Alicia, ironically, benefited from the marriage contract following her mother's death.

"Back then, you had a choice. You could have refused to marry mother... you could have sacrificed fame and fortune to be with your loved one. Perhaps you and mother are happy. "Neither would I have been born."

Alicia spoke her thoughts aloud for the first time.

Her father was a self-centered individual. He was given a fair choice: for fame and wealth that he would never achieve in his lifetime, he'd have to forget his old lover and at least... learn to love the woman he would marry. Even if his heart was with another woman, it was a man's duty to care for and love his wife and daughter.

It was a simple decision.

He, however, did not.

He had an affair with another woman and had a child with her.

Perhaps it was for the best that her late mother died before she discovered the truth.

"Your mother was a terrifying woman who had pushed her away without my knowledge!" This child would not have suffered as much if it hadn't been for her! ”

The Count screamed.

Alicia's gaze was fixed on Patricia, the girl clutching the count.

"Did Mother already know about the child?"

She inquired, her gaze fixed on Patricia.

“Yes. She paid Emily a large sum of money. She was pregnant at the time, and she had died by the time I found her. Patricia, on the other hand, spent her childhood in an orphanage. It's all thanks to your mother! ”

Alicia pursed her lips, recalling something her mother had said to her.

Alicia was placed on her lap. "It's better to be unhappy by his side than to be apart and never knowing him," she said, stroking her silver hair and talking to herself. I have no regrets..."

Alicia bit her lower lip.

"If you feel sorry for her, feed, clothe, and house her with your own money, not mother's!"

"How dare you speak to your father in that manner..."

"No, you've never been my father. At least in my memory..."

Alicia was upset.

*************

(Flashback)

"Alicia, could you please request that the Queen allow Patricia to enter the palace?"

So she did, hoping to earn his praise.

After a year of marriage between Alicia and the King, rumors spread throughout the court that there was no news of a pregnancy and that the King and Queen were fighting. That, and the scandalous rumors of the king falling in love at first sight with Patricia's stunning appearance at the royal ball at her sister Alicia's invitation.

And one day, her father approached the struggling Alicia and asked for a favor.

"You are the Queen of the Kingdom, and you have yet to bear a child for the King. Wouldn't it be great if your sister could do it instead of you? Furthermore, given Patricia's status, she would be unlikely to accept your position. You won't have to worry about anything. Everything will be better if you work well with Patricia, and your position as Queen will be strengthened."

Everything will be better if you work well with Patricia, and your position as Queen will be strengthened."

(End of Flashback)

*************

"You've never been a father figure to me..."

She wanted to be loved, she wanted him to love her, to walk beside her and hold her little hands, to teach her things, to keep her safe from the scary world, to give her guidance... to do things a father should do... but all he ever did was leave scars and questions that haunted her at night.

Alicia sought that kind of love from him and struggled so hard to even receive a fraction of his love, but the end result was her undoing...

As a result, she resolved never to love again. She is not going to be the daughter who begs her father for a relationship. She was entitled to better. If it's a love she'll never receive, she'll discard any remnants of it.

"I'll say it again: get her out of here. Right now. Or I'll have a servant drag her out."

"How could you..."

The Count became enraged after hearing Alicia's warning.

He yelled to the old butler standing beside him.

“James! Right now, take that child and lock her in her room! I can't stand hearing her speak to me like this. I can't believe I raised such a child! I'm going to have to give her a good whipping! ”

His orders, however, were met with silence. The old butler said nothing and just stared blankly at the Count.

"What are you doing, James? Didn't you hear me? ”

The elderly butler shook his head.

"But, Count, according to the documents, it's quite clear that the Lady is the owner of this mansion."