I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 135
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 135
* * *
Ding-
The door opened.
The noble ladies who had just entered the coffee house looked at the poster on the wall with somewhat uncomfortable expressions.
A woman with pink hair was wearing men’s trousers and a suit, a fedora hat, and sitting confidently on a meeting room sofa with her legs crossed.
In her hand, she held a glass bottle containing Quiloa, a spice brought from the recent New Continent expedition.
Behind her, a completely chaotic household could be seen.
A man who had been cleaning with a broom for quite some time was looking at the woman with a dejected expression.
And there was even the phrase written below the poster: 【Who will protect the home?】
“What on earth is that painting?”
“Ah, it’s a work by Marquis Bartsen.”
The coffee house clerk answered sweetly to the noble lady’s question.
“He asked if we would display it in our shop, so we gave him permission.”
Of course, from the shop owner’s perspective, it was an offer they couldn’t refuse.
Not only was it a request from a nobleman of incredibly high status, but he was even paying for the exhibition costs.
It would naturally be difficult to decline.
But from the viewers’ perspective, it was still rather…
“…”
“…”
The women glanced at each other with uncomfortable expressions.
The clerk, who keenly noticed that the customers were feeling uncomfortable, hurried over.
“I’ll guide you to your seats.”
“Ah, yes.”
The noble ladies took their seats.
After waiting for the clerk who took their order to leave, one of the noble ladies suddenly spoke up.
“That poster was plastered all over the streets too, wasn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“I suppose the woman in that painting… must be Marquis Lucerno?”
The intention was actually quite blatant.
It was targeting Elodie’s recognition for her contributions to the New Continent expedition and her acquisition of a title.
And it was also targeting her expression of intent to participate in this Noble Council meeting.
“I noticed those posters are mainly posted on Ganella Street.”
One noble lady spoke with displeasure.
Ganella Street was where women’s shops were mainly concentrated.
It was a street lined with coffee houses, dress shops, and accessory stores that women frequently used.
There was even the Bella Dress Shop where Elodie served as co-representative.
The reason they deliberately put those posters only in such places is actually obvious.
They hung them there with the intention of criticizing Elodie, and furthermore, women nobles stepping forward into society.
“Moreover, I heard those posters aren’t just on the streets.”
“Marquis Bartsen is holding an exhibition these days, right? I heard the same painting was added to that exhibition too.”
“My goodness, that’s a bit….”
The noble ladies clearly showed displeased expressions.
After all, isn’t Elodie the head of the Lucerno Marquis family?
Then she rightfully has the qualifications to attend the Noble Council, so why are they so desperate to devour her?
And even going so far as to draw such insulting posters?
It makes it feel as if women attending the Noble Council is some great wrongdoing.
“That’s not all. I heard several nobles recently had audiences with His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Oh my, why?”
“Well, they requested that Marquis Lucerno’s attendance at the Noble Council be reconsidered. Of course, His Highness the Crown Prince refused, but….”
At those words, the noble ladies’ faces became even more frigid.
Just then.
“Come to think of it, Count Robert has met Marquis Lucerno before, hasn’t he?”
The women’s gazes focused on one noble lady.
The divorce lawsuit of the Laventess Ducal House that had shaken the Empire.
Count Robert, who had served as a juror in that lawsuit, glanced up briefly.
“What kind of person was the Marquis?”
At that question, the Count’s face became thoughtful for a moment.
“Well, I was a juror and she appeared as a witness. It’s not like I know her well enough to have any personal relationship. However….”
The Count, who had trailed off for a moment, continued resolutely.
“I think she’s someone who doesn’t overlook wrongdoings within the family and knows how to speak up when something is wrong.”
At that answer, the noble ladies exchanged glances with each other.
Count Robert was usually someone who was careful with words about such sensitive matters.
If such a person would go so far as to say that….
“I think I’ll attend the Noble Council myself after a long time.”
The Count concluded coolly.
* * *
Bang!
The door burst open violently.
Isabel rushed into the room with a shocked expression.
“Did you see it, Elodie?!”
She showed me the poster she was clutching in her hand.
“This poster…!”
“Yes, I saw it.”
I nodded calmly.
Isabel looked at me with uncertainty.
“Is it really okay?”
“Of course.”
The posters that had recently been distributed mainly on Ganella Street, where women frequently visited.
Anyone could see it was content targeting me specifically.
Marquis Bartsen had even shamelessly conducted an interview.
‘I received new inspiration this time. It’s a very meaningful work to me, so I found myself hoping more people could see it.’
‘So I tried to place it in as many locations as possible so that even those who can’t come to the exhibition can appreciate it.’
…Right, so this is how he’s going to play it?
I clenched my fists tightly.
“Don’t worry. I will definitely attend the Noble Council meeting.”
I smiled defiantly.
I had no intention of losing to such petty slander.
Isabel, who had been quietly watching me, suddenly removed the ring from her finger.
Then she pressed that ring into my hand.
“Take this, Elodie.”
A thin ring made of Silver.
And in the center, an emerald that resembled the color of Isabel’s eyes.
Yes, it was the ring I had found for her at the Settler Auction House before.
A relic of the late former Countess Delaney.
“Why are you giving me this…”
“When Elodie first gave me this ring, I received such great comfort from it.”
Isabel smiled with her eyes.
“I think Elodie needs that comfort right now.”
“…Isabel.”
“Sometimes there will be times when we have to be apart. Even so.”
Isabel held my hand tightly as she finished speaking calmly.
“My heart is always with Elodie.”
Her smile deepened a little more.
“So stay strong.”
“…”
My eyes trembled slightly.
Somehow my throat felt tight, so I silently nodded.
“Thank you.”
* * *
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I think you should see this.”
Joshua looked down at the poster on the table with a rigidly hardened face.
Richard across from him cautiously continued speaking.
“It’s a work by Marquis Bartsen.”
At that moment.
A fierce mutter flowed out from between Joshua’s clenched teeth.
“Damn it, what the hell is this….”
Richard looked at Joshua with wide eyes.
And for good reason, as this was the first time Joshua had displayed such intense emotional expression.
At the same time, Joshua shot up from his seat.
“Where are you going?!”
A startled Richard grabbed hold of Joshua.
“Where else, I need to see my uncle right now!”
Joshua, unable to contain his anger, raised his voice sharply.
Richard slightly furrowed his brow.
“Please calm down, Your Highness.”
The hand holding Joshua tightened with force.
“Getting this agitated won’t help Marquis Lucerno in the slightest.”
“….”
Marquis Lucerno.
When that name came up, Joshua calmed down slightly.
Richard inwardly let out a sigh of relief.
“Perhaps Marquis Bartsen is hoping for exactly this kind of reaction from Your Highness.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Suppose Crown Prince Your Highness went to see the Marquis. How do you think the Marquis would respond?”
Richard looked straight into Joshua’s eyes.
“Wouldn’t he claim that Your Highness pressured him to forcibly withdraw the exhibition?”
At those words, Joshua clenched his fists tightly.
It was a valid point.
Confirming that Joshua’s momentum had softened, Richard continued speaking gently.
“Rather than that, please go to Marquis Lucerno’s side first. Before dealing with this matter, shouldn’t we first hear the opinion of the person directly involved?”
“….”
“She must be having a difficult time.”
Hearing those words, Joshua took a deep breath.
After a moment.
He nodded slightly.
“…Yes, thank you.”
The violet eyes that had been clouded with anger were now quietly settled again.
Joshua turned around just like that.
He needed to go see Elodie right away.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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