Chapter 276
Nina twisted her lips as she watched the woman dab away tears with her fingertips.
The more one rushed a marriage, the more it created the impression that there was some hidden defect.
And once that happened, even a marriage that might have succeeded would fall apart.
No matter how she thought about it, this woman was just as malicious as her former self in her previous life.
Nina glanced toward Sophia.
Her face was flushed red and her lips were trembling.
Even without asking, it was clear she was suppressing her anger.
âWhat youâve said so far is practically a confession that youâve done your best to ruin your nieceâs life. Do you think relabeling it as a misunderstanding will solve anything?â
At that moment, Nadia, who had been sniffling until now, suddenly shouted loudly with a voice full of resentment.
ââŚWe didnât do anything wrong!â
âN-Nadia!â
âLook at her just standing there while my mother is being humiliated! Acting like sheâs kind while always doing things like thatâ mmmph!â
The Countess hurriedly covered her daughterâs mouth, but it was already too late.
It was an outright accusation.
There was no one who could fail to notice that this hostility had been simmering for a long time.
It meant the excuse of it being a misunderstanding had been completely cut off.
Nina turned her head and made a suggestion to Marchioness Lambert.
âMarchioness, how about removing those who are polluting the ears of such an honored person?â
This was the Lambert manor.
Even making such a suggestion could be considered overstepping, so she spoke carefully, but it was about time to clear this up.
They couldnât continue such childish squabbling in front of Marquis Belmore.
âM-Marchioness⌠surely you wouldnât⌠no, you wouldnât, right?â
Countess Coventryâs lips trembled.
They were not especially close, but they had maintained steady social exchanges.
And this was a charity party.
Driving guests out at the request of someone from high society wasnât something a host of a charity event should do.
So perhaps she would mediate.
Clinging to that faint hope, the Countess looked at her.
But.
âIt is also the hostâs duty to filter out those who disrupt the atmosphere.â
Marchioness Lambertâs eyes were cold.
Not just cold, they even carried contempt.
She looked around desperately for help, but the gazes of the surrounding people were no different from the Marchionessâs.
âEscort them outside.â
As the knights grabbed their arms in accordance with the Marchionessâs command, Countess Coventryâs face turned pale.
If she was thrown out like this, she would never be able to recover in high society again.
After all, unless someone caused a drunken disturbance, this was something unheard of.
The repercussions would also affect her daughterâs marriage prospects.
This wasnât just about herself. Her daughterâs life was at stake too.
Now was the time to set aside her pride.
Her attitude flipped as easily as turning a palm.
âS-Sophia! Iâm sorry, alright? For the sake of your aunt, please forgive me just this once, please? Weâre family after all. Thereâs no good in turning our faces red over this.â
Surely she wouldnât turn away from a relative.
Sophia wasnât a cruel child, so she would help.
That was what she believed.
But.
âBefore speaking ill of me to the Duchess, Aunt, did you ever once think about how I might feel?â
Sophiaâs eyes were colder than ever.
ââŚâŚ!â
That wasnât the expression of someone who would help.
As even the last hope lost its light, strength drained from her body.
âTheyâre really throwing me outâŚ?â
Her head spun as if the world were turning, and her stomach churned.
Thud.
With a blank expression, Countess Coventry groped the floor as if swimming.
There were hundreds of people gathered here.
If word spread through their mouths that she and her daughter had been thrown out like peddlers, they would become the laughingstock of society.
For nobles who lived and died by their dignity, it was practically a social death sentence.
âPlease stand up. Otherwise we will have no choice but to use force.â
âUghâŚâ
They said that regret was always too late, no matter how early it came.
She should have kept her mouth shut.
As she sat there lamenting in the middle of the rain of contemptuous gazes, the Countessâs body was suddenly lifted.
The knights had raised her to her feet.
ââŚLet go! Let go of me! I said let go!â
Nadia was no different.
Held firmly by the knights, she was dragged away like a criminal.
She screamed and cried while resisting, but no one showed sympathy.
After all, who would?
A noble, who should protect her dignity to the very end, was being dragged out in such a miserable state like a common fool.
