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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Let's Not Play Together
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73화
After the commotion swept through the salon, Alexia was the first to leave.
Once the key figures were gone, the nobles each offered their own commentary on the situation.
“Anthony’s career as an artist is over, but isn’t the rest of Alexia’s life over, too? Do you think she’ll be able to find another suitor this season?”
A noblewoman offered her logic, which, as always, circled back to marriage—
“For Anthony to paint without his model’s consent! It’s a major problem that artists separate art from the realm of ethics!”
A group of noblemen engaged in a philosophical debate—
“To think Anthony’s models were real people. I’m so curious who they were.”
Then there were the bastards spouting such nonsense—
“Young Lord Eric’s wit was simply brilliant just now. And Madam Imeline’s courage was radiant. I see now why Young Lord Eric fell for you at first sight.”
And a young lady who squeezed my hand as she spoke.
Of course, there were other opinions as well.
Some argued that the continental atmosphere, which hindered women's social advancement, was the problem, and that they should help the princess ascend to the throne. Others countered that said princess had too many scandals. Eventually, the conversation drifted to how neo-corporealism was out and neo-realism was in, and that one should turn their attention that way…
In any case, the nobles, brimming with their diverse opinions, gradually lost their heat like tea slowly cooling in a pot. One by one, they bid Margaret farewell and departed.
Most of the nobles were lined up outside, waiting for their respective carriages.
Eric and I had stayed behind to offer Margaret a proper farewell and to discuss any compensation she might desire.
I saw Helena approaching Margaret, seemingly to say her final goodbyes.
‘…She’s definitely not looking at me.’
I grumbled inwardly.
Helena, treating me as if I were completely invisible, spoke to Margaret in an exaggerated voice.
“You were truly magnificent today. Where else on the continent could one find a woman as remarkable as Madam Margaret? To screw Anthony over, even at a loss! Wasn’t it exhilarating?”
“Don’t flatter me too much. I’ll recoup all my losses from Anthony through Alexia. In fact, this is all thanks to you, isn’t it, Madam Helena?”
“……?”
Thanks to her? What was she talking about?
I blinked, looking at Helena. But she avoided my gaze, exchanging a few more words with Margaret in a syrupy tone before affectionately kissing her on the cheek and leaving.
Philip followed Helena, poking me in the side as he passed. Eric showed his displeasure, but Philip, unconcerned, whispered in my ear.
“I think you’ll be seeing Alexia again. Tell her I said hello.”
“……?”
I’ll be seeing Alexia again? And why would I pass on your regards to her?
I scowled, but Philip left without another word, chasing after Helena.
‘What… what the…?’
Watching Helena and Philip’s retreating backs, I asked Margaret.
“What did Helena… no, I mean, what did my mother help you with?”
Margaret stared at me and said, as if surprised I didn’t know.
“Buying Alexia’s paintings. Madam Helena arranged for me to start corresponding with Alexia ahead of time. Thanks to her, I had a vague idea of Alexia’s identity. That’s how I was able to purchase her paintings at a very low price.”
Helena knew Alexia’s identity? How?
Just then, Philip’s whisper echoed in my mind.
‘Tell her I said hello.’
How else!
Philip had always been a player, wooing one woman after another…!
‘Didn’t he say he’d get married if he found his one true love?’
I was so sick of Philip’s lies.
“Honestly, the loss I took because of Anthony was nothing. That’s what I was talking about when you visited the estate last time… I guess you and your mother don’t have those kinds of conversations?”
“I, I had no idea…”
As I struggled to recover from the shock, Margaret smiled gently.
“Alexia will finally be able to leave that stuffy old family of hers. While the price per painting was low, I paid her a considerable sum. I’m sure Alexia knew that, which is why she was able to bury Anthony today, don’t you think?”
So…
My mother and Philip’s schemes were behind how things wrapped up today.
I looked at Eric, feeling as if I’d been struck on the head. He wore a similar expression.
“Ah, right. Alexia wanted to thank you for giving her the opportunity to thrash Anthony. She said she’d like to invite you to her art salon next time, under her own name…”
Margaret handed me an invitation bearing Alexia’s name.
I took it, a look of bewilderment on my face. *I think you’ll be seeing Alexia again,* he’d said. It was true. He even knew I’d receive an invitation.
Philip…
Helena…
Ha… haha…
No wonder… she managed to get her hands on Margaret’s highly coveted invitation!
I clenched my fists.
Really… what kind of… what kind of mother is she?
“Did you know?”
Eric leaned down and asked me. I shook my head.
“Just a moment.”
I excused myself from Eric and followed after Helena’s retreating figure.
Damn you, Helena.
Her voluminous, beautiful red hair was just about to disappear from my sight.
Wait!
I threw all pretense of being a pregnant woman to the wind and started running after Helena.
I had something to say to her.
‘I don’t want to live like you.’
Those words…
They were all lies. I take them all back.
Everything turned out well today because of you. Telling me to eavesdrop in the restroom, to be nice to Vivian…
It was all strange and bizarre advice, but it all worked out because of what you said.
Come to think of it, we were always like this. A strange and bizarre relationship, but in the end, we protect each other.
Because we’re family. Just as you protected me today, we always protect each other.
So how could I not want to live like you?
“Hah… hah…”
I stood before the red-haired woman, panting heavily. Helena.
Philip was across the street, hailing a hackney cab.
I glared at my mother and said.
“Thank you.”
“Is that how you look when you’re grateful? Looks more like you’re picking a fight.”
My mother let out a dry laugh.
“These are grateful eyes, I’ll have you know?! I don’t know what you planned from start to finish, but…”
“Enough…”
Helena clicked her tongue and turned toward me.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“About what?”
I looked at Helena, feeling a tightness in my chest.
I want to say everything…
But I don’t know where to start, or how much to say.
“About what you said. That you don’t want to live like me.”
“……That was…”
“That I don’t know ‘normal’ love, was it?”
The things I said… I really want to bang my head against a wall!
“And you said you want to protect Eric, right? But I know that feeling, too. …The feeling of wanting to be a good family to that person, just as they are a good family to me.”
You wanted to be family? Is that why you were going to marry him, knowing it would end in ruin?
I felt my heart turn cold as I muttered.
“So you were going to marry the Duke of Orleans even though you knew he was a murderer?”
Damn it… I wasn’t trying to fight. I was trying to make up.
“That was just to rip him off.”
My mother licked her lips.
“You’re such a liar.”
My mother turned her gaze from me to the darkening night street, as if looking not at the scene before her, but at a time and place beyond it that no longer existed.
“……And it started with that feeling, and then it became love.”
“Was there someone you loved? Among your five husbands?”
“Four, you mean?”
“……Is that really important right now?”
Helena turned her head and said firmly.
“It is.”
Honestly.
I was about to click my tongue but stopped when I saw Helena pointing a finger at me.
“You, and Philip!”
Me? And Philip?
I was dumbfounded by the unexpected answer.
“I came to love you two while trying to protect you.”
Us? You came to love us?
Well, yes, but—
Did that fall into the category of ‘normal’ love?
“Normal love? Don’t make me laugh. What’s normal and what’s not normal about love? Is it abnormal for a family like ours, with not a drop of shared blood, to love each other?”
Helena narrowed her eyes and walked toward my stunned self.
“Just you watch. That feeling of wanting to protect someone—you’ll discover a love that spreads like wildfire from it.”
Her finger was now poking me in the chest.
‘……?’
“You’ll feel a spark right here. Maybe you already have. Eric gave me five hundred thousand gold, you know. Said your misfortune is his misfortune, and your happiness is his happiness, or some such nonsense.”
“What?! Five hundred thousand gold?!”
My eyes widened. Just then, Philip shouted from across the street.
“Got a cab! Let’s go home, Mom!”
My mother waved at Philip. I asked urgently.
“Eric gave you money? Why?”
“It’s a loan. He said to pay it back by working honestly and diligently from now on. Said he wouldn’t consider it repaid unless it was with money earned through legitimate labor… what a tiresome man.”
…He loaned 500,000 gold to my family?
Why? What for?
Wasn’t he the one who despised us as a family of swindlers?
Seeing my bewildered expression, Helena grinned and said.
“That’s why I gave you the love potion. You absolutely have to live a long and happy life together so our dear creditor doesn’t demand I and Philip pay him back! Get your act together and steal Eric’s heart! So he can’t even utter the ‘f’ in five hundred thousand gold!”
Helena shouted, gesticulating wildly. Then, without even waiting for my reply, she disappeared across the street.
I stood there, stunned.
I watched as my mother and Philip slipped into the hackney cab, and it vanished into the dark night street.
Just then.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I turned to the side. Familiar faces were looking at me.
It was Vivian and Olivia.
Each of them held out an envelope to me.
Vivian spoke.
“The Cavendish family is holding a recital in a fortnight. A lot of famous people will be there, so consider it an honor.”
I looked at Vivian with an incredulous expression as I accepted the invitation, which was embossed with the Cavendish family seal.
Next was Olivia.
“My family is hosting a ball. You don’t have to dance, so please stop by if you have time.”
Olivia glanced around before whispering in my ear.
“Thank you for taking care of Anthony. Calling him a pervert was so satisfying.”
Olivia smiled faintly. I looked down at the invitations that had piled up in my hands.
What is all this?
Olivia and Vivian, smiling brightly as if they were the best of friends, kissed each other on the cheek and departed in their separate carriages.
I stood there alone, letting out a dry laugh.
It seems I’m doing better and better as the Duke’s daughter-in-law…
But I don’t think I ever intended to do this well…?
Just then, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around.
A man dressed impeccably in navy blue was walking toward me.
Eric Orleans.
Seeing him, I suddenly felt a pang in my chest.
‘…Then covet it.’
At this rate, I really will start to covet it. More than covet, I’m about to viciously tear it away.
Just as my mother said, my entire family is about to live in the lap of luxury thanks to me marrying well into a ducal house!
Damn it!
But even imagining that doesn’t feel good!
“……?”
Eric tilted his head.
“Your expression…”
Eric walked toward me, concerned. I flinched and stepped back. At that, Eric also stopped walking.
“……You…”
I opened my mouth.
“Let’s not play together for a while.”
“……What?”
I shouted.
“I said, let’s just not play together!”
