WGMFTR | Chapter 26

Episode 26

Though it wasn’t clearly visible, Lydia could feel the hand that had been wrapped around her waist being withdrawn as the sound of the door closing echoed.

She let out a deep breath as her tension fully eased.

“It would be best to call a maid later to tidy up your hair.”

As Marquis Esteban stepped aside, Lydia also stood up, feeling the awkward air for some reason, and sat down.

She saw his fingertips reaching toward her hair.

“Is it that messy?”

“It’s a bit better if done like this.”

Without hesitation, his hand gathered her brown hair and draped it over one shoulder.

When the back of his hand brushed against her exposed collarbone, she almost flinched, but thinking of how they had just been in an embrace, Lydia decided it would be overreacting and tried her best to appear unaffected.

“……Thank you.”

While Lydia was struggling to fix her hair without a mirror, the marquis, whose appearance was hardly disheveled, rubbed his forehead tiredly and spoke.

“I have something to take care of briefly, so I need to step out. I’ll be back before lunch, so don’t worry.”

While Lydia was still trying to fully shake off her drowsiness, he had already begun changing clothes.

She tried, at least out of courtesy, to tell him to take care, but when she saw him briskly walk out, she sat on the bed alone and muttered absentmindedly.

“Why does it seem like he’s in such a rush to leave?”

Suddenly left alone, Lydia felt a bit confused.

Wasn’t it the marquis who had been trying to show a kind and affectionate demeanor first?

But then he abruptly distanced himself and now left as if this much time was enough.

“……I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?”

However, any concerns she had were soon swept away by the sudden appearance of the marquisate’s maids, who barged in as if they had been waiting for the opportunity.

“Madam, let us assist you with your grooming.”

“Since it’s your first time appearing as the madam, how about this one?”

They had no hesitation in selecting accessories that looked extravagant enough to wear to a banquet.

In fact, the size of all the gems in the jewelry box was like that.

“Hold on. I… I’m not going anywhere today, so I think this is enough. No, those earrings are definitely too much.”

“But they would suit you so well. The master gifted you so many of these, you should wear at least one.”

Why on earth had Marquis Esteban filled the jewelry box to the brim by lavishly wasting the household’s wealth?

Lydia feared that there might be some heirloom mixed in and that she might lose it if she wore it out.

“Then, I’ll wear the smallest one. It’s uncomfortable otherwise.”

Wishing to escape the overwhelmingly devoted attention, Lydia proposed a compromise and quickly finished getting ready before they could suggest adding an emerald-studded hairpin and slipped out of the room.

“The master left this behind, apologizing for not having breakfast with you.”

A large and vividly red bouquet of roses, whose order timing was a mystery, sat on the center table in the main hall.

Whatever his morning schedule was, it must have been very urgent.

“Alright. Then let’s bring this to the room……”

“……Ma’am. It’s inappropriate for you to enter like this.”

“You dare block me? Where is Ilian? Ilian!”

At that moment, noise began to rise from outside the door, signaling the arrival of an unexpected visitor.

The person who entered the marquisate, flanked by knights on either side and walking in with an arrogant and imposing demeanor, was a lavishly dressed woman.

“Where is Ilian?”

Judging by how she called Ilian by name, she must know him, but no matter how fake the marriage was, if someone was scheduled to visit, he surely would have informed Lydia—this left her utterly confused.

The butler standing nearby wore a very troubled expression, which made it clear this was not a good situation.

“Princess Madeline. The master did not permit your entry. Please return.”

“I am the rightful lady of the marquisate, and I can’t even freely enter this mansion?”

Ah. I see.

Lydia finally realized who the elegant woman with a proud expression—who seemed too young to be considered a household matron—really was.

It was none other than Princess Madeline Ines, the former marchioness, whom Marquis Ilian Esteban always spoke of with a face so cold he didn’t even want to mention her.

“Please leave. Even His Majesty the King doesn’t enter the marquisate unannounced.”

Thankfully, the butler was present.

Lydia had no idea how to handle this fierce-tempered lady.

More precisely, she was unsure whether she could speak freely in front of her.

But then, her eyes met with Princess Madeline’s.

“You.”

The way she scanned Lydia up and down was deeply unpleasant.

As if gauging whether she was someone easy to push around.

“So, you’re the one. The lowly girl who seduced the marquis and settled into the marquisate.”

Her words, delivered with arms crossed, were so rude that Lydia felt her head spinning.

Now she understood exactly why Marquis Esteban never wanted to deal with this woman.

But Lydia wasn’t one to back down easily.

Whether it was a contractual marriage or destined for annulment, she held a legitimate position here.

In fact, maybe it was better that Madeline had come while Esteban was away.

Lydia was confident that no matter how Madeline twisted past or present facts, she wouldn’t bat an eye or feel hurt.

“It’s not ‘you.’ It’s ‘Marchioness Esteban.’”

She couldn’t bring herself to say “Mother.” Facing the woman who was Ethan’s mother, she couldn’t help but question whether she deserved the love of such a good-natured boy.

Besides, Madeline clearly wasn’t in a position to give orders to the household staff as a family elder.

“……What did you say?”

“We got married yesterday. It seems you’ve only just arrived, so I thought you might not know.”

Lydia said everything with a bright smile.

Lady Schnette once said that in arguments between noblewomen, there’s no real winning—it’s just about who gets more offended.

“Are you done talking?”

“No. Not yet. He didn’t mention any guests coming today, so I’m quite surprised that Her Highness the Princess would show up uninvited. Is there an urgent matter?”

Since Ilian distanced himself from his family, Lydia decided to do the same and firmly drew the line by referring to her as “Princess.”

Looking at Princess Madeline’s face reddening with anger, Lydia realized Lady Schnette had been absolutely right.

Even though she was the one insulted, it was Madeline who was losing the ground.

“You—hah! Unbelievable. I’ve lived in this mansion far longer than you.”

“Even if you lived here for 30 years, without the owner’s permission, you have no right to enter now.”

Lady Schnette also once gave a full lecture, with examples, about how to subtly undermine someone with formal language, but Lydia couldn’t recall all of it.

“I’ll have to ask properly next time.”

She regretted not fully putting her teacher’s lessons into practice—how lacking she was as a student.

Of course, Lady Shunette might not be too pleased to know her lesson was being tested on Princess Madeline, but oh well.

What mattered was using what you’ve learned.

“Th-this… insolent girl, get her out of my sight!”

As she pointed and shouted the order, the knights beside her reached for their swords.

Of course, they were only posturing, but the tension in the air began to rise.

But then, someone laughed loudly, and the clicking of heels echoed through the hall, quickly melting the tension.

“To speak like that to ‘Mother’—you pass.”

Clapping her hands and smiling brightly, a blonde woman suddenly appeared from behind Princess Madeline—bearing a striking resemblance to Ilian.

Lydia instantly recognized the radiant woman flipping her golden hair and was genuinely surprised that she had come all the way to the capital.