Discussion
“Sorry to interrupt the conversation, but it seems that Lord Brian’s wife, Lady Emilia, and their nephew, who officially inherited the marquisate, are being treated as a nuisance. Despite being raised by them until now, it looks like the late mother’s family has been whispering strange things into his ears, and things aren’t going well. I wonder if the current Marquis even knows that Southcourt has been providing support?”
“That can’t possibly be…”
“I’ve spoken with the current Marquis. Since he has already officially inherited the marquisate, Southcourt has fulfilled its duty. So even if you withdraw, the royal family won’t say a word. And if they dare to complain, just show them how much financial support has been given all this time.”
Grandmother sure knows the inner workings of other marquis houses.
The social world of nobles really is terrifying. Smiles on the surface, daggers underneath.
That’s not for me. Really, being the carefree third son is the best.
“I understand that Father and Grandfather were trying to fulfill the royal command, but will the funds we’ve given ever return to our house? Do you have any notes of debt from them? Don’t you think the way we supported them may have only made them more arrogant?”
“Diana…”
“At dinner tonight, didn’t you notice? If our family had been able to talk more seriously about these matters as a family, instead of losing our time together because of other houses, I wouldn’t have grown up carrying such inferiority. I always thought that because I was a girl, because I resembled Mother, Father ignored me. That no matter how much I tried, I’d never be acknowledged, so I gave up. Even with Mother—letters I sent went unanswered. I thought she regretted giving birth to me. Even when I heard excuses from Grandmother, I still didn’t believe them.”
“… Diana, I’m sorry. I never realized I’d hurt you so deeply.”
“Grandmother’s fixation on Westland… it was because she thought I might gain the warmth of family through marriage, the warmth I never had. This match may fall through, but I’m glad I came here.”
Eh? I thought Brother Gerald had already confessed.
I looked at him without thinking, and the rest of the family turned to him too, making him look awkward.
… So he hasn’t yet?
Diana’s words made it sound like he had, but it was only a hint, nothing direct.
“And you know, Caroline has had her share of troubles in society too. Because of Lady Miriana.”
“Sophia.”
“This is the time to say it all. People are saying Lady Miriana was abused under the guise of ‘education,’ her good matches crushed, and then married off to a vassal baron’s family. It’s being spread by Lord Kevin’s elder sister.”
“What? My sister said such things?” Lord Kevin half-rose from his armchair in anger, but perhaps remembering our presence, he sank back down.
“Lord Kevin, your sister takes every chance to sneer at Caroline. Saying she only managed to bear Lord Brian, so Miriana was made to serve as her maid. Saying Southcourt ought to be crushed. That her own son or grandson could take Southcourt at any time.”
“That’s outrageous!” Lord Kevin exploded. He seemed to truly have no idea, gripping the armrest as if to steady himself.
“But Lady Miriana is your child, isn’t she? That’s why Caroline raised her. Caroline blamed herself and poured everything into raising Miriana into a lady worthy of any marriage. Yet you married her off to a vassal baron without even consulting Caroline. That’s why your sister feels free to say whatever she likes.”
“Father, we must tell the truth. Miriana is my cousin. She is the child of Father’s late younger brother.”
“I knew. But your father told me she was his own child. I thought it was to reproach me for failing to bear children. Yet he told you the truth. So it’s me who wasn’t trusted.”
“No, that’s not it. My sister insisted that if I claimed Miriana as my own, it would lessen your burden, Caroline. That’s why I went along with it. But everything my sister has said about Miriana is nonsense. Still, our relationship only worsened… Have I been deceived by my sister all along?”
Lord Kevin and Lord Brian—aren’t they a bit too softhearted for nobles?
It just looks like they’ve been used.
And they don’t even see how much of their own family they’ve sacrificed for it. Or maybe they do, but have no idea how to fix it.
And then even the sister they trusted betrayed them.
Normally, who’d ever advise, “Claim your dead brother’s child as your own”? That’s insane.
What do you think about this chapter?
