Chapter 7
Rachel put away the book she had been reading and slowly walked alone.
Berengela stood at the entrance of the mansion, her arrogant face surveying the hall. When she spotted Rachel descending the stairs, she raised her fan to her face and snapped sharply:
“This mansion is a mess. Countess Rachel, why is it that you can barely manage even a modest-sized mansion like this?”
Rachel ignored Berengela’s words and greeted her politely. She didn’t care what a future adversary thought.
“Mother, you’ve arrived.”
“Countess, it’s been a while.”
Hidden beneath her formal words was disdain. Every movement was precise, graceful, and elegant.
It was beauty crafted solely for show—this was Berengela’s trademark.
She was the mother of a typical noble family, valuing appearance, honor, discipline, and titles above all.
The reason Theodore worked in the capital and the palace was largely due to Berengela’s ambition. She constantly nagged that to rise in status, he needed to make a good impression on the high-ranking officials in the palace.
Theodore had started working there because it allowed him to meet Jane freely and distance himself from Berengela.
When Berengela heard that Theodore was in charge of preparing the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet, she was overjoyed. Finally, she thought, the future of the Ellosa family would be secure.
A sharp light appeared in Berengela’s eyes beyond her fan.
“Countess, don’t you think the mansion’s decorations are rather outdated? If you live in the capital, shouldn’t the style match the place? These curtains and decorations—what era are they from?”
“I apologize for my shortcomings and causing you concern.”
“It’s good that you realize it. Recently, heavy and antique items from the southern regions…”
“Was the carriage journey not too tiring? I’d like to hear the details slowly, so could you wait in the reception room for a moment? I’ll prepare tea.”
Berengela, who had been ready to start a scolding, fell silent.
It was true—the carriage journey had been exhausting. The food had been unappetizing, and sitting for so long had caused back pain.
“…A good idea. Then I’ll rest in the reception room. Please prepare food and drinks—the trendiest in the capital.”
That was such a Berengela order.
As Rachel guided her to the reception room and was about to order a servant to fetch food, Theodore returned to the mansion. His face was pale, as if afraid his mother would scold him.
Rachel clicked her tongue in her mind.
“A man almost thirty who’s still afraid of his mother.”
Outwardly, he still played the role of a dutiful husband.
“Already back? You don’t look well. Didn’t you rush too much?”
“Ah, no. The Crown Prince’s birthday banquet turned out grander than expected, so it was a bit exhausting. I was going home to rest, and your arrival was well-timed.”
It was true that Theodore had worked hard on the banquet. The Crown Prince was the heir to the throne, and making a good impression wouldn’t hurt.
He took off his coat and handed it to Karl while boasting:
“Do you know how grand the banquet became? Even Archduke Sian and Grand Prince Titienis, who rarely appear at official events, announced they would attend!”
“Oh, really?”
Originally, Rachel hadn’t intended to attend Theodore’s banquet, but it seemed she needed to reconsider.
She couldn’t skip an official banquet attended by her future in-law, Sian.
“If the banquet is that grand, I should attend this year.”
“Hmm… then I suppose I have no choice… wait, what?”
“Why the surprise?”
“You don’t like gatherings like this. I assumed you wouldn’t go.”
“That’s true. I dislike crowded banquets.”
“Well…”
Theodore’s eyes lit up with expectation, but it was useless.
“It’s your banquet, and I should at least appear. Everyone will have a partner at the banquet. If you’re alone, what will people say? And I owe it to Mother as well.”
At the mention of “Mother,” Theodore groaned.
“Well, that may be so. Don’t overdo it.”
“Yes. I have a task Mother requested, so let’s talk after that.”
“A task? What did Mother ask you to do?”
“She wants to try the trendiest foods in the capital.”
“Ah! I know those! I’ll go get them!”
He hurriedly put his coat back on and ran out of the mansion.
It was amusing—he volunteered for a servant’s errand just to delay his meeting with the mother who had raised him.
Rachel brought a simple snack and drink to the reception room.
“Mother, the Count will fetch the trendiest foods in the capital. You must be hungry, so please try this first.”
“Did the Count really go fetch food for me himself? Even though he’s so busy, he did such a troublesome task?”
Though she spoke like that, she seemed quite pleased.
“Preparing such a grand banquet must be exhausting. Countess, please take care of the Count. Make sure he eats well and rests.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know how hard it is to maintain and grow a family? Before Count Theodore was born, Ellosa was a small, weak family…”
She went on to brag about how she and the late former count had built the Ellosa family into what it was today.
Rachel listened with half interest, nodding along.
After a while, Berengela finally spoke about something Rachel cared about:
“I heard even the Archduke and Grand Prince, who are usually hard to meet, will attend the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. If they come personally, it must mean they approve of the banquet Count Ellosa is preparing. You must make a good impression.”
Berengela paused, staring at Rachel.
The next words were predictable—probably something about flattering Sian.
“I heard the Archduke’s daughter is Graham’s age.”
What?
Rachel frowned.
Berengela also stiffened.
“And what does that expression mean, Countess?”
“Are you planning to use Graham to get close to the Archduke?”
“Why not? If the Archduke’s daughter and Graham become friends, it’s good for the Ellosa family.”
Rachel’s mission was indeed to unite Dolorasa and Graham—but only after Graham left the Ellosa name and did it of his own will.
Even if they loved each other in the original story, a union arranged for the family’s gain was unacceptable.
There was already a perfect example—Theodore. He had a “political marriage” and didn’t develop feelings for Rachel.
Rachel stared Berengela straight in the eye.
The original Rachel had never looked at her this way; she had been far more afraid than Theodore ever was.
Berengela’s eyes narrowed.
“Countess, your expressions today are so varied. Have you forgotten etiquette after meeting an elder of the family after so long?”
“I’m sorry, Mother, but I will not use Graham as a means to get close to the Archduke.”
“…What did you say?”
“Graham is only four. He’s far too small and fragile to be used for political or economic gain.”
“No, four is enough. Perhaps you forgot—the Count first discussed marriage with the Countess when she was four.”
“I know. That’s why I’m speaking. Four is never an age to serve the family’s interests.”
“…Countess.”
“Yes, speak.”
“Do you realize what you’ve done to me?”
“I shared my opinion.”
“Even if times have changed, how dare you treat the mother who bore the Count this way? I can hear the Ellosa family’s discipline hitting rock bottom. Do you act like this to the Count as well?”
Who was really bringing the family’s discipline to ruin?
Before Theodore and Jane’s relationship became bold, few suspected an affair. But after Jane’s last visit, most of the mansion’s servants suspected him.
“This is a secret, but you should know. Count Theodore Ellosa… brought a woman home.”
“A woman? What woman?”
“I don’t know. She wore fancy clothes but didn’t know noble etiquette.”
“A commoner? The Count invited a commoner as a guest?”
“I saw the Count on the street with a woman before…”
“Then the rumor is true? Someone saw the Count kiss a woman in an alley!”
“He had an affair?”
“And he brought the woman he had an affair with to the mansion and introduced her to his wife?”
The gossip among the servants would spread to others eventually. Discreet now, but only a matter of time. There are noblewomen everywhere who love to talk about every little rumor.
Unaware of any of this, Berengela’s voice boomed through the reception room:
“How dare you! Who made the current Ellosa family what it is? I did, by rigorously training the Count from childhood! Understand?”
“That rigorous training seems useless.”
“What… Countess! How dare you speak such nonsense!”
“Do you really think you raised your son ‘well’?”
“Of course!”
Would a man like that commit an affair with a commoner nine years younger than him for years?
Rachel wondered how Berengela’s face would contort when she learned the truth. But now was not the time to reveal the affair.
Rachel suppressed a smile and pretended to be deep in thought.
“My opinion is slightly different, Mother.”
“Countess! What are you saying?”
“Could you wait a moment?”
“Countess! Leaving in the middle of a conversation!”
Ignoring Berengela, Rachel returned to the study and brought back the freshly organized ledgers to the reception room.
“Here, read this.”
“What is this?”
“Ledgers. Your well-raised son has been embezzling and evading taxes from the Ellosa family’s wealth for years.”
“What… did you say?”
It must have been shocking. For Berengela, who valued reputation and public image above life itself, her son’s tax evasion was humiliating.
