“Lady Emily?
Are you not feeling well?
Your face is red.
Do you have a fever?
Did you two have a quarrel?,” Anna asked worriedly as soon as she saw Emily come out of Grand Duke Cedric’s room.
“A mouth fight might be a better way to put it,” Emily muttered.
“Pardon?” “No, I’m fine,” Emily replied frantically, patting her cheeks.
‘Stop it, Emily.
That was insane!
If only there hadn’t been an interruption, Grand Duke Cedric and I might have moved on to the next stage… hehehe,’ Emily murmured with a grin, cupping her face as she imagined things that would need to be censored for readers under 18.
“Lady Emily?
Are you sure you’re okay?” “Yes, I’m fine.
So who wants to meet me?
As far as I recall, I don’t know anyone here,” Emily asked, snapping out of her daydream.
“Hmm… actually, Duchess Aria has come to visit Lady Emily.
The Duchess is waiting in the greenhouse garden right now, My Lady,” Anna replied.
“My mother?” Thump… ‘Meet Emily’s mother?
She’s her mother—what if she finds out I’m not the real Emily?’ Emily thought anxiously.
But Emily knew she couldn’t avoid it; she had to be more careful and not talk as much as the Emily from the novel, so as not to arouse suspicion.
================================================================ The Archibald family residence features a large greenhouse, adorned with a variety of beautiful flowers.
Several chairs and tables are arranged there, set up specifically for tea parties with guests while enjoying the beauty of the garden.
As Emily and Anna walked toward the greenhouse, they saw a middle-aged woman with an elegant bun; her face was still so beautiful, reflecting the glory of her youth.
Wearing a dark blue dress adorned with sparkling stones, she was sitting and sipping tea elegantly.
And standing beside her was a woman with a bun, about her mother’s age; according to the novel Emily had read, she was Countess Gretta, who served as her mother’s *Lady-in-waiting, as well as the wet nurse for Elise, Emily’s younger sister.
*(A Lady-in-waiting is a friend, secretary, and confidante from the aristocratic class).
“Mother…” Emily greeted her, performing a *curtsy (bending her knee slightly) to greet her mother; at that moment, she was grateful for having read every detail of etiquette written in the novel.
‘Thank you, Author.’ “Emily… you’ve finally arrived,” replied Duchess Aria, examining Emily from head to toe.
“Have a seat,” she continued.
Emily sat across from her mother’s chair; she was afraid sitting too close might make her mother suspicious.
Meanwhile, Anna stood beside her, pouring tea into a cup for Emily.
“I came here to visit because I heard you were sick,” Duchess Aria began the conversation, setting her cup down on the table.
“It’s all thanks to your blessings, Mother,” Emily replied, trying to sound humble.
Slam!
“Thanks to me?
Don’t be ridiculous, Emily!” her mother snapped suddenly, slamming her hand on the table.
Emily and Anna were startled by her mother’s sudden outburst.
“I thought I’d raised you well.
Are you embarrassing our family at someone else’s residence just to get revenge?” her mother asked, her face burning red.
“W-what do you mean, Mother ?” Emily asked, confused.
“You tried to end your life at your fiancé’s house—what else could that be but an act of defiance and bringing shame on the family??” “Oh…?” “Did you do all this out of resentment toward me, because I spent more time taking care of Elise than you?
You know Elise has always been frailer since she was a child!” “Or are you holding a grudge against me for forcing you to marry the Grand Duke so Elise could have an easier path to marrying King Killian?
You know that Grand Duke Cedric is King Killian’s close cousin and trusted confidant, right?
Why can’t you ever make a little sacrifice for your sister?” her mother asked again, clutching her forehead in frustration.
Hearing her mother’s words, Emily now understood a little better why the Emily from the novel’s world had chosen to end her life.
Although she certainly didn’t agree with the reckless step Emily had taken, however, her feelings were valid.
“You should have kept yourself busy destroying these people, rather than destroying your own life,” Emily muttered, trying to speak to the body of Emily she now occupied.
“What did you say?” her mother asked, her voice laced with emotion.
Bang!
“I said, I regret destroying my own life—I should have destroyed all of yours!” Emily replied, slamming both hands on the table and standing up from her seat.
Smack… A slap landed hard on Emily’s cheek.
‘Crazy!
Even my own mother has never hit me,’ thought Emily, holding her throbbing, aching cheek.
“How dare you speak rudely to your own mother?” “Is it because you’ve been spending too much time with this lowly companion!?” Aria said as she walked toward Anna.
In an instant, Duchess Aria’s hand flew toward Anna, who could only stand there helplessly with her eyes closed, accepting whatever was about to happen.
Grab…
But a moment later, what she feared did not happen.
And when Anna opened her eyes, she saw that just before Duchess Aria’s hand could land on her face, Lady Emily had already stopped it with her own hand.
“Mother, you may hurt me if you think I’m wrong.
But you have no right to hurt another person’s innocent, precious daughter!” Emily said, gripping her mother’s hand even tighter.
“Urgh…” Duchess Aria, furious, tried to pull her hand free from Emily’s grip but failed.
Countess Gretta immediately stepped in to help Duchess Aria try to break free from Emily’s hold.
‘Since when has this child dared to defy me?’ Aria thought, seething with anger.
“I’ll let you go this time, but don’t you ever dare touch Anna,” Emily said, shaking off her mother’s hand.
“Lady Emily, please calm down…” Anna tried, terrified, holding Emily’s hand to soothe her.
Anna had never seen Lady Emily this angry in her entire life.
The afternoon, which had been peaceful until then, turned into chaos.
“Anna, I think you’ve failed as a companion.
You can’t even teach your Master proper manners.” Countess Gretta said, glaring at Anna with a scornful look.
“I’m sorry, Duchess Aria, this is all my fault!” Anna said, bowing her head in a sincere apology.
Seeing this, Emily’s anger reached a boiling point; she felt like punching that meddlesome old woman.
“Emily… I never expected you to act so disrespectfully toward your own mother?” Duchess Aria said with a sharp glare, holding her hand that still ached from Emily’s grip.
“I’m sorry, Mother.
But no matter what, I will protect those who are important to me.” Emily bowed her head while pulling Anna’s hand to stand behind her.
“I hope you’re pleased to see that your beloved daughter is doing well.
I’m worried you’re exhausted from the long journey; you should go home and rest.
Thank you for finding the time to visit,” Emily said, gently dismissing her mother.
Duchess Aria’s face flushed with embarrassment; in her entire life, she had never been humiliated like this in someone else’s residence, and by her own daughter no less.
Aria clenched her fists to hold back her anger, but tried to appear calm.
“Alright, I’m leaving.
But don’t forget the task your father entrusted to you, ” Duchess Aria said before turning to leave.
However, she stopped midway and turned back to Emily.
“Don’t think you’re free just because you’ve married Grand Duke Cedric.
Your marriage to him is merely a symbol of a peace agreement.
Do you think Grand Duke Cedric will protect you?
There are plenty of easy ways to cast you out of here.
You’d better remember that!” her mother threatened, then continued on her way, followed by Countess Gretta behind her.
Emily and Anna could only stand frozen, watching Duchess Aria leave.
Emily immediately slumped weakly into a chair as soon as her mother’s figure disappeared from view.
Once the adrenaline had faded from her body, her legs seemed to lose the strength to support her.
“She really came and went like a hurricane,” Emily said.
“Lady Emily, are you all right?” Anna asked worriedly, noticing Emily’s reddened cheeks, which were beginning to look swollen.
“You have to be nice to me, Anna.
I even became a disobedient child for your sake.
Hahaha… ugh, ouch…” Emily replied jokingly, laughing, but she stopped because her cheek started throbbing—it hurt again when she tried to speak.
“Lady Emily, please don’t do that again.
It’s okay if I’m hurt, but please don’t let Lady Emily get hurt… sniff… sniff…” Anna suddenly started crying.
“I’ve taken an oath to help others and put humanity first; how could I possibly stand by and watch someone else suffer?” Emily said as she wiped Anna’s tears away with her hand.
‘How could anyone be so heartless as to want to hurt a girl as pure as this?’ Emily thought.
“Let’s go back to your room, My Lady.
I’ll call Dr.
Gillen right away to treat My Lady… sniff… sniff…” Anna urged, still crying.
“How adorable…” Emily and Anna left the greenhouse garden to return to the room.
Unbeknownst to them, two pairs of eyes were watching their conversation.
================================================================ “So you are saying that Lady Emily fought her own mother?” Cedric asked, summarizing Arthur’s statement.
“That is correct, My Lord.
Lady Emily even took a blow from her own mother and fought back while protecting Miss Anna,” Arthur explained.
“Interesting…” Cedric muttered, leaning his chin on his hand as he rested it on the table.
“Are you thinking of taking advantage of this situation, My Lord?” asked Philip, who had been listening in.
“At least we know there are already seeds of discord within the enemy’s ranks.
We will use the opponent’s own pawns to destroy their own fortress,” Cedric replied confidently.
“Keep an eye on Emily and summon Gillen immediately to treat her.” “As you command, Your Grace,” Arthur replied before taking his leave.