The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 264

The allowance given to his wife for maintaining her dignity had exceeded the average amount allocated to a Duchess.

Perhaps it would be hard to find anyone in high society who received a larger allowance for maintaining dignity than his wife.

And yet even that wasn’t enough, and she had habitually put purchases on credit at dress shops.

And to think she had even touched the charity funds.

Since it wasn’t just any money but funds raised in the name of House Bayern, he had covered the shortfall with his own personal assets and used it as relief funds.

Because of that, he had resolved to prevent her from holding a charity party.

“…What is it, why are you looking at me like that?”

When Nina frowned and looked at him suspiciously, he dropped his thoughts and let out a small laugh.

“It’s nothing.”

“What, were you thinking about what happened last year? I told you, I won’t cause trouble anymore.”

“I was just thinking that you’re cute.”

“A-Are you crazy?”

“With those earmuffs on, you look like a squirrel.”

“……”

Ash shut Nina’s mouth with a compliment.

Because he knew her habit of closing her mouth awkwardly whenever he said something embarrassing.

‘…How am I really supposed to endure this?’

Starting today, they would be sharing a room, and the words of consolation Hozi had left behind a few days ago in a teasing tone crossed his mind.

“…Ahem, by the way, how many people do you think will attend the Lambert party?”

The more guests there were, the larger the amount of donations collected.

To decide how much they should contribute, it was necessary to estimate the scale of the event.

“Considering that it’s an open party, there will likely be guests coming from afar, so wouldn’t there be at least more than five hundred attendees?”

House Lambert was one of the most influential families in the eastern region of the Nesman Empire. And apart from that, it was an open party that could be attended even without an invitation.

Since donations would be raised through an auction, an ordinary amount wouldn’t be enough to uphold House Bayern’s prestige.

If the funds were raised through an auction, the amount each participant contributed would inevitably be visible to everyone.

“…No matter how many people come. Don’t worry about the auction amount.”

I’ll make sure to contribute enough so that your dignity won’t be diminished.

* * *

Count Conwell’s residence, drawing room.

The messengers from House Nord carefully set down large paintings wrapped in white cloth and said,

“Your Lordship, these are the works sent by Duchess Nord. Please take a look.”

Wearing soft gloves, the messengers carefully removed the cloth.

Count Conwell admired Emil’s paintings with a somewhat flushed face.

“Truly excellent!”

This was the first time since Henry’s works that he had seen paintings that made his heart race like this.

They were still not comparable to Henry’s, but Emil had the talent and potential to make a name for himself in the future.

Above all, that child had a certain quality that made these paintings even more special.

‘How fortunate.’

He had attended countless exhibitions, but it wasn’t easy to encounter works that ignited his heart.

He was already excited at the thought of hanging these paintings in the Long Gallery and savoring them.

“Her Grace said she would like to reserve a date within two months. Would that be possible?”

“That depends on which gallery she wishes to reserve. Did the Duchess mention a specific gallery?”

“She wishes to reserve the gallery that House Bayern used.”

“Hmm…”

House Bayern…

Count Conwell fell into thought.

“Huh? He said he originally painted with his left hand in the first place…”

Suddenly, the words of the young lord of House Bayern came to mind.

After pondering for a moment, he spoke to the messenger.

“Tell the Duchess that I have received the works well, and that I will contact her later.”

“Yes, understood.”

After the messengers from House Nord left the drawing room, Count Conwell crossed his arms and stared at the paintings with a serious expression before speaking.

“…Butler.”

“Yes, Your Lordship.”

“Send word to Baron Bolton that I would like to meet.”

Baron Bolton was a former court painter who, after growing old and retiring from his post, was recuperating at a villa nearby.

‘There’s no harm in confirming. Baron Bolton will be able to judge more accurately.’

This wasn’t a decision made because of Duchess Bayern.

He had recently learned that the Duke and Duchess of Bayern had experienced an unpleasant incident in the city, but that had nothing to do with the faint sense that he owed House Bayern because of that incident.

Until the suspicious point was resolved, he would not rent out the gallery.

That was the principle that had preserved the reputation of Conwell Gallery.

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