I’ll Become the Heroine’s Capable Divorce Partner - Chapter 3
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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 3
‘Yes, this is what it feels like to have your insides twisted.’
I wickedly smiled inwardly and continued speaking loud enough for her to hear.
“Of course, brother is the one and only head of the Laventess family. I’m just saying this because there might be unnecessary misunderstandings from outside the family.”
Meanwhile, Marisa frantically tried to salvage the situation.
“But I’m your mother. Isabel still doesn’t know much about managing the family affairs…”
In the worst patriarchal family, the Laventess Ducal House, there’s an invincible phrase that pierces through all defenses.
That is ‘the authority of the family head.’
“Even so. If you’re a member of the family, you should respect the authority of the family head above all else.”
I gladly used that phrase to shut Marisa’s mouth.
Marisa couldn’t hide her dumbfounded expression, but she couldn’t dare speak carelessly.
It would be troublesome if she incurred brother’s wrath.
I leisurely asked Marisa, who had clamped her mouth shut like a clam.
“Also, if sister-in-law doesn’t know much about these matters, shouldn’t we let her gain more experience?”
“But…!”
Marisa, who belatedly came to her senses, tried to protest, but my words were slightly faster.
“Mother can’t oversee all the family’s major and minor affairs forever.”
I continued with my eyes wide and bright.
“Right now, you might think mother is caring for us out of love, but if things continue like this… it might look like brother is being controlled by mother.”
As I finished speaking, I subtly observed brother’s expression.
Brother’s face was frozen cold as ice.
‘Well, it seems like I’ve gotten through this appropriately.’
I silently laughed inwardly and subtly boosted my thoroughly displeased brother’s pride.
“Of course, brother is so busy that it would have been difficult for you to pay attention to such trivial matters one by one.”
Then I casually threw out a question.
“So what do you think, brother?”
Instantly, both Marisa’s and Isabel’s gazes focused entirely on brother.
Marisa’s reaction was obvious.
The way Marisa looked at brother was so desperate, I thought holes would appear in brother’s annoying face.
That expression expecting him to naturally take her side.
‘Ugh, I really hate it.’
I inwardly grimaced and looked back at Isabel.
At the same time, my eyes widened slightly.
Because Isabel, who always had empty eyes…
Was now making her eyes sparkle brightly.
‘My goodness, Isabel is making such an expectant expression.’
I felt somewhat moved.
How should I put it.
It had been so long since I’d seen Isabel show such an enthusiastic side.
A moment later.
Brother heavily opened his mouth.
“Elodie’s words have merit, mother.”
“What?”
A subtle crack appeared on Marisa’s face.
At the same time, brother, who had roughly finished his meal, stood up from his seat.
“Let’s have Isabel host this garden party.”
With those words, brother tried to leave the dining room.
Marisa unconsciously hurriedly grabbed brother.
“B-but.”
At the same time, brother turned around with a serious expression.
“Surely you’re not trying to contradict my words now?”
Meeting those cold eyes, Marisa flinched and stiffened her shoulders.
Her lips twitched as if she might try to cling somehow, but only briefly.
Eventually, Marisa bowed her head and stepped back.
“…No.”
“Good.”
Brother nodded and walked out of the dining room.
Marisa, who had been staring blankly at his retreating figure, whipped around to look at me.
Her eyes glaring at me were quite fierce.
‘What, why, what?’
Like a pure-minded minor villain, I put on a completely shameless face.
I faced Marisa with an expression that said, ‘Hm? What’s so unpleasant? Did I say something wrong?’
Then Marisa bit her lower lip with a resentful expression, then avoided my gaze.
I briefly sneered inwardly.
‘My goodness, isn’t this too much of a bully-the-weak-bow-to-the-strong attitude?’
Well, she had no choice.
In fact, Marisa wasn’t in a position to treat me carelessly.
Although she acted proud as the Former Duke’s second wife and duchess.
Actually, Marisa’s position in the ducal house was quite precarious.
Since she had no children with the Former Duke, my father, Marisa’s ties to the Laventess Ducal House were practically nonexistent.
At least until now, she had been desperately trying to please brother to maintain her treatment as duchess…
‘On the other hand, I’m one of only two direct descendants of Laventess.’
Especially the duke’s daughter that brother is cherishing and caring for to sell at the highest price in the marriage market.
At least for now, I’m in a superior position to Marisa.
Of course, even so, I’m still in a position to be sacrificed for that damned brother…
‘Still, I should give her a warning at least once, right?’
If I just brush this off and let it slide, she’ll probably take out her anger on Isabel tremendously.
With that judgment, I sweetly addressed Marisa.
“You’re not upset, are you, mother?”
At that question, Marisa’s face crumpled.
I giggled inwardly.
‘She must be really angry.’
In a situation where she’s already furious to the top of her head, I asked ‘Are you angry?’
She must be burning up inside beyond just being heated with anger, right?
“I just mentioned it once because I was worried about how our family might appear to outsiders.”
“Elodie.”
“So please support this garden party too, mother. Okay?”
I smiled brightly, pretending to know nothing.
Please support this garden party.
Someone who had reigned as duchess for several years couldn’t possibly not understand the hidden meaning of those words.
It meant don’t interfere with Isabel.
Marisa, who had been grinding her teeth, left without even answering.
Eventually, only Isabel and I remained in the dining room.
‘Wow, this is a bit awkward.’
I stealthily observed Isabel’s mood and casually spoke up.
“Um, sister-in-law.”
“…….”
Isabel turned toward me with eyes full of wariness.
‘Ah, our eyes met.’
I gave her a bright eye-smile.
“I’m looking forward to the garden party, okay?”
Then Isabel stared at me with an unreadable expression for a moment.
She bowed her head slightly in greeting and then swiftly slipped out of the dining room.
‘Hmph.’
I felt a little dejected.
It seemed like I would need to put in some effort to close the distance with my new sister-in-law.
No, actually quite a lot of effort…….
* * *
That evening.
Marisa fell into troubled contemplation with a disturbed expression.
“Why is that little bitch Elodie suddenly acting like this?”
Until now, it had been Marisa who hosted all sorts of parties, and Elodie had seemed to have no particular complaints about that arrangement.
She couldn’t understand why Elodie was suddenly interfering now.
‘But I can’t let my relationship with Elodie deteriorate.’
Elodie was undeniably a direct member of the ducal family.
If she fell out of favor with Elodie and consequently earned the displeasure of David, the current duke, it would be disastrous.
She could even lose her current position as the duchess.
Especially given that her maternal family was completely dependent on Marisa in the current situation.
“Really, if only I had just one son…….”
Her teeth grinding was brief.
Marisa’s eyes gleamed sharply.
‘Still, I can’t just take this lying down.’
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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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