The Dowager Duchess's Collapse
Today’s afternoon tea included not only Dowager Duchess Leona but also the wife of the Marquis of Alhemitz and the wife of the Count of Pulmania.
The two women were smiling while concealing their sharp thorns.
"Why, you seem to have gained more flesh on your face, Esika?"
"Yes. I was worried because I heard you had locked yourself in your room and weren't showing yourself."
"Thank you for your concern, Countess."
The maids were pouring tea into the two women's cups.
"Hmm, the tea aroma is wonderful. As expected, the Klaus family's black tea has the highest quality."
Marshal exclaimed in admiration, and Bolan subtly praised the Dowager.
"Thanks to the Dowager's thorough management of the maids, the hospitality for guests is very generous."
Leona's lips twitched.
"This is prepared by my daughter-in-law today."
"...Ah..."
Marshal and Bolan smiled with the corners of their mouths and glanced at Esika.
Their eyes held blatant malice towards Esika.
A lowly daughter-in-law from a lowly house, something shameful that shouldn't be shown to the outside world.
By displaying her daughter-in-law being crushed in front of them, Leona was showing off her prestige in the public house.
It was also a boast that no matter how rich the daughter of a wealthy house, she was nothing in Klaus.
Using the two countesses as teachers for Leona, the abuse intensified.
Of course, the two had previously severely mistreated Esika at Alhemitz, but... since Leona was there, they thought Esika couldn't move.
"Have you heard that the young lady of the Heinz Grand Duke's family is looking for a husband?"
"I guess you know who I thought of the moment I heard that news, Dowager Duchess?"
Leona leisurely waved her fan while listening to her friends' conversation.
Bolan clapped her hands and exaggerated.
"If only the Duke of Klaus hadn't gotten married, that would be perfect."
Esika's hand holding the teacup trembled slightly.
"If the Duke hadn't married, he would have sent a marriage proposal straight from the Grand Duke's family to Klaus? The Heinz Grand Duke's family is a perfect match for the Klaus Duchy."
Esika smiled inwardly.
These women were flattering Leona and always over-praising Kalian.
"Esika, you really are lucky. The heavens, to have met a husband like His Highness Duke Kalian."
Bolan said it was a pity that Kalian didn't marry the young lady of the Grand Duke's family.
Leona smiled thinly while sipping tea.
'Yes, you bunch of people, you naturally hate to be enemies.'
And then Esika opened her mouth.
"It seems the news about the Heinz Grand Duke's family came late."
At that, Leona's eyebrows twitched.
The Countess Bolan, seeing Leona's signal, quickly said to reprimand Esika.
"Is it that you knew it in advance?"
Esika placed the teacup down gracefully and said.
"Yes. I received a letter from the matchmaker saying my second brother-in-law also received one."
At those words, Bolan and Marshal's eyes widened.
Leona's eyebrows also hardened as she looked at Esika.
After a moment, Leona's lips twitched as she said in disbelief.
"The Heinz Grand Duke sent a matchmaker to my humble Brigitte, which is just a baron's house?"
The difference in status between the Grand Duke's family and the baron's family was enormous.
"Speak nonsense, while hosting guests, my dignity is being embarrassed."
Leona's sharp voice made Bolan and Marshal exchange glances and then chuckle.
"Since the daughter-in-law hurt her head before, it seems she hasn't fully recovered yet, Dowager."
Leona waved her fan and replied.
"Since I fell alone and hit a rock, I've been doing actions that don't match up. Please understand, ladies."
"You must be worried. Oh, the news of the Grand Duke's young lady's matchmaker makes it even more regrettable........"
Before Marshal's words ended, Esika opened her lips.
"The Heinz Grand Duke is very interested in maritime trade business. Sitting at a desk and rummaging through documents as nobles is an old-fashioned old thing."
"So, that nonsense again..."
"If you don't believe it, you can check. My brother refused, but the matchmaker's real thing should still be in Brigitte. Unlike those families with only one title and no substance to boast about..."
Esika said with a faint smile.
"The Heinz Grand Duke is a prestigious family that wisely and wisely meets the future."
Leona's eyebrow tips were trembling at Esika's words.
She was turning the words around here.
Themselves who were showing off with just one title here were not wise nor wise.
But how cleverly she turned the words, if she got angry...
"It seems there is a reason why the Heinz Grand Duke is so trusted by the Emperor. Don't you think so, mother?"
It would be as good as insulting the Heinz Grand Duke.
Bolan and Marshal were also trying to chime in and give Esika a chance to get angry, rolling their eyes.
'If the Grand Duke really sent a matchmaker, how strong must Brigitte's wealth be?'
I wonder what thoughts were going on inside.
No matter how long, she was a lowly merchant's daughter from the countryside, but now Esika's cool smile was no less than that of a young lady from a noble family.
"...I see."
Leona's hand holding the teacup tightened.
"Actually... my second brother-in-law wanted to become relatives with the Heinz Grand Duke through my marriage, not his own marriage, but he said the timing wasn't right."
At those words flowing from Esika's mouth, Leona could no longer hold back.
"Is that what you mean, you should have married the Grand Duke instead of Kalian?"
The atmosphere froze coldly, Esika covered her mouth and said, "Oh my."
"No way. I thought you ladies were regretting the connection between the Heinz Grand Duke and His Highness the Duke..."
Bolan and Marshal flinched at Esika's eyes pointing at them.
"I am saying that it is the same for both sides. Well, the Heinz Grand Duke is a family that anyone would want to have a connection with."
Under the table, Leona's tightly clenched fist was trembling.
'This woman is daring to scratch my inside openly.'
Originally, Esika was not the type to respond so fiercely.
If someone harassed her, she would respond emotionally, ruining her own face, making herself ridiculous, and eventually begging for forgiveness.
'I don't know where she learned this, but I have to put her nose down.'
Unlike the easy-to-handle Esika of the past, the one in front of me now didn't even wrinkle her forehead once and was returning the opponent's way in the noble way.
"Esika has completely changed like a witch. The poison has risen, and she doesn't get easily beaten."
It was according to Yuri's report.
'No matter how much you struggle, you can't beat me, pitiful Esika.'
Leona raised her elegant hand and picked up the peanut cookie on the plate.
The power within the Klaus Duchy was, after all, from her son, Duke Kalian Klaus, who was under her skirt.
So, no matter how much the mismatched wife Esika struggled, she couldn't beat her, the mother of Kalian.
Crisp-
The most intuitive way to maintain her son's loyalty was 'virginity'.
Leona elegantly broke the cookie.
And slowly chewed it.
***
Kalian stared at the garden scenery for a long time.
The luxurious tea table with four women was visible.
Of the visible ones, only one person was Esika Klaus.
Every time the wind blew, Esika's beautiful silver hair swayed.
Her blue eyes were so clear.
"..."
She was smiling faintly while serving tea to the Dowager and her friends.
Under her neatly arranged eyebrows, her eyes sparkled every time she smiled.
After staring at her blankly for a moment, Kalian only then put his hand on his forehead.
"What am I doing."
Kalian was definitely angry at Esika Klaus.
The accurate expression would be that anger surged to the tip of his head.
But she was looking at her drinking tea so blankly.
Kalian's eyebrows hardened.
He thought he shouldn't be doing this here.
As he turned to go back to the residence, he felt his heart beating fast.
As if he had just finished sword training in the training ground.
Kalian took a deep breath and calmed his mind.
And at some point, he saw the familiar white horse standing in front of the residence.
The imperial pattern was embroidered on the golden saddle.
Kalian, knowing the owner's identity, slightly furrowed his eyebrows.
"His Highness the Crown Prince seems to have come. I will go prepare in advance."
Hans quickly bowed, and Kalian walked with reluctance.
Even without that, it was already chaotic, and it seemed he had come to review war supplies.
The intimidatingly cold atmosphere and the man whose presence could be felt just by looking.
Crown Prince Lesban Deon Rusein was standing in front of the residence.
Kalian, who had stopped walking in front of him, respectfully lowered his head and showed courtesy to the royalty.
When his gaze lowered, the heavy sword always hanging on Lesban's waist was visible.
"I greet the little sun of Turesian."
Lesban nodded his head with an expressionless face.
"The weather is good."
A precious and strong person, and a difficult opponent.
As Kalian was about to guide Lesban, a scream from the servants came from the garden where he had come out.
"Dowager!"
"The Dowager has fallen!"
"Doctor! Hurry and call the doctor!"