive plenty from Lady Croft, don't you? You'll get more from the Tower Master, so why are you so impatient?"
"That doesn't give you the right to dispose of my belongings. They're mine."
"Isn't it right for a child to do this much for their parents?"
Father interjected, but I stood firm.
"Tell me where you sold it. I'll go retrieve it."
They didn't expect me to go this far, and finally, Mother crossed her arms and stepped forward.
"You’re really too much. Selina, we're your parents. We feed you, clothe you, and love you, but we have to hear this over a mere possession?"
"If your love is contingent on me being Bella's friend, it would end anyway."
Bella and I were bound to be friends for life, but there was no need to explain that to my parents.
I disclosed something else instead.
"You don't have to pretend to care. I heard everything you two talked about."
"What do you mean?"
"The conversation you had at the dining table when I wasn't there."
My parents exchanged anxious glances.
"If you were treating me well only because of Bella, you don't have to anymore. I won't give you anything else."
"What, what?"
Speaking decisively, Mother scowled.
"You act like you were giving us something extraordinary just because you overheard a bit?"
"You should be thinking about repaying the parents who raised you this much."
Father was the same.
What would Levi have said if he were here?
"I finally thought you'd repay us, and now this!"
"It's no use raising someone who won't help at all."
Listening to their laments made me feel wretched.
Did I ever ask them to raise me? Feeling unjust, I impulsively said,
"I'm sorry for being so useless. Then I'll just leave."
"What?!"
"I'll leave since I won't be of any help. The three of you will make a harmonious family!"
I said everything honestly for the first time, and my heart was pounding.
Then, I heard a voice from the side.
"What are you going to do to make a living after you leave?"
"Anything. Washing dishes in the kitchen would be better than living here."
I responded confidently.
But who was speaking so leisurely? Like they were watching from across the river—
Wait, leisurely?
When I turned around, I saw someone who shouldn't be here.
"Marquis...?"
It was Lewis.
What was he doing here? I racked my brain but couldn't find a reason.
He even promised to always meet me at the Duke's residence. This was the second time he broke that promise!
"Is there something urgent? You shouldn't be here. Bella will scold you!"
"It was urgent."
So, he was in turmoil again? But Lewis's business wasn't that.
When he opened his palm, something familiar appeared in his once-empty hand.
"Gasp!"
"No way!"
My parents and I exclaimed in shock. The thing Lewis held was the magic wand he had given me.
The unexpected appearance of the wand silenced the mansion for a moment.
I broke the silence first.
"Did you come here to ask about that?"
How did he know it was sold?
"Did you put a tracking spell on it or something...?"
"Why would I do that?"
Lewis retorted as if it were absurd.
"I custom-made it, and it showed up at an auction. Of course, I would find out."
"An auction?"
"I went to the auction today."
Ah, so that's it!
Finally, my father, who had been quietly assessing the situation, spoke up.
"Are you the Marquis? The one who recently became the Tower Master?"
Both my parents' expressions were grim.
Was it because someone suddenly appeared while we were fighting? Because that someone was the notorious Lewis?
Or because Lewis was holding the contentious magic wand?
The answer was 'all of the above.'
Lewis, with a bright smile, said,
"Though it's up to the recipient to do what they want with a gift, you're the first to sell one of mine so quickly."
"Oh, I didn't mean to dispose of it—"
"We've heard a lot about you, Marquis!"
Father abruptly cut off my words.
"We are honored to meet you. Our daughter has told us a lot about you."
Although he seemed very excited, Father's voice became very calm.
Was he always this good at controlling his anger? No, he seemed very tense.
It was indeed because of the wand Lewis had retrieved.
"Really? What did Selina say?"
"I heard you are a gentleman and a thoughtful person."
"I am quite the gentleman."
Showing up at this hour wasn't gentlemanly at all, but Lewis replied with a smile.
However, his next words shocked me.
"I quietly came in since you were fighting. That's pretty polite, right?"
Did he hear everything?
Lewis looked at me and said casually,
"I told you your expression was odd. You said nothing was wrong."
Well, there's no need to confirm that so clearly...
Mother kept sending me looks, asking, 'Is it okay? Is he okay?'.
Sorry, but I can't guarantee anything either.
Lewis kindly explained how much he had heard.
"You treated her well only after she became friends with Bella? You guys are so transparent."
"What nonsense!"
Mother shouted in astonishment.
"Selina is the daughter of our hearts. We didn't suddenly change because she befriended the Duke's daughter. Right, Selina?"
And she looked at me.
I didn't answer.
'What would happen if I said my parents were lying?'
Lewis could kill someone if he wanted to. Besides, it bothered me that he had previously asked if I wanted them dead.
I had completely lost affection for my family, but I didn't want them dead...
Sensing my hesitation, Lewis urged me.
"I'm not going to kill them, so speak honestly."
"Really?"
"So it was a lie."
With just one word, Lewis saw through everything and laughed.
"You said you were leaving, right?"
"Yes."
"Are you just going to leave?"
"Pardon?"
I tilted my head at the mysterious question.
"They seem like the type to be relieved if you leave. Since you've all shown your true colors, you shouldn't just leave quietly."
"...?"
I was puzzled until Lewis gestured at the wand.
"I put a lot of work into that. They sold it without your consent. Report them for theft."
Theft?
"Report my parents?"
He seemed serious.
Lewis spoke nonchalantly.
"There's no reason to go easy on them. They're pretending to care about you."
"...."
While I stood there, stunned, Father shouted.
"What are you saying!"
Perhaps because Lewis mentioned reporting them, Father boldly spoke against the feared man.
"How can you suggest she report her parents? This isn't theft in the first place."
Father was undoubtedly angry.
Still, he tried to handle it smoothly since Lewis was involved.
"We will resolve this issue within our family, so please, Marquis, leave."
"No."
"Pardon...?"
But of course, Lewis wouldn't listen.
He smirked and pointed at me.
"She's my friend."
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