The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 116

The Dunklin family.

A household renowned for its virtue.

They regularly hosted charity balls and made donations to slums, struggling artists, and academies, earning widespread praise.

“I heard that Your Grace received commendation from Her Majesty the Empress for your work at the capital’s charity event. There’s no better occasion to restore your long-unspoken reputation.”

Marsha, who had been standing beside her, chimed in with sparkling eyes, supporting Melanie’s words.

“There’s that saying—’strike while the iron is hot’. Madam, since you’ve gained recognition through the charity event, how about making your name known once more at the Dunklin Marquisate’s ball?”

“I don’t want to go there.”

Melanie, with a firm expression that left no room for consideration, pressed once more.

“Madam, if I may, Marquis Dunklin is a great man who operates the Delphinium Foundation. It would be great for you to attend the Dunklin charity ball.”

The Delphinium Foundation was a nonprofit organization that supported poor artists and orphans, and Marquis Dunklin had managed it as chairman for the past ten years.

Even His Majesty the Emperor would often mention the Marquis’s good deeds, showing him favor.

So when Nina declined to attend such a gathering, Melanie couldn’t help but be suspicious.

“…Right, he does seem like a respectable man.”

Nina scoffed coldly.

The problem was, that paragon of virtue had come to her first the moment the Taylor ducal house collapsed and made a vulgar proposition.

“Don’t you want to save your grandfather and parents? If you accept my offer, I’ll fund the foundation. I’ll even assign legal advisors to the Chief Justice and the Duke and Duchess of Taylor.”

“Your offer is…?”

“Just keep me company now and then when I’m feeling lonely… You know what I mean? Hahaha.”

He was over sixty, making such a proposition to a girl far younger than his own daughter.

Naturally, she’d thrown water in his face and kicked him out.

A man of great character, indeed.

What kind of decent human being offers to be someone’s ‘secret friend’ when they’re drowning in misery?

‘And as expected…’

A year later, a scandal over embezzlement and breach of trust broke out, shaking high society.

“Marquis Dunklin is not the clean figure he appears to be.”

When Nina spoke with conviction, Melanie, recalling that her grandfather was the Chief Justice, cautiously asked,

“Did you perhaps hear something from the Chief Justice…?”

“Have you ever seen how the foundation funds are actually used?”

“I’ve heard that since its establishment, the Delphinium Foundation has helped many people and has sponsored numerous exhibitions and performances for poor artists…”

“If, after ten years of fundraising by countless nobles under the Marquis’s name, the only visible outcomes are that limited, shouldn’t that raise some doubts?”

At Nina’s pointed words, Melanie fell silent and nodded.

“Then where would be a better place for you to attend, Madam?”

To Melanie’s question, Nina rose from her seat and approached the tea table.

She began digging through the towering pile of invitations.

‘Around this time… I should’ve received it too… Ah, found it!’

Nina grinned triumphantly and plucked out one envelope, flicking it lightly with her fingers.

“Not that one—this one.”

“Pardon…?”

“Huh…?”

Melanie and Marsha both looked confused.

And understandably so.

Because the invitation Nina had selected was one of those meant to be used as kindling without even being opened.

If Nina hadn’t known the future, she would’ve reacted just like the two of them.

‘Kindling’, meaning: no connections, no wealth, no reputation—

A low-ranking noble household whose ball was a waste of time to attend.

A family so insignificant that not responding to their invitation didn’t matter.

“Look closely at this illustration.”

Nina showed the envelope to Melanie.

“It’s an incredibly delicate and beautiful drawing, but that’s all. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s a party not worth your attendance, Madam.”

As expected of the head maid loyal to House Bayern. Her assessment was blunt and unflinching.

Details like the envelope or penmanship might influence whether one responded to an invitation, but they weren’t deciding factors.

So her reaction was only natural.

Had it not been for a ‘special reason’, Nina herself wouldn’t have bothered with the Reginald Viscountcy’s ball either.

“That may be your opinion. But I absolutely must meet the person who drew this picture.”

Who would have guessed?

The one who drew that olive tree…

The second son of the Viscount Reginald family, whom no one paid attention to…

Would one day rise to fame as the youngest ever court painter, a truly brilliant genius.

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