My Dear Husband, Let's Keep It Business-Like! ~Countess Anastasia, Raised in The Downtown, Won't Give Up Her Way~ - Episode 16

“Young master. Sebas believes that your straightforwardness is indeed a virtue. However, in noble society, there are many things that cannot be understood just by their surface.”

“Of course. What are you saying now?”

“What I am about to do is not something to be praised. However, there is still something I wish to show you, young master. Michelle and Marie, please remain here as you are.”

Saying that, Sebas entered the small room next to the first reception room where the duke’s daughter was supposed to be.

Even though I found it strange, when I followed and entered the room, Sebas was in the process of removing the frame from the wall.

“From here, we can see and hear what’s happening in the other room, but from the other side, they can’t see or hear anything from our side.”

The wall from which Sebas removed the frame was like a glass window, allowing a view into the reception room.

Not knowing that there was such a setup in the mansion, I was surprised and asked Sebas.

“When on earth did this happen!? Who made this and for what purpose?”

“It’s the lord from many generations ago. Back then, the count’s family was heavily involved in trade with other countries, and some of the transactions were quite dubious. So, to discern trustworthy negotiating partners, they created such mechanisms.”

Indeed, noble estates have various mechanisms, but I never imagined there would be such a mechanism that I didn’t even know about…

Amazed, I peered through the window into the neighboring reception room, and for some reason, the Fairfanville Duke’s daughter was clutching a teapot and inching closer to Anastasia.

It’s not like the kind younger sister is offering the older sister a second helping, right?

“Even if you dress up nicely on the surface to deceive men, your poor upbringing will still show through! I’ll give you a face that suits you!!”

No way.

I heard an outrageous word.

Leaving me behind, unable to grasp the situation, the conditions in the reception room are deteriorating by the minute.

“Are you serious? Doing something like that to another family’s lady, no matter how much of a duke’s daughter you are, won’t go unpunished.”

“It’s okay. This is self-defense.”

“Huh?”

“My sister tried to pour hot tea on me, so while we were struggling and resisting, she ended up getting the tea all over herself.”

Right? It’s self-defense.

This is bad!!!

I burst out of the room and ran as if rolling, and with that momentum, I opened the door to the reception room.

“Ahhhhhh!”

Crashhh!!

For some reason, the room was so bright that I couldn’t see what was happening, but I could hear the scream of the Fairfanville Duke’s daughter and the sound of breaking pottery.

“Anastasia!! Are you safe!?”

The blinding light lasted only a moment, and the room quickly returned to normal. Spotting Anastasia standing with her back to the door, I rushed over.

“Huh? Oh, Master!?”

When I place my hand on Anastasia’s shoulder, I turn her body towards me and visually inspect her from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

Good, it doesn’t look like any tea got spilled on it at all.

When I looked, for some reason, the teapot was broken and rolling right in the middle of Christina and Anastasia.

Steam is still rising from the tea that has spilled and soaked into the carpet.

If I had worn something like this, it wouldn’t have just resulted in a minor burn.

“Are you hurt? Did any tea spill on you?”

When I take a closer look at Anastasia, I notice that she is wearing a beautiful dress unlike usual, and her hair is also styled up. Her makeup is more meticulously done than usual, and somehow…

Was this person always this beautiful?

I somehow feel like Anastasia is surrounded by a sparkling aura.

Beautiful, as if light is dancing… no, that’s not it.

Hey, isn’t something really flying here?

Around Anastasia, several lights are floating gently.

Suspiciously, as I followed the light with my eyes, Anastasia, noticing it, looked at me with a startled expression.

“Uh, Master? What are you looking at—”

“Lord Eugene!!”

“Ah”

When I glanced over, the Fairfanville Duke’s daughter, who had been completely ignored, was trembling with her shoulders shaking.

“I apologize for the rudeness. Lady Fairfanville, what brings you to our household today?”

I greet with a smile and calmly, but just a moment ago, I saw something unbelievable from the next room. Without thinking, I end up hiding Anastasia behind me.

“I was just worried about you, big sister. But it seems like I was just a bother to you… I’m sorry, big sister.”

When she says that, tears well up in her eyes.

“Surely, I must have said something to upset you, right? That’s why you’re acting like this…”

The duke’s daughter collapses in tears.

It seems that Anastasia wants to make it look like she threw tea at me.

Scary!!

It’s hard to believe that the charming young duchess standing before me is the same person who was just now berating Anastasia.

“Excuse me, sir, would you consider changing rooms?”

The atmosphere in the room had become quite difficult, but Sebas came to the rescue. As expected.

“Ah, yeah, that’s right. Then shall I show you to another room?”

“No, sir. The Fairfanville Duke’s daughter was just about to return.”

Anastasia says with a smile.

The Fairfanville Duke’s daughter seemed to look at Anastasia with a momentary expression of regret, but she probably judged that staying here any longer wouldn’t lead to a favorable outcome for her.

“Yes, that’s right. I’ll take my leave for today.”

And then, while pressing a handkerchief to their eyes, they left the room.

When passing by me on the way,

“Ah”

It staggered towards me, but I instinctively dodged.

Under normal circumstances, it would be a gentlemanly act to support and offer to escort her to the carriage…

I really can’t feel that way at all.

Did he sense my mood? The capable butler, Sebastian, politely guided the Fairfanville Duke’s daughter out of the room.

Thank you, Sebas…