When the King, who later became Alicia's partner and husband, launched an all-out investigation, one that was originally launched with the intent of capturing the Queen's power, Count Kenboe was instead apprehended. At the time, the young King, who had only recently begun dealing with state affairs, was full of spirit and vigour to do everything he could to avoid his mother's shadow during the converging clean-up.

Despite sharing the same blood, the young King and Queen had a strained relationship. The Queen, who should have been King by nature, did not easily relinquish her power during the converging clean-up process, which was a major impediment for the young King, who had only recently begun his statehood affairs.

That'd also been the reason he'd been hostile to Alicia from the start, with the exception of their first meeting.

Alicia was the Queen's relative and goddaughter, and she had blood ties to the Coulson forces he'd been fighting.

Though the truth was his obvious friendliness when they first met. It appeared to be the beginning of a new relationship, but he changed as soon as he discovered Alicia's true identity. Since then, he'd always returned her gaze with a grimace and the air of an outsider.

"On which side are you? Should it be me, your husband, or the Queen?"

Alicia pressed her lips together, recalling his cold, piercing voice. It would have been nice to be able to pick a side, but it was impossible. The Queen was like a mother to her, filling the void left by her late mother's death, and the young king was a man who'd already taken her love and heart from the moment they met.

And Alicia got it.

She understood the feelings of the Queen, who could have been King herself but gave it up for her son, and she understood the miserable feelings of the King, who was crushed under the shadows of his mother, who had more power than he did as the king. She understood both sets of feelings because she had been in their shoes.

Alicia attempted to mediate and solve their failing relationships, but the more they struggled, the worse it became.

But, in conclusion, there was one thing she never understood. When carrying out the ambitious tax investigation, he raised his hands at one point to punish Count Kenboe. Many nobles, including Count Kenboe, were caught in his trap as a result of his arrangement.

So why did he come to a halt in the middle?

"Greetings, Count Kenboe!"

Count Kenboe appeared as the door unexpectedly opened.

Alicia took a step forward while leaning against the railing of the stairs. But her steps were insignificant. In contrast to her previous life, she did not rejoice at her father's return, nor did she rush down the stairs.

She stood higher than the Count, quietly watching him walk in, holding the hand of a young girl her age.

"Good day, Count Kenboe." "This kid..."

While handing his coat to the old butler, the Count smiled brightly.

"She is my daughter." I had no choice but to leave her outside at the time."

“Your What…?”

The old butler's eyes widened in surprise, and he turned to face Alicia.

He noticed her standing alone on the stairs.

Alicia's eyes were sad as she looked at him.

For as long as she could remember, the old butler had served the mansion. He was always objective and fair. He'd look into Count Kenboe's misbehavior with fair judgment. After a few years, the Count kicked him out of the mansion because he didn't have a letter of recommendation.

He took the old man's life.

The old butler's face turned white as he quickly grasped the situation. He gave Alicia a sympathetic look as she watched the scene from the stairs, trying to figure out what was going on.

"You've just arrived, Count." Let us go..."

"Alicia, please come down here. "Please allow me to introduce you to your sister!"

Count Kenboe called Alicia, who was on the stairs at the time. He didn't care about hiding his gushing emotions.

Alicia had a pale face, despite her white clothes and silvery long hair. She appeared haggard and underweight, as if she hadn't eaten much since her mother's death.

"I said come down here. Patricia is my daughter and your sister. She had to live outside for various reasons, but she will now live with us in this mansion."

"Get the hell out."

“What?”

Alicia gave the Count a cold stare.

"Leave my house, father... with your daughter."