Chapter 151

However, his gaze paused only briefly. Contrary to expectations that he would pick a fight, Nils turned his head, almost as if to ignore Iona.

Yvonne, too, silently prepared to get into the carriage, hiding her discontent. It was as if she hadn’t even noticed Iona’s presence.

Iona hadn’t exactly expected a confrontation, but she was surprised by their blatant disregard.

Maybe it was because they had always pounced on her like enemies whenever they crossed paths.

It felt somewhat unfamiliar to see them avoid her.

'They never seem to see eye to eye with me, even to the end.'

Despite Nils and Yvonne's desperate attempts to avoid her, Iona had something she wanted to tell them today.

Iona decisively stepped towards the carriage they were boarding.

The soldier seated next to Nils noticed Iona's approach and stopped closing the door.

Iona placed her hand on the door frame and looked inside the carriage.

Nils and Yvonne visibly flinched at Iona's sudden approach.

Iona, calmly observing their wary eyes, suddenly spoke.

"Everyone looks unhappy. Here I am, spending money to send you to a place with fresh air and clear water."

"This...!"

Nils bared his teeth at the minor provocation.

Facing his anger-filled face, Iona felt an inexplicable sense of calm.

Thinking that this would be the last time she saw him barking like an ill-tempered puppy gave her a peculiar feeling.

Although she didn't particularly regret it, completely letting go of a part of her daily life evoked unique emotions.

Iona smiled, as if something just occurred to her.

"Oh, Nils, I have something to congratulate you on."

"What nonsense are you spouting now?"

A hissing sound escaped Nils' mouth.

There was a clear intent to kill in his glare.

If no one else were around and if his body were free, he would undoubtedly have stabbed Iona.

But Nils was tightly bound with thick ropes.

All he could do was sit in the carriage, trembling with rage.

"You finally succeeded in avenging your mother against your father. It's a joyous occasion, isn’t it?"

Iona continued, pretending to praise Nils.

"By dishonoring your father and making his final moments miserable, you avenged her well. I'm sure your late mother would have been satisfied."

The moment Iona mentioned the late Countess, fire ignited in Nils’ eyes.

He clenched his hands as if he wanted to punch Iona, but his bound arms didn't move as he wished.

Iona looked down at him and openly chuckled.

"But you know, do you know why the Countess, despite hating your father so much, remained obedient to him until the end?"

"......"

"She wanted you to inherit everything from your father safely."

Iona leaned her upper body into the carriage as she spoke.

Although she closed the gap by just a couple of spans, she could feel the frozen air on her skin.

Iona freely observed Nils' contorted face up close.

His face, which had turned from red to a sickly blue, was now pale with rage.

Iona locked eyes with Nils and whispered, "You've disappointed your mother again, Nils."

A brief silence fell inside the carriage.

The soldier between Iona and Nils glanced nervously at them.

A small smile gradually deepened on Iona’s lips.

Then, without warning, Nils lunged at her.

"You wretched bitch!"

Nils screamed and rushed at Iona with frightening intensity.

The soldier quickly shoved Nils back into his seat.

Nils' body crumpled onto the seat as he struggled and thrashed, causing the carriage to rattle loudly.

"Come here. Come here! You must have a death wish to spout such nonsense. You filthy... How dare you speak about her with that dirty mouth of yours!"

"Brother! Hey, you! Let go of his hands. Don't press him down like that! He'll get hurt!"

Yvonne frantically tried to restrain the soldier.

She was clearly worried that her brother might get hurt from the excessive restraint.

Ignoring Yvonne, the soldier turned to Iona, seeking her directive.

Instead of voicing a decision, Iona silently looked down at the pitifully flailing Nils for a moment.

Yvonne's gaze also turned to Iona.

Yvonne shouted at Iona as if to accuse her.

"Let my brother go! We were trying to leave quietly, but you were the one who provoked us first. Isn’t this enough... How much more are you going to torment us...!"

Yvonne’s voice quivered as she fought back tears.

It was already heartbreaking to have everything taken away and be driven out of the home they had known their whole lives. But now, even on their final departure, Iona had come to mock them.

Yvonne stared at Iona as if she couldn't believe someone could be so cruel.

This treatment was quite a novel feeling for Iona.

Although their relationship had become one-sided in recent times, the duration of their mistreatment of her had been much longer.

"I sometimes wonder if you’re inherently evil or just have a bad memory."

Iona muttered, as if in awe.

Although she merely voiced a simple observation, Yvonne seemed to take it as mockery.

Yvonne's eyes narrowed into slits.

For a moment, she was confused by Iona’s bold demeanor, but it became clear that the former was correct.

Iona smiled bitterly and said, "Yvonne, let me give you one last piece of advice as your sister."

"Sister? I’ve never considered you family, you wretch!"

Iona silently agreed with Yvonne’s outburst.

She had used overly sentimental language in an attempt to set the mood.

Acknowledging her mistake, Iona gave a small shrug. Instead of offering an empty apology, she left Yvonne with sincere advice.

"If you get another chance, try to live a better life."

"..."

"Or at least be smarter about it."

Iona turned her gaze to Nils after adding that remark.

He was still groaning in discomfort, sprawled awkwardly on the floor.

To grab his attention, Iona knocked on the window a couple of times and raised her voice.

“The same goes for you, Nils.”

“Aaaargh!”

Nils couldn’t hold back his rage and let out a scream.

Iona pretended to be scared, backing away while laughing quietly.

Yvonne, on the other hand, started sobbing loudly, her emotions boiling over.

The carriage became a complete mess of shouts and tears before it even started moving.

Iona took a few steps back and gestured roughly to the servants, signaling them to proceed.

Finally understanding, the soldier next to Yvonne hesitantly closed the door.

The coachman, seeing that the commotion had subsided, pulled the reins. The carriage loaded with luggage followed promptly behind.

Knowing she wouldn’t have to see Nils and Yvonne’s faces again, Iona smiled and bid them farewell.

She watched the departing procession with a feeling of relief.

***

“Sniff, sniff, sniff...”

“Stop crying.”

“Sniff, sniff. Hic.”

“Stop crying, I said!”

“I... I can’t stop the tears.”

Yvonne protested indignantly at Nils’ scolding.

Nils looked at his sister in exasperation.

It had been almost a whole day since they left the mansion.

By now, she should have pulled herself together, but Yvonne cried at every opportunity.

Whether staring blankly out the window, or just sitting idly, or even while eating or sleeping, Yvonne would suddenly start crying.

Nils spoke with irritation.

“What, has the sky fallen? Are we going to die today? What’s the point of all this crying?”

“How can you say that? Don’t you understand why we’re in this carriage? I... I’ll never get married now and will be stuck in the countryside for the rest of my life...”

“I won’t let you live like that. Just wait, I’ll take back everything that woman stole from us.”

Yvonne stopped crying and looked at Nils, as if thinking there might be some basis for his confidence.

She cautiously asked, “Do you have a plan?”

The soldiers, annoyed by the constant crying, had all stepped outside, leaving them alone to talk.

Feeling they finally had a moment to speak privately, Nils leaned in towards Yvonne.

He was about to lower his voice and say something when the carriage suddenly came to a halt.

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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