Chapter 8

“Revenge…” Countess Frieda’s pupils shrunk as she clenched her fist.

“Of course, such as Count Frieda, Lady Marsale, and the others who have mocked and criticized you.”

“Forget those vixens.” Countess Frieda plopped heavily onto the chair, “There’s no need to belittle myself to fight those bitches. That dog Count Frieda on the other hand…” Countess Frieda glowered at her teacup, as if wishing she could tear the porcelain into pieces with her mouth. She angrily picked it up and chugged it down in one gulp.

Elphie watched calmly from the other side, picking up the teapot and refilling the empty cup once Countess Frieda put it down. Countess Frieda eyed her for a moment before saying, almost like a snarl, “Well, speak. It better be worth my time.”

Unruffled, Elphie quietly set the teapot to the side and softly said, “Accept the divorce agreement.”

“Impossible. Wait–no, how did you know we were getting divorced?!” Countess Frieda’s eyes looked around wildly as she grew flustered.

“After such a big spectacle, in front of the Crown Prince no less, wouldn’t that be the obvious course of action?”

Of course, the real reason was because Elphie had read the novel. She also knew that Countess Frieda would refuse, the reason being…

“No, we have too many interests tied together.”

When they tied the knot 17 years ago, both of their families also began tying their businesses together. They were quite shrewd, complementing each other. If one sold clothes, then the other sold thread; if one was a merchant, the other provided caravans.

It was such a mutually-beneficial arrangement.

Now, even if they wanted to make a clean break, their supply chain, employees, trade agreements, and even their families were hopelessly entangled.

However, Elphie remained unfazed: “But Count Frieda is willing to let go.”

“AS IF!” Countess Frieda shouted, “That dog’s decided to take everything for himself! If we divorce, I’m the only one left with nothing.”

“So you are willing to leave.” Elphie’s eyes gazed at Countess Frieda.

Countess Frieda appeared slightly uncomfortable as she muttered, “Absolutely. But I can’t be the one losing.”

“That’s easy. Just take everything back.”

“What?”

Elphie took a sip of tea, “Even as a bystander not of the same generation, I can see that the Count’s family isn’t quite harmonious. There’s no way your own family isn’t capable of seeing the same.”

Countess Frieda scoffed, “That’s why you’re young. You think that you know everything, but let me tell you—” She stood up and jabbed a finger at Elphie’s forehead, “Interests. Interests. INTERESTS.

“For interests… anything can be sacrificed.” Her words slowly grew quieter.

It wasn’t like Countess Frieda–no, daughter of Count Harris–hadn’t once dreamed. She dreamed of love, a romantic marriage, and a life of wealth and bliss. As the youngest daughter with two older brothers, she was spoiled since she was a child, and her family lavished upon her everything she wanted.

But then, disaster struck, and a landslide occurred as their main caravan was delivering goods. Six months worth of goods were buried, along with the lives of over 30 employees.

At the time, Alanna Harris was only glad that her family wasn’t in that landslide. However, she soon found out that while they had escaped the true calamity, there was nothing to be thankful for.

Trade agreement penalties for not fulfilling goods, catastrophic losses, running out of stock, and bereavement payments. All of these and more came crashing down at once, and even the slowest Alanna could feel the tangible pressure.

One day, Count Frieda the senior arrived at their doorstep, offering an enticing proposal. And the one who couldn’t resist the offer was not Count Harris, but Alanna. Thus, Alanna Harris became today’s Countess Frieda, and the two families fulfilled each other’s supply chain upstream and downstream.

But Countess Frieda was not happy in her marriage. In the Frieda household, she was met with endless scorn, a weak husband, and even outside, the noble ladies would cover their faces with fans as they silently mocked her.

Countess Frieda told herself it was fine, that she could endure for the sake of her and her family’s continued happiness. That true happiness laid inside wealth, and it could even chase away those nightmares about the months of bankruptcy.

Just like that, year after year passed, and the concerned eyes of her family slowly turned away.

“Is that really all?”

“What?”

Countess Frieda jolted out of her reverie at a crisp and elegant voice. Golden eyes stared at her, as if seeing through to her soul. They were not predatory, but she could feel a chill down her back.

“You just hate change, right?”

No, that couldn’t be. Countess Frieda raised her voice, “How dare you belittle me wi—”

“For a lady as unshackled as you, you’re quite…” Elphie paused, a hint of playfulness on her face. The sordid, sardonic kind.

Don’t say it. Something in her seemed to be on the verge of breaking. The next words would pierce through the last paper layer, and then…

What would happen to her? The ashen faces of her family, the gray funeral halls, scraps of food on the sidewalk. Images she thought she had buried came rushing back to her.

“You’re a coward, Alanna Harris.”

• • • • ─ ·✶· ─ ·

Alanna Harris had always lived a smooth life. Her parents were kind, brothers caring, and she was not left wanting for anything. She believed that these days would continue endlessly, and their family would always be happily together like this.

But then, natural disaster struck, wiping out almost 60% of their family’s total assets at once. The contract penalties claimed the remainder, and her family frantically tried to salvage the pieces.

For the first time, Alanna learned what hunger was. Now, she could only stare at the windows of the dessert stores she used to frequent, feeling intense pangs in her stomach.

Her father slowly withered away, and her mother and brothers grew more and more haggard. Even then, they cherished her, always handing her the last piece of bread while pretending to be strong.

Alanna didn’t want that. She didn’t want the fake smiles, the fake condolences. Most of all, she hated how powerless she was.

Then eventually, they ran out of money to buy even basic necessities. Alanna could only hide silently in the corner as her mother shed tears, and one day, she ran outside.

The entire world seemed to turn gray and dreary, and taking advantage of the time her father and brothers were busy at the funeral halls for their employees, she ran to the restaurant street. This time, she didn’t glance in through the windows, and instead headed to the back.

She found a dark corner to cower in, and after a long time, someone finally came out and threw a bag that landed with a dull thud. When the footsteps faded and the door clicked close, Alanna suddenly stood up. She walked over to the black garbage bag, hands shaking as she tore it open, grabbing inside.

In the end, she found what she was looking for. Grabbing the half-eaten cake, she rushed back towards her house. Her family had already returned and were looking for her anxiously when she arrived. Then, she opened up her hands and showed them what she had brought back.

Their faces turned white, and the expressions on their faces were indecipherable. However, Countess Frieda still remembered it vividly to this day.

She couldn’t remember what happened to the cake anymore, but she did remember the items in their house disappearing one by one, and food began reappearing on the table once more.

Finally, their fate took a turn when Count Frieda the senior arrived at their house with an almost altruistic proposal. Her father’s face seemed to turn stern, but she jumped and bit the bait.

In the end, she married into the Frieda family, and their business truly took a turn for the better. Although her husband never turned to look at her properly even once, Alanna thought that was fine.

The gray skies slowly grew brighter again, and splashes of color filled her vision once more. Yes, this was the life she had imagined. Everything was finally back on the right track again.

Never again would she want for anything.

That period in her life was gone.

Done and over with.

Nothing else but the ending of the story mattered.

…

Right?

“You’re a coward, Alanna Harris.”

A coward?

Yes, if being a coward meant she never had to go hungry again, never had to wait for the scraps someone else didn’t want, she was absolutely a coward.

“No, you simply don’t dare to face the past.”

What past was there to face? It didn’t matter anymore, she was no longer the same hungry, helpless girl.

“You haven’t advanced a single step from back then.”

“Still powerless, still weak, unable to do anything for herself.”

“If you really had courage, you would face the truth and walk out of the mire yourself.”

Countess Frieda looked at the golden eyes of the pink-haired girl sitting in front of her. The pink-haired girl smiled as she told her:

“Save yourself this time, Alanna Harris.”