IGRA Chapter 19

“You’re much more beautiful than I heard. I’m Anthony Lloyd, Daryl’s only younger brother.”

 

Anthony spoke as if this was their first meeting. He approached Eleanor, kissed her hand, and winked at her subtly.

 

“I’m Eleanor Townsend. Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Jericho.”

 

Eleanor tried to smile, trying not to show her body reflexively stiffening.

 

“Just call me Anthony. Now, let’s sit down.”

 

Anthony escorted Eleanor to the seat next to Daryl. After thanking the maid who pulled out the chair for her, Eleanor sat down. Daryl was still silent.

 

“Are you upset?”

 

Eleanor cautiously asked, gauging his mood.

 

“About what?”

 

“Because I’m late.”

 

“Anthony told you. You’re not late.”

 

“Then why do you look upset?”

 

“It must be my mood.”

 

Daryl said bluntly. Eleanor tilted her head slightly.

 

‘It seems they get along better than I thought.’

 

Anthony glanced at the two and thought. Daryl was always like that to anyone, but Eleanor seemed friendly and natural, as if she had been with him for a long time.

 

Layla was also thinking the same as Anthony. She clenched her hands under the table until her nails dug in.

 

A while later, the butler who had gone out returned.

 

“Countess Crawford has arrived.”

 

Daryl stood up from his seat. The rest of the people also got up. Soon, Cecilia entered the dining room, leaning on her cane. She was dressed in the same plain black dress as the last time they met.

 

“You’ve arrived, Aunt.”

 

Cecilia glanced at Daryl and Eleanor, then limped over to them.

 

“Move.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Move. That’s my seat.”

 

Eleanor seemed momentarily taken aback, but soon obediently moved from her seat. Cecilia confidently took the seat next to Daryl. The butler quickly came over to help Cecilia sit down, then led Eleanor to Cecilia’s original seat.

 

The seat Cecilia took was originally the Duchess’s seat and next to the Duke. It had been vacant since Edith’s death, but occasionally when Cecilia visited the mansion, she would sit there. In principle, now that Daryl was the master of this mansion, that seat should have gone to Daryl’s wife. But no one pointed out that fact.

 

Soon, the maids began to serve the food.

 

“What was your name again?”

 

Cecilia asked. It wasn’t clear who she was talking to, but it was obvious who she was asking.

 

“I’m Eleanor Townsend.”

 

“You look much better than the last time. At that time, it seemed like I didn’t know who the maid was.”

 

The atmosphere turned cold at her blunt criticism, which was almost like a beating. However, Eleanor maintained a calm demeanor.

 

“Thank you.”

 

At Eleanor’s calm response, the corners of Cecilia’s lips twisted slightly.

 

“But do you know that the master of this house passed away less than 50 days ago, and you’re wearing such a fancy dress?”

 

“……”

 

“It’s a good thing it’s just us here. What would people have said if they saw the first daughter-in-law, who is about to enter, wearing that?”

 

Cecilia clicked her tongue and grumbled.

 

“Layla, you’re the same.”

 

Caught off guard by the sudden arrow, Layla rolled her eyes in surprise. She sent a look to Daryl, as if asking for help.

 

“…Aunt.”

 

Daryl opened his mouth with a tired voice.

 

“What. Did I say something wrong? I told you before, it’s too early to take off the mourning clothes.”

 

“As I said then, it’s not too early at all. We’ve done as much as everyone else. And with the wedding coming up, we can’t keep living in a funeral atmosphere, can we?”

 

“That’s what I’m saying. What chased you to set the date so quickly? Normally, we should have enough time to mourn for several years.”

 

“Aunt.”

 

“The dirt covering your father’s coffin hasn’t even dried yet, I’m afraid people will talk about you being an ungrateful child.”

 

“Enough.”

 

Daryl’s expression was clearly irritated. Cecilia clicked her tongue with a “tsk, tsk” and grumbled again.

 

Anthony whistled very softly, almost inaudibly. When Layla looked at him in astonishment, he winked at her with a relaxed expression.

 

Cecilia’s eyes turned to Eleanor again.

 

“Just in case, you should give up the expectation that it’s your world because you don’t have in-laws. This is the Duke of Griffith. It’s not a place where a woman without roots can do as she pleases just because she’s taken the position of the wife.”

 

“..…”

 

“Think of me as your mother-in-law and father-in-law in place of Frederick and Edith, who have gone before you. I’m the only adult in the family, so you should serve me well. It’s not for my sake. It’s a matter of maintaining the attitude of serving as the daughter-in-law of the Duke. It’s directly related to the prestige of the family, and in the end, it’s for you.”

 

“Understood, Countess Crawford.”

 

“Call me Aunt. Don’t be rude.”

 

“Yes, Aunt.”

 

Eleanor maintained a calm voice and a thoroughly submissive attitude. Cecilia chuckled at Eleanor’s calm response.

 

“It seems you’ve come to your senses. You were crawling around like a fearless girl back then.”

 

At that, the expressions of those who didn’t know the situation became strange.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

Eleanor said softly, unperturbed by the stares gathering on her.

 

“Do you mean you’re sincerely sorry?”

 

“Yes, of course.”

 

“So if I repeat what I said then, you won’t defiantly shake your head this time?”

 

“No.”

 

At Eleanor’s response, Cecilia’s wrinkled eyes narrowed.

 

“I don’t think I said anything against propriety then.”

 

“Then why are you sorry?”

 

“I’m sorry for not following Aunt’s order.”

 

“You’re sorry for not following, but you still don’t intend to follow?”

 

“I’ll follow anything. As long as it’s not against the law.”

 

Cecilia clicked her tongue at that.

 

“You cheeky girl. Are you still talking back like that?”

 

“Aunt. Stop it.”

 

Unable to bear it any longer, Daryl intervened.

 

“Are you taking her side now? You heard her talking nonsense to me in front of you just now!”

 

“What nonsense are you talking about? To me, it sounded like nothing more than a generalization to me.”

 

“Daryl, you…!”

 

Cecilia’s face was soaked with a sense of betrayal. Daryl clenched his fist on the table.

 

“At least before I hear what order you said you gave, I can’t make an accurate judgment. What did you say then?”

 

“……”

 

“Aunt?”

 

Cecilia let out a sigh as if she couldn’t believe it.

 

“It’s scary to think what will happen to the family in the future, starting like this.”

 

“Aunt.”

 

Ignoring Daryl’s call, Cecilia stared at Eleanor and said.

 

“I will stay at Chatsworth House until the wedding and educate this child, so you should know that.”

 

The surroundings were buzzing. Surprisingly, the one with the least change in expression was the party in question, Eleanor.

 

‘How can she keep such a calm face in this situation?’

 

For the first time, Layla thought that Eleanor was a truly remarkable woman.

 

Cecilia had never liked anyone but her father, Frederick, and she didn’t even try to hide that fact. At best, the eldest son, Daryl, barely made it into her good graces, and she disliked her youngest daughter, who resembled her mother.

 

Fortunately, that didn’t mean Cecilia made life difficult for Layla. It took energy to hate and torment someone. Cecilia poured all her energy into her father when he was alive.

 

But now her father was no longer in this world. At this moment, Layla was deeply grateful that Cecilia’s energy, which had lost its place to be spent after Frederick’s death, was not directed at her.

 

“What do you mean, Aunt?”

 

Daryl asked with a grimace.

 

“I’ve already talked to the gentleman outside. I’m going to stay in this mansion from today, so you should know that. Is the Hibiscus Room well maintained? It must have gathered some dust since it’s been without an owner for a long time. Have it cleaned from now on.”

 

The Hibiscus Room was the room that Edith used during her lifetime, and it was right next to the Duke’s room, which was also vacant at the moment. Of course, these were the rooms that would soon belong to Daryl and Eleanor.

 

“What are you doing? Call someone quickly and tell them.”

 

Cecilia chided Daryl for his lack of response.