Chapter 111
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 111
Cedric bolted from his seat, leaving behind a dumbfounded Gerard and an Edgar who was practically doubling over with laughter. He headed straight for the Real Estate Auction House.
He had worried he might not find her, but the moment he stepped inside, she caught his eye.
She was hunched over, diligently reading something and scribbling away with a pencil. Even from behind, the sight was undeniably adorable.
A squirrel oblivious to its surroundings is destined to be swallowed by a snake.
How many scammers were lurking in this business, just waiting to swindle a naive newcomer? Or worse, ruffians who would use sweet words to soften a wary maiden until she was ripe for the taking.
A subtle smile played on Cedric’s lips, but Gerard’s voice cut through his thoughts.
"I can’t believe it. Did you really come all the way to the auction house?"
"I was just... taking a walk."
Naturally, Gerard wasn't the type to take such a blatant lie at face value. "Did you meet Lady Listerwell?"
Cedric didn't bother answering, but Gerard understood well enough. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "If rumors spread that an unmarried lady is accumulating wealth, unsavory characters are bound to cling to her."
"Unsavory...?"
"I’m talking about the kind of men who leech off a woman’s fortune to live in comfort. Besides, Lady Harriet already has a reputation for a—shall we say—colorful private life. Men will swarm around her like flies."
It sounded plausible, now that he thought about it. Stories of gamblers or fraudulent businessmen squandering a wife’s dowry were so common they were almost tiresome.
Cedric nodded slowly. "Thank you for the advice, Sir Austin."
"Pardon? Advice?"
Gerard, who hadn't realized he’d given any advice at all, looked puzzled. Cedric didn't satisfy his curiosity. Instead, he made a mental note to reinforce the personnel guarding Harriet.
Regardless, securing the Lowerberry land for her today brought him a sense of quiet satisfaction.
I hope this can somewhat make up for how I upset her last time...
His temples throbbed with embarrassment whenever he recalled throwing the brooch into the fountain—the very one his father had given him, which Harriet had gone out of her way to deliver.
At the time, he’d convinced himself it was anger toward Harriet for trying to use him. But once he acknowledged his true feelings, the truth became clear: he had been restless with worry because he cared for her too much. He had even been jealous that she was spending time with Tez Roark.
He hadn't expected to express such emotions so childishly.
But after long reflection, he decided not to be too ashamed of that day. His father’s words came back to him.
"I always strove to remain rational, to act with a cold head, no matter the circumstances. I believed a man should be that way—even more so after I inherited the immense responsibility of the ducal title."
It had been a night on the battlefield during a lull in the fighting. Warmed by a roaring bonfire and a glass of whiskey, he had heard his father’s true feelings—not pride, but regret.
"I’m only now realizing how foolish that was, but it seems too late to turn back. Don't be like me, Cedric."
"Don't be like what?"
"Don't try to maintain your composure when it comes to love. Love makes people ridiculous, childish, and crazy."
His father had told him it was natural. That the more he resisted this strange new version of himself, the worse things would get. At the time, Cedric couldn't understand his father’s words at all—especially hearing the word 'love' come from those stern lips.
But now, he felt he understood what his father had left unsaid, and why he had entrusted him with that brooch.
The most precious thing to that man of stone was, in fact, love.
A bitter yet wistful feeling washed over him. He quietly vowed to himself that he would not repeat his father’s failures.
*
Just as the gentle spring breeze began to stir hearts, unwelcome guests arrived at the Fellon Estate.
"Aunt! How have you been?"
Lauren’s eldest son, Jaden, greeted her with a beaming, practiced smile. Behind him stood Lauren and her husband. Recalling the icy atmosphere of their last meeting, their current cheerfulness was deeply unsettling.
Trisha allowed the Marshall family into the house, but she had no intention of pretending they were on good terms.
"Let’s not waste time on pleasantries neither of us care about. Given that you left last time as if you’d never see me again, only to return now with smiles, you must have a purpose. What is it?"
Despite her sharp tone, Lauren maintained her grin. "Since you don't wish for it, I’ll omit the affectionate family greetings. We’ve come to tell you that you must now seriously decide on an heir."
"How consistent you are. Should I applaud you for it?"
"When will you designate Jaden as your heir?"
Lauren’s tone was as if she were claiming property that had merely been left in Trisha's care. Previously, she had been cautious, even resorting to flattery, but now she was demanding it boldly. She wore a strangely triumphant look on her face.
"I am still perfectly healthy, Lauren. Why should I bother appointing an heir already?"
Trisha scoffed, but Lauren’s expression didn't flicker. If anything, her smile seemed to deepen.
"I sincerely hope you remain healthy, Madam."
With that, she pulled a document from her bag and handed it to Trisha.
"What is this?"
"It’s a petition demanding the annulment and re-succession of the Fellon countship. It argues that Jaden, not you, should have inherited the title. I submitted it to the Imperial Aristocracy Bureau’s Deliberation Committee early this morning."
Trisha snorted. Lauren had raised this very issue once before, right after Oster died. She had lost then, so why she was bringing it up again was beyond her.
"You haven't gone senile, have you? Don't you remember that this application was already rejected?"
"Of course not. How could I forget how frustrated I was back then?"
"Then why are you repeating the same foolishness?"
This time, the victory in Lauren’s eyes was unmistakable. "Of course, I’ll lose this time, too. But I’ll appeal. And if I lose the appeal, I’ll appeal a second time."
"What is the point? Do I look like someone who would be troubled by a few legal nuisances?"
"You weren't before. But this time, you will be. Because while this lawsuit is ongoing, you will be legally barred from adopting a child."
She stepped toward Jaden and looked at Trisha with a mocking glint in her eyes.
"This lawsuit, re-filed with different grounds than before, is treated as a new case. And the Aristocracy Bureau is quite busy these days; the first trial alone will take about a year. As soon as I lose that, I’ll file an appeal, and that result will take another ten months. The second appeal? Perhaps another half a year?"
It was a period of well over two years.
Only after hearing that explanation did Trisha realize that news of her critical health had already reached Lauren’s ears. Lauren’s aim was singular.
If I die without an adopted child, the Fellon countship will pass to Jaden, who is first in the line of succession.
For someone so foolish, she had actually used her head quite well.
Lauren looked at Trisha, who had gone silent, and let out a soft chuckle.
"Live a long life, Madam. You’ll have to see me cry after losing the lawsuit again, won't you?"
She turned and left without even a polite farewell, swaying her hips with the leisure of a peacock flaunting its tail. Trisha could only glare fiercely at her retreating figure.
Roxana, who had been sitting quietly behind Trisha throughout the meeting, spoke up cautiously once Lauren had completely disappeared.
"Wouldn't it be bad for your relationship to sour like this?"
No matter how much she disliked them, weren't they still her sister-in-law and nephew?
But Trisha shook her head. "I gave up on them a long time ago. Any lingering affection was severed today."
"Still..."
"Let them try, then. I will absolutely never designate Jaden as my heir."
Trisha struggled to her feet and walked slowly toward her bedroom. Left behind, Roxana sighed deeply, her face a mask of complex emotions.
*
Harriet received a visit from Tez a few days after she had acquired the Lowerberry land at auction.
Though flustered by the sudden and unexpected request for a meeting, she couldn't refuse; she still owed him for helping her return safely from the Angelic Party.
"It’s been a while. How have you been?"
To her polite greeting, Tez replied with his usual mischievous, charming smile.
"To be honest, it hasn't felt that long for me. I saw you just recently, Lady Harriet."
"Pardon? Me? I don't recall that."