Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The Truth of That Day
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-If you are happy, My Lady, then I am happy too.
-Thank you, Ella.
Look at this.
From a certain point, Estella began to take being called ‘My Lady’ for granted.
It was from that day. The day my feelings for Estella began to completely sour.
When every single word she said started to grate on me.
It’s unfair.
The true feelings hidden deep within my heart suddenly surfaced.
Ella made a decision. She would accept her clan's offer and return.
She thought she was entitled to that much greed. After all, she had worked tirelessly for Estella in the south.
She felt no guilt or remorse.
There was no need to feel such things for Estella.
She had everything, after all.
She would be sad to learn her child was gone because the egg was swapped, but Estella deserved to experience that much misfortune.
That's what's fair. Besides, she would only be sad for a few days and then get over it.
She can just have another child, can't she?
Ella first went to her clan. Then, one evening, not long before Estella's due date.
In her hands was a pure white egg. It was a very fragile egg, from which a faint heartbeat could be heard.
The egg was not marked with any pheromones.
It seemed to have been procured solely for the purpose of the swap.
-It would be better if you were never born.
That way, Estella will be even sadder.
-Because if you are born, My Lady will take you in too.
That, too, was unfair.
She had been abandoned for being a half-blood, yet this egg, simply because it met Estella, would be raised as a young lady in the great Astrofel family.
-So, you must never be born.
Ella muttered, revealing her jealousy even to an unhatched egg.
It's all Estella's fault that I've become like this. It's not my fault.
Ella placed the egg inside her clothes.
And a short while later, the day of the birth arrived.
The birth of a Black Mamba didn't require any special preparations.
It was only a matter of arranging the surroundings so that the lady of the house, Estella, could give birth smoothly in a very stable state of mind.
-My Lady. ...I am by your side, so please do not worry.
But then, something unexpected happened.
Estella, who had temporarily transformed into her Su-in form to give birth to her heirs, was struggling immensely.
She had only given birth to the first heir, yet only about half of her pheromones remained in her body.
Ella clenched her sweaty hands.
Estella looked so dazed that all of Ella's planning on how to swap the eggs without being seen seemed pointless.
-My Lady. The second heir is out now, too.
-...Hah. Hah...
-I will move them to the basket.
For a moment, her hands trembled uncontrollably.
As she was about to do the deed, her heart began to pound.
I can do this. I can succeed.
Ella, who had moved the eggs one by one, swallowed hard and gripped the egg hidden in her clothes.
The moment she tried to swap the egg in the basket with the one she held.
-Ella. I want to see the children. Can you bring them here?
She flinched.
At Estella's request, Ella froze.
-...!
-Ella?
The room fell silent. Sensing something was wrong, Estella called her name in a weak voice and turned her head.
And she was caught in the act of trying to switch the eggs.
Estella's expression darkened frighteningly as she looked back and forth between the egg in the basket and the one Ella was holding.
-What are you doing right now?
-...My, My Lady.
-What are you trying to do to my children...!
Estella tried to get up hastily, but having exhausted all her strength, she staggered precariously.
She instantly realized what Ella was trying to do and her face filled with horror.
-Where are you trying to take my child? Stop it this instant!
Slip!
Startled, Ella dropped the egg, and the fake egg got mixed in with the others in the basket.
If she had been her usual calm self, she would have immediately known which egg was different, but a panicked Ella couldn't tell them apart at a glance.
I have to take the heir's egg quickly...!
Growing desperate, Ella reached for the eggs in the basket.
Smack!
In that moment, her hand was blocked. It was a weak force, but Ella stumbled backward.
-Stop it right now.
Estella said firmly.
Ella was suddenly terrified. If she was caught by someone else, she was as good as dead.
Not knowing what to do, she shoved Estella with all her might.
-St-stay away from me, My Lady!
Estella fell weakly onto the bed.
Having already used most of her energy, she was easily pushed away.
I can win now. Maybe I can even get out of this alive.
Cornered, Ella reached for the basket, pointedly threatening the eggs.
-Ella, you...!
This was only possible because she had watched Estella for years.
She could predict what Estella would do.
And just as she expected.
Her expression changing urgently, Estella squeezed out her last remaining pheromones and sent them outside.
Her light red eyes, filled with betrayal, seemed to capture Ella for a moment before the life drained from them.
Ella quickly withdrew her hand.
She could feel people rushing in from outside.
Out of consideration for the sensitive Estella before her birth, the family members were currently waiting outside the mansion, suppressing their presence as much as possible.
Ella quickly laid Estella down on the bed.
And she pulled the covers up to her neck. Her hands were trembling violently.
Her heart sank, and tears streamed down her face endlessly.
It wasn't out of guilt or remorse for Estella. They were tears of relief that she had survived.
Bang!
The door burst open, and the physician, Hestia, came in.
-My Lady?!
-Hic. Sob. Sniffle. Sob.
Ella spoke, tears streaming down her face.
-M-My Lady... She... she's not breathing.
-Step aside.
Shoving Ella aside, the physician began to check Estella's condition.
She had already stopped breathing.
She hadn't meant for it to go this far. She had only intended to swap the egg and return to her hometown.
But now that was impossible. She hadn't succeeded in the clan's proposal.
Tears dripped from Ella's eyes.
She was terrified by the thought that she might not be able to live in the south or the east.
-Lady Hestia. How is Her Ladyship's condition?
-...My Lady has passed away.
She could feel the Black Mambas stirring in agitation.
Among them, only Hestia, who remained calm, stood up.
-What about the heirs?
-There are three in total.
-...She passed away from pheromone exhaustion. I thought there were two eggs... I failed to detect the other one.
Hestia hung her head low.
She was blaming herself, thinking that Estella had died because her own incompetence had led her to diagnose two heirs instead of three.
Ella held her breath.
I can get out of this alive.
I can get out of here alive, without any suspicion.
The heavens were on her side.
After that, everything proceeded swiftly.
-What about the Gaju?
-It'll be at least another day before he arrives.
-Contact him first. Tell him Her Ladyship gave birth earlier than expected.
-Then, about Her Ladyship's passing...?
-...We have to tell him that as well.
A somber atmosphere enveloped the mansion.
Everyone was lost in grief over losing their lady, unable to speak.
Deeply shocked, Hestia was still staring blankly at Estella from the bedside.
The shock was amplified because no one had expected this to happen.
Perhaps that was why. No one paid any attention to Ella. It was a relief.
In that case, there was only one thing for her to do now.
-Huuuk, sob. Sob. Lady Estella!
Ella devoted herself to the role of a delicate handmaiden who had lost her beloved lady overnight.