A small sigh came from behind Ash for a moment. Ash reassured Swan by tightly holding his hand and replied, “Didn’t you understand my words? I said from the beginning that we’re in the middle of a class. Was it so difficult to understand?”

Jocelyn turned her head left and right without any expression. It was a lifeless movement, like a puppet with strings wrapped around it, making it move.

“Teaching a class here without books or pens, I can’t understand what kind of lesson you’re trying to give without basic tools. Surely, you’re not trying to teach how to tend to a garden.”

“It’s none of your concern what I teach the kids. If you have complaints, go and report them to your master, didn’t I tell you?”

“We can’t trouble the Duke for such trivial matters.”

“So what should we do if I don’t send Swan with you?”

Jocelyn’s gaze shifted to Swan when Ash spoke. The moment she reached out her hand as if signaling for Swan to come, a sharp voice startled both Ash and Swan. Even Jocelyn momentarily blinked at Ariante.

“Stop interfering!”

Ash and Swan were surprised at the sharp voice. Even Jocelyn, for a moment, twitched her eyes. It was Ariante. Jocelyn, still holding Swan’s hand, blocked Ariante’s path and turned her face into an impassive, cold stone again. Ash observed every change closely, not taking his eyes off Jocelyn.

Ariante’s pupils turned a vibrant blue. She seemed ready to rush forward and push Jocelyn, even at that moment.

“Swan is studying with me! Don’t bother us! Don’t come near Swan!”

With a swift motion, Jocelyn stared at Ariante and, in a monotone voice, said, “It seems the results of the class are unsatisfactory, Miss Lauren. Lady, who still has not acquired the appropriate manners befitting the family name.”

Ariante ground her teeth audibly. Swan, as if protecting himself, spread his arms and looked down at Ariante with frightened eyes, then turned his gaze back to Jocelyn. After a moment, carefully, Ariante grabbed Ariante’s hand, pulling her to his side.
Jocelyn also witnessed the scene. As she tried to approach the children, Ash blocked her with a somewhat rough gesture. Due to this, Jocelyn, who almost stumbled backward, opened her eyes wide.

“What are you doing!”

“What am I doing? What about you? Listen, Jocelyn, the housekeeper. I don’t know if you have any information about me, but I am an individual known for not following anyone’s orders, even at the Royal University of the Capital. That’s not all. I am not as polite as Cediloi. The only reason I’m showing this much patience with you now is because of the kids. So, thank the lady and the young master of the Marquis for their courtesy, and go about your business. If you scare my students with nonsense again, I swear you’ll receive some money and get kicked out.”

Throughout Ash’s words, Jocelyn’s face turned ashen, then repeatedly became red. The corners of her tightly sealed lips twitched as if they would cause spasms, and her entire eyes were bloodshot, to the point where it seemed like her blood pressure might rise uncontrollably.

Ash, standing firm without flinching, and Ariante and Swan, who were still holding hands, made Jocelyn furious from head to toe.

From some point, many things from the Balthminster House had slipped out of her grip. The employees still pretended to be busy without saying a word of rebuttal to her, but even that was different from before.

Jocelyn realized that her influence within the Balthminster House, the authority granted to her, was dispersing like sand in the wind. It was an unforgivable situation.

The one and only mission in Jocelyn’s life was to nurture the Balthminster family. She had once thought that when Cediloi married a worthy woman and had a legitimate son, she would also raise a faithful child as her own.

To leave behind someone who would sacrifice their life for the Balthminster family even after she died…

When did it start to go wrong?

Jocelyn stared at Ariante like a snake hunting its prey.

It’s all because of that lowly thing. Jocelyn thought. If only that thing hadn’t been born, none of these problems would have arisen in the first place.

When she learned that Liria was pregnant, Jocelyn had tried every means to make her lose the child, but ultimately failed. It was because Berbo was so thoroughly guarding Liria.

Jocelyn, who had never loved the son she bore, and had never thought of the Marquis’s eldest son as someone to raise for the Balthminster family, began to hate Berbo even more for that reason.

So, when the child was born a daughter, she was greatly relieved.

In any case, a girl. If Cediloi married and had a child, Ariante would be nothing more than an abandoned pawn. To achieve that, it was essential to clear away all the fences protecting that child.

So, she got rid of Berbo and Liria.

Jocelyn felt no guilt whatsoever about making her own son die by her own hands. However, Cediloi not only refused to marry but also made Ariante a concubine! It was unforgivable. Jocelyn didn’t harbor anger towards Cediloi. Her hatred and resentment were solely focused on Ariante.

Everything is because of that wench.