Chapter 9
Three muddled days passed as Sebastian drank nonstop at home. Alexa was scared but didn’t dare go near him.
Though she was just a child, she understood-something terrible had happened in their family. And it had something to
do with her mother.
But Alexa didn’t want to believe it. She hadn’t even gotten the chance to tell her that she had won first place….
She wanted to cry but couldn’t shed a single tear. She could only stand by and watch Sebastian drown himself in alcohol.
After Sebastian downed his final drink, a servant cautiously approached him.
“Your Grace… someone’s here to see you. They asked for you by name.”
Sebastian’s hand paused mid-air, then he kept drinking.
The servant glanced nervously toward the door.
“Your Grace, the visitor said they came on orders from the princess.”
Sebastian’s head snapped up. Without another word, he dropped the glass and staggered out.
Sure enough, outside the estate, a luxurious carriage was waiting. Beside it stood a royal chamberlain.
“I greet His Grace,” the chamberlain said.
“I come by order of Her Highness, to oversee the Duchess’s final affairs.”
“By the princess’s command, the Duchess left behind a will, which requires all relevant parties to be present.”
The moment Sebastian heard Eleonora’s name, the alcohol in his system seemed to vanish halfway.
A will?
He didn’t waste another second and immediately sent word to the Nocturne family. He even included Ophelia, who had just recovered from a cold.
Once they arrived at the estate, the group stood in silence.
The princess opened the carriage door and glanced coldly at them.
These past few days, she had reviewed Eleonora’s belongings again and again.
On her deathbed, Eleonora had given her a small note containing just one sentence: “I’ve prepared everything. After I’m gone, please handle it all for me.”
On the back of the note, she had written a request for the princess to investigate Ophelia.
Inside another small box was a full record of Ophelia’s past.
Emily had originally been traveling through Vermilion Ridge. She hadn’t intended to get involved-so long as Eleonora was well, her silent blessings would suffice.
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She had assumed the message her raven returned with was a joyful announcement. She never imagined it would be news
of Eleonora’s death.
Princess Emily wiped her reddened eyes and composed herself before stepping down from the carriage with the help of
her maid.
She glanced at the people gathered.
The woman holding onto Mr. and Mrs. Nocturne-that was Ophelia.
A flash of ice passed through Emily’s eyes as she nodded to the chamberlain.
He stepped forward and opened the box Eleonora had left behind.
Mother’s eyes lit up when she saw Emily.
“You’re… Ellie’s childhood friend, aren’t you? It’s been so many years-you’ve grown up so beautifully.”
Sebastian froze and turned to the princess. No wonder she had looked so familiar-she was Eleonora’s childhood friend,
Princess Emily.
Back when he had courted Eleonora, the one most firmly against him had been Emily. She had openly said that he could
never make Eleonora happy.
And now, her words had come true. Thinking of it, Sebastian felt a deep shame.
But Emily ignored Mother’s attempt at kindness. Her gaze remained fixed on the people before her.
Each one of them had played a role in Eleonora’s death. How could she not hate them?
Today, I am here to oversee all matters regarding Ellie.”
“Before her passing, Eleonora entrusted all her shops and lands to me.”
As soon as Emily spoke, Ophelia went stiff. Her heart sank like a stone.
Before she could react, Emily’s sharp gaze turned toward her.
“Eleonora’s will clearly states that all signed deeds and transfers made under duress are to be annulled and turned over to
me.”
“These documents were never Ellie’s true will. I have the authority to reclaim them.”
“Therefore, the three contracts transferring assets to Ophelia are hereby void.”
Ophelia’s head snapped up. “Why?!”
Her voice was so loud that the Nocturne parents and Sebastian turned to look at her.
Realizing her outburst, Ophelia quickly forced herself to calm down and managed a strained smile.
“I just meant… Father and Mother gave their consent when Ellie transferred those contracts to me.”
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“If the princess says they’re invalid, isn’t that disrespecting Father and Mother too…?”
Her voice grew smaller and smaller under Emily’s cold smile.
Emily stepped forward and looked at each of them-these so-called family members of Eleonora.
“Ellie left a will asking me to investigate everything about Ophelia. And in the past few days, I’ve found quite a lot.”
“That’s why I delayed this meeting. I wanted the truth ready.”
Mother looked up, confused. “What did you find? Are you saying Ellie’s death had something to do with Ophelia?”
“But… wasn’t Ellie sick?”
Emily shot a look of pure disgust at Ophelia, then opened the prepared box.
“These are the findings on Ophelia’s background. If you’re interested, feel free to read through them.”
Then she clapped her hands. “Bring him in!”
The chamberlain led a man forward.
The Nocturne family frowned as soon as they saw him.
Ophelia stood frozen, pale as a ghost.
Father took the dossier from Emily. Just one glance-and his whole body went stiff.
It turned out Ophelia had been in contact with her biological father since high school.
Once he found out she had been adopted by the Nocturne family, he began secretly communicating with her.
All these years, the money the Nocturnes had given Ophelia had been funneled to her father to cover his debts.
Even the funds Eleonora had reluctantly turned over to Ophelia had ended up with Theodore.
But that wasn’t all.
Even as a child, Ophelia had been manipulative. She would steal noble family seals and, when caught, plead innocently for
mercy.
Some, unaware, would take her in out of pity-only to cast her out again each time.
She had used this trick successfully three times.
That was why even beggars refused to associate with her.
And yet, it was this mask of innocence that allowed her to steal everything from Eleonora-Even her life.
