Philip hated Asella’s stubbornness.

He made outrageous demands and orders to Asella, but whenever she refused them because she thought they were unfair, he subjected her to merciless beating and verbal abuse.

Along with the famous line, ‘you inherited this stubbornness from your useless mother.’

Many of Philip’s accomplishments had begun at the same moment he got married to Adele.

Even though he was the third son of a count, the tale of his passionate courtship and successful marriage to the Marchioness Adele Chartus, who had lost her husband, was well known throughout the empire.

Philip had demonstrated a sweet and loving fatherly affection. At least when Adele was still alive.

However, as soon as Adele’s funeral was over, Philip suddenly changed. When Asella realized that all his actions were nothing but a well-acted performance, it was already too late.

In fact, it finally became clear to her that Philip hated her mother to the point of loathing her.

“You’ve been quiet for a while to the point that I had forgotten.”

“.... “

“I have to step on things like you so they don’t dream about retaliating. “

Philip slipped his hand through a pair of bright white gloves, pulled something out of the back of a drawer, and rolled it up tightly.

Asella closed her eyes, preparing herself for the pain that was approaching.

“Whuh-psssh!!”

The sound of the whip falling on her body pierced the air sharply. She tried to hold her breath and bit her lips. She prevented herself from making any sound, not even a groan of pain.

Although this wasn’t the first time she had been whipped, she was still unable to get used to the terrible pain.

“Asella, my good daughter.”

Unlike his brutal treatment, his speech was perfect and smooth. Asella became more horrified by the difference in tone.

“Don’t you already know how this will end??I mean, nothing ever changes anyway.”

“.... “

The day Philip first slapped Asella, she held on without giving in.

She was confident, and she knew she didn’t do anything wrong.

But the merciless stream of beatings upon the child’s body did not stop.

The pride of nobility and the honor of the Chartus family collapsed in the face of physical pain. The misery of the surroundings was brief, and a sense of relief came quickly when the pain disappeared.

It wasn’t the kind of pain a child who had lost her mother could endure alone.

In a mansion with no one to protect her, Asella quickly learned how to survive in her own way.

She dropped to her knees in humility. She surrendered her will and desires and faced down in the face of violence.

Even as time passed and she grew older, things were still the same.

Before she knew it, she had adapted to just giving up. She couldn’t leave the house, knowing that this mansion was a prison where she would be confined and watched.

She was so used to it that she couldn’t imagine another life.

But at least she knew one thing.

The only legitimate way out of this hellish place was through marriage.

Asella waited anxiously for her one and only life-saving rope.

But at the end of her long waiting was a political marriage to a man she never wanted to marry.

On top of her despair in the reality that she didn’t want to believe, the whippings continued mercilessly.

“I’ll forgive you if you apologize for your bad behavior right now. Come on. Say it. ‘I was wrong. Please forgive me.’”

“.....”

“Quickly.”

Despite his gentle tone, the whipping grew stronger. The thin indoor clothes did not reduce the pain Asella felt. The whip, made by twisting an animal’s fur, was hard and tough.

Not long after, the garment was torn. But Asella did not open her mouth.

“Oh. You’re going to hold up longer today.”

“.....”

“But how much longer can you last?”

“Ugh..!”

The back of her dress, which had been whipped dozens of times, was torn to shreds. Her swollen skin ripped open, and blood flowed from the open wounds, soaking her ruined clothes.

‘Only those who have experienced this horrible feeling would know’, Asella thought.

“Ugh..!”

“Answer me quickly!”

Asella didn’t answer until the end.

She had endured so much, hoping only to get out of this hell. But in the end, the destination was another hell only with a different name. At the least, she couldn’t even use her own mouth to say she’d be happy to go.

Even if it was petty, it was her last remaining pride.

Just then, someone knocked outside the door. Only then did the merciless whipping stop.

Philip opened his mouth at the door with a frown.

“What’s the matter with you? I thought I told you not to disturb me until I had something else to call for?”

“I’m sorry, sir! A man from the Benvito family came..”

“From the Grand Duchy?”

“Yes. They would like to discuss your daughter’s marriage.”

“All of a sudden?! without a prior notice?!”

Philip could not hide his displeasure. However, his opponent was Calix Benvito, who held both money and power.

While alternating his gaze between Asella and the door, he eventually threw the whip on the floor.

He looked at the helpless Asella with eyes filled with a mixture of anger and contempt.

“Stupid bi*ch.”

Philip wiped the sweat off his forehead and threw a dirty handkerchief at Asella.

She was exhausted to the point that she didn’t even think of avoiding it. She was struggling just to breathe. All her strength was sucked out that she couldn’t even lift a finger.

Philip threw one final cold look at her before turning around. However, once he reached the door and turned the doorknob, he stopped and said, “I can’t believe you’re complaining about me making you a Grand Duchess when you should’ve been thanking me countless times over.”

Bang. The door shut with a loud sound.

Asella looked blankly at the closed door.

The demon, who made her life a living hell, dared to demand her gratitude for putting her in the hands of another demon.

She tried to stand but, of course, she was unable to and fell to the ground.

“Ugh!”

Asella laid there and started to vomit. Fortunately, she hadn’t eaten anything yet, as she just woke up to the news.

After twitching on the floor for a while, the nausea finally stopped.

‘How could I be grateful?’

The inescapable misery washed over her, and Asella squeezed her eyes shut.