I Will Abandon My Family! - v5 Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10 (Patreon)

v5, Chapter 8

Diaz’s Decision
I received reports that Marie was frequently visiting a separate villa.

Then, I received reports that those two entered the Capital after a long journey at the same time.

"My goodness..."

Marie's actions were easy to understand.
That child is similar to me.

She is like me; she is willing to hurt herself to protect what is important to her.

"She’s trying to settle everything alone."

I thought Marie's recent actions were strange.
She has been in a hurry to launch her brand, but she has not been advertising it that much and has been releasing new products little by little every season.

"Master, Lady Oriana has arrived."

"Show her in."

"Yes."

I ordered the maid to bring Lady Oriana into the room and asked about Marie.
I wondered if Lady Oriana had advised Marie.

"Lady Oriana, about Marie..."

"I haven't intervened in this matter."

"I see."

It seems Marie acted on her own.

"Lord Diaz, women sometimes do terrifying things to protect those they love. For men, women might seem like poison."

"Poison... is it?"

"Roses have thorns. But don't forget... roses are noble beings."

"Yes."

"It is not curious because of its thorns. It is because it is a rose.”

Beautiful things have thorns to protect their beautiful flowers.
Marie didn't lack thorns.

Has she been hiding them until now?

"You can't live just by being kind."

"I wanted her to live without getting hurt like that."

It's my fault.
Living in high society requires tough decisions.

"What kind of plan does Marie have?"

"I am not certain. I don't know how far Lady Marie is thinking."

"What is within your estimation."

Her ability to see the essence of things is superior to mine.
She probably understands Marie's actions.

"She is likely intending to oust those two."

"Oust them?"

“She plans to invite those two to the separate residence under the pretext of discussing matters… and expose their misdeeds.”

“That’s…”

She’s going to expose them at the villa under the guise of setting up a meeting?

"At this stage, it's difficult to accuse those two of a crime. So what do you think she should do?"

"Surely not!"

What a dangerous move!
What would happen if she did that?

"She's willing to bear all blame to protect everything."

"However!"

"That woman is a carnivorous plant. Lord Diaz, if your position was unbeneficial to her, the next targets would be Lord Henry and his son."

It would be unbearable for Marie to torment Henry.

"Why didn't she consult with me... I am her father!"

She doesn't have to fight alone!

"To protect your position, of course.”

Is that why she cornered Marie?

Then I must not abandon her.

Without any mercy.

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v5, Chapter 9

Evidence
During the time when Lady Oriana's words lingered in my mind, I discovered the truth about the sudden death of Marie's grandfather, which I had secretly investigated.

"Indeed, it was poisoning."

I had thought that the medical records from that time had been disposed of, but it turned out that one of the attending physicians had kept them.
In a small separate residence within the Ranford territory, they found letters and a diary.

Carefully hidden in a secret room.

"How terrible... even her own father."

At that time, the former Viscount Ranford had a chronic illness, but it wasn't a fatal condition.
However, a physician, on the order of that woman, had injected poison into a syringe.

And she used a special poison, so even if an autopsy were conducted, it wouldn't be detected.
There was no need to investigate down to the bones.

"Why doesn’t she use her head for something else?”

Perhaps the physicians were the ones who brought up such specialized matters.
They likely aimed to seize the Ranford family fortune, but the physicians involved became dispensable.

Afterward, they seemed to have died in an unfortunate accident.

"She's an insatiable and despicable woman... but this diary and letters can be of use."

The time for this crime has likely passed.
There's a possibility that the statute of limitations has expired, but even so, these could be materials to definitively drive away that woman.

"Master Henry."

"What is it?"

"Lord Diaz is here."

"My father-in-law?"

That's unusual.
Normally, he would send a letter in advance.

"It seems to be urgent."

"Let him in."

What on earth could have happened?
Perhaps there's a problem at the Royal palace?

Or maybe something happened to Mother...

"Henry, I'm sorry."

"Father-in-law, what's the matter?"

"It's about Marie!"

"She's not here today. She went out with a maid... Cyril is at the Duke's house."

He’s been quite active lately, getting along well with Lord Elysion, pleasing Lady Eliana.

"As I thought..."

"Father-in-law?"

"Marie is planning to crush my ex-wife and son on her own."

"What..."

"She's already taking action. She might be meeting with those two now."

No way...
It's too dangerous!

Even if Marie now wouldn't blindly follow those two like before, there's still a danger.

Those people are willing to do anything for their desires.

"Excuse me."

"Mom!"

"Lady Anesia?"

Mom entered without knocking, an unusual flustered expression on her face.

"Lord Diaz... Marie is..."

"What about Marie..."

"I got a report that she agreed to a meeting with those two."

What the!
She went to meet them alone after all!

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v5, Chapter 10

Anesia’s Blunder
On that day, I provoked that woman and played the role of a villain.
The reason was to manipulate her into coming to the Capital, and I had considered directly crushing her.

However, that woman has only recently lost her noble status.
Unfortunately, she is a genius when it comes to seducing men.

Well, respectable gentlemen probably won't be deceived.
But, when she returns to the noble society by remarrying into the nobility, it will be troublesome.
And she still believes without doubt that she is a noble.

That's why I intended to make myself the target to protect Marie.
This is just my speculation, but if she feels that Marie's responses to the letters were cold despite the kindness she showed, she would think that I am behind it.

That was fine.
As long as Marie wasn't targeted with ill intentions.

But I underestimated Marie.

She was a sincere girl.
As earnest, loyal, and upright as one can get, enough to captivate Henry.

Cats are said to forget favors in three days, precisely the words suitable for that woman.
On the other hand, Marie was the type of person who would never forget a favor, even if it happened only once.

So...

"It's all my fault. At that time, I made it so they could get enough money and arranged for them to come to me.”

"Mother..."

"If they stayed in the territory, they would be a nuisance to the residents. But I planned on detaining them in the Capital to protect her sister, Lady Anita. Fabricating a crime, or even poisoning, were on the menu.”

"What do you mean by on the menu?"

"It's okay. I planned to make it look like she was poisoned at a tea party."

If she committed a crime in public, there would be no way out.

"I did it to make that woman make a ‘splash’... But Marie is doing something reckless like this."

"Did she get influenced by you, Mom? Is that it?"

In an attempt to protect my dear Marie from getting hurt, I intended to crush those two.

But...

"The responsible Marie must have been feeling overwhelmed."

"Lady Anesia, it's not your fault."

"I should have crushed them more surely. I apologize."

Lord Diaz did not blame me.
He wouldn't blame me.

Because Lord Diaz is kind.

It would have been better if he scolded me.

"Anyway, we need to hurry and go as well."

"Yes."

But we have to be careful.
Our actions could put Marie in danger.

"Kim is by her side in case anything happens."

"Yes..."

I thought we had to save Marie at any cost.

But my lovely daughter-in-law saw everything more clearly than I did.
And I had forgotten just how incredibly capable she was.

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