Chapter 25: Mother-in-Law's Apology
Sella bowed her head to Kalian and stood behind Esika. In her mind, full of admiration for Esika, she thought how her abilities had foreseen every outcome.
"I will make sure your younger sister receives compensation for her wounds."
"……Your Grace……."
Yuri trembled violently, tears streaming down her face. It felt like a cliff ahead and behind.
"To you… I am truly disappointed."
Kalian's face flushed slightly as he spoke coldly to Yuri. He had completely lost face in front of Esika.
He had warned that she would pay for the maid's words, and boasted confidently to the maid that he would stake Klaus's honor. Yet the culprit was obvious—Leona.
Shameful feelings surged through him.
"……Damn it."
He pressed his forehead, lips quivering. He had no idea what to say to Esika.
"It seems the time for blaming the troublesome villainess has ended. Let's go."
Esika's cold voice reached his ear.
"……Esika……."
Kalian tried to call her, but she turned away like a cold wind. Sella did the same. Kalian reached out, but Esika stormed out. The door slammed shut behind her.
"……Damn it!"
Kalian fiercely kicked the whip box Sella had dropped. The box shattered noisily, making Yuri shrink and tremble even more.
Meanwhile, Leona lay with her legs massaged by the maids, a smile forming on her lips. Esika was nothing but a foolish girl who struggled. She needed to show her the empty room.
"You all watch well."
The maids flinched at Leona's words.
"The despair of a lowly thing that doesn't know its place."
They lowered their heads and focused on the massage. Leona Klaus— no one in the Klaus family dared oppose her. She controlled even her son Kalian.
Kalian was angry at her tears and gestures, yet pitied her. His great filial piety had pushed aside the previous Duchess Dowager and her children to give the title to the young boy. There was no way to break the bond between them.
But soon, someone knocked loudly on the door. The maid rushed up, yet before she could open it, the door burst open.
"……."
Leona, lying receiving the massage, frowned and turned her head. There stood Kalian, his face much paler than before. Another maid helped her sit up.
Leona looked at the approaching figures. There was never a warm gaze in her son's eyes directed at her. At that moment, she felt a profound fear.
"What is it, Your Grace?"
She asked gently, hiding her anxiety.
Kalian stared at her silently for a long time, then opened his stiff lips.
"I have always told you the truth, Mother. So… you must tell me the truth as well."
Yuri had eventually confessed to Kalian. The one who made her thighs in that state was the Grand Duchess's doing. And if Kalian told Leona, she might die. To Yuri, trembling and begging for mercy, Kalian said coldly.
"Mother is afraid, but Esika is not afraid at all."
Yuri lowered her head and sobbed.
Is this real remorse…? Now Kalian couldn't believe even Yuri. He didn't comfort the crying girl but turned to Leona.
"What do you mean?"
Leona's pupils shook.
Always a mother who sacrificed for the family, she felt guilty asking, but she couldn't let it slide when the name of Klaus was on the line.
"The one who abused the maids was not Esika."
A low voice leaked from Kalian's lips. Leona's fingers holding the teacup twitched slightly.
Yuri… this useless thing.
A thought crossed her mind.
"Your Grace……"
"Mother?"
Kalian's eyebrows were firm.
The corners of Leona's lips, which had been gently raised, twitched.
"Tell me."
Esika was focusing on qi circulation today as well. When she concentrated her mind on the dantian, clear qi gathered. By entrusting her body to the flow and focusing on training, she felt refreshed.
After all, for her who already knew the knowledge of a master, sword techniques or sword arts were just forms. It wouldn't be too late to train after accumulating sufficient internal energy.
If I train for about a month, I'll try to hit the real thing.
She had elixir that she steadily took and qi cultivation. Although there was still a long way to go to past achievements… even if she only recovered half of the power she originally had, it would be success.
After finishing the qi cultivation and standing up, Sella entered from outside at the right time.
"……Madam."
The air in the mansion had already changed. Sella, with a tense expression, opened her mouth with a look of not knowing what to do.
"The Grand Duchess summoned you."
If it were past Esika, she would have started to be anxious and teary-eyed. Leona Klaus, Kalian's mother, hated Esika bitterly. A twisted obsession with her son and her originally cruel personality mixed to torment Esika, her son's wife, to death.
Of course, if it was just a one-dimensional method, it would have been better. Her way was to burn and devour the soul without any breathing room.
"Yes."
Esika replied casually with a faint smile.
"But did you receive the compensation?"
"Yes. The Duke commanded the steward to compensate for the younger sister incident. It's all thanks to you, Madam."
Sella said to Esika with a suddenly emotional tone. Since she had staked the Klaus honor, Kalian had no choice.
Esika, with her dress neatly arranged, headed to the garden where Leona usually held tea time. Maids glanced at her with rude looks as she walked elegantly. But now no one could whisper about her openly.
When Esika reached the garden, she approached Leona's table with graceful steps. There, Leona was drinking tea, and Yuri was standing behind her.
Esika, who suppressed the urge to laugh seeing Yuri's face red as if slapped, placed her hand on her chest and bowed her head to Leona.
"Mother, it's been a long time since we've met."
In Esika's voice, Leona slowly raised her haughty gaze. Elegantly curled golden hair and purple eyes the same color as Kalian's.
"Yes, it's been a while. Sit."
On Leona's permission, Esika sat opposite her. A cold atmosphere settled.
In Leona's seemingly calm eyes, poison flowed not less than a snake's.
"Yuri, pour the tea."
On Leona's command, Yuri approached and filled the teacup with tea for Esika. Although Esika felt Yuri's cold gaze, she chewed it up like a snack.
"The Duke told me he moved your room. He said you seem to have reflected enough."
"From today on, I will receive your greeting again."
Since Leona drove Esika away, she had not received her greeting. Even if Esika knelt in front of her room begging forgiveness for words she didn't say, and clung to her crying, Leona's attitude was like a rock. It was not to teach, but to humiliate and torment Esika.
The maids even mocked Esika, and the continuous time of humiliation was a deep wound for Esika.
"I am deeply grateful for Mother's forgiveness and mercy."
Esika answered with a faint smile.
Leona's eyebrows twitched at that attitude. Leona had never liked this young girl who tried to sit on her precious son's seat. She had hoped that this girl who grew up in a poor family with low status would suffer misfortune. Therefore, the sight of Esika smiling always stirred a snake-like jealousy in her.
"And……."
Leona's hand holding the teacup tightened.
"The Duke seems to have been deceived."
For Leona, the events of that day were like a nightmare. Kalian had asked why she framed Esika as the cause of the abuse. Leona had tried to soothe Kalian gently like before, saying it was all for the family, but this time it was different. Kalian had changed. Distrust that Kalian had never felt towards his mother filled his eyes to the brim. The situation where the son who was in her arms was standing outside the skirt flap suspecting her was something she had never experienced in her life. Kalian not only suspected Leona, but forced her.
"Apologize to Esika."
Leona's eyes shook as if wounded, but Kalian's attitude did not change.
"She was framed for something she didn't do. And I……."
Kalian's clenched fist trembled.
"……Damn it."