I Sought Out the Tragedy’s Scheming Mastermind

I Sought Out the Tragedy’s Scheming Mastermind — Chapter 4

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Count Mussieux and Marquis Valkyrie’s penetrating gazes were to blame for Eliana’s trauma.

She sat next to Count Mussieux with a disgusted face.

She was disturbed by the probing stare she immediately felt pricking her skin.

For a brief moment, she remembered what it felt like to be openly mocked and teased by her classmates during class.

But Eliana tried to hold in her discomfort.

Her eyes automatically found Marquis Valkyrie’s, who sat opposite her.

He looked older than she had imagined.

The gray-haired old man grinned at her.
Then his eyes blatantly looked her up and down.

She quickly turned her head to avoid the creepy sensation crawling up her spine.

‘Hang in there.
Patience is key.
We can’t go to Hera right now.’

She could not cause problems.
It would be easier to escape this if she stayed as silent as possible.

Eliana tried to rationalize this uncomfortable position.

“Nevertheless, she will be your wife soon, so I invited you here to see her.” The count said, pretending to be friendly as he held onto Eliana’s hand.

Eliana glared coldly at the sleazy, unbecoming count.

Having read the novel, Eliana was not surprised by his behavior.

‘Since when were you nice to Eliana?’

Eliana discreetly slapped off the count’s hand in disapproval.

At that moment, the count flinched for just a second.

Although he still maintained a soft attitude on the outside, his eyes told a different story, brimming with fierceness.

Marquis Valkyrie continued to scan Eliana wordlessly while she and the count glared at each other.
Then, he finally said, “Her hips are too wide, but I doubt we will have a hard time conceiving an heir, Count Mussieux.”

“Huh?”

Eliana stared at him in bewilderment.

His eyes were glued to Eliana’s rear, his tongue lapping at his lips.

‘So it’s strange to have wide hips in this world?’

Eliana was overwhelmed by the sudden comment.

His blatant gaze also held something sinister underneath.

Then, Count Mussieux answered with a flattering smile.
“Despite her appearance, she is a very healthy girl.”

It was Count Mussieux who made Eliana feel entirely more miserable.

He spoke of his daughter as if she were the meat of cattle being traded at a market.

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Count Mussieux studied Marquis Valkyrie’s face with humiliation. 

Marrying a man who discusses your ass the first time you meet him?

It was absurd.

And a father who pretended he did not abuse his daughter? That type of treatment would make anyone want to escape.

Both men were trash.
Count Mussieux was trying to sell his daughter, and Marquis Valkyrie wanted to buy a young woman with his money.

‘I cannot do this.’

Eliana changed her strategy.

How could she put up with this?

If she had the strength to fight, she wouldn’t have been scared to take a leave of absence when that sunbae continued to bother her.

So Eliana asked the marquis in a sharp voice.
“Marquis, how do you see a woman? Looking at how you treat me as an object, I doubt your sincerity.”

“Oh, dear.
You must have been offended by my remarks.”

“Eliana, apologize.” Count Mussieux was surprised and reprimanded Eliana, but Marquis Valkyrie raised one corner of his mouth and let out a laugh.

Eliana had no intention of backing down.

She was not so foolish as to sit still after being insulted.

Eliana kept her mouth shut, reminding herself she had a right to remain silent.

She was determined not to apologize.

Marquis Valkyrie should apologize first, not her.

Count Mussieux grabbed Eliana and urged her to apologize quickly.

But she sat tall without batting an eye.

Marquis Valkyrie stared Eliana down with an interesting face.

“Yes, I think I will enjoy taming this one.”

“…”

Eliana was rendered speechless and could not think of anything to say back.

She responded by glaring at him with fire in her eyes.

Their eyes clashed.
Marquis Valkyrie’s gaze was sharp and cool.

A person who acted according to her interests while pretending not to.

And a family who can destroy each other if they do not like one another.

For just a split second, Eliana felt older than Marquis Valkyrie.

It was like an illusion where her eyes and his overlapped.

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What did he mean by “tame?” That was not something you should say to another person.

Marquis Valkyrie was already treating her as if she were beneath him.

Those who do not regard the relationship between a man and a woman as equal use evil as a representation.

A father who treats her as a commodity, and the man who—she refused to acknowledge as her fiancé—treats her like an animal.

Eliana pursed her lips to keep quiet.

She knew better than to argue with someone who did not make any sense.
Her mental health would stay intact that way.

This made her want to escape right now.

But there was nowhere to go.

It had not been long since she took over Eliana’s body, and she still lacked an understanding of this world.

As Eliana continued to stay silent, the count and the marquis began to exchange stories amongst themselves.

Their conversation took longer than she thought.

Eliana begged for the time to pass quickly.

Then the two were suddenly sharing their political views.

Apparently, Marquis Demeter would return soon, and the mine along the empire’s outskirts was doing well.

At the end of their conversation, Count Mussieux rose from his seat and said, “I’ve been putting off my work…”

‘Finally!’

Eliana was about to get to her feet when Count Mussieux gently pressed down on her shoulder.

His unspoken words were clear.
Stay.

She turned to the count with curiosity, wondering why he held her back.

“I called you over here, but it is not right of me to leave you like this.
I will return again later.”

“But…!”

“Then we can speak some more.”

“Very well.”

Count Mussieux didn’t even spare Eliana a glance as he quickly said goodbye to the marquis before exiting the room.

Now, only the marquis and Eliana remained.

The maids also immediately fled after Count Mussieux.

Their hidden intentions were plainly obvious.

Her heart thumped against her chest as a sign of warning.

It bothered her that she knew what it meant.

Eliana sprung from her seat, knowing she had to get out of there quickly.

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“Excuse me, but I’m not feeling very well…”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

But as soon as she turned to leave, the marquis seized her by the arm in a tight grip.

Then he flung her back into her seat and moved closer to her.

Eliana’s eyes shook violently at the sudden contact.

She swallowed the strings of curses she almost let out. 

The atmosphere was unpretentious.

Count Mussieux had avoided staying in the same room as Eliana and the marquis. 

The maids as well.

And it was improper to leave the marquis, his guest, alone inside his home.

But… what if this was planned?

‘Here’s your money.
Is that enough?’

‘Oh my, give me this, and I’ll do it too.’

Sudden words invaded her mind, even though she did not want to think about them.

Her mind overflowed with the memories of being sexually harassed by that condescending sunbae.

What he did to her.

The things he said hurt her pride and made her avoid sitting still in class.

He made her tremble in fear, afraid that she’d be followed and threatened.

And yet, he still praised himself for the things he said.

And so, she died at his hands.

When she was about to encroach on the memories of her previous life, she felt something unfamiliar touch her thigh.

Eliana struck his hand in surprise.

Slap—

That short sound of friction made the smile disappear off Marquis Valkyrie’s face.

He looked at Eliana’s hand and raised his hand with a sneer.

Then…

Slaap!

There was a sharp noise and then silence.

Eliana’s cheek throbbed, and something trickled down her mouth.

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She must have bitten her tongue in surprise.

Eliana involuntarily laughed.

She had gotten slapped.
Her parents had never raised their hands against her.

Is this what it feels like when your blood is rushing inside you?

Eliana was as stiff as a stone, and Valkyrie gripped her waist roughly.

“I was going to be nice, but I’ve already been generous enough.
Considering I took you off the market.”

Her hands trembled.

The coldness of his fingertips.
His smile, eyes, and tone of voice.

Suddenly, she recalled a memory.
A person had come to her with the intent of expressing the truth and wanted to help her.

And thanks to that person, she had the motivation to say what had to be said.

And although she was afraid, she refused to show it and instead held her head high against her opponent.

The Marquis leered at Eliana, who remained silent.

“What? Was I too blunt? Your father has already received his mine, and you have been sold to me, whether you like it or not.”

Eliana felt like her head was slammed with a hammer when she heard the word “mine.”

So the “mine” they discussed was actually about their deal?

It was unbelievable to think a father would discuss selling his daughter with said daughter right next to him.

Eliana’s hand trembled faster.

‘Poor Eliana.
Stupid Eliana… Eliana, let me help you.
I’ll save you.’

Eliana’s face took on a sudden look of determination.

This marriage should not be happening.

She didn’t want it to happen.

She no longer wanted to be easily subjected to those who would crush and harm her.

A cool sensation spread through Eliana’s hands.

On pure instinct, she lifted her hand to repay Valkyrie with a slap.

Another sharp noise echoed through the room.

And then, Marquis Valkyrie fell to the floor, howling in agony.

“Argh!”

Eliana stared at him in amazement.
His reaction was more intense than she had expected.

She had just slapped him, but Marquis Valkyrie’s cheek was freezing.

Only then did she look down at her hand, and she saw what she thought was white smoke swirling around her.