♡ TL: Khadija SK
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The banquet hall of the Scheringen Palace had been transformed into a conference hall.
Amidst the noise of those already seated inside, Annette entered confidently while they exchanged envious glances, their chatter mixing with words of greeting or insults.
Although everyone saw her enter, the hall remained noisy.
There was no sign of etiquette in their behavior toward greeting their new leader, despite the fact that those raised in the finest families could not possibly be ignorant of what respect meant or how they should conduct themselves before the new head of the family.
It was nothing more than a childish rebellion against Annette, as they refused to acknowledge that a young woman was about to become the next family head.
Annette remained calm, even in the midst of the chaos where no one acknowledged her.
After entering the hall in silence, she spoke just one sentence, quietly yet firmly.
“All those present today as representatives of absent family members, please leave the hall.”
As her tone dropped, the once noisy conference hall fell silent.
But no one moved.
“I specifically requested that all those who do not belong to the Scheringen family leave. This is an order.”
In the banquet hall, there were servants and lawyers who were not part of the Scheringen family but were attending as representatives of absent family members.
Given Annette’s firm tone, they should have left immediately. However, if they obediently accepted her expulsion, their masters would reprimand them. They found themselves in a predicament, unable to leave voluntarily.
In the midst of this chaos, Bjorn began mocking her.
“Logically speaking, it’s impossible for the entire family to gather in less than ten days. How can you blame those with circumstances for sending a representative? We are also being patient with you, my niece, despite you summoning us in the middle of our busy schedules, so you should be patient with us as well.”
At the mention of “my niece,” snickers rose from various parts of the hall.
Because of the title Bjorn gave her, Annette now seemed like a little girl playing tricks in front of her relatives.
“That’s right. Instead of starting by politely thanking us for coming here, this girl—who doesn’t even know how to be friendly—is trying to drive us out.”
“Everyone is busy today, so let’s just finish this quickly.”
The older men added their comments one after another.
They clearly intended to humiliate Annette by conspiring with Bjorn against her.
However, this so-called “niece” did not cry or scream like a little child, contrary to their expectations.
“Since when has the head of the Scheringen family been in a position where they must give orders based on the circumstances of family members?”
Bjorn involuntarily felt a chill and nearly stepped back.
If not for the backrest of his chair, he might have fallen to the ground, hitting his head.
“Do I look like a child you can ridicule with this nonsense? If so, you are gravely mistaken. I hold the authority to strip you of the honor tied to your names and can render you nobodies in society with just one word.”
As the hall grew quiet, Annette’s voice became stronger.
Her sharp gaze was enough to pierce through everyone’s hearts.
“I will clearly remember the faces of those who refused to obey the first order given by the head of the family.”
In the end, those who had attended as representatives of the Scheringen family rushed out of the hall.
Now, only those related to Annette by blood remained in the conference hall.
Annette engraved each of their faces into her memory.
“First and foremost, I need to confirm something important. I will retain the position and honor of the Marquise of Scheringen, and I will not give up my family name just because I am married.”
At Annette’s declaration, everyone frowned.
No one had expected her to stand before them with such confidence, truly intending to become the head of the family.
In her current situation, it had been anticipated that Annette would pass on the authority and title of Marquess to a suitable successor and continue her life as Theodore’s wife.
Everyone wanted to question Annette about the absurdity of what she was saying—how she, now part of her husband’s family, could still claim a place in the Scheringen family—but they struggled to keep their mouths shut. The words refused to leave their lips under Annette’s overwhelming and unexpected presence.
They were all hesitant—except for one person…
Bjorn.
“How can a married woman still bear the Scheringen name?”
Bjorn muttered without looking at Annette.
Those who agreed with him quietly nodded their heads.
“The previous family head appointed you as his successor, but we never officially approved this.”
At the words of someone seated in a corner, everyone’s eyes shifted toward Annette’s hand.
Their goal was to find the ring that the head of the family was supposed to wear.
The atmosphere in the hall turned cold.
Seizing the opportunity, Cassilia opened her mouth and then placed her hand on the shoulder of her young son, who stood before her.
“Certainly, there was something my niece promised to bring with her today, yet I don’t see it anywhere. Doesn’t everyone seem kind enough to obey my niece’s words when she has arrived empty-handed?”
Cassilia lifted one corner of her mouth, thinking she had defeated Annette.
But Annette stepped forward with confident strides, causing Cassilia’s smile to fade.
“Are you sure the ring is the only reason you refuse to acknowledge me as the head of the family?”
“How can we recognize you when you don’t even possess the minimum qualifications? Stop behaving rudely and let the family find stability as soon as possible. Even if you cannot become the head of the Scheringen family, you can at least help us and let us handle our own affairs.”
Cassilia laughed at Annette’s words with a dignified expression.
However, the niece she had dismissed as a mere reckless little girl now looked at her with a superior gaze, showing not the slightest sign of distress.
Annette’s gaze shifted from Cassilia’s face to the shoulder of the boy she was holding.
“By the way, Aunt. I specifically ordered all those who do not bear the Scheringen name to leave this place.”
When the nine-year-old boy met Annette’s clear eyes, he flinched on the spot.
Sensing the child’s frightened gaze, Annette placed her hand on the shoulder opposite to the one his mother was holding.
“But why is Daniel here?”
Cassilia violently removed Annette’s hand from her son’s shoulder, then embraced him and lifted him into her arms.
“I am also part of the Scheringen family, and this child carries my blood. I believe these qualifications are enough for him to be here with us.”
“What are you talking about? His name is Daniel Sandberger. Isn’t that right, Lady Sandberger?”
Cassilia’s eyes blazed with fury.
Lady Sandberger.
Her late husband’s title had stuck to her name.
No matter how much she denied it after his death, the world remembered it well.
Annette had struck directly at Cassilia’s ambition to seize the headship of the household with her son in the lead—just by calling her by her full name.
Cassilia was momentarily shaken, as her son’s presence had instantly diminished her chances of inheriting the title.
Annette did not miss the opportunity and gracefully gestured to Hans.
Hans approached and pulled out the box he had been carrying.
“This is impossible… Where in the earth did you get that box?”
Cassilia’s expression hardened when she saw the eagle emblem engraved on the box.
Annette leisurely opened the box, took out the family head’s ring, and placed it on her finger.
The ring fit her finger perfectly, as if it had been made for her from the beginning.
“I presented it to you late because I had to have it resized to fit my hand. So now, I can wear it comfortably and prove my legitimacy.”
As the long-missing family head’s ring appeared, the hall erupted in noise once more.
Cassilia and Bjorn, in particular, were visibly humiliated.
“Now, what excuse will you use to oppose me? The official recognition from the previous head of the family, the family head’s Eagle Ring—this is the most definitive proof. I have everything I need to be the Marquise.”
Annette raised her hand, displaying the ring for all to see.
“Don’t even dream of objecting to my position under the pretext that I am a woman. I have no intention of showing my family that a woman can be far more ruthless than a man.”
Annette met Cassilia’s trembling eyes before returning to the head seat.
“Although I was unable to hold a proper funeral for my father, now, as the new head of the family, I will offer the utmost respect, tribute, and commemoration to the previous family head.”
At Annette’s signal, Hans pulled out document after document and recited a list of future establishments and donations that would be made in Burkhart Scheringen’s name.
He also presented a letter of approval from the current emperor, proving that there were no legal obstacles to Annette’s succession to the title.
After finishing his statements, Hans bowed to Annette and stepped back.
“Well done.”
Annette could no longer even hear the breaths of those present.
Those who had come to the conference hall to support the person they deemed suitable for inheriting the title quietly abandoned their plan, which they had been determined to push forward under any circumstances.
“Now that we have settled the matter of succession, I am thinking of getting to work as the new head of the family.”
For the first time since entering the banquet hall, Annette smiled brightly.
It was time to wield the whip to discipline the unruly donkeys and distribute carrots to reward the diligent ones.
“The pension distributed under the Scheringen name is going to be slightly different from before.”
“Do you mean you want to get rid of the pension?”
“This is impossible. Quite the opposite. I will spare no support for those who recognize me as the head of the family and those who will dedicate themselves to serving the Scheringen family and upholding its honor. Those who devote themselves to Scheringen should receive a well-deserved reward befitting their contribution.”
This meant that Annette would provide financial assistance only to those who obeyed her.
Everyone began calculating their options with perfect precision.
“On the other hand, there are people receiving pensions that far exceed their contributions to Scheringen. Therefore, the pension scheduled to be paid to Uncle Bjorn will be reduced to 5%.”
“What do you mean!”
Bjorn forgot his dignity and jumped from his seat.
“The pension that has been paid to my uncle so far will now be allocated to those who will contribute to the family’s development in the coming period.”
Many who had planned to stand by Bjorn backed away.
If there was an opportunity to share Bjorn’s share—since he had been receiving the largest pension in the family—there was no need to take his side and fall out of favor with the new head of the family.
“For further details, please consult my lawyer.”
Bjorn was still protesting Annette’s decision, but she coldly ignored him.
“Also, Aunt Cassilia. After your marriage, your pension was cut off, but since you continue to live in Scheringen, I will restore your pension to a level similar to what it was before your marriage.”
This was an unexpected move.
The greatest threat to Annette was Cassilia, so she had no reason to give her money.
Everyone was wondering why Annette was doing this in Cassilia’s favor, so they paid close attention to what she would say next.
From that moment on, the meeting progressed quickly.
“No one will doubt that I have become the head of the family now, but I will clarify it one last time at this stage.”
At her signal, the conference room doors opened.
Knights in formal attire lined up in the hallway as if in a theatrical performance.
Then, a man confidently stepped forward among them, entered the banquet hall, stood beside Annette, and kissed the back of her hand.
“There seems to be a lot of talk about my marriage, so I will officially clarify the matter. The Grand Duke Theodore, who is here and is my husband, will become the official ally of the Scheringen family.”
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