Castle of the Monster (1.1)

“She's filthy. If I were her, I'd have already committed suicide. If she continues to remarry like this, she might just end up as a high-class prostitute.”

“Shhh! Be quiet. This time, she's a duchess.”

Lily stopped her tracks before reaching her carriage. Their voices were soft, but also loud enough for everyone to hear. She kept quiet, though, and kept her green eyes downcast even as she clenched her pure white dress.

Her father followed her. Shilok Isles poked her daughter's shoulder with a cane. “Don't procrastinate and hurry up. We have to meet your new husband before it's too late.”

As always, he was not interested in finding out who insulted his daughter.

His silver hair was quite tidy, and still thick for his age. The clothes on his skinny body were properly washed and ironed as well. He gazed coldly at his daughter entering the carriage without an escort.

He used the cane and prevented her nanny from entering the carriage after Lily.  “Keep an eye on her. She must not die, get injured or be hated until she gives birth to the duke's child.”

“I'll keep that in mind, My Lord.”

The carriage door closed with a heavy thud.

Throughout the week-long journey, there was little conversation among the passengers.

Lily spent most of the time looking out of the window, staring at the gorgeous scenery they passed by.

By the time they were closer to their destination, the nanny spoke.

“I'm grateful that there is still a noble family that accepts a woman like you who had been married twice. From now on, stay as still as a doll. A woman will be well-liked by her mother-in-law if she does what her mother-in-law tells her to do.”

One corner of Lily's mouth went up. “…Everyone will hate me no matter how obedient I am.”

She recalled her ex-husband's funeral. Her ex-mother-in-law attacked her with the ferocity of a tiger, as feeble-bodied as she was.

“You killed my son! It's all because of your curse!” The viscountess went and grabbed her hair. Lily just silently endured it.

“No matter how rich you are, you shouldn't have let my son die! Die! Die and return my son! Die for my son!”

The first person who ran into the room during the mess was Lily's younger brother Crocus.

“What a crazy old woman… Why is it my sister's fault that your sick son died?” He pulled Lily's ex-mother-in-law's hands away from Lily's hair. Lily staggered, snapping out of her thoughts.

“Why do you think my son would get sick for no reason!”

Perhaps Lily's ex-mother-in-law realized that the other person was too strong, so she grabbed the cane that had been thrown away. Lily threw herself between them to protect her brother.

The sound of the cane hitting Lily's face reverberated through the room.

She straightened. “Stop… Crocus. Calm down and gather yourself.”

The maids in mourning clothes rushed into the room.  They glared while supporting the weeping old lady.

Lily kept her head down like a sinner, holding onto her brother so that he wouldn't add fuel to the fire.

Crocus turned to his sister as soon as the door closed.

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Her hair was disheveled, lips bleeding and cheeks swollen. There were even bruises starting to form along her eyelid where she was hit by the cane.

“Why did you stop me? I don't care how many canes that old woman has! Why the hell are you as skinny as a tree branch!”

“This is nothing. You shouldn't let your feelings control you.”

“You're always like this. The only thing you know how to do is endure.”

“It's fortunate to have that between us siblings. At least one of us is patient.”

Crocus was about to reply, but the opening door interrupted him.

“Father,” he said.

Lily instantly stiffened, unlike when she saw her ex-mother-in-law.

But unlike her, Crocus seemed to be relieved by their father's appearance.

“Father, we should call a doctor. Just now, Lily's ex-mother-in-law…”

“Crocus, I'll take care of it, so go out and don't let anyone in until I'm done talking to your sister.”

Crocus nodded.

Lily almost gave in to the urge to make him stay, but she realised she'd just be pathetic if she were to rely on her younger brother and just swallowed her breath.

The atmosphere in the room was as heavy as lead. Her shoulders tensed as her father glared at her.

Shilok slapped the black cane onto his palm. “I've found another marriage partner for you. Prepare for your next marriage as soon as you return. I'll get an expensive doctor to get rid of the scars on your face.”

“Yes…?” Lily's eyes widened. “Are you…. doing that again?”

Shilok only raised an eyebrow in response

“But today is… It has only been less than an hour since my ex-husband got buried.”

“Today? Today's the day you became a widow without a son again. I already told you before that I do not have plans to leave a woman with no children in my family.”

“On the day of Yunek's death, you also decided on it by yourself. This time again… without me, Father…”

(t/n : Yunek is one of the ex-husbands)

Lily bit her lips. She knew why her father acted that way. Nonetheless, a desperate need to speak up clawed at her. “What if I can't…”

Shilok frowned as if he couldn't comprehend what she was saying.  “Don't tell me you're attached to your ex-husband. A sickly guy who was always ill and couldn't even walk. He was abusive and poured boiling water on you.”

“You're going overboard.” Her fists clenched.  “How could you still do this to me when you knew everything?”

“If you don't marry into a noble family, we will end up as commoners again. Do you want to see us lose everything?”

Her father didn't stop there. “You'll just have to find a noble family who can support us. I know that you've contributed a lot. The jewelry mining business, from the beginning to the distribution, is all under my control…” He paused. “But you still have to get married, you stupid girl.” He pointed his black painted cane straight at Lily. “Do you know there's people after the jewelry business? That's why you need to get married so we can gain support. Otherwise, we'll all have to live on the streets when you were a child.”

Lily stopped breathing.