I Was Told to Drink Poison, So I Drank It - 8 - The Sins of Duke Zenefelder

“That…”

Stella could not continue her words.

Seeing his daughter fall silent in confusion, David spoke clearly.

“You did nothing. You only indulged in pleasure, enjoyed luxury, and drained the country of Victoire. But… I also bear responsibility for adopting you. I should have assessed you with my own eyes instead of leaving it to the servants. If I had done so, I wouldn’t be thinking about how things could have been different now.”

“That’s terrible! Are you saying you never wanted me as your daughter?!”

Stella cried even harder.

David’s words seemed to have deeply hurt her. She covered her face and burst into tears as if she never even imagined hearing such words.

David let out a sigh as he looked at her.

“…Yes. I regret not choosing with my own eyes back then. If I had… Chalize wouldn’t have had to die.”

Chalize’s mother, Anne, collapsed in shock upon learning of Chalize’s execution.

Her mental state became unstable, and she sank into depression. Concerned for her well-being, David decided to go into exile.

For a noble born and raised in Victoire, abandoning his country was an unimaginable decision.

But ultimately, it all began when he brought Stella into the family.

Everything that happened was his own fault.

David was consumed by deep guilt.

Stella sobbed and accused her father.

“…That’s horrible. Why would you say something so cruel? You always loved my sister more, didn’t you? My sister was executed not because of me, but because she did something wrong! She was punished for her own actions! So why are you blaming me?!”

Stella understood nothing.

She knew far too little about the world.

David glanced at his daughter but chose not to answer her anymore.

Instead, he turned his gaze to a servant.

Understanding his master’s intent, the servant gently spoke to Stella.

“Your Majesty, the Queen, I will escort you to the back entrance.”

“No!! No!! I’m staying here! I’m not going back to that castle where I could be killed at any moment!!”

Stella screamed and stomped her feet.

It was an action unworthy of the most noble woman in Victoire, and the servant hesitated in response.

David looked at her with cold eyes.

“Do as you wish, but we are leaving. If you stay here, the people will capture you long before you reach the castle.”

“Leaving…?”

Stella’s eyes widened in shock.

Then, as if realizing something, she shouted at David.

“You’re going into exile?! Take me with you!! Please, let me come! One more person won’t make a difference!! You won’t abandon me, will you?!”

“What about the King?”

If the Queen fled, the public would turn their anger toward the King.

Ordinarily, no one would want to cause such harm to their beloved.

But Stella abandoned him without hesitation.

“I don’t care! He’s a royal by birth! He has responsibilities! If he has to die for Victoire, then it should be an honor for him!!”

Her pupils were dilated with excitement.

Perhaps, to ease her fears and anxiety, she had been abusing sedatives.

Her behavior was strange enough to make David suspect it.

“Please! Save me! Take me with you! Get me out of here!”

“Stella.”

“No! I refuse to die like my sister—”

“Enough!!”

David finally shouted.

To David, Chalize was his only bl00d-related daughter.

Her execution had been nothing but unjust.

A fabricated affair with Prince Noah.

The people’s anger, fueled by heavy taxes, had been directed at her, leading to her execution.

David did not believe that Stella had orchestrated it.

She wasn’t smart enough for that.

But without even realizing the temple’s scheme, she had driven her sister to her death simply because she wanted to marry the man she loved.

That was something he could never forgive.

Stella let out a terrified scream at David’s outburst.

“Leave immediately. Or I will hand you over to the angry mob outside.”

“…”

Stella was so terrified she couldn’t speak.

Her face turned pale as she trembled.

David repeated his words.

“Go now. This is my final warning.”

David knew he bore responsibility.

As her adoptive father—though they were not bl00d-related—he had chosen to take her in.

And so, he believed it was his duty to guide her.

But this was the end.

No matter what he said, Stella never listened.

She ignored every warning.

This final meeting had been her last chance.

But she had wasted it herself.

There was no way left for her to survive.

If she had repented and shown a willingness to change, David might have helped her.

But Stella was selfish to the very end, only caring about saving herself.

David abandoned her.