It had been two days since Kay had left the estate when Jamie came to see Rishi.
Rishi, having spent the morning at the unicorn stables getting covered in straw and dirt, was just about to change her clothes.
Jamie, who had been waiting outside her room, smiled broadly at the sight of her outfit.
“Raising a child is no easy task, is it?”
“I suppose not. Though, I haven’t even had the chance to touch the child, let alone raise it.”
“It’s dangerous, so please don’t overexert yourself. Oh, and you have guests.”
“Guests? For me?”
“The Witlow family.”
“Ah.”
It felt as though she had been struck in the back of the head.
It wasn’t because it was unexpected, but rather because they had acted exactly as she had anticipated.
As soon as the wedding invitations were issued, she had sent one to Britney first.
She figured it was better to bring them in early and break their spirit rather than have Britney show up a day or two before the wedding and cause a scene, ensuring she wouldn’t be able to do anything on the day of the ceremony.
At the same time, a small part of her had held a glimmer of hope.
‘Perhaps they might arrive just in time for the wedding schedule. Maybe they’ve finally cut ties with me, now that I’ve left the house.’
As expected, it was a vain hope.
“Where are they?”
“They are still waiting in front of the main gate. I didn’t recall having invited them.”
Jamie answered calmly.
Regardless of everything, the Witlow family was, in a sense, her family. Yet, he had left them standing outside.
‘Come to think of it, from the beginning…’
There was a strange sharpness in Jamie’s tone as he announced their arrival. Perhaps Jamie knew exactly what kind of treatment she had received in that house.
“What shall we do, Lady Iris?”
Kay was not at the estate. The power of decision lay with Rishi.
“Tell them I am extremely busy today and to come back tomorrow.”
As if he had expected this, Jamie bowed his head slightly and left the room.
As she sighed and turned around, she saw Krisina and Erwel standing there with puzzled expressions. They seemed taken aback by the cold way Rishi had dismissed her own family.
Rishi smiled indifferently and said,
“They aren’t good people.”
The confusion vanished from Krisina and Erwel’s faces. Instead, a sense of unknown resolve flickered in their eyes.
As Rishi walked back to her room, she heard a small whisper.
“Meaning they’re bastards, right?”
It sounded like Erwel’s voice, but Rishi decided to pretend she hadn’t heard it.
***
“What, and what?”
Duke Glovern Witlow’s eyes widened in fury.
Even being forbidden from bringing their carriage onto the estate grounds and being forced to wait outside was enough to make his blood boil, but he had endured it.
But to be told to come back tomorrow because she was busy?
Of course, the date written on the invitation was still quite far off, so perhaps the head of a house might say such things. But this was Iris; she dared not do such a thing.
“Iris said that?”
“Yes, Duke. The Countess is very busy and has no time to receive guests today,” Jamie replied with a faint, polite smile.
“That’s impossible. Did you clearly state that we were the ones who came to visit?”
Duchess Denise Witlow asked, her eyes narrowing.
“I clearly stated that Duke Witlow, the Duchess, and Lady Britney had come to visit.”
“And she still said she was busy?”
“Yes, Duchess.”
“This is nonsense! There is no way that child would do such a thing.”
“Is that so? Why would that be?”
“What…?”
“Our Countess Green has become the mistress of House Green. The mistress is a very busy person. Isn’t that natural?”
There was nothing wrong with Jamie’s words. Rishi was no longer the daughter of Duke Witlow, but the mistress of House Green.
Even so.
“I am that child’s father. No matter how busy she is, in what world is it acceptable to turn someone away at the door like this?”
“It might happen if the guests visit far earlier than the invitation date without any prior notice,” Jamie said calmly.
Glovern’s anger flared. How dare a mere dog of a Count. But he could not treat Jamie, a Knight of the Blue Sky, recklessly. Even Glovern was aware of Jamie’s reputation.
“If Iris is busy, I don’t mind not seeing her face right away. Just provide us with a guest room for now.”
“That, too, is difficult, Duke. We do not have any guest rooms prepared.”
“That’s impossible! What kind of house wouldn’t have a guest room prepared?”
“As you know, Count Green, the Guardian of the Holy Relic, is very busy, so there are few opportunities to invite guests. It is only natural that there are no rooms prepared for uninvited guests arriving so suddenly.”
Glovern knew Jamie was lying, but he couldn’t point it out. And he didn’t want to beg to be given a room after being told there wasn’t one.
“Tell Iris again. If you tell her we’re here, surely…”
“Enough.”
Glovern cut off Denise’s words. Denise glared at him as if asking why.
“This isn’t the only place to stay. Since Iris says she’s busy today, we shall return tomorrow.”
“But dear, we can’t just sleep anywhere. Besides, Iris, she is acting so rudely…”
“My dear!”
Glovern did not want to speak of Iris where Jamie could hear. Denise seemed to realize her mistake and shut her mouth.
As soon as they boarded the carriage, Britney demanded, almost lunging at him.
“Father, is she crazy? She won’t even let us in because she says she’s busy?”
“She must be mad. Ever since she left home, she’s forgotten her place…”
Denise gritted her teeth.
“Why did you just come back? Even if we came without notice, we are guests. Turning us away like this is just impolite.”
“Stop it, Britney. And you too. Count Green is the Guardian of the Holy Relic.”
“Even if he is the Guardian of the Holy Relic, we are a Ducal family.”
“Britney. Don’t you dare say such things where others can hear.”
House Green, the hereditary Guardians of the Holy Relic, versus the declining Witlow Duchy. It was clear which side held more power. It would not be good to get on Kay’s bad side. However, he could not forgive Iris’s rude behavior either.
“Let’s go back tomorrow. They said Count Green is away. Once we step foot into that manor…”
I will definitely teach that girl some manners.
***
Glovern’s determination to ‘teach Iris some manners’ could not be carried out the next day either.
“The Countess is feeling a bit unwell today. You should return tomorrow.”
And the day after that.
“The Countess is busy today. You should return tomorrow.”
Every time they were turned away after reaching the door, Glovern’s face grew redder, and his voice louder. Eventually, he resorted to pointing fingers, but Jamie only maintained the same faint smile as he had from the beginning.
After confirming that the Ducal family had finally left after lingering in front of the manor and hurling insults for quite some time, Jamie headed to the greenhouse.
Rishi was in the middle of picking a ripe apple from under the tree.
“The Witlow family has returned, Lady Iris.”
“I see.”
“They might truly leave the territory today.”
“They won’t. They are people who cannot let go of their meager pride. They wouldn’t return empty-handed. If the rumor spreads that they couldn’t even set foot in the manor, it would be difficult for them to show their faces.”
Rishi said coldly. Jamie found it fascinating how Rishi’s expression and aura changed completely when she was with Kay versus when she spoke of the Witlow family.
“What shall we use as an excuse to turn them away tomorrow?” Jamie asked.
“Have there been any updates from the Count?”
“No, it is a place difficult to visit even within a week, so…”
“What about Jeresien?”
“I received word that Jen will arrive in two or three days.”
“In that case.”
Rishi picked an apple, placed it in the basket, and gazed at Jamie.
“Until Jen arrives, I will have to teach the Witlow Duke some manners. Don’t you think?”
Jamie liked it when Rishi smiled like this—a smile that was arrogant yet full of mischief. A smile that made it easy to see why Kay, who had never been interested in women, had been so captivated by Rishi.
Jamie smiled back and nodded.
“I would be grateful for your many teachings.”
+++
Britney felt like she was about to explode from pure annoyance.
She had already been turned away at the door three times. No matter how much their power had waned compared to before, this was the Witlow Duchy. It was not a house that a mere count could afford to turn away. Yet, three times.
Even though she had requested an audience in person, she hadn’t even been able to step foot inside the mansion. And not because of Kay, but because of Rishi.
“This is truly absurd!”
On their way to the Count Green estate for the fourth time, Britney screamed inside the carriage.
“Even if they are the Guardians of the Holy Relic, this is no way to treat us! It’s absolutely ridiculous!”
“Britney is right, dear. We must lodge a formal protest against this.”
“Exactly. We should inform the Holy Kingdom… and we must speak to Count Green directly as well. It’s clear that Iris is acting on her own whims while the Count is away from home!”
“Do not worry. If they turn us away again today, I will report the rudeness of the Green family not only to the Holy Kingdom but also to His Majesty the Emperor.”
The visit to the Emperor of the Gavizar Empire did not end up happening. Today, the gates opened smoothly, and the carriage was allowed inside.
As soon as Glovern Witlow saw Iris, he resolved to give her a slap across the cheek.
However, that opportunity never came.
“Please wait in the drawing room for a moment.”
They had clearly said “a moment,” but even after an hour—two hours—passed, Iris did not come to the drawing room.
Tired of waiting, they called for Jamie, but no one came. When they asked the passing maids, the only answer they got was, “Please wait a little longer.”
They didn’t even serve a single cup of tea.
They had arrived early in the morning, and it wasn’t until dusk that Jamie finally returned.
Glovern jumped to his feet.
“What on earth is the meaning of this?”
“Pardon? Meaning of what?”
Jamie asked back as if he had no idea.
“You told us to wait for a moment, yet it has been several hours! And you haven’t even offered a cup of tea or a meal!”
“Ah, are you hungry? Since it was a sudden visit, we couldn’t prepare a meal for guests. My apologies.”
Jamie said this with an expression that looked anything but apologetic.
“You…!”
Glovern couldn’t take it anymore and walked toward Jamie in a threatening manner, but Britney quickly stepped forward and placed a hand gently on Glovern’s arm.
After giving Glovern a subtle look, she asked Jamie with an elegant smile.
“Did Iris order this?”
“Order what?”
“For you to treat our family so harshly.”
“That would be impossible. She told me to treat you with courtesy.”
“Is this considered courteous treatment in the Green County?”
“It depends on the guest.”
“Guest? Is our Witlow family considered a guest unworthy of even a single cup of tea?”
Britney asked calmly.
Jamie smiled brightly and spoke exactly as Rishi had instructed him.
“Considering what the Witlow family did to our Countess, I believe this is a very courteous treatment indeed.”