Episode 3
‘Yeah, this is what makes their stomachs churn.’
I continued speaking loud enough for them to hear, smirking wickedly inside.
“Of course, oppa is the one and only head of Lavantes. I’m simply saying this in case unnecessary misunderstandings arise outside the family.”
Meanwhile, Marisa hurriedly tried to salvage the situation.
“But I’m your mother. Isabel still doesn’t know much about running the household……”
In the lowest-of-the-low patriarchal family, the Lavantes Duke’s household, there exists an invincible word that pierces through every shield.
That word is **‘the head’s authority.’**
“Even so. As a member of the family, you should naturally respect the head’s authority first and foremost.”
I gladly wielded that word to seal Marisa’s mouth.
Marisa couldn’t hide her flabbergasted expression but didn’t dare open her mouth recklessly.
It would be troublesome if she incurred oppa’s wrath, after all.
I leisurely countered the clamshell-tight Marisa.
“Moreover, if sister-in-law truly lacks experience in these matters, shouldn’t we let her gain some?”
“But……!”
Marisa, finally snapping back to her senses, tried to protest, but I was a beat faster.
“You can’t possibly manage every single affair of the family forever, Mother.”
I continued, eyes wide and sparkling.
“Right now, it may seem like you’re caring for us out of love, but if things continue this way…… it might look as though oppa is being controlled by you.”
Finishing my words, I stealthily checked oppa’s expression.
Oppa’s face was frozen cold as ice.
‘Well, this should be about enough to slide by.’
Silently chuckling inside, I subtly restored oppa’s wounded pride.
“Of course, oppa is so busy that it must have been difficult to pay attention to such trivial matters.”
Then I slyly tossed out a question.
“So, what do you think, oppa?”
In that instant, both Marisa’s and Isabel’s gazes shot toward oppa.
Marisa’s was obvious.
The desperation in her eyes as she looked at oppa was so intense I thought it would drill a hole through his annoying face.
That expression clearly expecting him to take her side.
‘Ugh, I really hate it.’
Inwardly recoiling, I turned to Isabel.
At the same time, my eyes widened slightly.
Because Isabel, who always had hollow eyes……
was now shining brightly with both eyes.
‘Oh my god, Isabel is making such an expectant face.’
For some reason, my heart warmed.
How should I put it?
It had been so long since I’d seen Isabel look this motivated.
A moment later.
Oppa opened his mouth heavily.
“There is reason in Elodie’s words, Mother.”
“Yes?”
Fine cracks appeared on Marisa’s face.
At the same time, oppa, having nearly finished his meal, rose from his seat.
“This garden party will be hosted by Isabel.”
With those words, oppa attempted to leave the dining room.
Marisa instinctively grabbed at him in a panic.
“B-But.”
Oppa turned back with a stern face.
“Are you perhaps trying to contradict me right now?”
Facing that icy glare, Marisa flinched and stiffened her shoulders.
Her lips trembled as if she might cling further, but only for a moment.
In the end, Marisa bowed her head and stepped back.
“……No.”
“Good.”
Oppa nodded and exited the dining room.
Marisa stared blankly at his retreating back, then whipped around to glare at me.
The ferocity in those eyes was intense.
‘Why, what, why?’
Like a pure-hearted minor villain, I plastered a thick iron plate on my face.
In other words, I met Marisa’s gaze with an expression of ‘Huh? What’s got you so upset? Did I say something wrong~?’
Marisa gritted her teeth in frustration, biting her lower lip, then quickly averted her eyes.
I let out a short internal sneer.
‘Wow, isn’t this peak strong-against-the-weak, weak-against-the-strong?’
Well, it can’t be helped.
Truthfully, Marisa isn’t in a position to treat me carelessly.
Though she struts around as the former duke’s second wife and Duchess Dowager.
In reality, Marisa’s standing in the ducal house is extremely precarious.
Since she had no children with the late duke—my father—Marisa essentially has no real ties to the Lavantes family.
She’s only managed to receive the treatment of Duchess Dowager by desperately catering to oppa’s whims until now……
‘On the other hand, I’m one of only two direct descendants of Lavantes.’
Especially the duke’s daughter oppa is cherishing and grooming to sell at the highest price on the marriage market.
At the very least, right now, I’m above Marisa.
Of course, even so, I’m still destined to be sacrificed for that damn oppa……
‘Still, I should give her a warning at least once, right?’
If I let this slide vaguely, even if I’m fine, she’ll take it out on Isabel big-time.
With that judgment, I spoke to Marisa in a gentle, coaxing tone.
“You’re not upset, are you, Mother?”
At that question, Marisa’s face crumpled.
I giggled inside.
‘She must be furious.’
She’s already fuming to the top of her head, and I asked, ‘Are you mad?’
Her insides must be sizzling.
“I only said it because I was worried about how our family might appear to outsiders.”
“Elodie.”
“So please cheer for this garden party too, Mother. Okay?”
I smiled brightly, feigning innocence.
Cheer for the garden party.
A person who reigned as Duchess Dowager for years couldn’t possibly miss the hidden meaning.
It means don’t sabotage Isabel.
Marisa ground her teeth audibly, then stormed out without a reply.
In the end, only Isabel and I remained in the dining room.
‘Wow, this is a bit awkward.’
Stealthily gauging Isabel’s reaction, I casually spoke up.
“Um, sister-in-law.”
“……”
Isabel turned to me with eyes full of wariness.
‘Ah, eye contact.’
I flashed a wide eye-smile.
“I’m looking forward to the garden party?”
Isabel stared at me with an unreadable expression for a moment.
Then she gave a slight bow in greeting and briskly left the dining room.
‘Hng.’
I felt a little downcast.
It seems I’ll have to put in some effort to close the distance with our sister-in-law.
No, actually a lot……
* * *
That evening.
Marisa sank into worry with a troubled face.
“Why is that little wench Elodie suddenly acting like this?”
Until now, Marisa had hosted all the parties, and Elodie hadn’t seemed to have any particular complaints.
She couldn’t fathom why Elodie was suddenly interfering now.
‘I can’t let my relationship with Elodie sour.’
Elodie was, after all, a direct descendant of the ducal house.
If things went wrong with Elodie and she fell out of favor with the current duke, David, it would be disastrous.
She could lose even her position as Duchess Dowager.
Especially in the current situation where her entire natal family depended on her.
“If only I had a son……”
She ground her teeth for a moment.
Marisa’s eyes sharpened.
‘Still, I can’t just sit here and take this.’
