ITMWG 115

Chapter 115…

How funny.

“Are you against it, Cain?”

“Of course I am against it. You’re not even on speaking terms, and if you meet face to face, who knows what kind of trouble she’s going to cause?”

It was as if he was questioning if it was not obvious to her.

He had been watching Melissa closely and seemed completely fed up with her.

Seeing Cain, who could get along well with anyone, react like this, Nadia couldn’t help but laugh, thinking that Melissa sure was something else.

“You’re not wrong, but it’s still necessary.”

Cain tilted his head as if he still didn’t understand.

Marie and Leon, who were quietly listening to their conversation, also seemed to be on Cain’s side.

Her head felt dizzy for a moment when she thought of having to convince three people, but she calmly shared her thoughts anyway.

“There’s no reason to kick Melissa out in the current situation.”

“Just the fact that she’s the daughter of Marquis Vine is more than enough reason to kick her out.”

If someone like that were kicked out, public opinion could change in an instant.

That’s how people were.

It would take a long time for criticism to turn into favour, but favour can turn into criticism overnight.

“I could kick Melissa out any time, but then I’d lose the sympathy I’d barely managed to gather. People thought I was weak and showed sympathy, but if I kick her out unilaterally…”

“That would bring about great resentment.”

Cain lightly snapped his fingers as if he understood the situation a little.

“That’s right. People will feel betrayed by me as much as they showed sympathy, no, even more. I have to kick Melissa out while remaining a complete and utter victim until the end. Then, she’d have to become a bad person like my uncle.”

“Well…If you prod her just a little, she’d do something bad at any time…”

Cain stroked his chin and trailed off.

He looked like he understood the situation, but he didn’t know how to prod Melissa.

But Nadia already had something in mind.

As she spoke leisurely with a smile, Cain finally realised that their Madame had a plan and his eyes sparkled.

His trustful gaze made her feel more confident.

“Melissa has a weapon. How about giving her a chance to use it freely?”

“A weapon, you say…”

“She thinks I’m infertile. She has a diagnosis paper, so she thinks it’s true. And it’s not completely wrong. If she gets a chance, she’ll spread the word to let people know that I’m a flawed person.”

Cain’s eyes grew wider as the story continued. He seemed to have found the answer.

“Infertility is a great disgrace to a noblewoman. It is especially fatal for a woman like me who has not yet borne an heir. Not only is it disqualifying as a baroness, but even if the inheritance law is revised, I will not be able to continue the lineage, so I am also disqualified as a marquis…”

“But you are already pregnant, Madame. You can prove that the rumor is clearly false.”

“That’s right. So let Melissa spread all the rumours, and then I’ll come out and reveal the truth myself.”

If they were also to add that the Baroness almost had a miscarriage because she was shocked by the rumours, Melissa would be the perfect perpetrator.

She’ll be frustrated to death.

And she could kick Melissa out of this mansion without a hitch.

“She must have met the henchman and thought for sure that when I lost my qualifications, she could become the Marquis, so she must be very excited. If I just scratch her a little, she’ll run outside and happily spread the rumours.”

“…”

“What do you think? You won’t stop me from meeting Melissa now, right?”

Nadia looked at Cain, Marie, and Leon one by one, and they all kept their mouths shut and didn’t answer.

Wasn’t silence the same as affirmation?

“If it’s been decided, let’s go. We’re going fishing.”

The target of the fishing trip was naturally Melissa.

Nadia got up and felt her stomach with her hand.

When she touched it with her hand, she could clearly feel that it was swollen, but fortunately, it wasn’t that noticeable on the outside.

Melissa didn’t have a keen eye, so she’d probably be fooled.

“If I want to fish properly, wouldn’t it be better to wear a more voluminous dress?”

Nadia asked, looking back at Marie, and she nodded with a smile.

It seemed like she was really enjoying the fact that she could make things difficult for Melissa.

“I have a dress in mind. I’ll get it ready right away, Madame!”

❈❈❈

Nadia wore the clothes Marie had prepared for her and followed Cain through the secret passage, but her skirt got in the way, and she felt uncomfortable.

I don’t usually wear clothes like this.

Since she usually wore simple clothes, it’s been a long time since she last saw a dress with such a voluminous skirt.

It was a style that Melissa liked to wear, but since they had completely different tastes, it felt very awkward for Nadia.

However, Marie, who worked hard to dress her up, seemed to really like her current outfit.

As Nadia walked behind her, Marie hummed softly, seemingly delighted.

Well, if Marie is happy, that’s fine.

Nadia felt courageous as she walked forward with her shoulders more squared than usual.

When they arrived at the room where Melissa was staying, Cain looked at her, wondering what she was going to do.

“It seems like the ‘guest’ hasn’t left yet.”

“Hmm. I guess we don’t have to wait for the conversation to end.”

Nadia considered knocking on the door to let her know that she had a visitor, but she thought there was no need to bother with that, so she just pushed the door wide open.

Cain’s eyes rounded in surprise, not expecting that she would do something so out of the blue.

It wasn’t just Cain who was surprised.

Melissa and the man in question, who were having a secret conversation in the room, also seemed taken aback.

The man sitting across from Melissa, who had good reflexes, jumped out the window as soon as he saw Nadia and Cain.

Cain quickly passed her and chased after the man.

Nadia also quickly followed the two and approached the window.

She saw the gardener scream in surprise at the sudden chase in broad daylight.

It seemed like Cain’s confidence that he would never let his opponent get away was not a lie, because even to her, who didn’t know much about such things, Cain’s movements felt much lighter and faster than the man’s.

Wow.

As Nadia clapped her hands in admiration, Cain’s steps seemed to get faster.

“Wh-wha-what the heck?!”

As Nadia leisurely watched the chase, she heard an angry voice behind her.

She turned her head to look at Melissa, whose face was switching between red and blue, grumbling.

“Whe-where did you even come from? This is my house! Get out of here!”

“Is this really your house, Melissa?”

Nadia asked, tilting her head, and Melissa got even angrier. She stamped her feet.

“Watch it!! Are you implying it’s not??”

“Oh, right. It’s your house. At least for now.”

“Huh? For now? You’re saying it’ll not be so in the future?”

“Of course. When the inheritance law is revised, uncle will be stripped of his title. The marquis title will go back to me, and this house will be mine. Just like it was before. Everything will go back to the way it was.”

“Huh. The inheritance law revision? Do you really believe in something like that?”

Melissa looked Nadia up and down as if she found it funny and snorted.

“It’s amazing that women can inherit titles. You think you’ll benefit from it, but that is only if you’re perfect for the position. You’re not qualified.”

“Why am I not qualified?”

Melissa widened her eyes in disbelief.

“Your husband didn’t tell you?”

“About what?”

“Oh my.”

Melissa covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes further widened.

“He hasn’t told you yet…? I thought you knew the truth and came to me to ask for help.”

“Why would I ask you for help?”

“Oh my. You don’t know how funny it is to see you so ignorant, Nadia. You don’t even know what your situation is right now, and you’re so stubborn. Haha.”

“But I have to say your husband is quite loyal. I thought he’d kick you out right away.”

Melissa took a deep breath, her face looking much more refreshed as she buried herself on the sofa.

She looked like a queen who had won. She must have been intoxicated by that feeling herself.

Actually, you’re the one who looks very funny right now.

Seeing Melissa was completely unaware of that reality and acted all arrogant, Nadia couldn’t help but find her laughable, a smirk forming on her lips.

Melissa glared at her with fierce eyes and ground her teeth, perhaps triggered by that sneer.

“You’re always like that. You always make fun of me.”

“Me? Make fun of you?”

“Yes! Everyone treats you like a noble lady, so you must be soooo proud! I’m also a Vine, and when grandfather was alive, I was the granddaughter of the Marquis and used to come and go here proudly, but as soon as your father became the Marquis, I was kicked out of here…!”

There was definitely a time like that.

Many people found it strange because the atmosphere was different from other families, where all children except for the heir were kicked out as soon as they got married.

After hearing those words, Nadia thought she could understand why Melissa was always hostile towards her.

At that time, Melissa and she were both the granddaughters of the Marquis, so they were treated fairly equally.

She received special treatment, but she didn’t think of it as such and thought it was taken away from her.

…My grandfather’s pure kindness has actually planted a bad desire in her.

“Melissa. I’ve never made fun of you.”

“Humph, right. Well, let’s say so. But…”

Melissa snorted and brushed her words aside, then looked her up and down suspiciously.

“If you didn’t know ‘that’ and came to ask for help, then why on earth did you come to see me?”

“If uncle falls from power, you won’t have a place to go either. I came here to tell you that if you sincerely apologize for the way you treated me in the past, I’ll let you stay in this mansion. It’s pure kindness, so you can accept it.”

As expected, Melissa got up from her seat, grumbling as Nadia pretended to be lenient in a high-handed manner in order to get on her nerves.