Count Vicente, Lady Eleanor, and Oliver indulged in food and drink in a luxurious room for the first time in a long while.
“We should have moved in here earlier. What could the organization do if we stay protected in the official residence like this?”
“Only the Brigadier General would suffer. As parents of a war hero, we could make connections and get money from other places.”
After all, their talented adopted son would pay it back for them.
Watching the Count and her brother-in-law laughing and chatting, Lady Eleanor thought she had made the right decision in following Helene’s advice to barge into the official residence and hold out.
Now all that was left was to tame the princess before Masera returned and kicked them out.
“First, I need to establish discipline as the mother-in-law. The princess is acting so arrogantly.”
Afterwards, they made all sorts of unreasonable demands, claiming they should be treated as in-laws.
“What kind of meal is this? We need to fire the chef immediately.”
“How could you not know I’m allergic to peanuts? If you don’t want to be accused of disrespecting your in-laws, you should do better.”
And Lady Eleanor went around nitpicking every corner of the official residence.
‘At least I’m a bit better. I’m trying to teach her the duties of a daughter-in-law.’
Lady Eleanor spoke sternly towards Cynthia, who was smiling leisurely for some reason.
“I’ll be in charge of household affairs for the time being as the elder. Princess, you should learn to support your husband as a wife. Do you know how to embroider?”
“No? I don’t have such hobbies.”
Seeing Cynthia answer so shamelessly, she bit her lip.
“Hobby? That’s basic education. I’ll teach you everything a proper noble lady should know from A to Z.”
“Oh my, I can’t pay you for lessons.”
At Cynthia’s mockery, a vein popped on Lady Eleanor’s forehead.
“Princess, you need to relearn etiquette from the beginning. I wonder what on earth you learned from your family…”
It was then.
“Are you lecturing about family education right now?”
Someone’s displeased voice cut in from behind.
Lady Eleanor turned around in surprise.
It was none other than Count Queensguard.
Dressed in luxurious clothes with his arms crossed, he was frowning deeply.
“Who… Count Queensguard?”
“You’re not even a noble anymore, yet you dare to address the head of a prestigious family without honorifics.”
“What brings you here?”
To Lady Eleanor’s question, Count Queensguard spewed insults in his characteristically arrogant, refined tone.
“Do I need a reason to visit my daughter’s house? It seems you beggars came with a purpose though. Did you get those clothes from a donation bin? Why are you still with a man who can’t even buy his wife a decent outfit?”
Seeing Lady Eleanor shrink more and more at the powerful attack, Cynthia gave an evil smile.
There was no need to deal with these troublemakers one by one. The best way to handle troublemakers is with an even bigger troublemaker.
Even if she was being used, she could use them right back when needed.
Count Queensguard, who was especially sensitive about money issues, had rushed over immediately when Cynthia contacted him saying, “The people claiming to be in-laws are asking for gifts and to pay off their debts.”
“Owing gambling debts to an organization, how trash-like must one live to fall this far… Vicente’s ancestors must be crying in their graves.”
The Count frowned in displeasure with a cigar in his mouth.
From his perspective, Cynthia becoming a target of the organization was problematic in many ways. He couldn’t let a mouse drop into a nearly finished soup.
Lady Eleanor, her pride hurt, burst out angrily.
“Count, that’s going too far! We only asked for help reconciling with our adopted son.”
“That’s for them to figure out themselves. How dare you harass and torment our princess? As a father, I can’t just stand by!”
‘Disgusting.’
Cynthia shuddered, then immediately dabbed at dry tears with a handkerchief, putting on a masterful performance.
“Dad… They called me a half-wit for not knowing how to embroider.”
“Princess! When did I ever say that?”
Lady Eleanor cried out in bewilderment.
Meanwhile, the Count’s gaze towards the sniffling Cynthia grew even more vicious.
“Why make my daughter do things the servants should handle? You fools who lost your title and money to debt are putting on airs as in-laws.”
I’ve thought this before, but his acting was truly superb. He really seemed like an angry father witnessing his daughter being mistreated by her in-laws.
Passing servants watched Lady Eleanor being helplessly berated. Feeling secretly pleased.
Then there was a crashing sound from downstairs, and Count Queensguard leaned over the railing and shouted.
“Edford! Don’t touch that filthy commoner!”
In the short time since, Oliver and Edford were wrestling and rolling around downstairs for some reason.
Count Vicente, who was downstairs, waved his cane and yelled at Count Queensguard.
“Who are you calling a commoner! You little brat killed your own brother to take over as head of the Queensguard family, and now you think you’re above everyone? As expected of an assassin family that lived as the royal family’s dogs! Typical uneducated military upstart!”
Count Queensguard sneered, blowing cigar smoke.
“Better than an old civil official who became a street beggar as soon as he lost his position.”
When you put villains together, a beautiful mess unfolds.
Cynthia thought as she neatly folded her handkerchief.
“Let me warn you, if you try any clumsy schemes to resolve your debts.”
Count Queensguard continued in an ominous voice.
“You’ll witness the ancient methods of the Queensguard family, who were once the shadows of the royal family.”
The first Queensguard was a high-ranking knight who carried out the Snow Queen’s secret orders, tasked with disposing of those who interfered with the royal family. This is where Count Queensguard’s ruthless nature came from.
Lady Eleanor, who knew well the cruelty of the Queensguard family, avoided his eyes.
‘Why are the Duchess and Count’s opinions so different?’
She was confused by the Count’s actions, which were completely opposite to Helene’s advice.
“You’d also do well not to go around borrowing money using my daughter and son-in-law’s names in high society.”
Count Queensguard drove the final nail in the coffin.
Lady Eleanor, who had been planning to do just that, closed her mouth tightly with a pale face.
* * *
“Ugh, they only drank the expensive alcohol.”
“Should we charge them for the items they broke today too?”
Late at night, Cynthia was going over the expense list with Dahlia. They planned to charge for everything these people used, down to a single toothbrush.
Fortunately, thanks to Count Queensguard staying at the official residence, their bad behavior had noticeably decreased. Whenever they showed signs of causing trouble, Count Queensguard would step in and make a fuss.
Knock knock-
“Princess, may I have a word with you?”
Butler Milchenko entered carefully wearing a hat and requested to talk.
As Dahlia excused herself, he smiled awkwardly.
“Why are you wearing a hat?”
“I wore it in case you found my face unpleasant to look at. Many people are quite uncomfortable with it.”
He said, covering the long scar on his cheek.
No wonder he avoided me with a smile even when I tried talking to him, and didn’t fall for health food bribes. He thought I would dislike him because of his facial scar…
Feeling inwardly sorry, Cynthia smiled casually.
“I thought it looked cool. Like a former warrior with a story.”
“Thank you. Please speak comfortably.”
“I usually use formal speech with those 40 years or more older than me.”
Milchenko chuckled softly and clasped his hands.
“The Brigadier General probably wouldn’t want you to know, but I felt I should tell you the situation, at least roughly.”
After all, Masera might feel betrayed if he misunderstood that Cynthia had accepted these people.
“Butler, you’re trusting me and telling me this, right? Thank you.”
Reassured by those words, Milchenko began to speak.
“Those people are terrible abusers who shouldn’t be here.”
Milchenko’s faded eyes gazed into empty space, as if tracing over the past.
Calling in her fake father was a masterful move. Good work, Cynthia