Chapter 77 : Chapter 77
Chapter 77: A Foregone Conclusion, Marcus's Fate
Hermann was in despair.
The moment Ryan's words left his mouth,
nearly all the elders panicked.
Even Grand Elder Dietrich frowned deeply.
Ryan was very pleased when he saw their expressions.
Why had he chosen this moment to come to the Jurgen Family and help Isabella seize power?
It was precisely because, after the past three months,
the first batch of perfume had already been completely sold.
The Jurgen Family had already tasted the profits from the perfume.
As the saying went, it was easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury back to frugality.
After experiencing profits as outrageous as outright robbery, there was no way the Jurgen Family would give up the perfume business.
Ryan had struck the Jurgen Family at its most vulnerable point.
These elders had no choice but to take Ryan's attitude into consideration.
“Ahem.” Dietrich cleared his throat and said slowly, “There is no need to be anxious, Mr. Ryan. We never said Isabella could not become the interim family head.”
“How about this? Let us vote by show of hands. Those who agree to Isabella becoming the interim family head, please raise your hands!”
As soon as he finished speaking,
every elder present raised a hand, including Grand Elder Dietrich.
Only Hermann and Otto did not.
But under the current circumstances,
whether the two of them raised their hands or not no longer mattered.
The proposal to support Isabella as the interim family head had received the backing of all the elders.
“Very well. The majority has spoken. I hereby announce that Hermann is stripped of his position as interim family head. Isabella will become the new interim family head, and until Alfred is brought back, Greta will assist Isabella in handling family affairs!”
With those words, Dietrich made the matter a foregone conclusion.
The other elders nodded one after another.
No one spared Hermann another glance.
None of them dared to anger Ryan.
After all, ever since the perfume business began, each of them had received a great deal of money.
And that was after only three months.
Who did not love Gold Coins?
Whoever stood in the way of their making Gold Coins was their enemy!
Now Hermann had become an obstacle to their wealth, so naturally they were eager to kick him aside!
At this point, the matter was over.
Dietrich took Hermann and Otto away.
After all, the two of them were still sons of the former family head, so Dietrich did not execute them.
Of course, that did not mean the two of them would have an easy time.
Dietrich could already see the situation clearly.
Ryan was obviously on Isabella's side.
If they wanted Ryan satisfied, then those two would definitely have to suffer a little next.
Everything was for the family!
Very soon, all the elders left one after another.
...
The result of the family council quickly spread throughout the family.
Isabella had become the new interim family head.
After that, Isabella, Ryan, and the others returned to the castle once more.
Standing in front of the castle, Isabella could not help feeling a little emotional.
She had lived here ever since childhood.
Before, she had been forced to flee from this place.
Now, she had finally returned.
Creak—
The castle doors opened.
The one who came out to greet them was a familiar face—Marcus!
Marcus should already have heard the results of the family council.
Unexpectedly, he had not run away.
“Young Miss, Madam, welcome back!”
...
Neither Isabella nor Greta spoke.
They only looked at Marcus with complicated expressions.
Ryan and Nika stepped back two paces.
“Marcus, why did you betray Father?”
“Young Miss, what is the point of saying such things now?”
Marcus replied calmly.
“It does matter! I just want to know why!”
Isabella shouted hoarsely.
She looked at the butler who had accompanied her for more than ten years.
Deep down, she hoped he had some special hardship he could not speak of.
Just one reason!
She needed only one reason!
“Marcus, I want to know the reason too. I want to hear you say it yourself.”
Greta's expression was calm as she spoke in an even tone.
“All right. Since both Young Miss and Madam wish to know, then I will tell you.”
Marcus let out a sigh and said, “Before I explain the reason, I first want to apologize for injuring Madam.”
Greta gave no response.
Back then, because of Marcus's sneak attack, she had been wounded and captured, which in turn had led to Alfred being driven out.
Did Marcus think a light apology like this was enough to earn her forgiveness?
Impossible!
Marcus also knew Greta could never forgive him.
So after apologizing, he did not pause in the slightest and continued, “My parents were thieves, and they were killed by a young adventurer. So from a very young age, I resolved to avenge them.”
“After leaving the Orphanage, I investigated for a long time and finally learned that that young adventurer was the family head.”
“So I came to the castle and applied to be a butler, hoping that one day I could launch a sneak attack while the family head was off guard.”
“It was only recently that I finally found an opportunity.”
“That is the reason I did what I did.”
Greta frowned. She felt that something was wrong with Marcus's explanation, but she could not pinpoint exactly what it was.
“You are lying!!!”
Isabella shouted.
“Marcus, you have been the butler here for more than ten years. I do not believe that in all those years, you never once had an opportunity. If you went over ten years without making a move, then why did you choose to act during the last battle?”
“It is nothing. I simply never had a suitable chance before.”
Marcus shook his head and denied Isabella's claim.
As soon as he finished speaking, Marcus's body swayed slightly.
Ryan noticed Marcus's condition, but he did not say anything.
“Why? Why exactly?”
Isabella cried out.
She was convinced that this was not Marcus's real reason.
But looking at Marcus now, it was obvious that he had no intention of revealing the truth.
When Marcus saw Isabella's tears, a trace of reluctance flashed through his eyes.
But he forcibly suppressed it.
Then Marcus looked at Ryan.
“Mr. Ryan, you are very strong. I hope that in the future, you can continue protecting Young Miss.”
“Hm?”
Ryan raised a brow, then nodded. “Do not worry. Even without you saying it, I would do the same.”
Isabella was his woman. Of course he would protect her well.
“Young Miss, once I am no longer by your side, you must learn to take care of yourself.”
Marcus's face was growing paler and paler.
“No!”
Isabella shook her head as tears poured down like spring water.
It was as though she had guessed something, and she shook her head frantically.
“Madam...”
Before Marcus could finish, Greta interrupted him.
“I already know!”
Marcus frowned and looked at Greta.
“I know you are the son of thieves, and I also know that Alfred killed your parents. Alfred told me these things himself!”
“W-What?”
Marcus was stunned.
It was not only Marcus.
Isabella and Ryan were equally shocked.
Greta went on speaking as if no one else were there. “On the very day you applied to be a butler, Alfred had already investigated your background completely, including all your experiences before the Orphanage.”
“After he learned that the pair of thieves he killed during his days as an adventurer were your parents, he wanted to make amends to you. That was why he allowed you to become the butler.”
“In truth, he gave you quite a few opportunities, but you never made a move against him during any of them, so he thought you had already let go of your hatred. Who would have thought...”
Greta's tone was low and distant.
In truth, there was one more thing Greta did not say.
Alfred had never regretted killing Marcus's parents.
No matter how one looked at it, Marcus's parents had been thieves.
So Alfred had never once regretted killing them.
But Marcus himself had been innocent.
That was why Alfred had wanted to compensate him.
“Th-This... this...”
Marcus trembled.
His mouth opened and closed, but he did not know what to say.
So that was how it was!
So the family head had known about his background all along!
“Heh... hehehehe...”
Marcus let out a miserable laugh.
He carefully recalled everything that had happened over the years.
It was true.
As the butler of the castle,
over these ten-plus years, Alfred had exposed openings more than once.
But Marcus had never made a move.
In truth, he had already entertained the thought of giving up on revenge.
But everything had been ruined by Hermann.
And that had led to the outcome before them now.
He no longer had anywhere to go.
Everything was already too late.
“So the family head knew from the very beginning.”
Marcus paused, then continued, “If Madam sees the family head again, then please apologize to him for me.”
“Do not ask me to do something like that. Go tell him yourself.”
Greta replied.
“Heh, it is too late!”
Marcus shook his head.
Immediately afterward, blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
“Ah!!”
“Marcus!”
Isabella cried out in alarm.
“Young Miss, Madam, I know that what I have done cannot be forgiven. So before you returned, I had already taken poison. Judging by the time, this is exactly when the effects should be setting in.”
Thud!
As soon as Marcus finished speaking, his whole body dropped to his knees.
“Marcus!”
Isabella cried out and hurried over.
“Young Miss, I am sorry. I made you bear pressures that someone your age should never have had to bear.”
“No, no, no!”
Isabella cried as she shook her head.
“In the future, I will no longer be able to stay by your side and take care of you. But with Nila by your side, I can feel very much at ease.”
“Mr. Ryan is very powerful. If you can receive his protection, then Young Miss will surely benefit greatly in the future.”
“N-No, stop talking.”
“Heh, all right. Since Young Miss does not like hearing it, then I will say no more.”
Marcus let out a bitter laugh.
But even as he laughed, blood still spilled from the corner of his mouth.
Ryan now understood as well why Marcus had not run, why his body had swayed earlier, and why his face had been growing paler and paler.
It turned out he had already decided to kill himself.
Pfft!
Marcus spat out a mouthful of blood.
It was obvious that the poison had already spread into his vital organs.
“M-Mr. Ryan...”
Marcus looked at Ryan one last time, but now he could no longer speak.
Yet between men, words were not always necessary. Sometimes, a single look was enough.
Ryan looked into Marcus's eyes and understood what he meant.
Then Ryan nodded.
I will protect Isabella!
That was Ryan's promise to Marcus.
Marcus smiled.
He knew Ryan had understood his look.
And he had received Ryan's promise.
Then Marcus slowly closed his eyes.
“Uwaaah!!!”
When Isabella saw Marcus close his eyes, she broke down completely, sobbing as if her heart were being torn apart.