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Translated by: Alina
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
A moment of silence passed.
However, that silence was quickly broken.
“Yeah, it was strange, wasn’t it? No matter how close the Duchess and her cousin are, even if the Duke is her childhood friend, it’s still too much to keep mingling like that after his marriage.”
“Exactly. And the fact that the matriarch deliberately invited her over. Could it be that she wants to connect Duke Blant with Marquis Arzen’s daughter, Lady Arzen?”
“No way!”
“But isn’t that strange? She barely speaks to the Duchess, her own daughter-in-law, yet she keeps inviting the unmarried Lady Arzen to the mansion.”
There were households that entered marriages despite differences in status or wealth. In such cases, after taking care of what is necessary, the parents-in-law may cast off the current daughter-in-law before bringing in a new one.
“Oh, come on, could that really be the case? Would a matriarch dismiss the princess like that…”
Although someone objected, doubt had already crept into people’s minds.
Then someone added fuel to the fire.
“Also, have you noticed the Duchess’ attire? It has definitely become more modest than before.”
“That’s true! The matriarch is known for flaunting luxury items everywhere, but when it comes to her own daughter-in-law…”
“Tsk. If she were a princess, she should have discarded the necklace out of pride. Why would she come to have it repaired?”
“Come to think of it, there were rumors about the princess investing her dowry as well, weren’t there?”
Observing the jewelry store’s VIP room, Rone, who was the manager and also the owner’s sibling, quietly sighed.
As a salesperson engaging with the noble guests, it was his role to ensure that sensitive rumors did not spread widely within the jewelry store and to maintain balance among the factions to prevent conflicts.
However, with Cornelia suddenly rushing out, there was no opportunity for him to mediate this time.
As the women of the pro-imperial faction chattered joyously and the aristocratic women with tight-lipped expressions remained silent, the manager sighed once again.
‘It’s chaotic.’
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After getting into the carriage, I continued to feel a sense of amusement rising within me.
‘I wonder what kind of gossip is circulating in the VIP lounge.’
In reality, it was quite predictable what kind of discussions were taking place.
They’d probably be chewing out the Duchess, saying she’s too much, and pitying her while simultaneously mocking her.
‘Although it’s unpleasant, it’s unavoidable. That’s what the Empress wants—a clear justification for reprimanding the Blant ducal family.’
What the Empress wanted was a solid pretext for the imperial family to assert control over the Blant ducal family.
So, I prepared a play to portray myself as a vulnerable victim to many.
‘A tragic story in which I am the protagonist.’
Not content with just meddling in their married lives, the mother-in-law also tries to involve an unmarried lady to tie them to her son.
Despite being known as the matriarch of Blant Duchy, a key figure in the aristocratic circle, her actions were socially condemnable.
The evidence lay in the fact that she had destroyed my necklace, as well as Medelin’s frequent visits to our house.
‘Why not face some embarrassment?’
As I unknowingly started to smirk, Janet’s soft call brought me back to reality.
“Madam.”
I covered my mouth at Janet’s discreet call.
‘I almost lost control of my expression.’
After composing myself, I looked at Janet.
“Why did you call me?”
In response, she let out a deep sigh before staring back at me.
“Are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“I know it’s overstepping, but I heard what you said at the jewelry store earlier. I thought… you might be upset.”
I fell silent for a moment.
‘Upset?’
The moment I saw the mangled necklace, a mix of satisfaction and discomfort indeed washed over me.
It was because…
<Mom, I really didn’t know! Please forgive me!>
The sight of the ruined necklace naturally brought back memories of my past self.
‘How foolish I was. No matter how hard I tried, I was like a ruined necklace that couldn’t hang around the matriarch’s neck…’
As I briefly chuckled bitterly, I looked at Janet as if she pitied me and replied.
“I’m fine; don’t worry about me.”
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Upon returning to the mansion, the one who warmly welcomed me was the matriarch.
“You, come here.”
Seeing her strained expression upon seeing me was the expected reaction.
I calmly asked, “Madam, why did you summon me?”
To which she grimaced and said, “I should ask why you made me wait.”
“Huh? You were waiting for me?”
I feigned confusion and spoke with a hint of disbelief.
“That’s strange. I distinctly remember agreeing to come down for dinner, but I never said I would dine with the matriarch.”
The matriarch raised her voice. “Are you playing word games with me now?”
“I’m not playing word games. There’s no way I would do that. I simply wanted to clarify because it seems like you misunderstood…”
“Shut your mouth!”
Internally, I chuckled at her outburst.
‘She’s really worked up.’
However, no matter how much she was my mother-in-law, I was still the Emperor’s daughter. Therefore, even though she couldn’t openly insult me or raise a hand against me.
‘No matter what, all she can do is be subtly sarcastic and get angry.’
I decided to provoke her back. “Why? I haven’t done anything wrong.”
At that, the matriarch came closer, her eyes flashing with anger. “What? You’re going to act innocent after humiliating me?”
Then Janet stepped in front of me. “Please stand behind me.”
The matriarch snapped at Janet, yelling, “You insolent wretch, move aside!”
I also addressed Janet, “It’s okay, step aside.”
But she stood her ground. “I can’t do that.”
Even though Janet was considered a benefactor to my child, I didn’t completely trust her. Despite her kindness towards me, she was still associated with Erich.
But seeing her blocking my way, I felt a pang in my chest.
‘No, she can’t defy Erich’s orders.’
As for me, if I just listened to the nagging and let the matriarch’s thorny words flow in one ear and out the other, it would quickly be over.
Honestly, I couldn’t understand why Janet was behaving as if the matriarch were a dangerous armed robber.
‘The matriarch won’t hit me. Instead, she’ll likely take out her anger on those around me. Just like now.’
Slap!
The matriarch, who had slapped Janet’s cheek forcefully, clearly showed her anger. “Insolent wretch!”
The matriarch, who had slapped Janet’s cheek forcefully, clearly showed her anger.
“How dare someone like you, who lives under my roof and receives a salary from me, stand in my way?”
From the moment Janet blocked my path, I anticipated what would happen next, but seeing the fury on her face made my anger rise.
With a resentful heart, I glared at the matriarch. “Madam, what is the meaning of this?”
However, the matriarch didn’t stop there. She raised her hand again. And that hand was adorned with numerous rings.
Without a second thought, I pushed Janet aside and stood in front of her. “Stop it!”
However, the matriarch paid no attention to me and instead swung her arm as if she were aiming for Janet behind me.
It was clear she intended to slap me under the guise of an accident.
‘Yes, you really want to hit me.’
I wasn’t frail; in fact, I was quite healthy and even exercised occasionally during pregnancy.
So, a slap across the face wouldn’t cause much harm. In fact, if my face were bruised, the Emperor might be even more pleased.
Using my injury as an excuse would surely give him a solid reason to hold Duke Blant accountable.
‘Yes, I’ve taken worse slaps from my mother.’
All I had to do was grit my teeth and endure.
‘Yes, if my face gets injured, the matriarch will receive more criticism.’
This was an opportunity. This was a chance to effortlessly push her further into disgrace.
Even though I could easily avoid it, I chose to withstand the hand flying toward my cheek.
But the matriarch’s hand never reached me.
“What are you doing right now?”
It was because Erich was holding the matriarch’s wrist.
And his face seemed oddly angry.
Honestly, I couldn’t understand it.
‘Why is he behaving like this against my esteemed mother-in-law?’
<I must have told you not to clash with Mother.>
If there were signs of conflict between my mother-in-law and me, he would send me to my room.
And if I tried to confront her, he would frown and say,
<Please do not upset mother.>
He always took the matriarch’s side in front of me; no matter what happened, he never stood up to her.
But now he…
“I asked what you are doing right now, Mother.”
In front of me, he was confronting the matriarch.
At that moment, my heart skipped a beat.
‘You were never on my side. So why now…’
Confused by his actions, Erich looked at me with a stern expression.
“Go to your room immediately.”
“But I also have a responsibility in this situation.”
Before I could respond in my confusion, he spoke in a cold voice.
“No, you are not responsible. Mother attempted to strike my knight.”
Understanding everything, I was speechless.
‘Oh, I see. That’s why he was so angry.’
He wasn’t protecting me. Instead, he was furious because the matriarch had harmed his subordinate because of me.”
