Chapter 7

As expected, Viscountess Everchen flew into a rage.

The viscount, too, stared at Agnes in disbelief, his eyes wide.

Blocking his rampaging wife with one arm, he tried to compose himself and spoke sternly.

“Agnes.”

“Yes, Viscount Everchen.”

Her firm, unshaken voice made the viscount’s breath catch.

“I never thought you’d act so foolishly after already being married once. I clearly overestimated you. I’m disappointed.”

At the word disappointed, Agnes’s eyes dimmed.

Only then did the viscount’s pounding heart begin to settle.

That was more like her. Despite the shame of her divorce, losing her son, and enduring hardship, Agnes had always been a quiet, obedient daughter for twenty-four years.

A gentle girl who never knew what to do whenever she heard her father’s disappointment.

Encouraged, the viscount raised his voice again.

“Have you forgotten how important family is in marriage? Do you think Count Overhen married you for love alone? He chose you because of our family’s—”

“Indeed.”

Agnes interrupted, lifting her chin.

“Count Overhen used to say he didn’t want in-laws who meddled. He said my parents were easy to deal with because as long as they got money, they had no complaints. You were both such great help to my marriage.”

Her golden eyes gleamed like a full moon in a clear night sky.

The viscount realized with a sinking heart that her earlier look wasn’t shame at disappointing him but disappointment in him.

She had just stripped away the last bit of respect she’d ever held for her father.

“You… you dare…”

His face turned crimson as he pointed at her, but Agnes didn’t even blink.

“Fortunately, His Grace doesn’t care about such things. I suppose he must like me that much.”

“Oh my, how vulgar!”

“Vulgar? From you? You, who shared a married man’s bed?”

“Agnes!”

Her father’s shout echoed through the parlor, but Agnes didn’t flinch.

She straightened her back and spoke sharply.

“You’d better prepare a generous dowry. Maybe Count Paula could overlook that sort of thing since he only wanted a young wife, but if word spreads that you didn’t even provide one for the Duke of Vasteron, what will people say?”

She paused in mock thought, then smiled faintly.

“How shameful that would be. You wouldn’t be able to attend any social gatherings, and no lady would ever want to marry Haver. Even if he did, his bride couldn’t expect any dowry from her family. Isn’t that right?”

“How dare you bring up Haver’s name!”

The viscountess shrieked so loudly that Agnes lifted a hand to cover her ear.

Her faint grimace so closely resembled her late mother that the viscount froze in shock.

That beautiful and intelligent woman who had once made him feel small.

Agnes now looked exactly like her, cold and proud, as if she were finished with them.

“Go on, call me whatever you like. Soon enough, you’ll be calling me Duchess.”

The viscountess’s face turned scarlet as she pointed and screamed, while the viscount collapsed onto the sofa, pale and dazed.

Agnes rang the bell. Servants entered promptly and escorted the couple out, almost dragging them.

The viscountess’s retreating figure looked not so different from how Agnes herself had once been thrown out of the Overhen mansion.

Agnes stood by the parlor window and watched their carriage depart.

They seemed to flee in panic after hearing something from the servants outside.

A hollow laugh slipped from her lips.

To think she could drive away the people who had made her cower all her life so easily.

It was both satisfying and strangely empty.

Part of her felt guilty for acting so coldly now that she had power, as if she’d become just like them.

But she reminded herself it was the right thing to do, for Dylan’s sake as well.

If she didn’t draw the line now, the Everchens would surely try to leech off the Vasteron household endlessly.

All she wanted was to help Dylan rescue Noah and give the boy a safe home where he could grow into adulthood.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

“Did I do well?”

Agnes turned from the window and asked the two people standing in the room.

One was Gavelin, the young butler of House Vasteron. The other was Sharon, the head maid.

Unlike the butler, Sharon was older and looked as though she could already have two grown children.

A few strands of gray streaked her hair, and though her smile was gentle, there was a quiet authority about her.

She had once been Dylan’s wet nurse, and the experience showed in her calm, capable demeanor.

But what made Sharon remarkable was that she never flaunted her competence. She carried herself instead like a kind, trustworthy elder.

“You did wonderfully, my lady. Did you see how they ran away? They won’t dare bother you or His Grace again.”

“…I think it may have been a little excessive,” Gavelin murmured.

The man radiated the air of a disciplined aristocrat.

His ash-gray hair was neatly combed back, revealing a clean forehead and sharply defined brows. His shirt collar sat high and snug around his neck, yet he didn’t seem the least uncomfortable.

His suit looked as crisp as if tailored directly onto him, and his polished black shoes gleamed.

Every gesture, every word was refined, and his faintly haughty expression betrayed his noble upbringing.

“You haven’t held the wedding yet, my lady. It might have seemed a bit rash to invoke the authority of the duchy so soon.”

Sharon nudged him sharply with her elbow.

He made a quiet “Oof” but still didn’t drop his stern expression.

Agnes, however, didn’t dislike him.

There was something admirable about people who took pride in their duty and served with loyalty.

Besides, if he truly cared for Dylan, it was natural for him to feel uneasy about a woman like her becoming his master’s bride.

Agnes smiled softly, accepting his concern.

“I understand. I’ll be careful next time. Please continue to guide me whenever you can.”

Her calm confidence made Gavelin’s perfect composure falter just slightly.

“…I wouldn’t dare instruct the future duchess.”

“What he means,” Sharon cut in quickly, “is that he’ll serve you faithfully from now on. He’s a very proper man, you see, one His Grace trusts completely.”

Agnes smiled, amused, and nodded.

If this were still the Overhen estate, she might have said something sharp in return.

But here, as a guest and soon-to-be bride, scolding servants would be out of place.

“If His Grace values him, then I know he must be excellent.”

“Oh my lady, please speak comfortably with me,” Sharon said with a warm laugh.

“I can’t do that yet. It wouldn’t be proper before the wedding. Let’s adjust slowly.”

Her gentle tone made Sharon smile again, though Gavelin still maintained his rigid face.

Ignoring it, Agnes asked curiously, “By the way, where is His Grace? I didn’t see him even during breakfast.”

“His Grace went to the Imperial Palace to have an audience with His Majesty. I believe he went to report the engagement.”

“Thank you, Gavelin. Then do you know when he’ll return?”

“He might not come back today. His Majesty holds him in high regard and often keeps him from returning home.”

Agnes’s eyes widened slightly.

Rumors said the emperor and Dylan had once fought for the throne, and Dylan had lost after being cursed. But if the emperor trusted him this much, perhaps those rumors were false.

“I see. When he returns, could you let me know? I have something to discuss with him.”

“His Grace is a very busy man, so even if he returns…”

“Of course, my lady. The butler is just a bit too formal. His Grace may be busy, but there’s no way he wouldn’t make time to see his lovely bride,” Sharon interrupted brightly.

Agnes laughed awkwardly.

‘Lovely bride.’ That wasn’t what she was. Still, she might have to wait a while before seeing Dylan again.

She thanked them both and rose to leave.

After she exited with a maid’s guidance, Gavelin and Sharon exchanged glances.

“…You don’t like the new lady, do you?”

“Can’t you tell? She looks far too naïve. I expected the mistress of Vasteron to be stronger than that.”

Gavelin’s irritation broke through his usual composure, making Sharon stifle a laugh behind her fist.

“She doesn’t seem naïve to me. In fact, I think she might surprise you.”

At that, Gavelin shot her a suspicious look, but Sharon only shrugged and breezed out of the room.