Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: The Ball (3)
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The atmosphere changed in an instant.
It was like a completely different world over there.
Lady Martina, ball version…
Her presence was simply overwhelming.
Everyone was so captivated they couldn't look away.
I was no different.
Seriously, how could she be a middle-aged woman with a grown son?
When I saw her at the main estate, she looked like she was in her early thirties.
But now, she could easily pass for her late twenties.
Wasn't she turning forty soon?
No matter how youthful her face or how well she took care of herself, this was clearly cheating.
Not that I'm complaining, of course.
She's my mother, after all.
There's nothing wrong with my mother being beautiful, right?
Lady Martina suddenly looked this way.
Then, she gave me a gentle, smiling gaze.
*My son, you're doing well, aren't you?*
*Seeing you so composed puts this mother's heart at ease.*
It was something along those lines.
For a moment, my heart nearly skipped a beat…
“…”
I don't think it was my fault.
The problem was the middle-aged woman all dressed up at her age.
No, wait a minute…
And why was her outfit so daring?
I can't describe it in detail, but the style of her dress was quite provocative.
Her fair skin could rival that of any young woman…
She had dressed up to the nines, to the point where I wondered if Dad would freak out if he saw her.
The princess was suddenly staring at me.
Her gaze was quite sharp, as if she found something suspicious.
Th-that's not it!
It was beyond my control from the start!
I struggled to compose my chaotic thoughts.
In truth, it was only natural for Lady Martina to be here.
The Imperial Palace would have sent an invitation, or perhaps even personally escorted her.
I casually glanced around.
As expected, my father was nowhere to be seen.
Gerard was the type to loathe such gatherings.
If he had attended the ball, nobles would have flocked to him.
They would have showered him with all sorts of flattery, saying how well his son had grown, how the family's prosperity would continue, and so on.
Most would enjoy such a situation.
But my father, being so stern and proper, seemed to have abstained.
Still, he couldn't just ignore it entirely.
His son was the star of the event; it would look strange if the family was absent.
In the end, it seemed Lady Martina had come alone.
Originally, she had probably planned to stand by my side and boast, ‘Isn't my son wonderful?’
But when she noticed her future daughter-in-law in a difficult situation, she quickly stepped in to help.
Hmm, hmmm…
For some reason, I didn't think she would lose.
She was the woman who gave birth to me, after all. Would she really be helpless?
They say mothers are strong.
And blood is thicker than water.
In other words, it wouldn't be strange if she had some special quality.
Suddenly, I recalled Lady Martina's first greeting to the noblewomen.
-Oh my, what familiar faces.
They knew each other.
They were of a similar age, so that much was natural.
The problem was that the noblewomen were utterly shocked.
They had calmed down a bit now, but their faces were still pale, as if they'd seen a ghost.
According to Jace's memories…
The master and mistress of the Crodain family did not engage in official social activities.
They had attended only a couple of times out of necessity, and even then, they had only made brief appearances.
But, why…
…were they afraid of her?
“…”
I just couldn't understand.
Lady Martina's image was gentler than anyone I knew.
Sitting on a chair in a garden bathed in warm sunlight.
Petting our little cutie… no, a noble lady petting a cat.
That was the only kind of warm image that came to mind.
She was indeed kind, and thanks to her, the household was harmonious.
For now, I'd have to just watch the situation. Whatever it was, it would be revealed soon.
“M-Mother…”
Perhaps because Lady Martina's appearance was so unexpected.
Ceria looked flustered, not knowing what to do.
But that was only for a moment. Her expression brightened, as if she felt reassured by her future mother-in-law's presence.
“You are so beautiful. My eyes were right about you, after all.”
My mother said with a gentle smile.
She added that she was glad to have chosen such a fine daughter-in-law.
At the extravagant compliment, Ceria's cheeks flushed red.
“…I'm embarrassed.”
“Be confident, dear. The ones who should feel ashamed are over there.”
She slowly turned her head.
She was still smiling with her eyes.
But the noblewomen, terrified of something, avoided Martina's gaze.
Hmm, there's definitely something…
It felt exactly like ‘that’, but my mother was absolutely not that kind of person.
This was a moment when I desperately needed an exposition dump.
Just then, a random assortment of people around me fulfilled that role.
“That lady, could she be…”
“The one who once ruled high society…”
“Martina of the Black Rose!”
“Black Rose? Wasn't it Black Crystal?”
“Whatever! The important thing is that she has appeared.”
“My, my, I thought she had retired from society for good…”
“It seems she made a special exception this time. It makes sense, since this ball is for her son…”
“---??”
Ah, wait a minute…!
I can't keep up with this at all.
My mother was a villainess in her maiden days?
I was so dumbfounded I couldn't maintain my composure.
The princess was in much the same state.
She gestured with her eyes, as if asking if it was true.
I don't know either. I just found out!
Whether it's Black Rose or Black Crystal, it sounded ominous.
A stormy maidenhood.
Did she have a dark phase, then settled down after getting married?
That in itself is pretty amazing.
Completely changing oneself is next to impossible.
Ah, my head is spinning!
To think my mother was a delinquent…
No, that can't be right.
Something must be wrong.
I believe in my mom!
My faith was soon rewarded.
“It's like that situation is repeating itself. How very interesting.”
“Didn't Martina of the Black Rose used to scold those noblewomen?”
“Those were interesting times…”
“They've all aged, but she hasn't changed much. Still…”
All sorts of comments poured out.
They were consistent, so it was easy to piece together.
The noblewomen were villainesses in the past.
And a vicious group at that.
They apparently picked on and bullied pretty girls their age.
The core of the story was that Lady Martina would step in to resolve the issue every time.
With her dazzling wit, she would scold the villainesses.
While protecting the powerless girls, she became like a revered older sister…
But wait, why ‘Martina of the Black Rose’ of all things?
Shouldn't she have a brighter epithet, like ‘Martina the Noble’ or ‘Martina of the White Lily’?
“I don't know about now, but her tongue was quite sharp back then, wasn't it?”
“She was the only person who could kill with words. Those villainesses deserved it, but I did feel a little sorry for them. It seems they still haven't fixed their nasty habits, though.”
“…That makes me curious.”
“You're in luck. If things go well, you might get to see it soon…”
Hey, nameless old man, thank you!
Thanks to a certain middle-aged nobleman, the whole situation became clear.
Lady Martina was a dark hero… no, a dark heroine.
Even though her current demeanor was completely different.
I had no choice but to believe it, since everyone was saying the same thing.
A sense of justice that didn't turn away from evil and confronted it head-on.
A warm heart that cared for and protected the weak, and so on.
The thought ‘My mom is the best!’ naturally came to mind.
Being such a bold young lady, it made sense she was able to capture the heart of my father, the heir to the Crodain family.
“Jace's mother was a truly remarkable person. Of course, she's still wonderful now.”
The princess said with a bright smile.
I nodded in agreement.
I wonder what she was like back then.
She was probably a lady as charming as my companions.
Still, I like her better now.
A mother's warmth is irreplaceable.
This incident further fueled my motivation to be a filial son.
Anyway.
A rematch was set, spanning twenty years.
The noblewomen puffed out their chests, as if to claim they weren't the same as before.
The pressure was considerable, but Lady Martina, who had been their designated bully, simply smiled with composure.
*Oh my, oh my…*
*These pathetic things are trying to act tough?*
*After being scolded so much, they still haven't learned their lesson.*
*Well, too much time has passed.*
*After twenty years, it might be natural for them to have lost their fear…*
*Hmm, what should I do?*
*I want to teach them a lesson like before, but revealing my true self completely is a bit…*
She seemed to be lost in pleasant contemplation with that sort of feeling.
Was it because I'd learned about my mother's past? I could feel a darkness hidden within her gentle smile.
It unknowingly reminded me of the "slit-eyed character" trope.
Usually quiet, but at a certain moment, they open their eyes and reveal their true nature… it didn't seem too different from that.
Well, anyway…
She didn't seem to plan on going all out like before.
She was twice as old now, after all.
Lady Martina exuded the grace befitting the mistress of the Crodain family.
“It's so lovely to see you all. I can't imagine how long it's been. You've all gotten wrinkles and your skin has become so dry. It really makes one feel the weight of time.”
“---!!”
This wasn't a self-destruct move.
They had all aged the same, but my mother was in much better condition.
Her skin was firm, not at all like a middle-aged woman's.
She wasn't entirely without wrinkles, but they weren't a significant flaw.
She still felt very much in her prime.
That's why the noblewomen, who had hidden their aging with thick makeup, couldn't help but get agitated.
An area-of-effect taunt with immense destructive power.
Lady Martina didn't stop there and played her winning card.
“Have your children grown up well? My son, as you can see… has become the Hero. I should be proud, but from a mother's perspective, I can't help but worry first. Anyway, enough about me, please tell me about your…”
*My son is amazing.*
*How are your kids? Hurry up and tell me!*
She launched a merciless offensive using her son.
Wow, I think she crossed a line this time.
Compared to me, anyone would seem shabby.
She exploited her opponents' weaknesses to a point that felt cheap.
The so-called 'child-bragging battle'.
It was over as soon as it began.
Every last one of them was left speechless.
Her ability to effortlessly subdue the noblewomen was truly remarkable.
It wasn't outright verbal abuse, but in a way, it was even more potent.
Was it because she was so impressed by the sight?
Ceria's eyes were now sparkling.
She even seemed eager, as if she intended to learn from it.
No, wait… is this okay?
Becoming like my mother might be a little dangerous.
It's not an evil act since she's just scolding bad people, but… it feels strange!
Well, they're destined to be mother-in-law and daughter-in-law anyway.
They would end up living in the same house, so it was an unstoppable current.
Lady Martina subtly moved behind Ceria.
She grasped her future daughter-in-law's shoulders and spoke proudly.
“As you all know, this is the girl who will be my daughter-in-law. Her beautiful looks are one thing, but I'm relieved that she and my son get along so well. She respects and follows me well, which is just so admirable.”
“…”
*I have an amazing son, and I've found a lovely daughter-in-law.*
*But what about you all? You must be losing your minds over your children's marriages, right?*
This time, she touched upon a very sensitive subject.
She unleashed a relentless carpet bombing, as if to finish them off.
Usually, the marriage process for noble families is incredibly complicated.
Though they become in-laws, they fight fiercely to gain more for themselves.
Furthermore, it's rare for the couple themselves to be fond of each other.
Even if it's not a purely political marriage, various interests are always intertwined.
Children grumbling that they dislike their marriage partners.
Husbands nagging them to find a solution by any means necessary.
From the noblewomen's perspective, it must be enough to drive them mad.
Of course, the Crodain and Carmel families had no such conflicts.
The couple to be married had been close since childhood and loved each other.
There was nothing more to see.
It was Lady Martina's overwhelming victory.
The noblewomen huffed and puffed as if they had been slapped.
Still, knowing their place, they made a swift retreat.
It was a bit strange… but I guess this was a satisfying victory in its own way.
And so, Lady Martina left behind another legend.
The nobles who had been watching the scene clapped cautiously, as if paying their respects.
“…”
She had stolen the spotlight on a stage where her son was supposed to be the main character.
The tables had been turned, but seeing her smile like a young girl, I felt that it didn't matter at all.