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The much-anticipated reward
“If the next Viscount Daphnen sits around, you aren’t being useful. Your father suddenly passed away, so now there is a lot of work to do. Don’t make a fuss over there and come inside.”
The Viscountess turned her back on her daughter and entered the mansion.
It was a cruel act, as if the very sight of her daughter pained her.
Her mother’s detachment pained Senelia.
She rose to her feet; every step was almost too heavy to bear.
Senelia barely managed to walk up to the front door, her pace slow due to the weakness she felt in her legs and stopped when she questioned the maid.
From the instant she had heard about her father’s death, she hid her doubts deep in her mind.
“Amelia, maybe
 Was father on the way to pick me up?”
Amelia was silent, but it was that silence that gave Senelia her answer.
For a long time after, Senelia stood at the doorstep blankly, unable to enter the mansion.
Now, she would have nowhere to welcome her.
***
Her father and mother had met through a political engagement, but soon fell in love and were happily married.
So, with the sudden loss of her husband, the corners of the Viscountess’ eyes reddened.
Senelia couldn’t say a single word of comfort to her. She knew her mother was being patient with her.
I
 Had I married immediately, or if I had broken up with Ben sooner

She bowed her head, too ashamed to look at her mother.
If she had done anything sooner, Viscount Daphnen would not have had that carriage accident.
The Viscountess had kept her emotions in check so as to not blame her beloved daughter for the tragedy of her loving husband.
But because of this, Senelia’s mother appeared ferocious.
Her mother had always been extremely patient with her, and not once had her parents pressured her to leave Benelucia after all those years of pointless dating.
Knowing that, Senelia could hardly maintain eye contact.
I ruined this peaceful and ordinary family.
She was a sinner, even just breathing in front of her parents brought about trouble.
And finally, today
 I had killed her father.
She was ashamed of herself. Nothing had stopped her from struggling to survive.
But did I really have to live so much that I sacrificed the life of my own father?
In the face of her beloved mother, the guilt of her father’s death weighed down on her shoulders.
It was becoming harder and harder to bear.
“Now, you will move back to the estate.”
Her mother’s voice broke Senelia from her thoughts, losing focus of where she was.
She looked at her mother in surprise.
“I believe you won’t tremble with regret for your breakup with that man when your father has just died?”
That man.
Her words revealed the Viscountess’ resentment towards Benelucia.
Senelia was speechless.
She wanted to say that if she could, she would listen to her mother.
She would always want to listen to her.
However, there were no words to say that could explain the situation to her mother.
With her daughter’s silence, a flash of anger appeared on her mother’s face.
“Senelia!”
She trembled.
It was Senelia’s first time hearing her mother sounding strict and raising her voice.
The Viscount was so angry that even her shoulders shook with her rage.
“Your father’s accidental death
”
The woman trailed off, then pursed her lips as she glanced at her daughter as though she had made a mistake.
However, they both knew the ending to that sentence. Both Senelia and the Viscountess.
“Please, Sally. Please stop letting me down.”
Her mother begged her earnestly as she hid her face in her hands.
Viscountess Daphnen could not tolerate her daughter being with a man who would bring another woman to public affairs.
[T/N: Meaning she can’t deal with her daughter being with a man who cheats on her and brings another woman to flaunt in her face.]
Although they had been lovers for eight years, he was a Grand Duke who could not promise Senelia a future.
Viscountess Daphnen could not stand her daughter being with a man who played with her. It was her limit.
“Mother, I
”
Senelia felt she looked stupid; she couldn’t provide any reasons to counter her mother’s words. She clenched her lips.
“Sally!”
So, when she heard a familiar voice call from outside the window, Senelia turned to it immediately without much thought.
At that moment, it was a call for salvation.

Ben?
Hearing the voice of someone she was familiar with made Senelia suddenly want to cry.
Apparently, Benelucia had come to her.
It was truly amazing timing.
And it caused her mother to give her a blatant look of disapproval.
She rose from her seat, opened the door, and called in an attendant.
“Tell the Grand Duke that we are not ready to receive mourners as yet.”
Senelia’s mother was extremely polite with her rejection. But she was chasing him away.
Objectively speaking, there was nothing wrong with her words.
Because Benelucia’s behavior, who had come to visit the victim’s family unannounced, was far from etiquette.
Still, he remained a member of the Imperial family.
“
The Grand Duke requests to meet the Young Lady.”
The Daphnen’s mansion was nowhere as big as the Afron’s mansion, so the servant had quickly returned with the duke’s reply.
Senelia’s mother frowned gracefully.
Due to their family standing in the empire, she could not refuse the Imperial Family twice.
In the end, she spoke to the staff and held in her displeasure.
“Guide the Grand Duke to the first-floor drawing room.”
“Yes, madam.”
Senelia’s mother waved her hands and the attendant left at a brisk pace.
She turned to her daughter and sighed.
“Sally, go downstairs.”
Her tone was calm, there was no hint of anything wrong.
But it made Senelia’s heart flutter even more.
Senelia knew that the angrier her mother was, the calmer she became.
“Mother, I-”
“Hurry. Are you going to keep a Grand Duke waiting?”
The Viscountess timidly used her words to push her daughter back. Setting aside her disdain for Benelucia, she was unable to keep a member of the Imperial Family waiting.
Senelia wanted to remain with her mother.
I’m afraid that my mother’s hatred for this rotten daughter will grow should I go to Benelucia.
Her mother’s stern gaze put an end to any arguments she could have.
She bit her lip, and in the end, left the room as she swallowed the countless words she had left unsaid.
The countless words that she suppressed, as always, since she met Cliff de Helios.
***
The moment Senelia entered the drawing room happened to coincide with her ex-lover’s entry.
“Sally!”
His call for her sounded desperate.
Though, Senelia’s emotions blocked her awareness of Benelucia’s urgency.
The guilt of her causing her father’s death and the toll of her mother’s hatred numbed her the everything around her.
“Are you alright?”
Benelucia had forgotten his surroundings as he took in Senelia’s complexion. His hand that covered her cheek became more cautious.
“
Your Majesty, why have you come this far?”
She wanted to cry. Benelucia’s concern shook her.
It isn’t alright. Nothing is right.
And because of that, her words were stiff.
“I’m worried about you.”
At his reply, Senelia covered her mouth. She could barely restrain the useless question from leaving her lips.
Are you worried? No
 Do I even need your worry now?
She held back. To be blunt, it was a good sign that Benelucia had come to her despite leaving Lucalina all the way back at the capital.
She knew it.
Even in this terrible situation, she couldn’t make things worse and lose her rationality.
“
First of all, there are many eyes watching, please let us enter the room.”
She sighed as if it couldn’t be helped. Turning her back to him, she entered the drawing room first, and Benelucia followed her shortly.
“How’s your mother?”
As soon as the door closed behind them, Benelucia inquired. Senelia felt strange.
Benelucia might not have realized it, but it was the first time in the eight years they had been together that he had asked about her parents.
If it wasn’t at that particular moment, Senelia might have been touched.
“My mother is busy with the funeral arrangements.”
It was half-truths mixed with half-excuses.
The Viscountess’ reason for not appearing in front of Benelucia was partly due to the funeral preparations, but also because she did not want to see him.
“Looks like the Viscountess does not want to see me.”
Of course, Benelucia pointed out the main reason. Honestly, it was normal.
What parent would welcome a man who lived with their daughter for six years and would still refuse to give a definite answer about their relationship.
“Sally, are you
 are you okay?”
Benelucia repeated his question once more. Fortunately, this time, Senelia was prepared and could answer him smoothly.
“Your father has suddenly passed away, so you can’t be okay.”
Her earlier words did not seem to please Benelucia. Thus, he got straight to the point.
“It’s not-”
There was a little doubt lingering on Senelia’s expression. It was a rare moment where Benelucia was being blunt.
“I mean, is everything alright between you and your mother?”
Senelia was stunned.