“Young people can have different thoughts, you know. If you say something like that nowadays, you might hear that you’re old. Don’t you think so, Duchess of Ertman?”
…I suppose.
Odette quickly tossed aside any thoughts of goodwill.
It was Viscountess Noirche who had severed ties.
She was not a lucky person.
And Odette’s reaction to the appearance of that stepmother is the second step.
Then the response is obvious.
Odette smiled slightly and tilted her head.
“Well, it might vary from person to person… but I think Viscountess Noirche’s words are right.”
“…Really?”
A smile, as if mocking the remarks of Viscountess Myra and Viscountess Noirche, briefly crossed her lips.
And Odette, pretending not to see them, casually continued speaking.
“Of course. It’s only natural.”
“Indeed, the etiquette of Her Highness, the Princess, is exemplary.”
“You flatter me, Viscountess Myra.”
As Odette responded gracefully, Viscountess Noirche smiled and tilted her head.
“However… it’s strange. If the Duchess of Ertman is someone who observes etiquette so well, why didn’t you show proper manners when you were first introduced to me?”
In her beautiful face, there seemed to be a hint of suspicion.
However, Odette still widened her eyes, pretending to be surprised like someone who didn’t know anything.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about, madam. We clearly had a conversation in the proper order.”
Typically, when someone is introduced, the one with a lower status should greet first.
For example, if Odette were to be introduced to Arnold for the first time, Arnold should greet first.
However, in a situation like now, where Arnold is Odette’s ancestor, it is proper for Odette to bow first as a sign of respect for the elder in the family.
“I am a person of the Duke’s family, and you are a person of the Viscount’s family, so wouldn’t it be appropriate for me to receive greetings from you?”
“Of course, that would be the case. If I were not your husband’s mother.”
Viscountess Noirche spoke with a somewhat sad tone.
“No matter how much I am not currently a person of the Ertman Duke’s family, the fact that I am the mother of that child remains unchanged, so it is quite heartbreaking to receive such treatment.”
“Oh, don’t be too upset, madam. The Duchess of Ertman probably didn’t mean it.”
“That’s right. The Duchess of Ertman… probably had no one to teach her such common sense. Please understand generously, madam. It’s just a mistake that a newcomer to society can make.”
When Viscountess Noirche showed tears, other noble ladies were surprised and comforted her.
There was no malice towards Odette in the words of consoling Viscountess Noirche.
There was just ill intent from the person who orchestrated this situation.
And that fact twisted Odette’s feelings.
“…Strange. To my knowledge, the person I should show respect to is only Arnold Kyeong. Why would someone I meet for the first time demand respect from me?”
“Madam, didn’t you hear my words just now? I am Balter’s mother. You might not know because you are still young, but-.”
“No. I know everything I need to know. I know that my ancestor is Arnold Kyeong and that there are no other elders in Ertman.”
And the person claiming to be Balter’s parent at the wedding venue didn’t even see a shadow.
“I haven’t met you where I should have, so why should I believe you and show courtesy? It’s not like you belong to Ertman.”
In response to Odette’s words, Viscountess Noirche sighed.
“What, what did you say? Everyone here knows that I am Balter’s mother!”
“I don’t know. If I had to know, my husband or Arnold Kyeong would have told me sooner. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard a word.”
When Odette coldly replied, a sorrowful tear welled up in Viscountess Noirche’s eyes.
“Oh, how could you do this to me? Even if I left Ertman, the connection through blood doesn’t break… How can you be so rude?”
“Madam, how can you blame me? Even if I left Ertman, the connection through blood doesn’t break… How can you be so rude?”
In the end, Odette couldn’t hold back and let out a bitter laugh.
“Then what have you done for your child who is still connected to you? Have you tried contacting them even once? Or have you seen their face? Have you written a letter while your child shed blood on the battlefield?”
“I, I… I also… I worried about that child…! Do you think I felt comfortable leaving my child behind?”
“Of course, you wouldn’t have felt comfortable. But that’s all there is to it.”
Empty sympathy that was of no help, like a faint thread.
Even if Balter had died on the battlefield, it would have been just a cheap kindness to express regret and then forget.
Their age was long past, relying on such things to melt their hearts.
Both Odette and Balter.
“If you want to insist that you are still my husband’s mother, come to Ertman and get recognition.”
Before saying such things, you should have done that first, considering the appropriate order, but well…
“…I can’t ask for etiquette from someone shameless.”
With those words, Odette stood up and left without leaving any apology or farewell.
She wasn’t feeling very good.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
Link to read
