Obviously, It’s My Child

“It is not ladylike behavior to visit without giving a message, to open the door without knocking, or to shout and run before you’ve been greeted.”

Claire added, glancing back at Casey.

“Besides, ripping off the clothes of a man you don’t even know, goodness. Isn’t this a vulgarity worthy of contempt, which you despise, Elder Madam?”

Louisa flinched, but she held her head up proudly. Whatever happened, this woman was just a baron in the end. From the Duchy’s point of view, it was an absurd marriage.

Besides, did she dare to point out what she did well while she was meeting another man other than Erich?

“How could you be so shameless? Even though you are engaged now, you were caught trying to have a tryst with another man!”

“Who in the world would have a tryst in a place like this?”

Claire glanced around the room.

It is true that there were two of them, but the hall was very large. It was possible to have a party, not a dinner, and it was very bright, and since it was meant to be used for official business, there was a dry atmosphere suitable for it.

“So, are you going to deny that you met a man alone?”

“Don’t make up weird things. We were just talking about business.”

“Yes, you said well. Anyway, I’m here to talk about it. Who are you to dabble in the diamond mine?”

Louisa raised her voice.

“If you were poor until now, I couldn’t help it if you tried to touch the business. Still, if you’re ready to enter the Duke’s family, you’ll have to dress modestly and prepare to learn about the family while taking bridal classes. But what’s this, you’re just entangling yourself with other men?”

“Ah.”

Claire let out a brief sound of acknowledgment. Was this all about money after all?

All of a sudden, dealing with Louisa felt silly.

Why did she have to make excuses in front of someone who was trying to lay a false accusation on her? If it were Erich, he wouldn’t even have pretended to hear such a thing.

Of course, she wasn’t such a person that could crush everyone else’s reputation with bloodline like that, but it wasn’t even an excuse.

Since she controlled all the newspapers, there would be no one to spread any scandals. Louisa did not have as much influence in society as Claire thought.

Had it not been for her identity as Erich’s stepmother, she would have sent out five sentences before Louisa could even speak.

“As expected, I’m still a long way from becoming a noble.”

Claire muttered to herself.

Louisa’s eyes narrowed and said sharply.

“Still, it seems that you are conscious that you’re vulgar.”

“If you don’t want to make Klausener’s heir an illegitimate child, would you be careful about such remarks?”

“What?!”

With Claire’s words, Louisa couldn’t refute, only screaming till her blood pressure rose.

“What can I do? This is an established fact.”

Claire spoke calmly, quietly, and affectionately.

“Erich decided to leave the diamond mine to me, so if you’re objecting, go to him.”

She didn’t usually call Erich that affectionately. She had called him Senior all the time, because his title did not change easily overnight just because she decided to marry him.

But she could have said with a more saccharine tone, if only to make Louisa’s veins pop.

“I don’t know if he will listen. He has a lot of confidence in my business sense. You know, Mother.”

“W-Who are you calling Mother?!”

“Oh, did I make a mistake? I thought even if the last name changed it wouldn’t sever the ties of a mother and son.”

Claire put her hand to her lips and said in a very embarrassed tone.

Louisa’s eyes widened. The blood drained slowly from her flushed face.

“Y-You… What are you talking about?”

“Of course, I’m talking about the son of the Krozik family. It is unlikely that a lady among ladies like Mother is meeting a man who is not even her husband.”

Claire said kindly.

“I am completely in favor of your remarriage, Mother. If Erich objects, I will do my best to convince him.”

Louisa’s hands, which were shaking as if they were going to hit Claire, lost their strength. Her maid quickly supported her as she stumbled.

“She doesn’t seem to be feeling well. Take her to a lounge room.”

Claire spoke in a soft voice, but it was clearly an order.

“You, you, dare…!”

Louisa stumbled and was still raging in fits of rage, but her maids, terrified, did not let her go. They felt intimidated by Claire.

After Louisa was taken away, Claire turned to the manager.

“Do not let anyone in without contacting me in advance. This is the third time that I find myself in a flustering situation.”

“I apologize, Baron.”

The manager broke into a cold sweat as he bowed.

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.

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09. Cornflower Key¹

Five boxes were placed in front of Erich.

“These are the best ones left.”

The agent in charge of the diamond mine bowed his head politely.

“Most of the good colored ones were taken or sold by the Elder Madam. These are also of very good quality. However, the colorless ones are cheap, so I’m afraid that they don’t suit the dignity of Your Grace’s family.”

“She said she likes it.”

Diamonds were not rare gems. The yield was abundant, and the loss rate during processing was low.

After the second mine was discovered in Duchy Klausener, the value of diamonds continued to decline.

Pink or blue diamonds, very beautiful and brightly colored, were still the best gemstones, but colorless diamonds were much cheaper than rubies and emeralds.

That was the case in Erich’s perspective. When he opened the lid, the clear and transparent diamonds, as if soaked in water, diffused the light, but he also felt that it was lacking.

“What a lady wants is the most important thing. She is also the type of person who doesn’t wear jewelry often.”

“I see. If so, she’ll love it. A perfect diamond without any inclusions. The color is also the whitest since I took over management.”

The agent said that the quality was so good that it was a waste to export it easily, so he kept it aside.

“Make this one into a ring. The design sketch is already done, so send someone to Baron Delford to retrieve it.”

“Understood, sir.”

—

¹ This arc’s title can be interpreted many ways as one particular word has many meanings, that being: cornflower, bluebottle, bachelor’s buttons, blue bonnets, brooms and brushes, corn-blinks, ladder love, logger-heads, miller’s delight, pin-cushion, witch bells, witch’s thimble and blavers.