“Splendid. Is this from the East? The mystical country lives up to its reputation, with elegance flowing from the porcelain. Oh my! Is that gold by any chance?”

Jexy, the woman who introduced herself as Joseph’s mother, bustled around the reception room. She tapped on this and that item, continuing her appraisal.

Jane sat on the sofa, quietly observing her exaggerated gestures.

Jexy was pretty. Her age was hard to gauge due to her updo hairstyle and makeup, but her lush lashes, high nose bridge, and cat-like upturned eyes were captivating.

Her height was also impressive, and her curvaceous figure was enough to attract the gazes of many men.

However, her voice was too loud, her unrestrained behavior was rude, and her eyes were filled with greed.

When Jexy revealed herself as Joseph’s mother, Jane couldn’t believe it. Only when Joseph nervously appeared and called her ‘Mother……’ did she accept it as fact.

That Jexy was Joseph’s mother. The woman who spent the night with Cain.

“If you’re done looking around, please have a seat.”

Jane offered as Hailey brought out refreshments.

“Oh, egg tarts.”

Jexy, who had slipped a gold bead into her pocket, approached Hailey and picked up an egg tart.

Before it was even placed on the table!

As Hailey’s eyes widened, Jexy, who had taken a bite out of half the egg tart, grinned triumphantly.

“Delicious.”

She placed the half-eaten egg tart on a plate and sat across from Jane. As she plopped down, an exclamation burst from her mouth.

“The sofa is so plush!”

Jexy wiggled her bottom and praised the sofa for quite a while.

After agreeing a couple of times, Jane closed her mouth and sipped her tea.

Perhaps losing interest after chattering on her own, Jexy indifferently lifted her teacup.

“No alcohol, I see?”

It wasn’t evening or mealtime, yet she was asking for alcohol.

Jane vaguely understood why Cain had tried to hide Joseph’s birth mother.

Jane set down her teacup and looked at Jexy.

“If you plan on staying for dinner, we’ll present some fine liquor then.”

“Of course I’m staying for dinner. And what do you mean, leaving? Where would I go? Me?”

Jexy burst into laughter as if she had heard something absurd. Jane pondered which part of her words had triggered Jexy’s laughing fit.

No matter how much she thought about it, Jane couldn’t recall making a mistake or saying anything funny, so she hardened her face.

“Sorry. It was just too funny.”

Sensing the cold gaze, Jexy wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and burst into laughter again.

“What part of my words was funny?”

Jane asked, unable to bear it anymore.

“Everything from the start. Not your words, but your thoughts?”

Jexy pointed to her own head with her finger. Then she twisted her lips.

Jane gulped. Jexy was mocking her.

“It’s Jexy, right?”

Jane took a deep breath to avoid being shaken.

“Yes, that’s right. Jexy…… Hastings.”

One of Jane’s eyebrows shot up.

“You need to watch your words, Jexy.”

“What have I done wrong? I gave birth to the Hastings heir. If my son is Joseph Hastings, shouldn’t I, his mother, also be a Hastings?”

It was Jexy’s declaration of war. Demanding the position of the duchess.

“How rude. Or do you not know that I am the Duchess of Hastings?”

“I know. Of course I know. I heard everything before coming.”

Jexy leaned forward, her body stretched out. Her loose strands of hair brushed precariously over the egg tarts.

“Jane Whitney. The sole remaining bloodline of a family that nearly ruined this country, right? You were previously engaged to His Grace…… and clung to him because of debt. Isn’t that true?”

“Wrong.”

Jane replied as soon as Jexy’s words ended.

“What’s wrong?”

Jexy, who hadn’t expected Jane to deny it, leaned back and folded her arms across her chest.

She straightened her back and lifted her chin, intending to intimidate Jane, but to no avail.

A clumsy imitation is worse than not attempting at all.

“The only thing you said that’s true is that I was previously engaged to His Grace. You don’t seem to know much about me, so let me enlighten you properly.”

Jane stood up gracefully. Jexy’s head slowly tilted back.

Unconsciously, Jexy unfolded her arms and meekly brought her legs together.

Despite Jane’s gentle gaze looking down at her, she felt like a towering mountain.

“Jexy, I am the Duchess of Hastings. If not for Joseph, I wouldn’t have any reason to meet you. Listen carefully. The reason I’m using respectful language with you and entertaining your unannounced visit is because you are Joseph’s mother. Not because you are Cain’s woman. And most certainly not because you are the duchess.”

In the past, it might have been different, but currently, Cain wasn’t fond of Joseph’s birth mother.

So even if Jane were to leave this place, there was no chance of Jexy taking the position of duchess.

That’s why Jane spoke more firmly. To prevent her from harboring futile ambitions and shaking Hastings.

Jane smiled brightly at the frozen Jexy.

“Do stay for dinner tonight. You have to meet Cain, after all.”

As if she hadn’t coldly advised her moments ago, Jane’s voice was warm. She then politely bid Jexy farewell.

Jane left the reception room with an elegant curtsy that Jexy couldn’t even dream of imitating.

“Hmph!”

Left alone, Jexy let out the breath she had been holding.

She thought Jane was a woman who had only grown up in comfort. With her kind and docile appearance, Jexy believed that if she aggressively confronted her, Jane would cower and run away.

But none of her attacks worked, and instead, she took a hit from Jane.

“What the…… They said it would be easy.”

With a deeply furrowed face, Jexy picked up the teacup. She gulped down the already cold tea and grumbled.

“I’ll have to ask Scarlett for more money.”

Before coming to the ducal residence, Jexy had met with Scarlett and made a deal. She had already received a generous advance payment.

So today, she decided to throw her weight around here.

‘Who would be afraid just because I came on strong?’

Jexy took off her shoes, tossing them on the floor, and sprawled out on the sofa.

* * *

“Who came?”

Cain almost dropped the glove he was holding.

“A person claiming to be Master Joseph’s birth mother has arrived.”

Cain’s brow furrowed mercilessly.

So that woman finally came here.

Although he needed to see for himself, judging from the letter sent a few days ago and that woman’s character, it was a likely occurrence.

“What about Jane? Don’t tell me she met her?”

“Yes. They had refreshments together in the reception room.”

Cain rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache.

“So that woman left?”

It was evening. Since she had arrived in the afternoon, she should have been gone by now.

Norbert shook his head.

Cain let out a long sigh, placing his hands on his waist.

“What were you doing, not sending her out?”

“With Master Joseph present, we couldn’t forcibly remove a person who refused to leave. Her Ladyship also told us to leave her be.”

Should he commend the attempt to send her out?

“Where is that woman?”

“She’s in the third-floor reception room.”

Cain retied his cravat neatly and put on his jacket. Norbert was inwardly relieved by his attitude of thoroughly treating that woman as a guest.

Jexy, Joseph’s birth mother, had lost the trust of the servants in just a few hours of staying at Somnium House.

She showed no respect for Jane, her behavior was excessively rude, and she spoke carelessly.

What did she say when Jane left the reception room and Hailey went to clear the teacups?

〈Hey, bring something other than egg tarts.〉

Hailey, who had never heard the term ‘hey’ before, merely blinked, and Jexy even cursed.

〈You’re an impudent wench. Lower your eyes.〉

Moreover, her hands were sticky.

The gold crafts in the reception room were seen protruding from her skirt pockets.

When Mary asked Jane if she had ‘gifted them,’ Jexy was startled, confirming that she had secretly pocketed them.

Anyhow, she was a woman unsuitable for Hastings.

‘How did you end up with such a woman?’

Norbert sighed heavily.

“Will sighing make the ground cave in?”

Cain, who was walking ahead, looked back. On any other day, Norbert would have brushed it off with a laugh, but today, his expression refused to soften.

Cain fully understood Norbert’s worries and concerns. He closed the distance between them and patted Norbert’s shoulder.

“Nothing will change. Convey the same to the servants. Tell them not to make a fuss. And to keep their mouths shut.”

“Understood.”

“As for Jane…… tell her I’ll come see her at dinner.”

After finding out what Jexy wanted and chasing her away.

“Yes, I will relay the message.”

“You may go now. I can go to the reception room alone.”

Cain sent Norbert ahead and opened the reception room door.

As soon as he opened the door, he was greeted by a rumbling snore, as loud as a train’s firebox, coming from Jexy.

Clicking his tongue, Cain strode over and kicked the table.

Bang! The table toppled over, spilling the unfinished dessert Jexy had been eating. The carpet instantly turned into a mess.

“Ahh, what, what is it?”

Jexy scrambled to sit up.

“What are you doing in my house?”

At the chilling voice, Jexy’s mind snapped awake. She quickly rubbed her eyes, wiped her mouth, and sat up straight.

“You’re here, Your Grace? No…… should I call you husband?”

Sparks flew from Cain’s eyes. He tightly gripped the back of the sofa where Jexy was sitting.

Even with a face like a beast in front of her, Jexy didn’t even blink.

She had a weapon.

“You shouldn’t treat me like this. Have you already forgotten your sworn brother’s will?”

Cain’s jaw clenched tightly.