I’ll Become the Heroine’s Capable Divorce Partner - Chapter 46

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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 46

A light voice tinged with laughter.

There was no trace of the stress that a legitimate wife should naturally feel when facing her husband’s mistress.

“I suppose you want to meet Duke so badly that you’d resort to this?”

According to what I’d heard from Judy recently.

Ever since placing that advertisement in the daily paper, David hadn’t visited Catherine’s house even once.

So Catherine was apparently quite anxious about it.

She had even clung to Marisa, crying her eyes out about what would happen if things didn’t work out with Duke.

“It does look rather pathetic.”

“Shh, Miss. They’ll hear you.”

Isabel and I lowered our voices and giggled together.

Then Marisa asked us in a displeased voice.

“What’s so amusing to you two?”

My insides twisted.

How dare she scold us for laughing a little, when she had the audacity to invite a mistress to the Duke’s residence while the Duchess was wide awake and present?

“It’s just a bit funny.”

“Funny? What is?”

“The Duchess of Laventess is here, and so is the Duke’s daughter.”

I asked back without batting an eye.

“Yet you’re asking the daughter of Viscount Scofield, who isn’t even a member of the Duke’s family, to show us around?”

“…….”

“…….”

A cold silence descended.

Marisa was at a loss for words.

Catherine and the other ladies could only read the atmosphere, not daring to speak carelessly.

“Well, I’ve always known that Mother cherishes her niece more than me.”

I narrowed my eyes with a gentle smile as I drove the point home.

“It’s rather hurtful.”

“E-Elodie? That’s…….”

Just as Marisa was about to make some excuse.

Isabel intervened at just the right moment.

“That’s enough, Miss.”

“Sister-in-law.”

“Today is Mother’s birthday, isn’t it? Mother surely didn’t mean it deliberately.”

Isabel added those words while pretending to stop me.

My eyes sparkled for a moment.

‘Oh, Isabel is quite…….’

That was perfect high society language.

She didn’t mean it deliberately.

In other words, it was a fact that Marisa had acted inappropriately.

My smile deepened a bit more.

“You’re right. Since it’s such a good day, I won’t say anything more.”

I obediently backed down without pressing further.

It meant I was respecting Isabel’s words.

Also, how my current behavior would look was obvious.

Openly rebelling against Marisa while following Isabel’s words…….

“…….”

Perhaps noticing this, Marisa glared at me with fierce eyes.

The elderly noble ladies couldn’t hide their surprised expressions either.

Only the young ladies led by Catherine looked bewildered.

Just then, the appetizers signaling the start of the course began to be served.

Isabel smoothly continued the conversation.

“Mother. This salmon dish, isn’t this one of your favorite foods?”

“Oh, ah. Yes.”

Marisa, who had quickly come to her senses, hurriedly composed her expression.

Normally she would have scolded Isabel for at least a word or two.

The fact that she couldn’t seemed to indicate that my blow had hurt quite a bit.

Marisa forced a smile and continued nonchalantly.

“Everyone, please eat.”

As if thawing from a frozen state, the surroundings began to grow lively again.

However, Marisa’s lips remained slightly stiff.

Admiring that resentful expression, I put the prettily rolled salmon into my mouth.

The rich salmon melted gently on my tongue.

‘Mm, delicious.’

* * *

After finishing the meal like that.

The atmosphere naturally turned to bringing out the gifts each person had prepared.

A marten fur scarf, fine wine, perfume, health supplements made from precious medicinal herbs, and so on.

All sorts of precious gifts lined up.

Actually, how impressive could gifts prepared by young ladies be?

Therefore, these gifts were closer to family-level presents meant to legitimately curry favor with the Grand Duchess of Laventess.

“Oh my, this marten scarf is really soft.”

“This wine…… I should treasure it and open it on a special day.”

“Such precious medicinal herbs. Thanks to this, I’ll live 10 more years, won’t I?”

Marisa looked quite pleased.

Just then.

Catherine spoke to Marisa in an affectionate voice.

“Aunt, I prepared a gift too.”

“Yes, let’s see what our niece has prepared.”

Marisa accepted the gift box with a satisfied face.

And so the gift revealed under the light was…….

‘The gift is really…… so very Catherine.’

The gift Catherine confidently presented was a brooch set with large jewels.

Objectively, it was expensive enough to bring to such an occasion.

However, the design looked far too young for a middle-aged noblewoman to wear.

It would look much better on Catherine herself than on Marisa.

‘Marisa probably isn’t very satisfied with it either, right?’

Judging by how Marisa’s eyes, which had been cheerful all along, twitched slightly.

But well.

“Thank you so much, Catherine.”

Marisa soon smiled brightly.

“Such a thoughtful gift. Our niece must have put a lot of effort into choosing this present.”

“Such a thoughtful gift. Our nephew must have put a lot of effort into choosing this present.”

I can’t bring myself to call it pretty.

Then Catherine’s eyes sparkled brightly.

“That’s right, I spent almost a month deliberating to choose this gift!”

She spent a month deliberating over that thing?

Catherine really has… no sense at all……

Marisa struggled to hide her reluctant expression.

“I, is that so?”

“Yes! Would you like to try it on?”

……Does she have no sense of reading the room at all?

Well, she’s naive enough to accept being a mistress, so I suppose that makes sense.

Unable to resist Catherine’s insistence, Marisa ended up wearing the large jeweled brooch on her chest.

‘Wow, it really sparkles.’

I was inwardly amazed.

Every time Marisa moved, the jewel reflected light so intensely it was almost blinding.

Judging by how the elderly noble ladies and even Catherine’s friends were all rolling their eyes at each other.

It seems they’re all thinking something similar to what I am.

That the Duchess’s dignity has vanished, making her look like an immature person acting foolishly for her age.

“You look absolutely beautiful, Aunt!”

Only Catherine was living in her own happy world……

‘Speaking of which, how did Catherine manage to buy such an expensive brooch as a gift?’

Does David provide her with that much support?

Just as I was falling into brief contemplation.

“Um, Mother. I’ve also prepared a gift.”

Isabel stood up.

Everyone’s attention turned entirely to Isabel.

Though their gazes weren’t particularly favorable.

Rather, it was closer to watching intently, ready to find fault somehow.

“Bring it here.”

At Isabel’s call, a maid who had been waiting in the banquet hall quickly ran outside.

Shortly after.

The returning maid carried something about the size of a forearm, wrapped in silk cloth.

“Here it is, Madam.”

The maid who placed the gift before Marisa respectfully stepped back.

Marisa looked down at the gift with a displeased expression, then reached out her hand.

She untied the colored thread decoration that bound the cloth.

And what emerged from within was……

“……Porcelain?”

It was a snow-white porcelain vase.

Its characteristic smooth curves gave it an elegant feel.

And on top of that, flowing script inscribed in blue dye……

For reference, the script’s content wished for the owner’s peace and good fortune.

‘That’s right, it’s a porcelain vase imported all the way from the East.’

I looked at the vase with proud eyes.

I can say with certainty that among all the gifts Marisa received today, that one has the highest value.

I went through quite a bit of trouble to obtain it too.

Why did I go to such lengths?

Only with a gift of that caliber would Marisa not say much even if I claimed Isabel and I prepared it together.

‘Marisa really, she should just say she likes it if she does.’

Though she was trying not to show her joy outwardly.

Marisa’s expression had clearly softened.

And for good reason, since Eastern porcelain had been quietly trending among elderly noble ladies lately.

“Oh my, that’s……”

“Look at that pure white color.”

Just as the other noble ladies were looking at the porcelain with envious eyes.

“What on earth is this?”

Someone spoke up in a sharp voice.

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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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