Chapter 4

I pushed open the door and walked into the courtyard.

My parents were wearing worn-out cotton coats, struggling with several of the guards.

When they saw me, they froze for a moment, then broke into wide grins.

"Charlotte! You wretched girl, so this is where you've been hiding!"

My father George Lacy rushed forward, raising his hand to hit me.

"You ungrateful daughter! Now that you are living a fancy life, you've forgotten your parents, haven't you? Five years, and you haven't sent a single coin back home!"

I stepped aside and dodged, looking at him coldly.

"This is the Farnese Palace, not a place for you to cause trouble."

My mother Tavira Lacy's eyes darted around, and she quickly plastered on a fawning smile.

"Charlotte, sweetheart, I know you resent us. But if we hadn't set you up with Duke Farnese back then, would you have lived like this all these years?"

"And now that your sister is awake too — you two sisters sharing one husband — what a blessing that would be!"

"Where's Duke Farnese? Tell him to come out and see us. We traveled all this way — the least he could do is gift us a thousand gold coins or so, right?"

I looked at their greedy faces and felt sick to my stomach.

Five years ago, they sold me — simple-minded as I was — to Christian Farnese as a scapegoat, all for a handful of silver coins.

Now that my elder sister had woken up, they came swarming back like flies drawn to blood, hoping to squeeze every last drop of value out of the two of us.

"He won't see you," I said coldly.

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting, you ungrateful girl!" George Lacy flew into a rage. "I'm his father-in-law! He wouldn't dare refuse me!"

"Father-in-law?"

A cold voice drifted in from beyond the courtyard gate.

Christian Farnese strode inside, a squad of armed guards following close behind him.

He was dressed in a black brocade robe today, his expression sharp and severe — commanding without even trying.

George and Tavira Lacy's legs buckled with fear, and they dropped to their knees with a thud.

"We… we greet Your Grace."

Christian Farnese looked down at them, his eyes filled with contempt.

"So it was you two who pushed her to deceive me all those years ago?"

George Lacy trembled from head to toe, stammering, "Y-Your Grace, please understand — we were foolish then… but this girl did serve you for five years. Surely that counts for something…"

"Counts for something?" Christian Farnese let out a cold laugh. "If it weren't for your greed, why would Margaret have suffered so much? Guards — drag these two out of the royal capital and make sure they never set foot here again!"

"Please, Your Grace, have mercy! Your Grace!"

My parents were hauled away by the guards, wailing and shrieking.

The courtyard fell into a dead silence.

Christian turned his head, his gaze landing on me.

"Are you satisfied?"

There was a faint note of expectation in his voice — as if he was waiting for my gratitude.

I looked at him calmly. "Your Grace was simply upholding the law. What does that have to do with me?"

His expression darkened.

"Charlotte Lacy, do you have to speak to me in that tone?"

"Then how should I speak to you?" I shot back. "Like before — kneeling on the ground to thank Your Grace for the generosity?"

Christian Farnese was left speechless.

He drew a slow breath and forced down his anger.

"Your parents have been dealt with. From now on… just stay here at Farnese Palace. Margaret needs someone to look after her. Stay and keep her company."

The words came out stiff and hollow, like he was tossing me a scrap.

I laughed.

"Your Grace, I think you've gotten something wrong."

"I came here today to say goodbye to my sister."

Christian Farnese's pupils shrank sharply.

"You're leaving?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"To the ends of the earth. It's none of your concern."

I turned and walked toward the gate.

"Stop right there!"

Christian stepped forward in an instant, planting himself in my path.

His chest heaved, and his eyes churned with emotions I couldn't understand.

"Charlotte, do you think the Farnese Palace is somewhere you can just come and go as you please?"

"I am a Duke. Without my permission, you won't even make it past the city gates of the royal capital!"

He finally let his authority show — the full weight of a powerful noble bearing down on me.

Looking at him like this, flustered and furious, it was pathetic.

Slowly, I reached into my coat and pulled out the jeweled pin I had been planning to sell.

It was the same one he had once placed in my hair with his own hands.

I pressed the sharp end of the pin against my own throat.

"Duke Farnese, your power is truly beyond measure."

"But if I truly want to die, even you can't stop me."

The pin broke the skin. A thin line of blood trickled down my pale neck.

The color drained from Christian's face instantly.

He stared at the blood on my throat, his voice trembling.