Chapter 144
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 144
Harriet had expected Lauren to humble herself quickly. Instead, the woman raised her voice, acting as if she had suddenly gained a powerful ally.
"I apologize for causing a disturbance at such a joyous occasion for the Ducal House. But if I didn't corner her like this, how else would I ever lay eyes on this wench?"
It was a blatant lie. Lauren hadn't even attempted to visit the Fellon estate to confront them. Then again, even if she had stormed the gates, they wouldn't have opened the door for her, so the outcome would have been the same.
Regardless, Lauren knew Roxana would be present today. It was clear she had come fully prepared to play the victim in front of the entire social circle.
"I want to ask all of you! When there is a perfectly legitimate blood relative available, is it right to adopt an outsider and name them the heir?"
Even at the risk of incurring the Ducal House’s displeasure, Lauren poured every ounce of her spite into denouncing Roxana and Trisha, the woman who had adopted her.
"This is an act that will ruin a family! My poor deceased brother, Oster... how he must be turning in his grave!"
Lauren pulled out a lace handkerchief and began dabbing at her eyes.
"It is not a good look to air your family’s private grievances in a setting like this, Baroness Marshall," Jeremia warned, her voice cold.
But Lauren wasn't alone. she had brought along a retinue of friends and relatives from her husband’s side to bolster her claims.
"The Baroness’s situation is truly pitiful, Grand Duchess. Since they refuse to meet her even when she visits, she had no choice but to speak out here."
"That’s right. They’ve locked the doors of the Count’s mansion. Who knows how they’re treating Countess Fellon inside?"
"Her letters can’t be trusted, either. Who’s to say they weren't written under duress, or while she was drugged? They might have been forged entirely!"
"Grand Duchess, please, pass judgment. With a niece clearly present, does it make sense to adopt a stranger to inherit the title? It isn't something a wise woman like Countess Fellon would ever do."
As Lauren’s acquaintances rushed to her defense, a murmur rippled through the surrounding guests. Everyone had likely harbored the same question when they first heard Roxana had been named the successor: Wasn't there a niece?
Lauren pretended to wipe away a tear, then raised her voice again.
"Roxana Valbenus was born to a drug-addicted father and a commoner woman of unknown origin! Her mother ran away, and her father died in an accidental fall. She was no better than a street beggar, yet my kind-hearted brother took her in!"
Then, with eyes full of venom, she glared at Roxana and spat a threat.
"To show such ingratitude! To entice an old woman weakened by illness into such an absurd adoption! Does this make any sense to anyone?!"
Even as Lauren exposed her background, Roxana didn't offer a single word of excuse. The expressions of the onlookers began to shift.
"Is she really from the slums?"
"My goodness. If that’s true, it seems Countess Fellon has made a grave error in judgment."
Hearing the whispers, Lauren pointed a defiant finger at Roxana.
"If you have any shame left, annul the adoption and return to the gutter where you belong! Otherwise, I will formally present this matter to His Majesty the Emperor himself."
At the declaration that she would appeal to the Emperor, the room fell silent. Based on what they had heard, Lauren seemed to have a strong case, and no one wanted to be associated with someone who didn't possess a single drop of noble blood.
But then, a clear, resonant voice rang out.
"You are laboring under a grand delusion."
Lauren’s gaze snapped toward Harriet, who was smiling brightly beside Roxana.
"Harriet Listerwell! This is no place for you to dare interfere!"
"On the contrary, I am here today to protect Aunt Roxana. And for your information, that order came directly from Great-aunt Trisha."
Harriet stepped forward slowly. Roxana gave her sleeve a light, cautionary tug, but Harriet simply smiled and gently shook her hand off.
"As I was listening, I realized there is something you’ve misunderstood, Madam. I’d like to correct the record for you."
"What could you possibly know about the Fellon family?!"
"Aunt Roxana is a distant collateral relative of Grandfather Oster. She is connected by blood, however distantly. You, on the other hand, Madam Marshall, have no blood connection to the Fellon family whatsoever."
Lauren scoffed. "Do you even know where you are, spouting such ridiculous lies?"
"When Grandmother adopted Aunt Roxana, she submitted all the relevant documentation to the Imperial Aristocracy Bureau. That included a medical diagnosis stating that Rugero Fellon was sterile after the age of thirty, and a notarized document stating that while you could be registered into the Fellon family, you were strictly barred from successor status..."
"Shut up!" Lauren shrieked, her face turning deathly pale.
Seeing that reaction, Harriet realized the woman had known the truth all along.
"It seems you knew... and yet you still coveted the position of successor?"
"Nonsense! If you continue to slander me like this, I won't let you get away with it! I’ll sue you!"
"Go ahead," Harriet nodded calmly. "A lawsuit will be filed against the House of Marshall soon anyway. Grandmother Trisha and Aunt Roxana may seem refined, but in truth, they are very angry. As for why they are angry... I believe you know best, Madam Marshall."
Harriet took another step toward her, suppressing the explosive rage that had simmered since the day Trisha failed to wake up. Perhaps sensing that lethal momentum, Lauren involuntarily recoiled. Harriet strode forward until she was inches from the woman’s face.
"Even if you had the right of succession, Madam, anyone who attempts to murder the Head of the House has that right revoked. You know that, don't you?"
Harriet whispered the words so only Lauren could hear. The Baroness’s eyes went wide, darting around in terror as if checking if anyone else had caught the accusation. Then, her pride stung by the realization that she was cowering before Harriet, she shoved the girl away.
"You... you lewd liar!"
"The only liar here is you, Madam. Shall I expose everything right here, right now?"
"Nonsense! I’ll never let this go! Just you wait!"
That was Lauren’s last desperate outburst. She threw a clipped word of apology to Jeremia for the disturbance, then fled the venue as if the building were on fire. The retinue she had brought with her had no choice but to follow in her wake.
It was like a sudden gust of wind in midsummer—abrupt and startling, but vanishing as quickly as it had arrived, leaving nothing behind.
"Is that all she came for? Making such a fuss without a real plan." Harriet let out a small laugh and clicked her tongue. She had expected more of a fight; the ending felt almost anticlimactic.
Jeremia, who had every right to be displeased as the host, merely sighed and shook her head.
"Is this the latest trend at parties? I’ve been away so long, I fear I’ve lost my touch."
When the Grand Duchess shrugged, the tension broke, and the guests chuckled lightly. However, many glanced toward the exit Lauren had used, clicking their tongues at how she had dug her own grave. Jeremia might be defusing the situation with a joke, but she was a member of the Imperial Family. The offense of disrupting a royal party was not something to be taken lightly.
"She certainly showed her provincial roots."
"They say she coveted the Fellon succession so much. From what we just heard, it seems she was the one who was merely 'registered'..."
"I don't understand. Why did the Fellon family even take her in to begin with?"
Suspicions and sneers filled the air. Roxana, who hadn't uttered a word since Lauren appeared, finally spoke, gently chiding Harriet.
"Countess Fellon probably didn't mean for you to help in this manner."
But Harriet had no regrets. "Aunt, I learned something while being branded a 'Scandal Maker.' In this world, there are attacks you can ignore, and attacks you absolutely cannot."
"What do you mean by that...?"
"If you stay silent against such false accusations, people will believe them to be true. Of course, there are times when it’s awkward to explain yourself. That’s when you need a 'friend' like me."
Harriet had never had such a friend. Throughout her childhood, she had been forced to play the roles of a liar, a gloomy child, an ugly girl jealous of Bella, and a wanton woman. That was why she hadn't hesitated for a second to step forward for Roxana.
Roxana looked at her, a bit worried by Harriet’s impetuous nature. "Since when did 'friend' become synonymous with 'brawler'? Especially for a noble lady who should uphold her dignity."
"If I can't fight on behalf of someone precious to me, then I’m neither a noble nor a friend. Let them point fingers and call me a brawler. I don't give a damn what they think."
Roxana, stunned by Harriet’s unwavering declaration, stared blankly for a moment before letting out a soft laugh.
"Thank you, Lady Harriet."
"Just call me Harriet. We’re aunt and niece; why the formalities?" Harriet grinned.
Roxana felt a strange sense of reassurance. A niece... for someone who had never known the warmth of family, the feeling was truly wonderful.
*
Just before Lauren had caused her commotion, Cedric had been forced to receive an unwelcome guest.
"Cedric! How have you been?"
"Welcome, Uncle."
It was Benedict, who had been making himself scarce lately.
"Where is Albert?" Cedric asked.
"The boy has been busy lately and couldn't make it. Please understand."
"Of course. I’ve known he’s been busy for quite some time."
Playing the CEO of a reputable pharmaceutical company by day while peddling narcotics in back alleys and on ships by night... it was no wonder he was busy.
Cedric recalled the intelligence the members of Cloud had gathered on Albert and flashed a cold smile. Benedict, failing to grasp the edge behind that smile, laughed along before lowering his voice and glancing around.
"Listen, I have something urgent to discuss... Could we move somewhere more private?"
"Is it something no one else should hear?"
"Yes. It’s important."
Curious to see what cards the man was holding, Cedric decided to play along.