She could never forget that moment, years ago, when her two children stared at her with resentment and hatred lingering in their eyes.

Their gazes were terrifying to her. The look in their eyes pierced her heart like an arrow and refused to leave her mind even after all these years.

Hate the duchess? Evelina? But they always appeared close. Angelina felt slightly conflicted.

"It was really my fault...! I couldn't help! I just stood by like a coward! I don't blame them for resenting me..." The duchess no longer could hold back the tears and they streamed down endlessly. She chocked with sobs and covered her mouth to muffle it.

"What, what happened, mother? Why do elder sister and brother hate you?" Angelina questioned as she furrowed her brows.

"...!" Beatrice flinched. She turned her head and looked at Angelina with shock. She looked as if she just realized what she said. She immediately wiped away her tears and answered, "No, no! Um, forget I said anything, Lina!"

"..."

The duchess didn't even wait for what Angelina wanted to say and left the balcony in a hurry.

Angelina stared at her panicked departing figure and sighed inwardly. She thought she had figured out the Skyler family, but it appears that she has underestimated the secrets of this family.

****************

Evelina slammed the door to her room open and shut it with a loud "bam!" Lia knew her master's mood was definetly not right and cold sweat had already formed on her forehead. She hesitantly walked to Evelina's side with her head down, acting obedient.

"M'lady, would you like this lowly one to get you something? Your complexion doesn't look well..." Lia spoke as softly as she could, daring not to evoke Evelina's rage.

"You get your rotted little brain working and help me change into another dress! After that, go and brew me some warm tea!" Evelina was shivering from the cold. Her gown was dripping wet and yet no one came to help her. It's all because of that Rienne!

"Y-yes right away, m'lady!" Lia immediately went to help Evelina change and shortly after returned to the room with newly brewed tea, in hope of deflating her lady's fiery anger.

"That witch Lilith and her friends, they're actually bold enough to treat me like this! And they got away with it! No, no, no I'm not gonna let this be! I have to do something! My clean reputation is actually being stained by them!" Evelina bit her lip till it bled. Her trembling fist was raised and she punched the wall as she cursed them ten thousand times in her heart.

Watching her like this, Lia felt like her legs had turned to noodles. Originally she thought serving Evelina would be easy, but she was far from right. The eldest miss is truly terrifying!

"M-my lady... Please calm yourself..." Before she could speak another word, she was interrupted with a low laugh that brought her to her knees.

"Hahaha.... Oh no, it appears that I have forgotten to give lady Rienne anything for her birthday... But It's never too late to give her a present right? I'm sure she'll love what I've prepared for her!" Evelina turned to Lia with a sinister sneer on her face.

*****************

The next morning, as soon as Angelina woke up, she turned her head and was met with the sight of Serina kneeling beside her quietly.

"What happened?" Angelina reluctantly sat up and yawned. As Serina reported what she had inquired, Angelina looked upon her lazily. She wasn't the least bit surprised.

"Hm. She can't stay quiet for even a day, can she? This dear sister of mine really can't lay low... Haha." Angelina leaned her head on her hand and chuckled with amusement.

"Your grace, do you plan on doing something about this or should we stay out of the matter?" Serina asked with a stone face.

"Hmm... Well it wouldn't hurt to lend a helping hand..." The sleepy beauty sneered whilst twirling a lock of her silver hair.

*****************

"A late present? From who?" Rienne eagerly asked the servant holding a box.

"This one is not sure, m'lady. A man in commoner clothes delivered it. He said he was paid to deliver this to you." The male servant informed the estate's young lady.

"Huh, strange... Whatever! Give me, give me!" Rienne reached her two arms out towards the servant and the servant carefully handed the box to her. Rienne brought it back to her room and unwrapped the box's decorative rapping impatiently. After doing so, she took off the lid and...

"What..." She gasped and covered her mouth to prevent herself from screaming.

Why did someone give her the corpse of a dead cat...!?

The cat had what looked to be a blade injury. As if someone had slashed it with a dagger or sharp knife. This cat was clearly murdered!

Beside the cat, a clean note was laid.

[ It would be of your best interest to keep your mouth shut and stop causing trouble. If not, the thing that would be delivered in a box wouldn't be the corpse of this cat but someone important to you.]

"L-Luna!" Rienne screamed her first rank maid's name, her clenched hands trembling.

Soon, fast footsteps sounded from outside and the door was pushed open by Luna. "Miss, is everything alright!? What's wrong?" Luna panted.

"Take... Take this away please!" Rienne pointed at the box with a pale face.

"Huh...?" Luna slowly approached and as soon as she saw the horrifying sight, she stepped back in alarm. She took the lid of the box and put it back on before taking it away quickly.

"M'lady, this matter must be reported to his and her grace!" She subconciously tightened the arms around her box. The box wasn't suspicious at all, it seems the it was heavily sprayed with perfume to cover up the rotting scent of a corpse. This was definetly on purpose.

When Rienne heard Luna's suspicions, she immediately had someone in mind. Who else? Who else could it be if not her!?

Rienne gritted her teeth and frowned with disdain. She knew Evelina was a horrible person, but she actually went this far just because she took the spotlight yesterday!

However, Rienne wasn't Alice who would obediently stay quiet and keep her mouth shut. Rienne would, in a heartbeat, choose to make a fuss.

Once duke and duchess Balloria were made aware of this, they were shocked but we're conflicted. There was no proof that Evelina was really the one behind this, aside from Rienne's claim. Of course, they believed their daughter but the problem is will the nobles believe it...

They quickly found the commoner who delivered the "present" and questioned him. He told them he is a farmer and a cloaked person approached him with the box. The person gave him a gold coin and instructed him to deliver the box to the Balloria estate. He was in need of money thus agreed without hesitation. He wasn't aware that inside the present box was a...

They tried to look into it further but always met a dead end. The person behind this was very careful and cunning.

"Ugh! Dammit! That shameless wh*re! She just drives me crazy! If they can't find proof that she did it... I will! Let's see whether she can keep her act when I slap the wits out of her! Rienne screamed and her expression was extremely bitter, wrinkles formed between her brows.

"M'lady, I don't think..." Luna was about to stop her but before she could continue someone pushed open the door and stopped Rienne for her.

"No, that wouldn't be good. If you do that, you will fall into her trap." A feminine and slightly amused voice sounded.

"Huh? L-Lina!? Why are you here? Also what do you mean?" Rienne was dumbfounded. Her eyes widened as she turned to look at the immortal-like piercing beauty leaning against the door with a mischievous grin spread across the angelic face.

"As I just said, don't go over to the Skyler estate to seek trouble. If you do that, it would mean falling into her trap." Angelina patiently said whilst walking to Rienne with arms crossed.

"Trap? What?" Rienne raised one of her brows, seeming puzzled.

"She planned this. She intends for you to come there and create a fuss. Thus she could play the act of a wronged victim and take the chance to humiliate you. Your reputation will plumet even further and she'll get her way. Also, it's just no wise to pick a fight with her on her birthday." Angelina explained. How could Evelina not know Rienne's personality? She knew Rienne would definitely react differently from Alice and take action.

If Rienne were to go over there and "frame" Evelina for such a disturbing act, not only could Evelina take the opportunity to act the role of a weak pitiful victim, the duke could bestow a punishment onto Rienne as retaliation for what happened to his son on Rienne's birthday.

Rienne's pupils shrank and she felt shivers run down her back. This Evelina is really too scheming...

"But Lina, since today's her birthday, why did you come here instead of celebrating? What if someone claims you're an unfaithful sister that refuses to celebrate her older sister's birthday?" She asked worryingly.

"Hah, what's there to celebrate? The pig has locked herself in her room for the whole day, refusing to get out. There's no reason for me to stay."

"Well... That makes sense." Rienne sighed before continuing, "Then what should I do, Lina? I can't just sit and wait! I need to give that b*tch a lesson!"

"Don't fret, Rienne. I've got an idea." Angelina patted her shoulders and stated. Her lips formed a grin and eyes narrowed. Rienne knew instantly what this look meant.

"Oh? Tell me!" She jumped with excitement.

Angelina chuckled before asking, "Hehe... Does your family estate have any pigs?"

*****************

"Where is she!? Why isn't she here? Didn't that idiot receive my gift in the morning!?" Evelina paced back and forth in her room with an ashen face. She couldn't understand why Rienne didn't come. According to her personality, Rienne should've stormed in the Skyler estate by now! Evelina had even practiced her lines!

"I'm not sure m'lady..." Lia timidly hid in the corner furthest away from the raging Evelina, trying to erase her sense of existence as much as possible. She really wanted to dig herself a hole when her mistress is like this...

Evelina clenched her teeth with such fury that if was about to shatter. Had Rienne not received it? No, that's unlikely...

Has she miscalculated?

A knock came from the door.

Lia quickly opened the door. A female servant stood outside with a present box. After hearing what the servant had to say, Lia took the box and shut the door.

"What is that?" Evelina asked with a chilly tone.

"Um... I don't know, m'lady." Lia put down the box on the desk.

"Well go open it and find out!" Evelina commanded impatiently. Her mood really couldn't get any worse...

"Y-yes m'lady!" Lia got to work immediately and quickly unwrapped the box before opening it.

"Pak! ..." the sound of the box's lid hitting the ground sounded.

"What's wrong?" Evelina turned and saw Lia's pale appearence and trembling hands. Due to her distance, she couldn't see what was inside the box thus she approached slowly.

When she saw the horrific sight, her face paled. Her pupils shrank and eyes widened as if it was about to pop out of her eye sockets.

Inside is the decapitated head of a pig.

A small card by the head said,

[ Oh no, are you sad seeing one of your relative's in this state? I thought it's been quite a long time since you've met your family, therefore I decided to create a little reunion for you.]

Evelina reconized the writing immediately. It was Lilith's handwriting! Ever since Lilith had reincarnated as Angelina, she wrote with Angelina's handwriting, not her's...

"It's... It's her again!" Evelina screamed as she swung her hand and threw the box with the head off the desk.