The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 175
* * *
The long-awaited letter addressed to Nina had finally arrived.
It was a reply from her mother.
[ ……First, I’ll introduce you to people I know who have children around your nephew’s age.
Once I speak to them, they’ll likely send letters directly to you.
As you requested, I’ll narrow the list to people of good character, regardless of rank, and whose children are well-behaved. But keep in mind, appearances can be deceiving.
Take care, and please stay healthy. ]
Inside the envelope was a list of nobles her mother had selected.
One, two, three, four…
A rough count came out to just over fifty nobles with children around Ian’s age.
It made Nina realize just how extensive her mother’s network was.
And this was already after being narrowed down.
“Wow…”
So this is what being a duchess is all about.
Her connections… absolutely unreal.
Nina gazed up at the sky and tried to count her own connections.
“…None.”
All the relationships she once had were severed when she regressed.
At any rate, with just this guest list alone, she’d have more than enough to host Ian’s homecoming party.
As she sorted through the mail she’d received, Nina’s eyes widened when she spotted a name from the list her mother had sent.
Wow, her mother really was fast.
Had she contacted this side as soon as she received Nina’s letter?
Nina opened the letter from the Crest County.
[ I’m writing to you by way of introduction from Duchess Taylor.
My second son, Samuel, is nine years old. He enjoys reading and studying, and his dream is to become a scholar.
If you don’t mind, we’re hosting a tea party soon, and…… ]
In short, they were inviting them to a tea party, with the suggestion that Ian play with Samuel while the adults had their own gathering.
Since it was nearby and happening soon, maybe she should consider attending?
Before throwing a large party, it might be a good idea to help Ian build some friendships first.
They’d be inviting his academy friends as well, but considering these were introductions made by her mother, they were likely solid and trustworthy people…
Still, one thing lingered on her mind: her reputation.
Ian didn’t know yet, but Nina had caused quite the stir in the past, leaving behind a trail of messes.
A scarlet-letter past that weighed unnecessarily on her.
She worried that if Ian ever heard such stories, he might be disappointed in her… or even get hurt.
“……”
Clicking her tongue, Nina shook her head.
No use thinking such pointless thoughts.
By the time he’s old enough to understand the messiness of adult affairs, wouldn’t he have forgotten most of his memories of his aunt?
‘But… the divorce… Shouldn’t I bring that up with Ash again?’
With all the chaos surrounding the aphrodisiac incident at the time, she had postponed discussing it and completely forgotten about it until now.
‘Still, timing-wise… bringing up divorce now feels a little off…’
Because of Marquis Crewe, Marquis Dunklin, and Duchess Nord.
Those three were the problem.
What if she divorced and left, and in the meantime, something happened to the family because of them?
‘I should renegotiate with Ash. Let’s agree to delay the divorce for now.’
Though Duchess Bayern technically had a great deal of influence, what Nina could personally do was still limited.
That’s how a class-based society worked.
Having sorted out her thoughts to some extent, Nina sent a reply accepting the tea party invitation.
It would be her first outing with Ian, hand in hand…
Which, in its own way, was something she looked forward to.
“But wait, what if… I can’t drink tea outside the house?”
She suddenly recalled how Ash had read her expression like a royal tea taster not long ago and felt a twinge of worry.
But in the end, it turned out to be fine.
Maybe she wasn’t as fragile as she thought.
Or maybe… she just had excellent emotional resilience.
* * *
The Nord ducal residence, lobby.
Rebecca was inspecting the area near the front entrance.
She checked whether the decorations and display shelves were clean, whether any dirt had gotten on the carpet.
While she was carefully examining the surroundings, she turned with a puzzled expression toward the short man walking toward the front entrance.
“Dear, where are you going?”
“There’s a dinner banquet this evening.”
Rebecca’s brows furrowed deeply.
“There was no mention of a dinner banquet today!”
“You saw the invitation with me at the time, didn’t you?”
When Duke Nord asked back with a puzzled look, Rebecca pressed her forehead and let out a sigh.
ReadingRainbow9266
Ugh they aren’t going to the same place are they? No, Nina said it was a tea party…. I really really, don’t want her dealing with Nord with Ian there….