Chapter 25
Ella looked serious.
“The heirloom?”
Was he crazy? She barely swallowed the words that rose from her throat, but she couldn’t hide her excitement.
“How on earth did you end up with such a precious item? How did this happen?”
“I thought I could win it back! Aaagh! I must have lost my mind! Something must have possessed me!”
At first, it was just a light game with a pocket watch. But as he kept winning, everyone praised him for his luck, and his confidence grew, fueling his greed.
That was the turning point.
Vincent became more confident and bet everything he had, only to lose.
Then, when people said he could win it back next time, he went to the pawn shop.
He repeated it several times, and by the time he realized, it was already too late to reverse it.
“Ella, please help me! Please! If my father finds out, I’m really dead!”
“Aagh, let go! That hurts!”
“Say you’ll help me! Hurry!”
“How could I have that kind of money!”
Ella shouted, her shoulder in pain.
Why was he asking her for help with the mess he created? If she had known this was going to happen, she would have never come here.
Just then, a shadow fell behind her. A deep voice coldly called out to Vincent.
“Vincent, you little brat.”
“Y-yes, father?”
Count Garcia’s furrowed brow and cold glare were directed at Vincent. Vincent stood up straight, letting go of Ella.
“What is this about…?”
Vincent prayed his father hadn’t heard anything.
“I got a report from Neis Land or somewhere. I told you to stop gambling, and yet you brought the heirloom into a game?”
“F-Father…”
But Count Garcia had already heard everything.
“Because you’re my son, I’ve tolerated it until now.”
Vincent’s mind went blank, and he staggered. He immediately fell to his knees, begging for forgiveness.
“I’m sorry! Please forgive me… I swear I’ll never gamble again!”
“You’re an eyesore. I don’t need parasites in my family.”
“Father!”
Vincent cried out to his father in despair.
But Count Garcia looked at his son with the same disgust he would show a pest. Then he gently called out to Ella, who was going to be his adopted daughter.
“Ella, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Ella swallowed nervously.
It was Count Garcia who had built up the once-poor Garcia family into a powerful family. He always prioritized the family’s interests, even if it meant turning his back on his own children.
That was why he treated Ella, who had won over his own daughter, as if she were his biological child.
‘I will never lose his favor.’
Ella ignored Vincent’s desperate cries and followed Count Garcia.
* * *
I attended the regular gathering hosted by Lady Mayer.
“Oh, by the way, everyone, have you heard the news?”
A noblewoman, sipping her tea, casually brought up a topic.
“Vincent Garcia, the younger son of the Count, was stripped of his heirship last night and urgently sent abroad.”
“Oh, I heard about it! They say it was more like being exiled than going for studies. I heard it was because of gambling…”
“My word.”
Ah…
‘It seems like Harold must have done something.’
I wasn’t sure what exactly happened, but one thing was certain, It was his doing,
No wonder he had seemed in such a good mood since this morning.
The gazes of the noblewomen subtly turned toward me.
A few months ago, I had also used the Garcia name, so it was only natural.
‘They must be curious about what happened after I was disowned.’
However, since I had no intention of speaking, I just gave a faint smile.
Realizing they wouldn’t get the reaction they were hoping for, they quickly moved on to another topic.
“There’s been a lot of talk about how the slave traders were wiped out overnight. The Imperial Family has been in quite a stir lately.”
“It’s a good news, but… it’s a bit complicated.”
The noblewomen hesitated, glancing at each other and fanning themselves.
Nobles managed their territories, but the capital was overseen by the royal family, handling security and other matters. If a third party intervened in the cleanup of the trafficking syndicate, it could be seen as infringing on the royal family’s rights, and they might be dragged into trouble.
‘I don’t really understand why that would be a problem.’
Whoever catches human traffickers, it’s a good thing, isn’t it? The lower classes, with no homes, live in constant fear of being captured by human traffickers!
I clenched my fist, thinking about the past I could never forget.
I absentmindedly sipped my tea, but then I felt a gaze on me. I glanced over and saw a middle-aged lady with purple eyes giving me a sly smile.
* * *
As time passed, the gathering was coming to an end.
I stayed until the very last moment and then approached Lady Meyer.
“Lady Mayer, would it be alright if I joined you for the next temple service?”
“Oh, right. You mentioned you were interested in volunteering.”
Lady Mayer paused for a moment, seemingly contemplating, then asked,
“I would be happy to have you, but are you sure? Volunteering is very demanding. I’m concerned it might be too much for you, considering your status as a Duchess.”
“Don’t worry. I’m confident in my stamina.”
“…Is that so?”
She narrowed her eyes slightly as she looked at my arms.
‘She probably thinks, “With those scrawny arms?”‘
I pressed on my bicep. It felt soft.
“If you say so, I understand. I’ll send you a letter soon, Duchess.”
Oh yes.
Having gotten what I wanted, I smiled brightly inwardly as I left the mansion.
While making my way toward the carriage, I locked eyes with the lady with purple eyes who had been standing in front of a statue.
‘She was the one who kept watching me throughout tea time, wasn’t she?’
She was a lady who, like me, had joined the gathering for the first time today.
It seemed she had a purpose as she approached me.
“Duchess, you know who I am, don’t you?”
“Of course. Lady Audrey. We exchanged greetings during the gathering.”
“No, not that. I meant, do you know what kind of relationship my family has with Duke Harold Vissen?”
Lady Audrey’s full name was Audrey Russell.
And the Russell family, as far as I knew…
“I know that the Russell family is Duke Harold’s maternal family.”
It seemed Lady Audrey had been waiting for this answer, as she smiled, satisfied. She then took a large box from the maid behind her.
“I was always worried about when the Duke would marry, and I was very surprised by the news of your wedding.”
Not a single member of the Russell family had been invited to the wedding.
Was she about to ask why they weren’t invited?
“Although late, congratulations on your marriage.”
But Lady Audrey genuinely appeared happy.
I looked at her in confusion, wondering why she seemed so pleased.
‘Didn’t she have a bad relationship with Harold?’
According to Diana’s memories and the novel, there was no mention of any particular relationship between Harold and the Russell family. I had assumed their relationship wasn’t good since Harold hadn’t invited anyone from his maternal side.
“Thank you for the congratulations.”
I swallowed my doubts and nodded.
“This is a small gift from the Russell family, Duchess.”
Lady Audrey handed me a luxurious box.
“Thank you, I’ll accept it graciously.”
I hesitated for a moment before taking the gift.
Sniff, what’s that smell?
The box I held in my arms had a strong scent of straw.
“May I ask what’s inside?”
“Hehe, of course.”
Lady Audrey fanned herself with her fan.
“These are rare herbs that are especially effective for women’s pregnancy.”
“….”
“I’m sure you, too, would want to see the heir of Vissen before the Duke passes, right? I wanted to offer this as a small help.”
She stopped fanning herself and continued.
“I hope you’ll be able to conceive an heir soon. Just remember, the Russell family will always be on the Duchess’s side.”
Her crescent-shaped eyes gleamed with greed.
“I won’t forget, Lady Audrey.”
“I look forward to seeing you often. And by the way, don’t mention today’s conversation to Duke Harold.”
She subtly gave me a look. I nodded in response.
“I won’t.”
As soon as I get back, I’ll tell Harold.
