Chapter 35
~Chapter 35~
Bella’s friends wrapped their arms around her shoulders as if to comfort her.
“Don’t worry too much, Bella. If Harriet tries to harm you, we’ll protect you.”
“Of course! And now that Lord Cheslow is by your side, he’ll surely protect you too. By the way, when are you planning to have the engagement ceremony?”
The heavy atmosphere from talk of Harriet quickly brightened as the topic shifted to Bella’s engagement. Even if it wasn’t their own story, a romance with a handsome man was always fascinating.
Bella, too, blushed slightly and wore a sweetly different smile from moments before.
“James wants to do it as soon as possible, but it’s not easy to set a date. It seems the Cheslow family is still wary of the Laurel family.”
“Why worry about them? You’ve already broken off the engagement with that side.”
“To be precise, it’s not the Laurel family itself, but the other families close to them. Still, James is doing his best, so I think we can hold it within this year.”
Envious exclamations of admiration burst out at the thought of James striving so hard to be with Bella alone amid the pressures of high society.
And in the eyes of her friends, who only wished for Bella’s love to be happy, Daphne Laurel naturally became the villain.
“I heard Daphne Laurel still hasn’t left the house? It’s been almost half a year since the broken engagement—what on earth is she doing?”
“Exactly. She must think she’s some tragic heroine.”
“She’s probably pretending to be pure and innocent to garner sympathy. Bella, don’t let it get to you. We’re just worried you’ll end up hurting.”
Bella gave a feeble smile at their concern, which was based entirely on wrong assumptions. Her friends looked at her with pitiful eyes, but in truth, Bella had never felt better.
‘Daphne’s still holed up at home? What unexpected luck.’
If Bella was Genoa’s golden rose, Daphne was worthy of being called the white rose. The two were often compared for their beauty. But thanks to Daphne’s six-month seclusion, all men’s gazes were fixed on Bella.
Even with rumors of her engagement to James circulating, Bella was receiving more love letters than ever. That alone proved how much attention she was getting.
So a girl like Harriet couldn’t ruin her mood.
‘Still, next time we meet, I need to remind her of her place. She got all high and mighty just because Countess Felon became her guardian…’
Bella was curious how Harriet had managed to get Trisha as her guardian, but she didn’t dwell on it. If it was something desirable, Bella could just take it from her.
As summer arrived and the social season began, nobles often visited relatives to pay their respects.
Provincial nobles stayed at their relatives’ homes in Genoa, while those in Genoa spared a day or two to check on their well-being.
Even the Pellon Countess, who rarely received guests, had one important group of visitors each summer. They didn’t stay overnight, but their visit was not something to be taken lightly.
“Please come in, Baron Marshal and Madam Baroness.”
“It’s been a while, Andre. Have you been well?”
Lauren, wife of Baron Marshal, folded her parasol as she entered and greeted Andre. Her husband, Baron Marshal, and their children followed closely behind like obedient followers.
There was good reason for it. Lauren was the half-sister of the late Count Felon, his only blood relative, and it was thanks to the count that her provincial noble family had acquired a proper mansion in Genoa.
“How is the countess?”
“She is in the drawing room. Allow me to guide you.”
“Indeed. Jayden, lead the way. As the next head of the Pellon family, it’s proper for you to greet her first.”
Lauren looked at her eldest son Jayden with affectionate eyes and took the lead.
Andre knew that if Trisha overheard Lauren’s recent remark, she would surely scold her. Trisha was always acutely aware of her heavy position as head of the Pellon family, with the power to name her successor. Jayden, on the other hand, was merely a candidate for next head.
Of course, Lauren, with years of experience, knew Trisha’s temperament well and refrained from mentioning the headship in her presence.
‘But Madam couldn’t possibly not know that.’
Hiding his thoughts, Andre escorted the Marshal family to the drawing room.
The faint coughing that had been audible moments before vanished the instant the guests entered the room.
“Auntie! Have you been well? I’ve missed you.”
Jayden, who had his mother’s sparkling eyes, greeted Trisha warmly. His wife Anne did the same.
“Seeing you all here really makes me feel summer has arrived.”
“We always look forward to summer just to see you, Auntie. How has your health been lately?”
“Very good. You’re all praying for my health, aren’t you?”
“You knew? Haha!”
“I know everything. You’re the only ones who worry about me.”
Trisha smiled as she patted Jayden’s back, but no one knew better than she that the Marshal family’s evening prayers were essentially wishing for her death.
‘You think you can fool me into believing the family title will go to you if I die?’
In fact, if the laws hadn’t been revised and her husband Oster hadn’t named Trisha as head, the Felon count title really would have passed to Jayden. When Oster died and the will was revealed, Lauren had caused a huge commotion.
“This will is invalid! That sister-in-law must have tricked my confused brother into signing it! I’ll sue!”
But the court ruled in Trisha’s favor.
The doctor Lauren called as a witness testified that Oster had been rational until his last breath, and that it was not Lauren but Trisha who had expressed concerns about naming herself head in the will.
Even after that, Lauren acted for quite some time as if Pellan Mansion were hers.
She nitpicked the types of flowers planted in the garden and rushed in to interfere every time Trisha tried to change the interior decorations.
“Well, once that sister-in-law dies, our Jayden will inherit the title and the mansion, so wouldn’t it be better to prepare in advance to suit Jayden’s tastes?”
It was ten years ago that Trisha, finally losing patience, ruthlessly drove Lauren out.
“Why do you assume Jayden is the only heir? I can choose anyone else as successor.”
“Hohoho! With no other collateral branches in the Pellon family, is there someone I don’t know about?”
“No need to look that far. I can just adopt someone.”
Lauren, who had been arguing fiercely, finally realized it was no joke when she met Trisha’s cold gaze.
After that, Lauren never openly defied Trisha again. Instead, she became overly sweet and compliant, which created new problems.
Today, as always, Lauren and the Marshal family wore excessively sweet smiles as they tried to cater to Trisha’s moods.
Just as they finished their tea and were about to bring out invitations for upcoming parties, Harriet returned from her outing.
“I’m back, Auntie… Oh! I didn’t know we had guests. I’ll come back later.”
Harriet, fresh from outside, had come to greet Trisha but was startled to see the visitors.
“No, come in. Better to greet them since you’ve run into them.”
Trisha beckoned Harriet inside, had her stand by her side, and introduced her to the Marshal family.
“This is Harriet, practically my granddaughter. I’ve recently become her guardian, and she’s staying here with me now.”
Lauren’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden announcement, but Trisha paid it no mind.
“Greet them, Harriet. This is my sister-in-law, Madam Lauren Marshal, and her husband Baron Marshal. Over there are their eldest son Jayden and his wife Anne, eldest daughter Eloise, and second son Dion.”
Trisha’s introduction was far from polite. Harriet quickly grasped their relationships but still greeted them courteously.
“I’m Harriet Listerwell. I’m indebted to Auntie—it’s an honor to meet you.”
But there was no reply. Lauren stood with her mouth slightly agape, glancing back and forth between Harriet and Trisha, before finally speaking.
“Her guardian?”
Lauren, who had only recently returned to the capital from her estate, had heard none of the rumors about Harriet or Trisha.
“Yes, her guardian. The child’s parents passed away early, so her uncle John had been her guardian until now. But a few months ago, I became her new guardian. She’s staying here as a guest.”
At those words, Lauren showed a sharp reaction for the first time in a long while.
“How could you make such an important decision without consulting anyone?”
“Consult? Why should I consult you about becoming my own niece’s guardian? Do you still think my money belongs to your son?”
