Elaina Aswel tossed and turned all night. As she lay blinking, fatigue was clearly etched on her face. Yet, regardless of her tiredness, brilliant morning sunlight streamed through the window, compelling her to sigh deeply and rise from her bed. Has Melvin awoken yet? Typically, other members of the Aswel household, excluding Elaina, wouldn’t stir until noon. Under normal circumstances, they were likely still sleeping soundly.

If you need time to think, I can give it to you. Surprisingly, I have that much generosity, Sinclair had said. But Elaina no longer needed time to ponder; it was time to inform Sinclair of her decision. The quickest way would be to visit Sinclair at the royal palace where he resided.

Going to the palace with this leg is impractical. The Aswel estate was quite a distance from the palace, too far to walk, especially with her impaired leg. But given the circumstances, I can’t arouse suspicion. Especially after yesterday's commotion, even stepping outside meant she had to sneak around. Blatantly calling for a carriage would be akin to a suicide attempt. I’ll leave the Aswel estate first, then call for a coachman.

If lucky, she could return before noon, before Melvin woke up. No, she had to.

Having resolved her plan, Elaina checked her appearance in the mirror, tidied herself up, and slowly rose from her seat. She leaned on the banister, muffling any sound as she began descending the stairs. However, what she encountered upon reaching the bottom was wholly unexpected.

"Where are you off to this early in the morning?" The sight of Melvin sitting on the living room sofa shook her briefly. Why is he awake at this hour? But the puzzlement was fleeting, as she soon realized the answer. He must have been worried that she would go to Sinclair with her answer, maintaining vigilance in a fit of uncharacteristic diligence.

Nevertheless, Melvin, who seemed not to have slept at all, his eyes red and swollen, sharply questioned his daughter. "I asked where you are going, Elaina!"

"I just wanted to get some fresh air," Elaina replied softly. "Won't you even allow me to take a walk now, Father?"

To be honest, Melvin had no excuses; Elaina often went for walks on sunny, pleasant days, despite her limping gait. "Or do you plan to keep me locked up in the manor until you can sell me to Duke Hank?" Her pointed words caused Melvin's gaze to fix sternly on her.

But she showed no reaction. She simply waited quietly for his next words. Given the circumstances, where Melvin already suspected her, she knew too well that any careless remark might lead to irreversible consequences. "Let's have a talk," Melvin finally broke the silence. "Bring some tea here." Not long after his words, a maid appeared, pushing a tray. Soon, cups emitting faint steam were placed before them. What was this about? Melvin serving tea to me? As if it was nothing more than dishwater or sewer sludge. Elaina eyed the teacup with suspicion. "Why, do you think I might have poisoned it?" Melvin asked mockingly, and Elaina made no response. "No matter how strained our relationship is, you are still my daughter." "..." "And I wouldn’t do such a thing." Yes. Despite everything that had happened, Elaina was still Melvin's daughter. How cursed and grievous that fact was, you wouldn't understand. Beneath her worn sleeve, Elaina clenched her fist secretly. "I don't suspect you to that extent," Elaina slowly began. "Because, after all, you would need to sell me off, wouldn’t you? You wouldn’t kill me." Melvin's face grew colder. For some reason, he stared at Elaina with a contemptuous gaze before continuing in an icy voice. "I know too well. It must have been hard for you to grow attached to our family." 'Our family'? That was absurd. From that phrase alone, it was clear who never considered the other as family from the beginning. "But I have also tried hard. I’ve worked to make the Aswell house stronger, so that my wife and daughters could live comfortably, wherever they go. You cannot deny that, no matter what you think." Well. If you say you’ve worked hard only for ‘our family,’ naturally I cannot deny it. Elaina thought. "The same goes for you. There hasn’t been a day I haven’t thought about where to send you, where my mind would be at ease, especially after you came of age." "..." "Even after our relationship soured, I’ve been attentive, though I haven't shown it. Of course, you might not believe my words." "So, are you referring to the matter with Prince Sinclair?" Unable to bear the absurdity any longer, Elaina directly mentioned the name Sinclair, and Melvin's expression turned even colder than before. "Sinclair Butler is not suitable for you. Think beyond the impact on our family." "..." "I intend to send you somewhere you can be treated well and loved."

"You probably don't understand a father's heart. But I cannot send my daughter off to a clearly miserable fate," Melvin said, sipping his tea. "You wouldn’t be able to handle that scoundrel properly, and the treatment at the royal court will be no easy task. You will be blatantly ignored, and you will become a topic of idle gossip. Do you really want such a life?" Well? Life here was no different for me. "I’m not unaware that you have resented me continually. But I have accepted that quietly, calmly. No matter how you wander, you are still my daughter." Melvin's delusional talk continued. "…So, think of it not as me selling you off, but as me considering the best place for you. I have actually done so. This is the only truth I can tell you." If I reconsider, I might as well sell you to a street gypsy. And this kind of persuasion? I would have been less astounded if he had continued to throw rubbish at me as before, or if he had kicked my stomach until I lost consciousness. Could any farce match the current situation? Elaina thought Melvin’s words were genuinely laughable, and showed no reaction. "…"

As Elaina stared silently, Melvin realized his persuasive efforts through the night had failed. He clenched and unclenched his fists, his knuckles whitening, then glared at Elaina as if he would kill her. And Elaina, through many experiences, knew well what would usually happen next. He would beat me like a dog. But, surprisingly, that did not happen. Instead, Melvin started moving his lips again. "But, Elaina." It was at that moment that Melvin's eyes glimmered ominously. "…Aren’t you really going to drink it?" "No, I'm sorry, but I'm not feeling well." There might not be poison, but there could be something else. Elaina wasn't foolish enough to fall for such a shallow trick. But Melvin's reply was a bit odd. "Then it can't be helped." "What do you mean…?" Elaina couldn't finish her sentence. Suddenly, her mouth and nose were completely covered with a handkerchief soaked in something, and she soon slumped over like a corpse. "You never intend to listen to the end." Melvin slowly stood up, looking down disdainfully at the unconscious Elaina and muttered, "Take her." He then tossed the command to a man standing behind Elaina, who nodded understandingly and tucked the handkerchief into his coat. "As I said, it's the best place for you." Melvin walked steadily forward, now looming directly in front of Elaina. "Duke Hank will take good care of you," he continued. "The Duke actually has a bit of a peculiar taste. He was quite pleased to hear you wouldn't be able to move properly." "…" "So you won't be able to run away, right?" Melvin laughed. "Try to behave. But it would be wise not to act above your station and try to climb higher like you did with me. Duke Hank has much less patience than I do." That was the last thing he said to his daughter. Soon, Melvin left the drawing room without any regrets or backward glance, and the poor Elaina, still unconscious, was dragged out like a dog by the masked man.