Obviously, It’s My Child

So far, Claire’s every move had attracted attention, from the clothes she wore and even down to her nails. Everything about her was written about in the articles.

It would get worse once she started preparing for the wedding, but despite that, she was now demanding that she remain on the front page.

She didn’t even give instructions, but there’s no way not to know this was what she meant. 

It’s an opportunity to get everyone’s attention non-stop and be featured in the papers, even while completely hiding her original purpose.

It was no different from incomparable advertising. As the owner of the Weaving Guild, she couldn’t possibly miss such an opportunity.

“Everyone will be curious about the wedding dress, veil, and shoes that the Baron will wear, the wedding dress, the Duchess’s formal dress, and the bedding, rug, and curtains that will be changed for the newlyweds.”

“Of course there are some benefits. But the patterned textile market is already dominated by the Weaving Guild.”

As Claire had done several times today, she touched her earring.

“Do you really think the dress and beddings are such a big deal that I use my one-off wedding as a billboard for them?”

“But as far as I know, Baron did not wear jewelry well. Not just today’s outfit, but those earrings…”

As he spoke, Casey had an epiphany.

The moment he could prove himself was now. He couldn’t organize it by leaving notes as he spoke hastily before the idea that popped into his mind disappeared.

“As commerce and industry develop and the number of earners increase, the demand for luxury goods increases as well. The Weaving Guild has expanded the market itself by absorbing the demand by increasing the quantity of patterned textiles and lowering the price through technology.”

“Then?”

“Isn’t it the same with diamonds? This wedding will be an opportunity to attract people who are interested in jewelry but have not been able to purchase them yet.”

House Klausener owned two of the largest diamond mines in the empire. And it was clear that there was something that could boost supply, whether it was mining technology or processing technology.

Then supply will infinitely satisfy demand. A huge new market will be created, just like what the Weaving Guild did.

Claire smiled at Casey’s words.

“The direction is the opposite, but the big idea is not wrong. That’s right. I intend to attract new consumers with a type of product that has not been available before.”

Casey’s face brightened.

“Nice to meet you, Casey. Competent people are always welcome.”

Claire smiled and held out her hand. She intended to shake hands.

However, Casey respectfully bowed his back, carefully holding Claire’s hand with both hands, and pressed his lips to the back of her hand.

* * *

It was not long before Louisa, the Elder Madam of the Klausener Duchy, had arrived at the Innenhof Hotel.

When the carriage bearing the Duchy’s coat of arms stopped, the manager laughed at first and was shocked the next. He thought Erich had come, but then Louisa got off.

He quickly gestured to the staff. One tactful employee who quickly disappeared inside. It was to give Claire some time to prepare.

“Welcome, Elder Madam. What brings you here today…”

“Where is she? Where is that vixen?”

“Pardon?”

The manager was at a loss for a moment at the remark that was too vulgar for a noblewoman to have uttered. Annoyed even by that, Louisa pushed him away and entered the hotel.

The manager hurriedly followed her.

“I heard she called all the owners of newspapers and gathered them together.”

Louisa spoke sharply. What the hell was this ploy now? Why did she gather those people together, and what was she trying to say?

No, Louisa could tolerate that. She heard that Erich had the newspapers swept up, but well, yes, if she was going up and down in a few-pennies newspaper and was so cheaply entertained, she didn’t deserve to be a baron, let alone a duchess.

But there were also things Louisa couldn’t stand.

‘Giving her a diamond mine? Does that even make sense?!’

Louisa clenched her hand that was wearing the green diamond ring into a fist.

The diamond mine was hers. This does not mean, of course, that she took ownership of the mine’s own business or interfered with the mining business.

But the best diamonds from that mine had always been hers.

How dare that woman steal it?

‘How dare she steal what’s mine?’

In the meantime, Louisa had endured in her own way. She had been trying to get rid of that encounter with the vixen—when she had given her money. She had conveniently pushed that back to one side of her memory, and since then, she had graciously accepted that woman, thinking that if she had children with Erich, then there’s no helping it.

But that woman, far from being grateful and trying to reciprocate, was now coveting a jewel mine even before she had gotten married! It’s true that she must have her own way of managing her household and businesses, but she had no right affecting Erich with that!

“Is she here?”

In front of the hall, Louisa took a deep breath. She then slammed the door open with her own hands.

And what she saw was not the scene she was thinking about. She had been told that the woman had called in the editor-in-chiefs of the newspaper, but Claire was now alone with a handsome young man!

“You crazy bitch! How dare you bring a man in?”

Louisa shouted and rushed at Claire.

The maids who had followed Louisa running into the room did not dare to catch her. The manager, too, on reflex, tried to grab her but he soon withdrew his hand because he couldn’t touch the Elder Madam’s body carelessly.

It was Casey who stood in front of Claire.

Louisa was daring, but her physical skills were not exceptional. Instead of grabbing Claire’s hair, she ended up grabbing Casey’s collar.

Riiip.

The weak shirt collar ripped. Louisa backed away in surprise as the tie came undone, exposing below his collarbone.

“Excuse me, Elder Madam.”

Casey took a couple of steps back, covering Claire with his body.

“Get out of the way, Casey.”

Claire sighed and forced him to step aside. Casey put on a concerned face, but he didn’t disobey her words.

Claire stepped forward and spoke coldly to Louisa.

“You are being rude.”

“Rude? Look at the way this woman’s talking!”