"Don’t cross the line, you bastard!" Adele roared, her fury exploding. She drew her sword in a flash, the steel glinting under the dim light. But before she could even strike, a tremendous blow surged into the room. The force swept through like a storm, throwing both Kael and Adele back. The air itself trembled. Adele screamed as she was smashed down onto the ground with a terrifying force. The impact cracked the marble floor beneath her. Dust rose in the air. Pain rushed through her body, but what froze her more was Ruth’s gaze. His eyes had turned black, deep like the abyss, as if they could suck out her soul. Ruth looked at her with pure disgust. His voice was steady, but it carried the weight of judgment. "I will give you a chance." Adele’s brows furrowed. Her body shook as she struggled against the force pinning her down. Kael, standing nearby, narrowed his eyes. Something felt off. Chance? What chance is this old dog talking about out of nowhere? Ruth stepped closer. Adele writhed on the ground, desperate to rise. Despite reaching S rank, she felt like a weak worm beneath his presence. She was helpless at the mercy of her father. Ruth’s voice cut through the silence. "Did you know about the assassins sent after your mother by that brat Vale from the Assassins Tower?" Adele froze. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She thought she had misheard him. "What assassins?" she stammered, her voice breaking. "I really didn’t send any." Her words tumbled out in panic. She had never even thought of sending killers after her mother. She had no idea Vale had acted on his own for Elara. She knew about him sensing people after Kael but why would she ever harm her own mother? She hated her mother but not enough to kill her after her mother was just useless. But Ruth’s eyes stayed cold. "So you don’t know that the assassins sent after Kael and your mother came out from the duchy itself?" "Father, believe me!" Adele’s voice cracked as she tried to push herself up from the floor. "I don’t know anything. I am innocent!" Her chest heaved. Panic raced through her. She could feel the ground slipping beneath her. Ruth sighed heavily. He closed his eyes for a moment, as if to calm his fury, then looked at her with eyes filled not with anger now, but disappointment. That look pierced Adele more than any blade. She had always seen her father look at Kael with disappointment, and it had filled her with secret joy. But now that very same expression was aimed at her. It shattered her heart. "If you had agreed or even admitted you sent assassins after Kael, not after your mother, I would have been proud of you," Ruth said, shaking his head slowly. Adele’s lips trembled. She felt her chest squeeze tight. "You have been steady and well-behaved. Strong and calm. In my heart I already thought of passing the Grand Duchy to you when the Emperor passed away." Both Kael and Adele spoke at the same time, their voices full of shock. Adele’s eyes widened. Her heart leapt. He planned to pass it to me... Me... I was going to be Duchess... For real... But her hope was crushed in the next moment. "Alas, the day you acted with that girl to tarnish your brother, my heart wavered," Ruth said. His voice was heavy, filled with regret. "If that was not enough, you sent a maid to poison and destroy your brother. Thankfully, he turned it around." He rose to his feet. His voice boomed across the hall. "You know I cherish pride and honor. Did you think I could accept a scandal? Did you believe that by ruining your brother, I would be pleased? That it would make me cast him aside?" ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ N()velFire.net Each word struck Adele like thunder, crushing her from within. "I placed my hopes on you," Ruth continued, his tone cutting deeper than any sword. "But you never understood my intentions. You wasted everything by chasing shadows, thinking I favored a son over a daughter. Since when did I ever make such a difference?" His voice cracked with fury. "You wanted strength, and I gave you strength. Every resource you wanted was placed in the palm of your hands." Adele’s heart felt like it was being torn apart. Tears streamed down her face. "No... Father, stop... I apologize... This is a mistake... Please forgive me..." She stood on trembling legs, her body shaking violently. Ruth’s voice was steady, yet filled with sorrow. "Your brother needed protection, so I protected him. But I never thought you would join hands with outsiders to harm him. If Kael had truly been vile, if he had betrayed you or harmed you, I could have understood. But he was innocent. Yet you... You still tried to destroy him." He then turned his gaze toward Emilia. "I know I have not been a good husband, nor a good father, nor even a good man. But I never mistreated any of you. What you deserved, I always gave. And yet, to see such blatant foolishness..." Ruth spat to the side in disgust. His hand gripped Emilia’s arm firmly, and he pulled her up with him as he walked out. "Father... No, Father, listen to me! Father!" Adele screamed, chasing after him with tears streaming down her face. Ruth stopped at the doorway. He turned back and looked at her one last time. His gaze was heavy, his voice low and sharp. "Just how long are you going to disgust me? Instead of asking forgiveness from your brother, you run after me. Adele... it seems you are unfit." "No..." Adele’s knees buckled. Her mind broke apart. The world spun as she cried out, but no sound reached her father’s ears. Kael walked past her. He gave her a cold look, his eyes filled with nothing but disdain. He did not stop. He did not speak to her. He simply moved forward. At the end of the passage, Mariana stood, watching the scene unfold with wide eyes. As Kael passed by her, he muttered quietly, his voice chilling. "It seems the days of your mistress are numbered." Mariana’s eyes widened in shock. A cold shiver ran through her spine as Kael walked away. She turned her gaze back and saw Adele collapse, her pale face empty of all life, her body sinking to the ground. She looked like a doll that had been broken beyond repair.