Unlike the bustling first floor, the third floor where Ian’s study was located was quiet.
The only sound was the scratching of a pen on paper when a knock echoed through the room.
“My lord.”
It was Sebastian who had entered.
Ian put down his fountain pen.
“Has everyone arrived?”
“Yes.”
“What about Rose?”
“She is with Sir Fred and Fenrex.”
Initially, Rose learned to read and write from May. However, as the number of mines that needed managing increased, May had less time to teach Rose.
Seeing Rose’s eagerness to learn, Fred began using his break times to teach her.
Fenrex, who always wanted to be with Rose due to the bond they shared, also started learning to read and write.
Unlike May, who was not skilled in teaching despite her excellent management abilities, Fred proved to be a wonderful teacher.
Not only did he teach reading and writing, but he also used stories to impart various basic knowledge that the children found interesting.
While Logan, May, and Sebastian were pleased with this arrangement, Ian was not.
After opening up emotionally, Rose was always close to Ian, almost afraid to be apart from him.
Ian also disliked being separated from Rose, so they spent almost all their time together, eating and sleeping.
But things had changed now.
Although they still ate and slept together as usual, all other times, Rose was with Fred.
“It won’t be a disturbance to Fred…”
“No. She is quietly doing her coloring book.”
Ian clicked his tongue at Sebastian’s firm response and stood up.
“Did they come together?”
“Yes.”
“Such impatience.”
With a slight smile, Ian left the study. But as soon as he stepped out, his expression turned serious.
“Everyone is present?”
“Yes. Not a single one is missing.”
As they approached the meeting room, they could hear the loud voices and laughter of many people, almost like a marketplace.
“I will open the door.”
When Ian nodded, Sebastian opened the large wooden door.
The noise stopped abruptly, and the eyes of the assembled guests turned to Ian.
“Welcome, Duke.”
Ian smiled slightly at the cheeky greeting and took his seat in the center.
Count Kale’s eyes narrowed.
Ian was different from the first and last meeting they had.
Back then, he couldn’t even meet anyone’s gaze and was timid, but today he stood tall and looked directly at everyone.
Moreover, he even smiled at Counr Kale.
Seeing Count Kale’s reaction, the other attendees seemed just as surprised.
When Count Kale signaled to them, they forced awkward smiles and began to speak.
“Having the Duke attend the meeting brings peace to the world. Haha.”
“Indeed.”
“The former Duke would rise from his grave to see this.”
Despite their excessive remarks, Ian remained unresponsive, which made Count Kale’s eyes glint with interest.
‘Has he really changed because of that lowly girl?’
Count Kale scrutinized Ian carefully.
There was nothing to criticize in his expression or posture.
‘I need to seize the initiative first.’
Count Kale signaled to his subordinate, Baron Hanova, who nodded and began to speak.
“This isn’t the main issue right now, Duke. I heard that a girl claiming to be Lady Marianne’s daughter has arrived here.”
“Yes.”
When Ian nodded, Viscount Moltke spoke.
“Although you accepted her out of respect for Lady Marianne, our thoughts are somewhat different.”
“Is that so?”
“I heard from a maid that the girl brought Lady Marianne’s pendant. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
When Ian nodded again, Viscount Lev slammed the table and said,
“To be honest, that girl might have stolen it from Lady Marianne. Acknowledging her as a direct descendant of the duchy with just that pendant is unreasonable. This is the house that helped establish the first emperor! A cunning girl—”
“Enough.”
Ian raised his hand to stop Baron Hanova, displeased by his derogatory remark about Rose.
“So, what does the family suggest should be done with Rose?”
“Of course, she should be kicked out,”
Viscount Lev said, and the others nodded vigorously.
“Kick her out? Even though she might truly be a direct descendant?”
“That girl’s hair—”
“She’s not just a girl; her name is Rose. Can’t you even remember that?”
Everyone flinched at Ian’s sharp words.
Count Kale chuckled and addressed Ian.
“Duke, I understand how much you miss Lady Marianne.”
Ian inwardly scoffed.
In the original story, Ian didn’t care about Marianne at all.
“And since this girl claims to be Lady Marianne’s daughter, it’s only natural that you care for her,”
Count Kale continued his statement, his voice soothing like speaking to a child.
Ian’s demeanor softened slightly.
Count Kale, inwardly mocking Ian, continued,
“But this care should be based on the assumption that the girl is indeed Lady Marianne’s daughter. Unfortunately, from what I have found….”
His voice was filled with regret, but his eyes glinted sharply.
“Did you mean Rose isn’t Marianne’s daughter?”
“That’s correct.”
At Count Kale’s signal, a man stepped forward.
Ian looked at him with interest as Count Kale nodded.
“This lowly one greets the Duke. I am Sybel, that girl’s father.”
“Oh.”
“The girl lied for the sake of wealth. She is not Lady Marianne’s daughter but the child of a barmaid. She knew of Lady Marianne’s title and stole her heirloom before running away. By the time I found out, she had already entered the Duke’s estate.”
Sybel’s voice was filled with sorrow.
“I couldn’t even serve Lady Marianne properly, and now the child of a barmaid is causing trouble. I have no face to show you, Duke. I sincerely apologize. If you could just let me take her back home…”
“Wait a moment.”
Ian interrupted Sybel and tilted his head.
“So, you’re saying Rose is not my sister’s daughter but the child of a barmaid?”
“Yes.”
“And this is the absolute truth?”
“Yes.”
Sybel nodded with a smile.
“Then why didn’t you come to me directly and instead went to Count Kale?”
“Well….”
Sybel was taken aback, so Count Kale stepped in to speak.
“He said he had no face to show you and came to me first.”
“No face to show?”
Ian chuckled.
The atmosphere suddenly changed, and the meeting room fell silent.
After pondering for a while, Ian asked Sybel,
“Is everything you said true?”
“Yes, Duke.”
“Without a single lie?”
Sybel answered firmly.
“Yes.”
Ian’s demeanor suddenly turned fierce.
“Would you stake your life on it?”
Sybel flinched momentarily and looked at Count Kale.
Seeing Kale’s reassuring nod, Sybel responded confidently.
“Yes!”
“Good. Let’s conduct a family test.”
Count Kale frowned.
“A family test? Is that really necessary? The father himself has confirmed the child’s birth and explained the pendant’s origin, hasn’t he?”
Ian crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair.
“Since the child and father’s statements differ, we need to verify whose words are true. We’re not just judging a commoner child; we’re determining if she’s a direct descendants of the duke’s family.. We can’t decide with just a few words, can we?”
Seeing Ian’s smirk, Count Kale ground his teeth.
‘That bastard.’
Baron Hanova, looking between Count Kale and Ian, spoke up.
“Isn’t the father’s word the most accurate? What father would wish ill on his daughter?”
“I’ve seen one. When Rose arrived at the duchy, her body was covered in wounds.”
Sybel flinched again.
“Moreover, she was so emaciated it was just skin and bones. Would a caring father let his child end up in that state?”
The meeting room fell silent once more.
The extended family had heard about Marianne’s daughter entering the duchy but not about her condition, leaving them speechless.
Count Kale was no different.
If he had known the girl was in such a state, he wouldn’t have recruited Sybel but rather framed her as an illegitimate child.
As Count Kale pondered how to handle the situation, Viscount Moltke raised his hand.
“Well… is there any point in a family test?”
“Why?”
Viscount Moltke, wilting under Ian’s sharp gaze, continued.
“Lady Marianne was removed from the duchy by the Duke himself….”
“Oh, that.”
Ian smiled.
“I reinstated her.”
Count Kale shouted in anger.
“How could you do such a thing without consulting the family?!”
“That’s amusing. Did the previous Duke consult the family when he removed Marianne?”
“…….…”
“If anyone has more to say, speak now.”
Ian looked at each member of the family, then fixed his gaze on Count Kale.
“Count Kale?”
“If a family test is requested, it will tarnish Lady Marianne’s name.”
A family test, or paternity test, could only be performed by priests and was used when an illegitimate child claimed their rights.
As Count Kale suggested, conducting such a test would publicize the existence of an illegitimate child, which was disgraceful to the nobility who valued their honor.
Thus, most nobles preferred to hush up the matter with money or, in severe cases, resorted to murder to prevent their honor from being tarnished.
“I won’t request a priest.”
“Then how will you….”
Baron Hanova asked.
“I’ll use the breathing music box.”
