Chapter 5: How Dare You Make My Child Cry?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 5: How Dare You Make My Child Cry?
The House of Winston had been a family of warriors for generations.
From a young age, they taught the sword to all their children, regardless of gender. Even Veronica, the only daughter who received nothing but love from her family, was no exception.
"Ugh...!"
Though she possessed the body of a woman, she had a natural talent for swordsmanship, perhaps because the blood of House Winston flowed through her veins.
After she married, she had set aside her sword for a long time, wanting only to be loved by her husband. Nevertheless, her natural talent and the sturdy frame built from years of training exuded an extraordinary aura.
"Madam...!"
"I told you I would make you let go."
Cedric, sensing the threat with the keen instincts of a Sword Master, clicked his tongue and stepped back. Veronica smiled with satisfaction.
Of course, in a real fight, her skills were no match for a Sword Master.
However, he wouldn't dare cause a major physical altercation inside the mansion. Indeed, Cedric looked incredibly frustrated, yet he couldn't bring himself to grab Veronica again.
"Sigh..."
Stepping out of the room, Veronica let out a long breath.
Over five years of marriage. She had expected the end to feel somewhat hollow, but instead, she felt nothing but relief.
After standing still for a moment, Veronica began to walk slowly.
First, she had to return to her room and write a letter. For Dia and for herself.
A letter to her father, Duke Winston, saying she wanted to come home...
*
Returning to her room, Veronica asked a maid to place stationery and ink on her desk.
Taking a small, deep breath, she began to write calmly. Her elegant handwriting stained the white paper.
"Send this letter to the Winston estate immediately. Do not let the butler see you."
"Yes, Madam."
She had intentionally asked a maid who had come with her from the Duke’s estate, rather than one of the Marquis’s servants.
Sensing the unusual atmosphere, the maid nodded and hid the letter inside her sleeve. Then, she hurried out of the room.
"Now, for the next step..."
Veronica tapped her fingers on the desk. It was a habit she had whenever she was deep in thought.
Etiquette dictated that she should wait for a reply from the Duke’s estate before leaving, but Cedric’s recent attitude weighed on her mind.
And more than anything, Veronica did not want to run into the woman who was Cedric’s first love.
She had absolutely no intention of letting Claudia cross paths with that woman or her child.
Therefore, they had to leave as soon as Claudia recovered. Just as Veronica was about to stand up after organizing her thoughts—
"Madam!"
"…!"
Suddenly, someone slammed the door open and burst into the room.
It was a different person from the maid who had just left with the letter. Veronica looked at her with questioning eyes.
"What is it?"
"That, well... you must get to the young lady’s room immediately!"
"What?"
Veronica bolted upright in shock.
The way the maid spoke made it sound as if something had happened to Claudia, and Veronica’s mind went completely blank.
Did her fever spike again? Or was it some other illness? She was fine just a moment ago, so what on earth...
"H-hurry. Let’s go."
"Yes, Madam."
Veronica’s hands trembled as she moved. She wasn't even sure if she was walking straight.
And then, just as she reached Claudia’s room—
"Mamaaa!"
"…!"
Claudia’s loud cry pierced Veronica’s ears.
Veronica rushed forward and flung the door open.
"Dia...!"
The scene inside the room immediately filled her vision.
*
This is a purely personal opinion, but I believe the cry of "Mama!" is the ultimate cheat key.
Strangely enough, the moment you yell "Mama!", lost items are found, and every frustrating problem gets resolved.
Mothers are beings who can find something in seconds that you couldn't find if your life depended on it.
"Dia...!"
A familiar voice pierced my ears. I turned my head, putting on the most pitiful expression I could muster.
"Mama...!"
"…!"
Veronica’s face hardened the moment she saw me and Cedric.
She marched over and shoved Cedric aside with force.
"You...! What do you think you’re doing right now?"
"Ha... I didn't do anything."
"Then why is the child crying like this? And why were you grabbing her shoulder?"
"..."
That bastard Cedric kept his mouth shut when faced with a question that put him at a disadvantage.
Oh, you're going to play dumb? I opened my mouth even wider and burst into tears as if I’d been waiting for this.
"Waaaaah!"
"Dia!"
"Waaaah, Mama, my shoulder hurts so much!"
"No, I didn't grab it that hard—"
"Waaaaah!"
You did grab it, you jerk.
I cried even louder so Cedric couldn't wiggle his way out of it.
Veronica’s face turned pale at the sound of my sorrowful wailing.
Even though I had become a young child, it was honestly pretty embarrassing for me—an adult on the inside—to be throwing a tantrum like this.
But who cares? I have to use everything at my disposal.
Right now, I’m nothing more than a fragile little girl.
"You really...!"
"T-there’s been a misunderstanding, Veronica."
"A misunderstanding?"
Veronica, who was now hugging me, glared at Cedric with fire in her eyes.
‘The mood is perfect.’
If things go well, I can make Veronica lose all lingering feelings for Cedric right here and now.
I buried my face in Veronica’s shoulder, pretending to cry, while stealing glances at her furious face.
If my words earlier were what triggered this change in Veronica’s heart, then perhaps I could steer the story in a different direction from the original.
‘But I can’t trust it yet. In the original, Veronica never gave up on the male lead until the very end.’
In the original story, the only people Veronica pointed her blade at were the female lead, Gloria, and her daughter, Marianne.
She did nothing to Cedric, the man who had deceived her. Because she loved him. Because she didn't want to ruin her relationship with him.
But that path led only to ruin, eventually causing the downfall of even the House of Winston.
‘I’m not getting swept up in that.’
Unlike the original, I—Claudia—survived, and I will use this variable to shake the plot to its core.
I will definitely get Veronica and Cedric divorced and get out of here. I made a firm vow to myself, nodding secretly.
"How dare you make my child cry?"
"..."
But for some reason, the aura radiating from Veronica was unusual.
I unintentionally stopped my fake crying and looked up at her blankly.
I felt a strange energy from her, similar to Cedric’s. I had felt fear when Cedric directed his energy at me, but it was different with Veronica.
Her hostility was clearly directed at someone else.
"Who do you think you are to make my child cry? Hmm?"
"W-wait, Veronica..."
"You piece of shit!"
"Ugh...!"
It happened in an instant.
Veronica stood up and closed the distance to Cedric in a flash.
Then, she swung her hand at a speed the eye could barely follow.
Slap!
the sound of a crisp slap echoed loudly through the room.
‘Now that’s what I call catharsis...!’
Veronica had just slapped Cedric across the face!
I wished I had some popcorn to munch on while watching, but unfortunately, I didn't.
Instead, I watched the two of them with excitement. Veronica’s shoulders heaved as if she were still consumed by rage.
"Did you... just hit me...?"
"Yeah, I hit you. What are you going to do about it?"
"..."
Cedric looked completely stunned.
Right, he probably never imagined in his wildest dreams that Veronica would hit him. She was a woman who had loved him passionately, after all.
That’s why he had been so brazen. He thought Veronica would never give up on him. He probably thought he could do whatever he wanted—take a mistress, bring in another woman’s child—and she would just take it.
‘You’re screwed now.’
Even so, you shouldn't have touched me.
If Claudia had died like in the original and the male lead was the only person Veronica had left to obsess over, things might be different, but the situation has changed.
As her daughter, I am the most precious person to Veronica. Naturally, she will prioritize me in everything she does.
‘You probably acted so arrogant because you thought she’d love you forever. How does it feel to lose her to me?’
I let the corners of my mouth curl up slightly where they couldn't see. The male lead’s bewildered expression was a masterpiece.
"If you ever touch my daughter again, I will never forgive you, Cedric Lionel!"
"Wait... where are you going, Veronica!"
Veronica spun around, holding me, and marched forward. She didn't even bother to answer the male lead’s question, treating it as if it were beneath her.
"..."
"…!"
Just before we left the room, my eyes met the male lead’s. I stared into those obnoxious purple eyes and stuck my tongue out at him.
"You...!"
"Hmph."
Serves you right, you bastard.
Slam! The sound of the door closing rang out loudly.