# Chapter 12: 12
Margaret screamed again.
—You've caused a disaster! Now look your mother in the eyes and realize what you've done wrong!
Radis's eyes widened.
It was a dream, but… Why did it hurt?
Margaret's verbal insults went from one ear to the other because Radis was paralyzed with shock.
-That? Hey? Hey? Was it greed? You'll only come to your senses if they open your mouth, eh! Scissors, bring me some scissors! I'll rip your mouth off!
Radis touched his swollen cheek.
It hurt.
It really, really hurt.
The pain seemed to clear his mind.
—…try it.
-That?
—If you're going to destroy me, please try.
Margaret's mouth fell open.
“But isn't this really just a dream?”
It was all too vivid to say it was just a dream.
—Oh, sure! You don't want to live anymore, huh? Sure, go ahead, go ahead and die today!
Even his heart hurt.
But Radis was no longer willing to allow herself to be torn apart and broken into pieces.
She grabbed Margaret's hand, who was about to grab Radis's hair.
Margaret's eyes were wide.
Radis was sixteen years old when David entered the academy.
Although she was terribly thin due to her malnutrition, her body was magnificently disciplined.
Margaret, who was a noble lady, could not compare.
Margaret's face slowly turned pale as she struggled to remove her hand.
—Y-you…
In the end, he was unable to grab Radis by the hair.
Radis looked at his mother's face.
—As you ordered me, I went to the Imperial Academy and obtained an admission certificate. All on me!
—You...this...!
—Do you know what that means? Do you really think I let you hit me because I couldn't think clearly or because I was powerless?
—Let go of me! I told you to let me go!!!
—I put up with everything because you were my mother. Everything, until the end!
—T-this…!
Margaret gritted her teeth and struggled to get her doll out.
But she couldn't move a muscle.
Margaret ended up screaming.
—How dare you do this to your mother!
Radis released her.
Margaret, who used all her strength to pull back her wrist, recoiled and staggered backwards.
—AHHHHH!
After she screamed, there was a heavy silence.
Margaret dropped to the ground and looked at Radis.
Radis was no different from any other knight.
His hair was still a mess from the cut he had received just before taking the entrance exam, his skin was damaged and dry.
Only one thing changed.
The look in his eyes.
They weren't the same eyes that always looked at Margaret, waiting for something, anything.
Like the night sky, his black eyes showed no emotion.
Radis spoke similarly, emotionlessly and in a low voice.
—I can't stand it anymore.
Margaret's face wrinkled and turned red.
And finally, she burst into tears.
The maids, who heard Margaret's crying, entered the room in shock.
It was Margaret who fell under her own power, but she gasped and cried as if she had been assaulted. In the end, the maids had to call more servants to take her out.
Radis sighed deeply upon seeing her.
If that really was a dream, I hoped it would end there.
But after one day… two days…
The dream continued.
On the third day, Radis had to accept that as his new reality.
───── •????• ─────
Radis's right cheek was still swollen, and in front of her, the maid threw a bowl of soup at random.
Radis looked at the gray, watery soup, where a few pieces of vegetable peelings floated here and there.
The food they gave Radis had already been terrible before, but now, it was even worse.
It was almost like a gift from Margaret.
“It doesn't even look like food anymore.”
Radis stared at the maid who brought the soup.
-Enjoy your meal.
Irene. It had been a long time since Radis had seen her.
She was Margaret's favorite maid, and the one who gave her a hand in turning Radis' childhood into hell.
—If you sent Irene, then you really are determined to abuse me.
Margaret's intentions were so obvious that Radis could only sigh.
Valiz