Chapter 89
Cassis smiled slightly without saying a word. His eyes turned to Evelia, who was standing next to him. It was as if he was saying, ‘I changed because I had a wife.’
At the same time, Alexandra also looked at Evelia. Evelia hurriedly bowed down.
“Welcome, great aunt. Nice to see you. My name is Evelia Adelhard.”
“Yes, I’ve heard the stories. You were married without my knowledge, weren’t you?”
Unlike when dealing with Cassis, her voice was sharp, as if it had thorns. Evelia smiled calmly.
“I’m sorry.”
Cassis was supportive.
“Didn’t I send a wedding invitation, grandma?”
“You mean the wedding invitation sent a month before the wedding? I thought you told me not to come.”
“Grandmother.”
“Stop calling me.”
This time, her eyes turned to Ruth, who was hesitantly standing behind Evelia. Evelia lightly pushed Ruth’s back, and the child greeted her with perfect etiquette.
“Oh, long time no see. Madam Alexandra.”
“And a bouquet of flowers.”
“Please take this.”
“…….”
Alexandra had no reaction. She didn’t greet or receive a bouquet of flowers.
She just looked at Ruth once and then at Evelia.
She opened her mouth again.
“If you don’t mind me asking, is this the child’s biological mother?”
“No.”
Cassis responded immediately. Alexandra clicked her tongue.
“In the end, the child’s biological mother was not brought home.”
What she said was, ‘As expected, the child’s biological mother is not a noblewoman.’ It could be interpreted as such.
It was an aristocratic way of speaking that Ruth could not understand. However, Evelia felt uncomfortable talking about the biological mother in front of the child. So I quickly intervened.
“Grandmother, I’m sure you’re tired from your long journey, so I’ve prepared your usual room for you.”
“Okay. Let’s go in.”
“More than that, Grandmother.”
Cassis gently hugged Ruth’s shoulder as he lowered his head.
Ruth looked up at Cassis. Cassis nodded slightly and the child held out the bouquet again.
“They said Madam likes flowers….”
Alexandra clicked her tongue again and accepted the bouquet with a reluctant expression.
“Are you done?”
“Yes.”
“Hm.”
Alexandra refused Cassis’ help and went inside alone.
Cassis also winked at Evelia and went inside. Evelia held the hand of Ruth, who had his head down, and followed her.
*****
Evelia spent the day observing Alexandra. She wasn’t as cranky as she’d thought she’d be.
Contrary to Cassis’ concerns, she was not that rude to Evelia either. It seemed like she was being treated like a Duchess to some extent.
‘But it’s different for Ruth.’
I felt this since she ignored greetings, but Alexandra treated Ruth as if he didn’t exist.
Cassis and Evelia tried to mediate between the two, but she was stubborn.
In the end, the child’s wounds only got worse.
‘What should I do?’
The day ended with no results.
And the next morning, Evelia visited Alexandra to say hello.
“Grandmother.”
However, even after Alexandra brought Evelia into the room, she did not give her a single glance. She sipped her tea, treating Evelia like she didn’t exist.
‘Your attitude is different from when Cassis was around.’
At least when Cassis was around, they were treated like humans, but now they are treated worse than livestock.
Evelia bowed without giving in.
“I came to say hello.”
Alexandra put down the teacup gracefully. There was no sound of ceramics. She gestured to the maid standing behind her.
“Open the windows to ventilate.”
“Yes, madam.”
“There’s a foul odor vibrating through the room.”
A foul odor? Is she talking about me?
Evelia opened her eyes and looked at Alexandra. Alexandra glanced at her and then went back to drinking her tea.
Evelia grabbed her skirt with both hands and then bowed with noble manners.
“Then I hope you have a good day today.”
“Your posture is a mess.”
Alexandra muttered to herself.
“There is a strange mixture of dialect in the accent.”
Evelia grew up like an outcast in Venion, but received proper education in etiquette. This is because Count Venion tried to use her in the marriage business.
Even though the etiquette wasn’t as perfect as a textbook, it wasn’t enough to be called ‘a mess’.
‘The way you speak is also the same.’
It is true that the speaking style of the people in Evelia’s hometown is slightly different from that of the people in the capital.
However, it was a slight difference. Moreover, Evelia had a perfect capital accent because she had studied in the capital since she was young.
In other words, Alexandra was making unnecessary quibbles right now.
But she was already hateful, and if she talked back here, she could have gotten even more hateful. Evelia said obediently.
“I will fix it.”
“Does that mean it can be fixed? We were born differently.”
“That….”
Is attitude determined by blood? As someone who lived in Korea, this was something she couldn’t understand.
However, among the nobles here, especially those of Alexandra’s age, such thoughts were deeply ingrained.
So no matter how much people shouted that people were equal, Alexandra would not listen.
Evelia grinned.
“Still, I’ll try my best.”
Evelia smiled back, hoping she wouldn’t spit in her face, but Alexandra was the kind of person who would spit in her face.
“If a young bird follows a stork, it will only end up with its legs torn.”
The middle-aged maid who was serving Alexandra let out a small laugh. It was rude behavior.
However, she did not apologize to Evelia.
‘It’s going to be harder than I thought.’
That was when Evelia let out a small sigh. There was a knocking sound.
“Come in.”
The person who came inside soon after was Ruth. The child was very nervous and hesitantly walked next to Evelia.
Evelia held the child’s hand tightly.
“What brings you here?”
“Mom… No, I came because my mother said she had gone to say hello to Madam Alexandra. I also wanted to say hello…”
“Okay, good job. Say hello.”
Ruth placed his hands neatly on his belly button and took a deep breath.
“Grandmother, did you sleep well last night?”
Unlike his nervousness, his voice was clear. Evelia felt proud.
‘Our Ruth is brave and bright.’
Then, together with Ruth, we waited for Alexandra’s reaction.
‘Even if you ignore me, you won’t ignore the child. Because Ruth is Cassis’ child.’
But Alexandra was more stubborn than she expected. She gestured toward the maid, still without even looking at Ruth.
The maid said quietly.
“Now that the greetings are over, I ask you to step aside.”
“Yes.”
Ruth’s dejected voice crawled in. Evelia felt like sparks were flying out of his eyes.
I wanted to yell at Alexandra right now. But you can’t show that kind of behavior in front of the child.
Evelia smiled and patted Ruth’s back.
“Ruth, mom has something to talk to your great-aunt about, so why don’t you go out first?”
“Yes.”
Evelia approached Alexandra only after Ruth left.
“Great aunt.”
“…….”
“I learned that all adults must guide the young one to the right path.”
Alexandra put down her teacup. There was still no sound, but it was a touch that showed nerves.
Evelia continued without giving in.
“If the great-aunt, the elder of the family, does not teach the child how to greet properly, what will the child learn from?”
Alexandra’s gaze finally turned to Evelia.
“Are you teaching me now?”
“It’s not teaching. I just say this seeing you as the oldest in this family.”
“…….”
“You can ignore me. I know that I am still far from meeting the great-aunt’s expectations. But isn’t Ruth the great-aunt’s bloodline and Adelhard’s successor?”
“So, now you’re telling me to adore him?”
“I just want you to treat him as a member of the Adelhard family. Cassis… No, just like you treat the Duke.”
Alexandra burst out laughing.
“You impudent. I heard that you lived as if you were dead in Venion, but you’re a tiger cub.”
“…….”
“You talk back to me so clearly. Adeline didn’t do that either.”
Adeline was Cassis’ mother.
‘It looks like I’m completely blindsided by this incident.’
But Evelia did not regret her actions. Even if Alexandra doesn’t change her attitude, she is only doing what she has to do as Ruth’s mother.
But then, I heard something unexpected.
“Yes, I like that spirit.”
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