My Dear Husband, Let's Keep It Business-Like! ~Countess Anastasia, Raised in The Downtown, Won't Give Up Her Way~ - Episode 63

“The next tragedy, is it?”

“Ah. Grandfather Alfred had a fiancée since he was young. There were many such engagements back then, even though they have decreased significantly now. These were often arranged without the person’s consent while they were still young. That was Grandmother Dorothea.”

I nod and listen to the conversation.

“Grandfather Alfred was a kind person, so even though he had a fiancée chosen by the family, he still cherished Grandmother Dorothea. For Grandmother Dorothea, that must have become the norm, but when Lord Eduardo was born, she couldn’t forgive Grandfather Alfred for prioritizing his younger brother over her.”

Oh, come on, cut her some slack, Dorothea.

For me, would she be my aunt? Or maybe my step-grandmother? … It’s complicated.

“If we get married, if we have children, if those children are born… surely, Grandfather Alfred will come back to us. Believing that, Grandmother Dorothea gave birth to children, but it didn’t happen. Oh, by the way, the one born at that time is our father.”

Don’t talk about your father like it’s no big deal.

I had a faint feeling, but could it be that Alexander, my brother-in-law, also doesn’t have a very good relationship with the duke…?

“Even after Father was born, Grandfather Alfred didn’t stop doting on Lord Eduardo. Whether Grandfather prioritized his younger brother over his own child, or Grandmother was obsessively wanting all the affection for herself and her children… we can’t know unless we were there. But for Father, Lord Eduardo was the detestable rival who stole their father’s love from them.”

It’s an unbearable story.

To be honest, the current duke I know is a grown-up, arrogant old man, so when I hear this story, I can only think, “Shut up, daddy’s boy!” But thinking about the young duke who sought his father’s love, my heart aches a little.

That said, even Dad only had Uncle Alfred as his sole ally.

As a child, they probably had no choice but to cling to the love there.

Isn’t it really my grandfather, the previous duke, who is the most to blame for this? Well, I mean, it’s sad that he lost his wife and all, but still… Hmm.

“How is Uncle Alfred doing now? I heard he abdicated and returned to his estate.”

“Yeah, I’m in the territory. I also stopped by the duchy when I returned home, so I met them. Both grandfather and great-grandfather seemed to be doing well.”

Grandpa, are you still alive?!!

This is something I must eventually speak up about.

“Um, I would also like to meet Uncle Alfred. Brother-in-law, could you please arrange it?”

“Yeah, sure.”

Lightweight!!

No, it’s just that my niece wants to meet her uncle, so is this normal? I’m starting to get really confused. The noble society is incredibly complex and bizarre.

Anyway, with this, I’ve managed to set up a meeting with my uncle. I found out about my father, so next is my mother.

“May I ask about my mother next? Previously, Christina referred to her as ‘a distant relative of the marquis’ and ‘the daughter of a baron for a generation,’ but I don’t know anything about her background… I thought the duke family might have some information.”

My brother-in-law listened to me while nodding, and after thinking for a moment, he spoke up.

“What I know is that Lady Anastasia and Lord Eduardo met at the estate… I’m sorry, but Christina probably knows more about that. Father tells Christina everything if she asks.”

Saying that, my brother-in-law gives a wry smile.

Indeed, the duke is extremely sweet to Christina.

“Did my mother live in the duchy?”

“No, it’s the Hamilton estate.”

Mom is in the count’s territory!?

When I looked at my husband in surprise, he was also looking at me with a surprised expression.

“If it’s true that Anastasia’s mother is a distant relative of the Viscount, then wouldn’t that make her a relative of Jean’s grandmother? If I remember correctly, Jean’s grandmother came from the Viscount’s family, right?”

This is yet another surprising piece of information. Somehow, the strange symbols that have appeared here are unsettling.

“Ah, indeed, Grandmother Najenda is from the Margrave family. When I heard from Anna before that your mother was a distant relative of the Margrave family, I was a bit puzzled…”

It feels like something is about to connect, but it doesn’t. It seems like I’ve gotten a clue, but in the end, I don’t understand anything.

Is there anything else you think your brother-in-law might know about?

When I was hurriedly trying to gather my thoughts, the door…

Knock, knock, knock, it opened with a clatter.

It’s unthinkable to open the door without waiting for our response.

Suspicious person!？？

Thinking that, I instinctively braced myself, and my brother-in-law stood up while my husband slid his body in front of me.

In that room filled with such tension, who appeared so nonchalantly was…

“Oh? I thought I couldn’t see you, and you were here all along?”

He was a person who, in a sense, could be considered suspicious, with a dubious smile on his face.

It’s quite a disrespectful thought towards our own crown prince, you know.