I Don’t Need Them Anymore — Abandoning the Family That Never Loved Me, I Find Happiness in a Neighboring Kingdom - Chapter 32

While my father remained motionless, perhaps contemplating how to break this situation, I spoke.

“Having made such foolish statements before so many people, please don’t think you can maintain your current position.”

“…Damn it.”

After muttering this, my father turned to appeal to the other kings.

“Everyone has one or two things they’re ashamed of! Yet you’re telling only me to take responsibility and abdicate!?”

“While I won’t claim nobody acts out of self-interest, your case has exceeded all limits,” declared His Majesty of the Rofeus Kingdom, speaking as their representative. “Once we gather evidence of your misdeeds, we’ll inform the entire world.”

“Stop! Don’t interfere in another country’s affairs!”

To my father’s desperate plea, I responded coldly. “Is that why you refrained from intervening until now?”

“Then why intervene now!?”

“Because I believe you’re far more lacking in common sense and competence than you realize.”

“What!? I don’t need to hear that from a failure like you!”

My father pointed at me, shouting with spittle flying.

Why had I continued wishing to be loved by someone like this?

The question surfaced briefly, but the answer came immediately.

In the past, I only had family. If I couldn’t be loved by others, I at least wanted to be loved by family.

I was foolish.

I should have realized much earlier that I didn’t need this person’s love, and I should have looked forward like my brother did.

“Dahlia is no failure,” I said after calming Lady Edith, who was visibly angry, and expressing my gratitude. Then I addressed my father. “To you, I may be a failure. I suppose that can’t be helped, since your blood runs through me.”

“…!”

After making an inarticulate sound, my father appealed to Lady Silcott. “I’m not at fault. Believe me. I was just framed.”

“I’m afraid that’s not for me to say. Besides, what was pointed out isn’t incorrect, is it?”

“I’m a king! I should be able to live as I please!”

“Being king doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want. Please stop speaking like a childish brat.”

Unable to bear Lady Silcott’s cold gaze, my father’s eyebrows drooped. Lady Silcott pressed her advantage. “When you dismissed me, I was truly happy to be free from your selfishness.”

“What do you mean…?”

“You can’t possibly think I didn’t notice your disgusting looks toward me.”

“…Wh…at…?”

She hadn’t said this when speaking with me earlier. Perhaps she held back because I’m his daughter, but seeing that I’d given up on my father, she decided to be honest.

These words seemed to deal significant damage to my father.

“I only endured it because of your royal status. I thought you’d give up if you learned I was pregnant with a child.”

As Lady Silcott made a pained expression and hugged herself, my father suddenly shouted. “I’ll never forgive you for toying with my heart! I’ll kill you and your entire family!”

His voice trembling, my father pushed past Lady Silcott, left the room, and ran down the hallway.

“Lady Silcott, are you all right?”

When I rushed over, she offered a gentle smile. “Thank you. I’m fine. More than that, I became furious thinking about what he said to his own daughter.”

“Not at all. I’m grateful you spoke clearly. Father will be more shocked by your rejection anyway.”

“Lady Dahlia, I’m a marchioness. My status is lower than yours, so please call me Silcott.”

“I…I’m sorry. You’re older and more composed than me, so I slipped up…”

“Please don’t apologize. More importantly, my family’s safety is ensured, correct?”

To Silcott, who was looking at me worriedly, I nodded firmly. “Yes. As a precaution, we’ve sent guards from the Rofeus Kingdom to protect your family. Besides, Father can no longer do as he pleases.”

Before coming here, my brother had made the arrangements, and I’d had Nana tell Mother the truth as well.

Upon learning not only that her daughter wasn’t her own, but that her husband had switched the children, Mother changed her testimony and told the truth.

Though Mother isn’t innocent for lying, both Father and my sister will be arrested when they return to the country.

Father goes without saying, but my sister should face false reporting charges regarding the matter with Lord Zerath.

Since neither of them likely expects to be arrested, they’ll probably leave the Rofeus Kingdom immediately.

Even if they don’t know they’ll be arrested, I wonder if they realize how dangerous the voyage home will be.

If they show remorse, they’ll only have a frightening experience.

If not—

Feeling someone’s gaze, I turned to find Lord Edith smiling at me. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you,” he said.