Chapter 35.
Her friends wrapped their arms around Bella’s shoulders, soothing her.
“Don’t worry too much, Bella. If Harriet tries to mess with you, we’ll protect you.”
“Exactly! And now that the young master of House of Cheslow is by your side, he’ll surely protect you too. By the way, when do you plan to hold the engagement ceremony?”
The atmosphere, which had been filled with gossip about Harriet, brightened as the conversation shifted to Bella’s engagement. A romance with a dashing man was exciting, even if it belonged to someone else.
Bella, too, blushed slightly and offered a smile quite different from the one she wore moments ago.
“James wants to do it as soon as possible, but coordinating the date is a bit difficult. It seems the House of Cheslow is still wary of the House of Laurel.”
“They’ve already broken off their engagement, so why worry about them?”
“It’s not so much the House of Laurel itself, but the other families who are close to them. But since James is putting in the effort, I think we’ll be able to hold it within this year, right?”
The talk of James going to such lengths—even enduring unpleasant stares from those around him—to be engaged to Bella was enough to draw gasps of envy.
And for her friends, who wished for her love to remain untarnished, Daphne Laurel became someone worthy of condemnation.
“They say Daphne Laurel still doesn’t step out of her house. It’s been half a year since the broken engagement; I don’t know what she’s doing.”
“Right. She probably thinks she’s become the tragic heroine of a novel.”
“She’s just pretending to be innocent to gain pity. Bella, don’t pay any mind to her. I’m worried you’ll just sit there and fret, feeling guilty toward Miss Daphne for no reason.”
Bella smiled weakly at the concern, which was laced with a massive misconception. Her friends looked at her with pity, but in truth, Bella felt better than ever.
‘To think Daphne doesn’t go out at all—I’ve gained an advantage I never expected.’
If Bella was the Golden Rose of Genoa, Daphne could be called the White Rose of Genoa. They were beauty rivals, but thanks to Daphne’s half-year of seclusion, the gazes of the nobility were gravitating even more toward Bella.
The fact that the number of love letters flying toward her had actually increased, despite the widespread rumor that she was to be engaged to James, was proof of that.
Therefore, the likes of Harriet could not possibly ruffle Bella’s mood.
‘But when I do meet her, I’ll have to make her know her place. She seems to have become arrogant just because she has the Countess Felon as her guardian….’
Although it was a bit mysterious how she had made Trisha her guardian, Bella didn’t think much of it. If she came to covet that guardian, she could simply take her away, too.
* * *
When summer arrived and the social season began in earnest, nobles would visit their relatives to exchange greetings.
Nobles from the countryside would stay with relatives in Genoa, or even those living within Genoa would drop by for a day or two to pay their respects.
The House of Felon, which rarely had guests, had one set of visitors they were obligated to welcome every summer. They didn’t stay at the estate, but it was a visit that was quite bothersome nonetheless.
“Welcome, Baron Marshall. And Baroness.”
“It’s been a while, Andre. Have you been well?”
Baroness Marshall, Lauren, stepped into the entrance while folding her parasol, acknowledging Andre.
Her husband, Baron Marshall, and their children simply trailed along behind her.
It couldn’t be helped. Although she was a half-sister, Lauren was the only sibling of the late Count Felon, and the reason they, mere provincial nobles, possessed a grand townhouse in Genoa was entirely thanks to her connection to the house.
“Where is the Countess?”
“She is in the drawing room. I shall guide you.”
“Please do. Jayden! Stand in front. It is only proper for the next head of the House of Felon to greet her before us.”
She gazed lovingly at her eldest son, Jayden, and pushed him to the front.
Andre knew that if Lauren’s current remark reached Trisha’s ears, a thunderous rebuke would follow.
Trisha was acutely aware that she was the head of the House of Felon and held the immense power to designate the successor; Jayden was merely a candidate.
Of course, Lauren, with her years of experience, knew Trisha’s temperament well and never brought up the succession in her presence.
‘Though, the Madam is not one to be unaware of those hidden intentions.’
Andre kept such thoughts hidden and guided the Marshall family to the drawing room.
The sound of coughing that had been faintly audible moments ago vanished the moment the guests entered.
“Aunt! Have you been well? I’ve missed you.”
Jayden shone his green eyes, which looked just like his mother’s, and greeted Trisha warmly. His wife, Anne, did the same.
“It must be summer. I can tell by the fact that you’ve arrived.”
“We live our lives waiting for summer, always. Because we want to see you, Aunt. How is your health these days?”
“It is excellent. Aren’t you all praying for me not to fall ill?”
“How did you know? Hahaha!”
“I know everything. You are the only ones who worry about me.”
Trisha patted Jayden’s back while laughing, but she knew better than anyone that the Marshall family’s evening prayers were centered on hoping for her death.
‘Do you think I don’t know your inner thoughts, believing you can seize this house if I die?’
In fact, if the law hadn’t been amended, and if her husband Oster hadn’t cemented Trisha as the head of the house, the Felon title would have indeed passed to Jayden.
That was why, when Oster died and the will was revealed, Lauren had caused such an uproar.
“This will is invalid! The sister-in-law must have coaxed my brother when he wasn’t in his right mind to sign it! I will sue!”
However, the court ruled in Trisha’s favor.
The family doctor, whom Lauren had brought as a witness, testified that Oster had been capable of rational judgment until his very last moment, and that it was none other than Trisha who had expressed concern over being named the head of the house.
Even after that, Lauren had spent quite some time acting as if the Felon estate were her own.
She would nitpick the types of flowers planted in the garden and rush over to interfere at the news of any changes to the interior decorations.
“It’s the title and property that my Jayden will inherit anyway after the sister-in-law passes, so it would be nice to have it adjusted to Jayden’s taste in advance.”
It was ten years ago that she was ruthlessly chased out.
“Why do you think Jayden is the only successor? I can designate someone else as successor whenever I please.”
“Ho ho ho! We are the only branch family of the House of Felon; were there other branch families I wasn’t aware of?”
“There’s no need to go as far as branch families. I can just adopt someone.”
Lauren, who had been arguing back that it was nonsense, only realized it wasn’t a joke after meeting Trisha’s icy gaze.
And ever since then, she had never rebelled against Trisha. Instead, the problem was that she acted saccharine to the point of being uncomfortable.
Today, too, the Marshall family tried to curry favor with Trisha, smiling as if their expressions were painted on.
It was just as they finished their tea and pulled out an invitation to a party they were hosting.
“I’m home, Great-Aunt… Oh! I didn’t know you had guests. I will come back later.”
Harriet, having returned from an outing, had come to greet her but ran into them instead.
“No. Come in. Since you’ve run into them, it is better to exchange greetings.”
Trisha motioned for Harriet, stood her by her side, and introduced her to the Marshall family.
“This is my grand-niece, Harriet. I became her guardian a while ago, and she is currently staying at this house.”
Lauren’s eyes widened at the sudden news, but Trisha didn’t care.
“Greet them, Harriet. This is my sister-in-law, Baroness Lauren Marshall, and here is her husband, Baron Marshall. That is their eldest son Jayden and his wife Anne, and here are the eldest daughter Eloise and second son Dinon.”
Her attitude in introducing the Marshall family was not polite at all. Harriet caught on to their relationship roughly, but she offered a courteous greeting.
“I am Harriet Listerwell. I am under the care of my Great-Aunt. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
However, no greeting was returned. Lauren’s mouth hung open as she looked back and forth between Harriet and Trisha, before finally managing one word.
“Guardian?”
Lauren, who had only recently come up to the capital from her estate, had heard absolutely nothing of the rumors regarding Harriet and Trisha.
“Yes, guardian. Her parents died early, so her uncle John had been her guardian, but since a few months ago, I have become her new guardian. She is staying at this house as my guest.”
At that, Lauren flared up for the first time in ages.
“How can you decide such an important matter alone without consulting me?”
“Consulting? I am becoming the guardian of my own grand-niece; why should I have to consult with you? By any chance, does my money still look like your son’s money to you?”