Chapter 274

“My dear, I never said it had been arranged. But it’s true that we agreed to discuss it again later, isn’t it?”

“That was something you said unilaterally, Aunt. I clearly stated my own intentions. So please stop.”

If she was pushing someone like this with lies right in front of others, what must she have been saying behind her back?

No matter how much she disliked her, she shouldn’t treat her niece this way.

But if she were the kind of person who would stop at this point, she wouldn’t have done such things in the first place.

“I’m truly disappointed. If you had considered my position even once, you wouldn’t act like this. Do you know how much effort I put in trying to find you a marriage partner?”

“I never asked you to do that.”

“…Fine, let’s say that’s true. But if Duchess Bayern were to find out that you’re acting like this right now, do you think she would simply leave you alone?”

It seemed she was acting arrogantly because she trusted the Young Duke. If that was the case, then they could simply use Duchess Bayern instead.

There was no way Duchess Bayern would leave Sophia alone.

However, the Countess’s petty scheme cracked at Neville’s sneer.

“The person who introduced Miss Bernard to me was my sister.”

“T-That’s impossible! For what reason would Duchess Bayern…!”

Neville shrugged.

It didn’t matter whether she believed it or not.

Once his sister appeared, she would realize how pointless her assumptions were.

Neville looked toward the entrance.

“Her Excellency Marquis Belmore, His Grace Duke Bayern, Her Grace Duchess Bayern, and Her Excellency Marchioness Lambert are entering!”

Right on cue, they were coming in.

‘Well, this is quite awkward.’

Nina slightly frowned as she looked down toward the base of the central staircase.

Neville and Sophia were wearing cynical expressions.

One young lady was sniffling and crying.

And the noblewoman beside her smiled brightly the moment their eyes met.

On top of that, the other people were staring at her with eyes full of excitement, as if they had front row seats to a spectacle.

‘This looks nothing like what I imagined.’

She was only briefly flustered by the unexpected scene.

The nobles in the hall soon lowered their heads in respect.

It was a gesture of reverence toward Marquis Belmore, an elder of the imperial household.

“Hmm, it seems something happened before we arrived.”

At Marquis Belmore’s curious remark, Nina replied.

“It seems so, Marchioness. Shall we go down first?”

“Let’s.”

Holding the dry hand, Nina slowly and carefully descended the stairs.

Though the Marchioness was relatively vigorous for her age, stairs were still dangerous for an elderly person.

‘But why does that person look so pleased?’

Once they reached the bottom, the noblewoman who had been smiling brightly at her rushed over.

Where had she seen that person before?

Nina was pondering when her eyes suddenly widened.

‘Ah, it was Countess Coventry.’

It had been so long that it took her a moment to remember.

Countess Coventry was someone who had often tried to curry favor with her by speaking ill of Sophia in front of her.

But wasn’t she Sophia’s aunt?

Anyway, that household was just as much of a mess as House Bayern.

Nina clicked her tongue inwardly.

After Countess Coventry politely greeted everyone with a modest expression, she approached closer and spoke as if her lips were itching to say something.

“Duchess, I have something I must report to you, so please forgive my boldness…”

“Then don’t be bold.”

“…Pardon?”

“I think I know what you’re about to say, so don’t say it.”

It was obvious she was about to start speaking ill of Sophia.

Nina had kindly warned her because she didn’t want Sophia’s scandal mentioned in front of Marquis Belmore.

“Duchess, n-no, that’s not it. My niece doesn’t know her place and dared to approach the Young Duke…!”

This tactless woman was about to run her mouth carelessly.

“Miss Sophia agreed to become my brother’s partner at my request. Yet you dare speak about knowing one’s place in front of me?”

Her cold, mocking gaze pressed down on her.

Flustered, Countess Coventry stammered.

“I-Is that so. But perhaps you knew that Sophia was already in the middle of marriage discussions?”

Nina scoffed.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know about a friend’s affairs?”

With just that single remark from Nina, the atmosphere in the hall began to shift in a strange way.

No one had expected her to call Sophia a ‘friend’.

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