My Dear Husband, Let's Keep It Business-Like! ~Countess Anastasia, Raised in The Downtown, Won't Give Up Her Way~ - Episode 79

“Well then, which story shall we begin with, Your Grace?”

Just by me bringing up the topic, the duke’s eyebrows twitch slightly. He probably didn’t like that I initiated the conversation.

Or rather, this person probably dislikes whatever I do. Even when we lived together in the past, I tried to at least live amicably, but I gave up early on.

After that, I steered my course towards protecting my mind and body, and I think it was a wise decision on my part.

“Anastasia, this is an important conversation, so you should stay quiet.”

“I don’t like it. It’s strange, isn’t it?”

My brother-in-law looked at me with a shocked expression when I snapped back at him.

Calling me over and then telling me to be quiet is so incomprehensible that I don’t feel like communication is even possible.

“Are you trying to argue with me? You might have gotten the wrong idea after marrying into the count family, but it doesn’t change the fact that you are the adopted daughter of the duke family. Just shut up and do as you’re told.”

Perhaps the most favorable action for the duke would be,

“It must be just sitting quietly next to my husband and nodding in agreement with the duke’s decisions.”

But, Your Grace, I don’t even want you to think favorably of me, not even a little bit.

As I straightened my back and returned the gaze to the duke who was applying pressure, my husband raised his right hand.

“May I have a moment, Your Grace, Duke Fairfanville?”

“Is something the matter, Count Hamilton?”

“I came here precisely because I received a letter from you, Your Excellency, saying ‘I want to apologize to my wife.’ If the matter is different, I would like to take my leave.”

“Wh-What?!”

The face of the duke gradually twisted as he unexpectedly faced rebellion from the adopted daughter who had never resisted before and the young man he had looked down upon.

“Or could it be that your desire to apologize is just a pretense, and you were called here solely to have your wife deny the abuse allegations?”

Oh, you’re really going for it, aren’t you?

Well done, my husband!

“Hahaha, it seems that Count Hamilton has misunderstood something. The reason I wanted to apologize was simply because I thought, ‘If I’ve caused any misunderstanding, I am sorry.'”

The duke laughed off the master’s words like that, then glared at me and my brother-in-law.

“First of all, there’s no way abuse could happen in a ducal family. Right, Anastasia? And you too, Alexander. You must have misunderstood something. It’s sad that such misunderstandings can occur between a parent and child, but let’s put it behind us now.”

……You useless old raccoon man! Go drown by yourself!!

“I am…”

My brother-in-law, who had been sitting with his head down until now, spoke in a small voice.

“I reported the content after conducting a thorough investigation. Whether it is a misunderstanding or misinterpretation will be determined by the appropriate authorities.”

“Alex! Slandering the name of the ducal family is like tightening the noose around your own neck! Do you understand that!?”

“If you say that my accusations tarnish the name of the ducal family, then you must have known all along that what you did is what truly tarnishes the name of the duke family!!”

It was my brother-in-law who reported my abuse…

As the duke said, the scandal of the duke’s family will also be a considerable blow to you, brother-in-law. Even so, you have resolved to expose the rot in the duke’s family and atone for the sins.

Thinking about my brother-in-law’s feelings, my heart tightened.

“What you should do now, Father, is not to cover up the abuse. Acknowledge your sins and atone for them… and apologize to Anastasia.”

When my brother-in-law said that and walked towards my father, the duke’s face turned bright red with anger, and he began to tremble.

“To me, this little girl… You want me to apologize to the daughter of Eduardo, of all people…?”

Huh? I was called here to apologize, right?

From the very beginning, there’s no intention to apologize at all.

Unfortunately, it seems that your brother-in-law’s resolve did not reach the duke.

But, please don’t worry, brother-in-law.

The resolve that didn’t reach the duke, I will take it on instead!!

“I have received your resolve, brother-in-law! If it has come to this, let’s expel the poison together!!”

“W-What are you talking about!?”

I stand up from the sofa, glare at the duke, and say this.

“I was abused in the ducal family.”

A damp, dimly lit room and a hard futon.

An aristocratic education that is beyond the norm.

If I did anything that displeased the duke, I would be beaten and deprived of meals, and Christina’s relentless bullying.

Harassment from the servants was also a daily occurrence.

“I will give a thorough testimony during the hearing. If necessary, not only I but also my father, Eduardo, was once abused by the duke’s family, wasn’t he?”

“What!? No! It was Eduardo who messed up the ducal family! The ones at fault are you and him!”

I had heard about the grudge between the duke and my father, but when I mentioned my father’s name, the reaction I got was more intense than I had imagined, leaving me a bit bewildered.

The duke suddenly burst out shouting.

“It’s all Eduardo’s fault!!”

Eh… scary.