Chapter 29
“What’s going on here?”
Stefan, who had arrived unnoticed, burst through the dining room door. Startled, Rita pulled me into a tight embrace and asked,
“Are you alright, dear?”
It was absurd and comical to hear myself being called “dear” when I had just been referred to as “that” a moment ago. I was also very curious about how Rita would explain my torn dress and swollen cheeks to her son.
“Didn’t you know? That you have a salmon allergy.”
“…”
“So you didn’t know. That’s why you ate the salmon steak without hesitation.”
Perhaps quick thinking is innate, or maybe Rita was just a skilled liar who could come up with excuses in any situation. Having smoothly navigated the crisis she had created, she finally turned her attention to Stefan.
“Duke, please come and help Rachel.”
She boldly called Stefan over to my side, fully aware that he might notice my disheveled state. Of course, she was not going to let me off easily.
“Rachel’s face turned bright red as soon as she ate a piece of the salmon steak. I quickly got her up and made her vomit. Look at that.”
The salmon steak still lying on the floor was being used as evidence. The absurdity of it all left me unable to even laugh.
“This overbearing embrace of mine tore my daughter-in-law’s dress, Duke. Please call the most famous tailor from the capital’s premier dress shop tomorrow. We need a new dress.”
Rita’s smile, which seemed meant for her son and daughter-in-law, was almost ghastly. But even more dreadful was Stefan’s reaction. He seemed to believe his mother’s account without question and, with a blank expression, helped me back into my chair. He then placed his jacket over my shoulders, hiding the tattered dress sleeves from view.
‘Does he think this makes him look like a gentleman?’
I shot a disapproving glance at Stefan, but he did not notice. I responded with a forced politeness.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
“Not at all, my lady.”
Rita, now satisfied with the situation, called out loudly toward the kitchen.
“Throw away the salmon steak immediately! For the startled little lady, bring a soup instead of meat dishes.”
“Yes, Madam.”
“No, since the Duke is here, set the table anew.”
“Understood, Madam.”
With a satisfied smile, Rita took the seat opposite me. Susan and Stella, who had been standing awkwardly, moved over to sit one seat away.
Since I had managed to push Rita and her lackeys into their new seats, I consoled myself that I hadn’t lost everything.
The servants, well aware of Rita’s fiery temper, set the table for dinner with even greater speed than before and then quickly disappeared.
The first dinner I had at the Duke’s residence, with everyone present, was conducted in a solemn silence. After such a tremendous upheaval, no one dared to speak.
***
“Duke, please have dinner at the Duke’s residence.”
Even Finn, who had snatched the ledger from Stefan’s hand, was urging him to leave in a flurry.
“I have dinner plans as well today. So, please go back.”
It was absurd how Finn was almost forcing him out, but Stefan silently got into the carriage. He couldn’t let Rachel dine alone for two days straight.
It seemed he had returned to the Duke’s residence just to witness this scene.
“Trying to teach your mother-in-law a lesson when you’re just a daughter-in-law yourself? You must not have received proper family education growing up in that insignificant family. Well, I’ll make sure to teach you a lesson today.”
Even though the door was closed, the sounds of Rita’s loud shouts and the commotion clearly indicated what was happening inside the dining room.
“…I hope you manage well going forward, my lady.”
He had warned Rachel in this manner as well, but dealing with the ferocious Rita was no easy task. Moreover, anyone witnessing such a scene for the first time would likely be too terrified to act.
“What kind of nonsense is this?!”
Rita’s subsequent outburst contained crude words and her characteristic high-pitched tone. It was her unique high tone that would only emerge when she lost her composure and called someone “this thing.”
After much hesitation, Stefan finally opened the door and entered. The scene of violence inside was shocking.
Rachel was sprawled on the floor, and Rita was glaring at her with a reddened face. Susan, hugging Stella tightly to shield her from the sight, wore a peculiar smile as she watched them.
“What’s going on here?”
Stefan’s thunderous roar made Rita flinch. But quickly regaining her composure, she hurriedly embraced Rachel and began to make excuses.
‘Salmon allergy…’
It was an absurd and far-fetched excuse. Rita Edmond, who was known for her meticulous scrutiny of potential daughters-in-law, would never have overlooked such a physical flaw. She would have investigated not just the paternal but also the maternal lineage, checking for genetic diseases, and examined the environment and upbringing of any prospective daughter-in-law.
She would have thoroughly checked for any unsightly scars, significant moles, the softness of the skin, and whether the voice was clear. But an allergy to food?
‘It must have been a desperate situation for her.’
As Stefan pretended not to notice Rita’s lie and took his seat, she quickly attempted to clean up the evidence.
“…Since the Duke is here, reset the table.”
Stefan also glanced over the table. Seeing only two main dishes left opposite Rachel, it was obvious that Rita had shown up late to criticize the daughter-in-law.
‘What kind of childish plan is this…’
Trying to suppress a laugh at the ridiculous scheme, he noticed Susan hurriedly stepping aside to make room for Rita. It was clear she was an accomplice in her mother’s scheme.
‘Susan, isn’t it enough just to look like your mother?’
But the most suspicious person was Rachel. Despite her cheeks starting to swell, she remained eerily calm.
‘She didn’t cry? She wasn’t scared at all in this situation?’
Any naive child who had only received their parents’ love would likely find this situation frightening and terrifying. Yet, she didn’t shed a tear or even redden her eyes, which was astonishing.
Even more suspicious was the expression of regret she displayed. Instead of rushing to her husband to report her mother-in-law’s misconduct, she seemed to resent him for arriving early with a look that questioned, ‘Why are you here already?’
Furthermore, the look of discreet resentment she cast at Stefan when he took off his jacket to cover her tattered dress was unforgettable.
‘What on earth is her intention?’
Stefan was so disoriented by the evening that he didn’t even know what he had eaten. His head throbbed, and he felt nauseous. It seemed that his digestive system was also suffering due to the confusion in his mind.
The primary cause of this phenomenon was the sight of Rita and Rachel calmly dining across from each other in the midst of a dreadful silence.
***
The swelling had subsided considerably thanks to the ice packs. Mary, overwhelmed with guilt for not protecting her mistress, was sobbing uncontrollably.
“It’s alright now. Thank you, Mary.”
“Madam… sniffle…”
It only struck me after seeing Mary shaking and sobbing that perhaps they were even more afraid than I was. The servants of the Duke’s residence had lived for years under the constant fear instilled by Rita.
At first, one is so shocked that they don’t even feel the pain of being hit. But as the violence continues, even the mere gesture of the perpetrator can make the victim instinctively cower, amplifying the fear.
Fear feeds on fear. It grows larger when imagined rather than when witnessing a horrific scene firsthand.
Although there were no servants present in the dining room at the time, they would have known about the verbal abuse and violence Rita inflicted on me. Therefore, they were likely seized by an even greater fear than I was.
“Mary, I’m fine, so don’t cry.”
I tried to comfort her with a bright smile, but the throbbing pain in my cheeks forced me into an awkward grin.
Mary, sobbing even harder at the sight, left with a final apology, rushing out of the room.
“Oh dear, this wasn’t the plan…”
I only intended to show Stefan what kind of person his mother truly was.
