Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 44
It was a shocking statement.
“…What do you mean by that?”
Duke Rostelle asked back.
“I said I have no father.”
“What are you talking about? Isn’t your father right here?”
Irene spread her arms and recited the words of the goddess she had studied diligently—all was from to earn her father’s love.
“A parent is both kind and strict. A being that constantly gives love, and watches over as their often-mistaken child matures into adulthood. Another name for love is ‘parent.'”
In the quiet temple, only Irene’s voice spread. Some nodded their heads, while others wore expressions of incomprehension.
“Now, answer me. Have you ever given me any of that?”
Irene tilted her head and asked.
It hurt. It was tormenting. She had cried over unreturned love. They had never seen her as a daughter or a sister.
She was like a stray dog brought in out of necessity. That was Irene.
Duke Rostelle struggled to remain composed.
“It seems you have misunderstood something.”
What misunderstanding?
“I was harsh because I wanted the best for you. Everything I did was for you. Look, didn’t it all turn out well in the end?”
Irene burst out laughing.
“Didn’t you starve me for days and beat me with a cane?”
“I admit that was somewhat harsh.”
“And didn’t you look at me as if I were filth, calling me a sewer rat?”
“That was merely a slip of the tongue.”
“And you told me to just die.”
Duke Rostelle’s flurry of excuses came to a halt as he clamped his mouth shut. People around them began whispering to each other upon hearing these words.
As the murmuring grew louder, Irene shifted her gaze from Duke Rostelle to Lexion.
“Do you think so too, Sir Lexion?”
He had to answer. Even knowing this, Lexion found it difficult to open his mouth.
“Have you ever thought of me as your sister?”
No. Not once had Lexion considered Irene as a sister.
“Speak the truth under the name of the goddess.”
Under the goddess’s name, lies are not forgiven. Lexion clenched his eyes shut.
“Lexion?”
Duke Rostelle called out in a trembling voice, but under the goddess’s name, Lexion could not tell a lie.
Anyone would do the same.
“I have never once thought of you as my sister, Saintess.”
The truth that burst forth stirred the nobles. They had not been entirely unaware of it. They had vaguely suspected as much.
But suspecting and hearing it confirmed had a different impact.
“That’s how it is.”
The saintess had no intention of keeping her family close.
“Irene!”
Duke Rostelle called out Irene’s name. His voice was harsh.
“Duke Rostelle, address me properly. I am the saintess. And you and I are not close enough to be on a first-name basis.”
At Irene’s words, Duke Rostelle reached out with a violent gesture. However, his hand was quickly blocked by Burt.
“How rude.”
Burt knocked Duke Rostelle’s hand away and moved Irene behind him.
“Show some respect to the saintess.”
“Your Majesty!”
Duke Rostelle wore a look of grievance.
“Though she was born in a human body, the saintess is chosen by the goddess. You are crossing the line right now.”
“She is my daughter!”
“A daughter you never even looked at.”
Burt’s icy gaze met Duke Rostelle.
“If it weren’t for me, she would have died in a back alley!”
“Perhaps it would have been better if I had.”
Irene added her words. Nobles standing close to Duke Rostelle began to slowly back away.
A duke might hold a high rank in the kingdom, but those in front of him were the king and the saintess.
The most revered beings in the world, a saintess and the king. A duke would not compare.
Above all, no one wanted to be hated by the saintess. In this world, to be hated by the saintess was akin to a death sentence.
Under the goddess’s blessing, she is guided to have a righteous nature, but in the end, the saintess is also human.
Duke Rostelle’s face showed panic at the shift in people’s attitudes.
This was not supposed to happen. Just when he thought he could revive his house under the goddess’s blessing.
Duke Rostelle looked at Irene with a pleading expression, but her face showed no emotion in return.
“Why?”
“What you give, returns to you.”
Irene spoke kindly and then turned away. Burt followed her.
The remaining nobles moved away from Duke Rostelle and his son, Lexion.
From now on, they would no longer associate with the House of Rostelle. Their remaining lives were certain to be covered with more suffering than before.
Lexion clenched his teeth and bowed his head.
In a way, it was an inevitable outcome.
