Beast of the Frozen Night

r hair was always shiny and her skin texture was as smooth as porcelain.

Still, Emily, looking at Anne through the mirror, showed a gloomy face.
Emily, who knew the County couple, spoke to her with a very sad tone, as if she had expected it.

“To such a pretty and lovely daughter .
.
.
you were sent here.”

“Lovely .
.
.”

Her lips let out an involuntary laugh.

‘Love.’ What a nonsensical word.

Affection never existed, because they were never devoted to Anne.
No, there was no such word in their dictionary.
Had they done so, it would have been so rare for them to lift a rod at her.

Anne was like her merchandise in the wedding market.
Having been decorated and cared for since she was a child, it was only natural for her to stand out in the social world.
Although she may not be of a prestigious family, her beautiful appearance played a part.
She didn’t speak with people unless they were of a decent family.
That was why she was called the flower of the social world without any friends.

Even though she was a great person, it was merely an illusion.
It was just because of her foolish parents who tried to meddle in her actions one by one.
It was true that she grew up well, but she wasn’t loved.
If she had to pick out the similar feelings, the affection would be all from Emily, who was twelve years older than her.

Rather than that, she wondered why Emily was in the North.
Anne directed her gaze to Emily’s belly.
The last time she remembered, Emily’s stomach had swollen as if a pillow had been tucked in.

She asked if Emily had gained weight, but Emily only smiled bitterly without a word.
And the next day she disappeared.
Anne’s mother had told her that Emily had quit her job and gotten married.

What happened to the child .
.
.

When she saw Emily willingly pack her bags and followed Anne .
.
.
Perhaps the child did not ever see the light of day.
It was impossible for her to dig into someone else’s wounds, so she didn’t ask Emily until now because she was afraid it would hurt her .
.
.

“Why are you here?”

“I had nowhere to go.
The Countess .
.
.”

Anne could notice that her mother must have placed a block to prevent Emily’s employment.
She must have spread rumors that Emily had seduced her innocent son on purpose.
And in the capital where the rumors spread everywhere, the only place Emily could go would be the north, as if it was independent, far from the capital.

It was a story so obvious that it made Anne sigh.