After Story 5
“You ungrateful bitch!”
Sabina’s head jerked roughly.
She let go of her swollen cheek and spat blood on the floor.
“How dare you run away! How can you repay the kindness of giving birth to and raising you?”
This time her head turned the other way. Her tingling face was now numb.
‘Give birth to me?’
Sabina twisted her mouth.
‘You just litter everywhere.’
Her escape plan was perfect.
If there was one thing she overlooked, it was Count Valois’ greed and obsession were beyond her imagination.
She didn’t know that they planted people from the manor to the port where they could only reach it by riding a horse for 15 days.
Sabina’s plan to cross over to the foreign country by hiding among the cargo of a trading ship was foiled.
‘That must mean that you’re betting everything on this marriage.’
It was almost close to madness.
Sabina let out a grin, leaving her messed up face unattended.
Because she missed her last chance to escape to another country.
She was fed up with all this now.
“This, you’re still…!”
“Father, please stop.”
At that time.
While Sabina, who was brought to the mansion, was beaten, a man, who was watching all of this from a distance, stood in the way.
He was Gary Valois, the eldest son of Valois.
“Gary! Seeing this woman’s cheeky appearance, do you still think of treating her as a younger sister? This thing tried to ruin your prosperous future!”
“If you’re going to punish her, please avoid her face. We shouldn’t leave any traces until the wedding.”
Of course, it was never for her safety.
The Count, who was breathing heavily, later recognized Sabina’s disfigured face and made a stinging look. He tutted, clicked his tongue, and gestured.
“Lock her in the room. Summon all the members of the Knights and keep an eye on her.”
If the Count misses her this time, the end will not just be paying a tribute.
The head of the knights bowed his head with a nervous face.
Sabina didn’t even look at the head of the knights, only staring at her own older brother, Gary.
Suddenly their eyes met.
“Are you okay?”
He asked anxiously. Then he lowered his head and whispered softly in her ear.
“I said harsh words to you to allay Father’s anger, so don’t be too sad.”
“…”
“I’ll do my best so that Father can’t touch you again. Go upstairs and take care of yourself.”
Just hearing it contained the tenderness of his concern for her. However, unlike his voice that pretended to be extremely tender, his eyes were infinitely indifferent and cold.
Sabina read a faint hint of satisfaction on his lips.
The reason for his contradictory attitude was clear. It was a blatant sense of inferiority.
A gaze that thoroughly looked down on her. A mocking smile, wondering if Sabina finally understands her place.
He was born a predator with everything.
Nevertheless, he was intoxicated with his sense of victory when he saw his younger sister who had to live many of his rights deprived.
There was only one reason.
‘Because I have a talent for swordsmanship.’
A huge talent for it too.
Those who noticed Sabina’s potential spoke of her as the child of Valois who inherited the talent most closely.
Valois had produced great knights from generation to generation.
On the other hand, Gary’s talent was always one step behind her. No matter what he did, he couldn’t surpass her.
‘It must be because of that.’
He only revealed his satisfaction after he trampled on Sabina and even plundered her life.
‘For such a person, I’ve been doing this…….’
Gary turned his back on Sabina and took the Count outside the mansion.
“Sabina.”
Then the Countess, restless as she watched the husband and son, came to Sabina’s side.
She was the second wife, not much older than Sabina.
“Sabina, don’t be like that. As you know, our family’s fate depends on it. When your brother does well, our family and you will do well.”
“…”
“If it wasn’t for that child, would you have been able to survive until now? You would have starved or froze to death while wandering the streets.”
You should know how to be grateful. The Countess told off Sabina.
Sabina was an illegitimate daughter.
The daughter of a courtesan, who once dominated the social world with her outstanding looks. Her presence was a speck of stain for Count Valois.
It would be like something of dirty water thrown out without warning in the Count’s life, which should be bright and splendid.
The reason Sabina was able to join the Valois family was thanks to Gary’s words.
[“I want a younger sister.”]
That one sentence. Thanks to the child’s whining, lightly spat out as if he wanted to raise a dog.
‘Since I survived that way, I should die for Brother and the family?’
In that case, it would have been better to wander the streets from the beginning and die there.
“Mother.”
Sabina, who had been keeping silent the whole time, called her in a low voice.
They are only ten years apart. Her stepmother still had a childishly innocent face.
“Mother too, don’t rely on those bastards, and find a way to live secretly. It’s not too late now, so at least find a money line.”
“Wh, what?”
“Before you get hit like me.”
The Countess seemed greatly taken aback by Sabina’s unexpected words, and she said nothing for a moment.
“What do you mean by that!”
“I’m not cursing you, and I’m not blaming you. If I disappear from Valois forever, who will be the next target?””
“…!”
The Countess noticed it instantly.
Whenever something big happened to the family, Sabina was the one who was blamed for it.
“I know you have no ill will. Mother probably did it because you also wanted to survive.”
The Countess had neither power nor wealth. Rather, the Count had bought her looks and youth at a high price.
It was obvious to see how the Countess would be treated in the family without Sabina, who had no backer.
She, as a weakling, will pay the price for sacrificing another weakling.
‘…… That’s not good.’
Sabina thought.
So she’d rather the second wife who had no children to run away. Before she couldn’t escape.
“I hope you don’t get caught, Mother.”
She doesn’t know if she’ll hear it.
Sabina slowly closed her eyes.
Everything went wrong, so it seemed like it didn’t matter.
‘Ah.’
Now, is she going to die?
‘A life where she dies as a surrogate…….’
She laughed like mad as she was dragged and bound by the knights.
What a useless life.
Sabina looked at herself in the mirror.
She always neglected herself as if she didn’t care what happened, nor did anyone around her care.
But now, forcibly dolled up in the name of marriage, she was different like a different person.
Who the hell is this?
‘Pretty.’
Her bangs, which covered her eyes, were neatly cut straight up to her eyebrows.
Then the eyes hidden behind her hair were revealed.
Eyes bright red.
Some cursed it, saying it was the color of the devil, while others glanced at it, saying it was like a jewel of the devil.
She had been hiding it behind her dirty hair all her life because she felt bad either way…….
‘Damn it, it’s disgustingly pretty.’
Sabina was disgusted with her alien beauty. After all, it was the primary cause of her death.
‘If I had been born as a man who looked exactly like Count Valois, I might have been the heir.’
Even if she was an illegitimate child too.
She would have been treated better than she is now when her appearance is exactly like the courtesan.
‘If only I had been born a man I wouldn’t have been sold as a disposable surrogate. At least I could have survived and lived my life.’
No, she’d rather be ugly…….
However, what use would it be to think like this in the present situation?
She is a woman, she is pretty, her escape has failed, and she is no different than a trapped rat.
“The carriage from Valentine’s family has arrived, Miss.”
The employees conveyed their words with tense faces.
Their faces were concerned that Sabina, driven into a corner, would suddenly go mad and start her rampage. If she decides to go on a rampage, they would only be able to subdue her if all of the knights stick together.
“Alright, I’ll get out on my own feet.”
Sabina shook the hand and walked briskly.
Her eyes, which had been half-opened as if she had given up, flared up again like fireworks.
‘I don’t intend to die like this.’
There was only one thing Sabina wanted.
Her life.
With one single desire to live, she walked and walked the dirt road.
Even though she endured all kinds of violence, insults, and false accusations, and suppressed her dreams and talents, she only wished for one thing…….
‘Are you going to take away even that?’
Everyone she knew wanted her dead.
Every single person.
Then she will live.
Even if she kills, she will live.
She would crawl out of the underworld just to see them despair.
