Chapter 34

Translator: Nabi

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Chapter 34

‘I want to know what Lord Cassius hates.’

The Duchess of Brudenell smiled contentedly as she recalled Evelyn’s words from a while ago.​​When Cassius set out to engage the Count of Garneid’s Young Lady, who they all said was crazy, she was not satisfied. This was especially true when Evelyn ran away, leaving the illegitimate child and her sister as her scapegoat.

But, as time went on, she gradually realized that her son had made a good choice for the next Duchess.

Evelyn Garneid was quick to judge the situation and good at counting—successful investment was an example. Continued luxury has also yielded good results.

Until now, the Duke of Brudenell has not shown off his wealth very much.

Even if he did not reveal it, there was no one who did not know that the Duke of Brudenell was the richest family in the Empire.

Still, like everything in the world, money rots when it accumulates.

Thanks to Evelyn’s purchase of the jewels and mansion, the long-dormant Duke’s goods were turned into new and valuable assets.

‘I really like her.’

The Duchess swung her finger, still smiling.

She was worried about what kind of mate Cassius, who resembled his father and was less personable, would find, and what kind of person would become the next Duchess…

She rang her bell and called her maid.

“Bring me Cassius. I have something to tell him.”

How long has it been?

The same day, Cassius, in perfect attire without a fuss, reached the doorstep.

The Duchess glanced at her sculpturally handsome own son with no emotion. No matter how handsome you are, what is the point?

You have to be a person.

The Duchess was not a fool.

The reason Evelynn Garneid ran away is probably because of his grotesque personality.

“Mother.”

Cassius bowed lightly.

“Sit down.”

The Duchess gracefully beckoned to where Evelyn had been drinking her tea a moment earlier. In the meantime, though her maids skillfully arranged the seats, Cassius’ sharp eyes did not miss the little clues.

“You had guests.”

“The Count of Garneid’s Young Lady came to see me.”

“She…came to see mother?”

Cassius frowned.

Rather than being surprised, he seemed to be wary.

Not surprisingly, Evelyn Garneid had been outspokenly avoiding members of the Duke of Brudenell, including him. So, the fact that she went to visit the Duchess had to arouse his suspicions as to whether she was up to something.

For example, he wondered if she was trying to run away again.

“Yes.”

Duchess Broudnell’s lips drew an arc.

“You seem to be more enthusiastic than I thought.”

Cassius’s eyes widened.

‘That is how it should be.’

The Duchess swallowed a peal of laughter inside. No matter how stern he pretended to be, both him and Evelyn were young men and women in their prime.

There was nothing wrong with being a little lecherous.

“What do you mean?”

Cassius’s words were polite, though his tone was authoritative.

“She asked if there is any kind of person you do not like. She mentioned that she did not want to hurt your feelings even by mistake. It was very touching.”

“…How did you answer?”

“Of course, I told her honestly what I know. Isn’t it wrong that you hate stupid people?”

Hearing his mother’s answer, he was silent for a moment.

“Mother.”

His dangerous voice echoed through the air.

“You did not say other useless things, did you?”

“Hmm.”

The Duchess’ eyes narrowed and she continued her words, “What do you think I said, Cassius?”

“…By any chance, pointed out her behaviour?”

“Oh, my. Cassius!”

At that, she covered her mouth and laughed.

“Do I look like someone who would do that? I am disappointed, sweetheart. There is no reason to say that to someone as smart as the Young Lady. I would not do that.”

The chill that had briefly stood in his eyes eased.

“That is a relief. It seems that mother’s thoughts and mine are not very different.”

He continued his speech without breathing.

“I would not think of her as an idiot. Count Garneid’s Young Lady I have seen so far is a smart person. To the point where it is too much…”

“Yes, yes.”​​The Duchess hastily waved her hand.

The conversation she wanted to have with her son right now was not how good the young Count of Garneid was.

“What I want to say is… In other words, there is nothing to worry about if Count Garneid’s Young Lady rarely shows her heart. Look, she has even come to me, the gritty one, to ask for advice, right?”

“….”

Cassius did not answer, but the Duchess knew. She noticed that the corners of his lips were raised a little.

“So, that being said…”

The Duchess added her words, “Garneid’s Young Lady is working so hard. Though you are not going to sit still, are you?”

She then smiled sweetly at her son.

However, Cassius did not immediately show his desired reaction from the Duchess.

“Honestly, it is a little surprising.”

“You mean that Young Lady wants to like you?”

“Yes.”

He nodded his head.

“Young Lady has always been hitting the wall against me. Moreover, it seems that I made a mistake with her…”

“Oh, my.”

The Duchess frowned.

“But, do not worry too much. If you make a mistake, wouldn’t you just have to do better?”

“Do you have any good ideas, mother?”

He looked more desperate than ever.

“Well… You have already heard everything Count Garneid’s Young Lady wants, right? In that case, a little surprise is needed.”

“A surprise?”

“Of course.”

The Duchess’s gaze became hazy and dreamy.

“A fancy event, just for her… “

“All right.”

Cassius jumped up from his seat. Judging from the fact that he has returned to his usual expressionless expression, it seems that he has already decided what to do as a surprise gift for the Count of Garneid’s Young Lady.

The Duchess smiled and stared at her son’s back.

She had a good feeling.

‘Cheer up, Cassius.’

She sipped her tea, thinking that she would do all she could to help Cassius’s plan.

Because she never wanted to lose her daughter-in-law like Count of Garneid’s Young Lady.

* * *

To be honest, when I learned that I had to be stupid, Ophelia first popped into my mind.

To be more precise, it is a way to use Ophelia.

I had already done some pretty stupid things at the ball in the eyes of the socialites. If we could bring Ophelia even more deeply into this play…

‘No.’

I shook my head.​​Ophelia has already gone through a lot because of me. Even if it would be better than my fate, which I must have suffered, it was prickly for me to ask the child for more roles than she does now.

I could not even become a fool of a sudden.

Of course, it would only be seen as a contrived performance.

The next thing that came to mind was an affair.

If I openly have an affair in front of Cassius’s nose, there is no such thing as too much of an idiot. However, I was very worried about the life of the other man, so I had to put an end to that plan.

‘It is too difficult to say that Cassius is such an idiot that he could end his relationship with me without threatening anyone’s life…’

Fortunately, my plan to deceive him quickly surfaced—to look so stupid without attracting anyone.

‘Now, I have to find Cassius.’

​​Quite a while later.

I took a deep breath.

`Even though I looked all over the place to find him, I could not find Cassius anywhere.

‘Is he going to come back in the evening?’

As I was muttering to myself, tumbling back to my room…

“What are you so worried about?”

The owner of the voice was, of course, Cassius Brudenell because there were only four people who could talk to me in this mansion.

The Duchess, Cassius, and the lovely Ophelia.

The other members just chatted behind me and did not even think to say anything.

I blinked and raised my gaze.

He was looking down at me as though he was a little surprised.

“I was not worried about anything.”

Cassius sighed.

“Evelyn, you frown and bite your lip whenever you are in deep trouble.”

At that, I was stunned for a moment at the fact that he knew a habit of mine that I was not aware of.

“It is nothing. Just… I was looking for you.”

“Me…?”

The corners of his lips rose, and he continued.

“I am happy. What is going on?”

“That is…”

I hesitated for a moment.

It might be better to avoid Cassius for now, think a little more, then execute the plan. Although my intuition, which had never betrayed me, was screaming.

Right now…

If it was even a little late, I might miss out on even the slight possibilities that exist now.

Driven by that strange impulse, my mouth moved on its own.

“I want many things.”

Selfish…

“The Lord said he could do anything for me.”

Foolish—

“Can you keep that promise now?”

Evelyn Garneid.

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