FWRP 26

Chapter: 26

You really hate being in crowded places.

His face was filled with nothing but the desire to leave immediately.

“……Sorry. I showed you another unpleasant sight.”

Vanessa carefully took Ian’s hand, showing her remorse.

“Why should you be sorry? It’s not your fault that the bugs gathered around.”

“Huh? Bugs?”

“Yeah. It seems summer is trying to arrive early. Judging by how the flying insects are already swarming.”

“…….”

“When we return to the mansion, I’ll have to spray some insecticide. Before they start coming in without knowing their place.”

It was one thing that he had mentioned manners again, just like last time.

Had he always been this cutting?

Was he acting like this because she had kept him in a crowded place for too long?

At a glance, it might have sounded as though they were talking about summer insects, but anyone could tell that he was referring to the Marquess of Leonard’s family.

They must have heard everything.

And sure enough, the Marchioness was glaring at her as though she wanted to kill her.

Just like when she had secretly opened the door and watched them on her first night with Carlisle.

‘Back then, I really thought she was a ghost.’

Whenever Vanessa was alone with Carlisle, the Marchioness would appear from somewhere and watch them with those eyes, so Vanessa had been careful even about brushing against Carlisle’s clothes, let alone anything more intimate.

But now that she thought she would never have to go through that again, those eyes were no longer frightening.

“……You’re right. We should spray something.”

She deliberately glanced toward the Marchioness as she spoke, and a thrilling sense of satisfaction followed.

Ah, so this was why people said that in high society, having a common enemy and alcohol was all it took to become close.

To be honest, she had never been able to openly make the Marchioness her common enemy because it would be like spitting in her own face, so she had always swallowed her resentment in silence.

……This feels better than I expected, doesn’t it?

It was like thinking she was the only one who knew that someone was crazy, only for someone who happened to know the same thing to appear and say, ‘Hey, you think so too? Hey, I think so too!’ and enthusiastically agree with her.

Thanks to that, the corners of Vanessa’s lips kept rising higher and higher.

“It would be nice if they were completely exterminated while we’re at it, wouldn’t it?”

Seeing the Marchioness’s face turn as red as a tomato about to burst made it even more satisfying.

She must have been furious because her title prevented her from telling them to stop.

But what could she do?

From now on, situations like this would become part of everyday life.

‘Ah! So sweet.’

It felt like stuffing her mouth full of a fruit bursting with incredibly sweet flesh and happily crunching away.

Before she knew it, Vanessa was beaming brightly at Ian.

Ian had no intention of ruining Vanessa’s mood.

“It would be difficult to wipe them out completely, but it’s not impossible.”

Just having him agree with her like this was enough to make Vanessa smile so sweetly that her teeth might rot. How could she dislike it?

“Maybe it’s because the weather is getting warmer? They seem to be swarming more these days.”

“Are they bothering you?”

“Hmm……”

Vanessa’s gaze briefly landed on the Marchioness of Leonard before moving away.

“At least it looks like we’ve driven them away for now.”

“If they keep getting on your nerves, tell me.”

“Why? Are you going to make some kind of pest exterminator for me?”

Unlike Vanessa, who joked around lightly, Ian swept his cold, subdued gaze across the now-silent hall.

“If they keep swarming around, then that’s what I’ll have to do.”

Only then did the Marchioness of Leonard finally lower her stiffly raised head.

Seeing that, Ian suddenly gave a faint smile.

“They don’t understand words.”

“Surely not. She must have taken quite a hit just now. Would she really come back again?”

Vanessa drove the final nail into the coffin of the Marchioness of Leonard, whose lips seemed unlikely to survive after being talked about so mercilessly.

‘In this life, I’ll make sure you can only look at my feet.’

Vanessa made that vow inwardly and finally turned her gaze away from the crown of the Marchioness’s head.

After the storm had passed, the only ones left standing awkwardly were the Marquess of Leonard’s family.

“……Ahem, why make such a commotion on such a good day?”

“She must have been quite shocked. Who knows how upset she was. Well, it’s not as though the situation is impossible to understand, but she did go a little too far.”

“It seems the Marchioness knows her etiquette well, but has little sense of the situation. With the atmosphere like this, she could easily have caused a serious misunderstanding.”

As soon as a noble family with business ties to the House of Duke Chelliago added their remarks, voices of criticism began to grow louder from all around, as if everyone had been waiting for an opportunity.

“I hope the Marquess of Leonard gets out of bed and recovers soon. His wife is having such a difficult time standing in for her husband.”

When they finally went so far as to mention her husband, the Marchioness of Leonard ground her teeth.

“……It seems our inadequate parenting has caused a disturbance. We came to offer our congratulations on such a wonderful day and occasion, but things have turned out this way. I imagine both the recipient and the giver must be upset.”

It was practically an announcement that they would be leaving, but no one stepped forward to stop them.

After quietly calming her boiling anger, the Marchioness approached Carlisle, who was still staring at Vanessa Sharose’s back.

“Let us go. It seems we are not exactly welcome guests here.”

“Mother, you go ahead. I……”

“Carlisle.”

The Marchioness, her eyes sharp as a blade, whispered quietly to Carlisle.

“Be a good boy, my son. I’ll put her in your hands, even if I have to destroy her to do it. So let’s withdraw for today.”

“……Yes.”

Only then did Carlisle’s gaze pass over his mother, and he bowed his head toward all the nobles gathered in the hall.

“I apologize for ruining the pleasant atmosphere with my personal feelings. I will repay today’s shortcoming in full at a later date, so please let the scolding end here. Whether we like it or not, are we not people who give and receive from one another?”

Everyone gathered here could understand that it was a warning disguised as an apology.

A warning to remember all the various favors they had received from him.

The nobles who had each voiced their criticism exchanged glances. Eventually, the man who had first reprimanded them stroked his beard and reluctantly stepped forward.

“Ahem…… People can make mistakes in life, can’t they? I’ll put in a good word for you with His Grace, the Duke of Chelliago.”

“Count Gideon will understand as well. What matters is that you came to offer congratulations. What else could be more important?”

Leaving behind the nobles who hurried to offer words of consolation after receiving what was essentially an apology disguised as a threat, the Marchioness left the banquet hall.

‘Vanessa Sharose…….’

The Marchioness silently savored her name, one syllable at a time, then ground her teeth.

‘Let’s see if you can smile like that at the imperial banquet celebrating the delegation.’

Her eyes flashed as she turned her back on the banquet hall without hesitation and began walking.

“Carlisle.”

“……Yes, Madam.”

“Making a fool of me must be the last time.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Meet the godmother’s granddaughter who will soon be coming to the Empire. I hear she has an illness, so approach her naturally. I’ll give you the medicine. You must not fail this time.”

“……Do I have to marry her?”

“Of course. If she is willing to do that, what is there that you cannot do twice?”

“But I don’t want to marry a woman I have no feelings for……”

“Carlisle? You need to go farther than your father ever did. Wouldn’t that make raising you worthwhile for me?”

“…….”

“I’m telling you not to show any signs of having inherited the blood of a filthy maid. And from now on, call me Mother even when we’re outside. It seems there will be many eyes watching us.”

“……Yes, Mo-ther.”

“Tsk.”

The Marchioness clicked her tongue harshly and continued walking ahead. Carlisle clenched his teeth.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you coming?”

His tightly clenched fist slowly relaxed at a single word from her.

He could not defy her.

The moment he struck against her, his breath would stop.

It was a helplessness he had learned since childhood, one that no one else knew about.

‘It would probably be faster for me to go insane.’

With that self-deprecating thought left behind, Carlisle slowly followed her.

How long would he be able to remain sane?

He had a feeling that there was not much time left.

‘I have to obey Mother.’

Judging by how the whispering invading his mind was becoming clearer.

‘I love Mother.’

Madly. To the point where he wanted to tear this feeling out and kill it.

As his thoughts continued, Carlisle’s expression gradually became flawless, as though it had been painted with a brush.

“I’m sorry, Mother. You were hurt because of me, weren’t you?”

His chattering, seemingly intended to cheer up his parent, made him look just like a little child.

“I heard there’s a café in the capital that makes delicious tarts. Shall we go eat some? Mother, you like tarts, don’t you?”

“Do you still love Vanessa Sharose?”

“Why would I love a woman who has nothing to offer except her title? The person I love more than anyone is you, Mother.”

“……I see. It would be nice to go on a date with my son for the first time in a while.”

“I’m so happy you said that, Mother.”

The Marchioness smiled with deep satisfaction at his natural use of the title.

At the same time, Carlisle’s eyes curved into a smile as well.

“My ideal woman has always been Mother.”

“To think I’m my son’s ideal woman. I’m old now, but that still makes me feel good.”

“Don’t say that. You’re still so beautiful.”

“Let’s go now. If you act too foolishly, you’ll only make yourself look pathetic.”

Following the Marchioness’s expression as though imitating it, the corners of Carlisle’s mouth stiffened.

“You should smile. I’m not scolding you right now.”

“Ah…… yes. I’m sorry. I thought I was being scolded.”

The smile that naturally curved across his face was unnaturally smooth, but from a distance, they would simply look like a mother and son who were on good terms.

Seeing the unfocused look in Carlisle’s eyes, the Marchioness stroked her son’s head with satisfaction.

“As if I could ever scold my beloved son.”