32 The Hard Truth

Marquess Westfall left Edna under the protection of a guard who stood in front of the door. He needed to prepare himself before revealing everything that had been kept for a long time.

Edna, who was left alone, was now wondering. Where did the flame burning that night come from? She had no recollection of her uncle, Jonathan, or Marionette lighting the candles. Nor did she remember that the fireplace in the basement had been lit.

That night Edna was left alone in the darkness with no light or source.

But who started the flame?

Also, the flames felt very different. It was as if Edna had been enveloped in flames from ancient times. The flames felt so dangerous and strange, yet she didn't get burned in the slightest.

The raging flames spread so quickly, but Edna remembered that amidst her panic, she did not feel any heat. The flames only burned her surroundings.

Edna kept wondering about it, but she couldn't find any answers.

One thing was for sure, the flames didn't belong to her master. And she felt… a pang of disappointment in her heart. Deep down, Edna wished that her master would come to help her.

But who was she? She was just a detestable, lowly, weak, and useless human. She was not worth saving. Moreover, it was her wish. This was the consequence of her stubborn choice to retrieve the thing Luca left behind.

A small object that became her way out. The key to her freedom had now disappeared. She had proven to her master that once again, humans were just useless creatures. And she was one of them.

Suddenly, tears flowed down her cheeks. Her vision blurred because of it. And when Edna closed her eyes, the puddle of tears fell onto the pillow.

***

After taking care of Edna, Marquess Westfall sat beside her who was eating her meal. The man handed the girl a glass of water when she finished eating.

The day after Edna reunited with her father, she hadn't seen Jonathan, Marionette, or Marchioness Westfall. They didn't visit her room even once. It seemed like her father kept her from them.

This made Edna feel a little relieved. After Marionette told her that her father hated her, Edna was always on edge every time he came. However, after quite some time, it seemed that her father didn't want Edna to think about it at all.

This morning, when Marquess Westfall came back to visit her for a doctor's check-up, Edna tried to apologize for what had happened. But her father just shook his head as if telling her that she didn't need to say anything.

Edna cried in her father's arms because she had doubted the man because of what Jonathan and Marionette had said. Her father... might not be perfect and often made mistakes, but she was sure that he was a sincere person. Very, very, very sincere, and Edna regretted doubting him.

The only person on this earth who shared the same blood with her...

"Edna, there is something I want to tell you," said Marquess Westfall who then took Edna's hand gently.

"Dad?"

"It's very hard for me to convey it."

Edna returned the grip of her father's hand.

"I will explain everything from the beginning. Do you remember my story about your mother who died on the ship and Duke Ashryver, who was my traveling companion, also died on the expedition?"

Edna tensed up when her father suddenly brought about her mother. She then nodded. "Is it about Mom?"

"Um… you could say that."

Edna returned her father's grip tighter. She wanted to know about her mother. Her father's story about her mother would fill the void in her heart. Edna, who didn't have any memory before the age of seven survives because of her father's stories about her mother.

"Honestly... I don't know who your real mother is," said Marquess Westfall, surprising Edna. Her grip on the Marquess' hand loosened.

Edna was at a loss for words. She was shocked and confused.

"How could that be?"

"You… are the child Duke Matteo Ashryver brought from the continent we last visited."

Edna tilted her head. A habit when she was confused and did not understand something.

Marquess Westfall let out a long sigh, then caressed her daughter's face once more. He then began to tell his story, and Edna listened carefully.

The man explained that in the raging storms and heavy rain; they left another continent they were visiting, and Duke Matteo Ashryver took a little girl with him.

"That little girl was being kept in Duke Matteo's room, accompanied by one of Duke Matteo's female friends. And a day later, I found you in Duke Matteo's room, lying on the bed so peacefully. You reminded me of Marionette because I left the kingdom when my wife was pregnant. And after ten years of sailing, perhaps Marionette would be as big as you.

"Even after a few days passed, you still hadn't woken up. Then, I was assigned by Duke Matteo to take care of you. Duke Matteo said you are far more valuable than diamonds, hence I protected you with all my heart. You reminded me of my daughters, and I eventually started to care about you more."

"Then, Duke Matteo died on the ship due to an infectious disease. You and I survived, as well as the woman who became Duke Matteo's sailing companion at that time. No one wanted to take you to their house. So, I decided to take care of you. And when I realized you had lost your memory, I planted fake memories, so you would believe that you were my daughter."

Marquess Westfall let out a deep sight. It was hard to explain this to Edna.

"And as for your power… I only realized it after we got to this house. You got hurt when you wanted to slice a fish and your blood got on the fish. Strangely, the wound on the fish healed. I saw it myself, so I immediately experimented with your blood. For the past ten years, I continued to manipulate you into giving me your blood."

Edna stopped listening when the Marquess explained that she was not his real daughter...

"I… am not your daughter?" stuttered Edna, still unable to believe the information she had just heard. It hurt her so deeply.