The Eldest Daughter Walks Along the Flower Path 004
Radis opened her lips to say something, but closed her mouth again.
Her throat was tight with all sorts of emotions she couldn't properly express.
After a while, she could barely string a few words together.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
Looking at her fingernails, Margaret said indifferently.
"What? Did I do something?"
A single tear trickled down Radis's cheek. Her skin had turned such a dark shade of purple that it almost looked black.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"..."
"Are you doing this because I'm bad? Was I... a bad daughter?"
Margaret turned away, her arms still crossed, and stared at the ruined wall.
The silence that stretched between them consisted of Radis waiting for Margaret's reply, and Margaret reflecting on what Radis had said, as if she were thinking about all of this for the first time.
In the first place, Radis was a daughter Margaret hadn't wanted, so she had never liked her. Margaret never felt affection for Radis.
Perhaps it was because she was a cold mother?
Who knows.
Margaret loved her eldest son, David, very much.
For David's sake, she would even give her life.
She also loved her daughter, Jurich.
She would give Jurich the world.
So, Margaret was sure she wasn't a bad mother.
What about Radis? To Margaret, she was just a nuisance. For some reason, she didn't like her.
But was it because she was a bad daughter?
"Ah, I don't know."
It was too upsetting just to think about it.
"What else? It's because you deserve it!"
At Margaret's words, Radis's soul shattered.
Just like that.
To her parents, that was all they felt for Radis.
That she deserved it.
They didn't even feel guilty every time they used her as an emotional dumping ground where they rolled and dumped all their frustrations. Right to the end, they didn't feel guilty at all.
Not someone precious, not someone to be proud of, not even charming.
It wasn't that Radis didn't know.
She was aware of it.
But she still tried.
With all her might, she tried everything she could to become a true part of her family, to the point where she didn't care how her flesh would melt, how her bones would break.
That's why now, she was broken.
Radis spoke.
"Father...? Where's Daddy...?"
Her father, Zade Tilrod, always looked away from her.
Perhaps, if he saw her in this pitiful state, he would be a little sad. Her father might have tried to help her if he saw her now.
But his mournful call seemed to have provoked Margaret's anger even more.
"I don't know where he is!"
Margaret shouted loudly.
But contrary to her words, she knew exactly where he was.
Zade was with his mistress, Flora.
As if they were playing house, Zade and Flora had a small dwelling with their two illegitimate children.
Just thinking about it made Margaret feel like she was going mad.
Frustrated, Margaret began to mock, completely forgetting Radis's grave condition.
"Now that I think about it, your name comes from 'Gladiolus,' doesn't it?"
Even as he choked with despair, Radis continued to listen to his mother.
"Did you know that the gladiolus flower is often dedicated to the tomb of a virgin? Your fate has been tied to that name since you were born, so don't blame me."
Margaret spoke coldly, lifting a bowl of soup that had not been touched.
"Get some rest. You might get better that way."
The door closed behind her.
Radis stared blankly at the ceiling.
She believed happiness would come to her someday if she continued to endure everything.
But she thought that even though Margaret was a heartless mother, because she had found some use for Radis, she might come to like her, even just a little.
Just a little... only a little... Radis thought Margaret would come to love her.
And as long as she continued to support her family, she believed her father would one day take notice of her.
She thought that if she kept enduring, if she kept sacrificing herself, one day she might hear a word of thanks from her younger siblings.
Alone in her bed, Radis coughed up blood.
Her mouth was burning.
Even though she couldn't see herself, she could feel the black crystals mingling with her blood.
"Just once... Mother... Father... I wanted to feel the warmth of your embrace..."
The sensation in her hands and feet slowly faded.
"I wanted you... to be proud of me..."
But it was a dream that would never come true.