After hearing about Aneta’s situation, Liliette sent an unexpected update shortly after.

Aneta looked at Vernon with a surprised expression and asked,

“Is Aunt Liliette coming to the capital? In person?”

“Yeah. It seems like she really knows something, considering she canceled her scheduled appointments to come,” Vernon replied with a shrug.

Aneta still couldn’t quite believe it. Liliette, who had been so busy that she couldn’t even attend her son’s wedding, was now stepping in to help. It was shocking to her.

“She asked me to find out whether it would be more convenient for her to visit the Duke’s or the Marquis’ residence,” Vernon continued.

“She’s coming all this way for me, so I’ll go to the Viscount’s residence instead,” Aneta said.

At first, it seemed like an attempt to be considerate of the person coming to help, but something about it didn’t seem entirely like that.

Vernon looked at Aneta with a strange expression.

“…That’s unexpected. I thought you wouldn’t like my mother much.”

“Why did you think that?”

“When you were struggling because of your father, or when she tried to strip you of power, my mother never offered any help. That’s why,” Vernon said seriously, referring to past events. Thinking back, he sometimes regretted not offering help himself.

“You’re still young.”

However, Aneta’s voice carried a light smile, as if she had a different perspective.

“Why are you saying it like that?”

Even though Vernon complained gruffly, Aneta didn’t intend to retract her words.

“What I’ve learned from my life so far is that we shouldn’t take help from others for granted. Even if they’re family,” she said, her tone calm but her message clear.

“I understand my aunt’s position completely. She’s been through a lot because of my father, so she probably didn’t want to get involved in any way. I would have done the same if I were her.
So, I don’t feel any resentment about it.”

Aneta added, sincerely, that she wasn’t lying in the least.

“If I disliked my aunt, I would have refused help like this. I don’t want to owe anything to someone I truly dislike. Because I would have to repay that debt somehow, someday. Ah, of course, even if that were the case, I would have still accepted your request.”

“Why? Is it because I don’t feel any resentment?”

“That’s part of it, but the main reason is to avoid leaving any debts. I helped someone I love, so I can’t just ignore the debt, right?”

Aneta replied nonchalantly while moistening her mouth with tea.

Vernon, seeing her, was left speechless, his lips twitching.

What would have happened if he had received help in that way? Just imagining it sent a chill down his spine.

“…Carlos knew you were like this when he married you, right?”

“Of course. He probably knows me better than you do.”

Vernon shuddered at the eerie nickname that came from Aneta’s lips.

“Why that reaction?”

“Because it’s a bit awkward hearing you say that. Anyway, I’ve delivered the message, so I should be going now.”

Vernon stood up, and Aneta glanced at the clock.

“It’s almost lunchtime. How about we have a meal together before you go?”

“Chris is probably waiting for me. Why would I eat with you two? And I don’t want to eat in silence. The thought of Carlos getting grumpy because his time with you was interrupted makes it better for me to just return to the mansion.”

Vernon joked as he waved his hand and left the parlor.

Aneta watched his retreating figure until he was completely out of sight, then slumped back against the sofa.

She hadn’t shown it in front of Vernon, but the real reason Aneta didn’t resent Liliette was different.

Aneta thought back to Elena’s funeral.

That day, she had hidden away in a place no one knew, avoiding the whispers of people around her.

There, she encountered Liliette, who, like Aneta, was well aware of the structure of the Marquis’ residence.

Liliette, dressed in mourning clothes, wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks as soon as her eyes met Aneta’s.

“Please forget what you just saw. I’m not sure if these tears are out of pity or shared experience.”

Liliette said that, and before Aneta could respond, she turned and began walking away. But as if on a whim, she paused for a moment.

“Your mother, I’m sure, has gone to a good place.”

That was the last thing Liliette said.

Aneta had heard those exact words, word for word, many times while standing in the same place.

Tears welled up when she heard those words because Liliette was the only person who truly mourned Elena.

It was the first and last time Liliette had left the family and visited the Marquis’ residence.

Even now, after so many years, whenever Aneta thought of the words Liliette left behind, the emotions from that time would rise inside her.

How could she hate the person who, while enduring Derek’s mockery and contempt, had attended Elena’s funeral?

Aneta sighed and closed her eyes.

***

“Aneta, someone fromViscount Kainer’s residence has come. Your aunt has arrived at the mansion.”

“I should go.”

When Carlos informed Aneta of Liliette’s arrival, she immediately stood up. The chair wobbled, but it didn’t fall over.

Standing, Aneta quickly tidied the things on the desk, but her haste led to more mistakes.

Seeing her unusually nervous, Carlos slowly approached her. The first thing he did was steady the ink bottle that almost spilled.

He then took Aneta’s hand and stopped her movements.

“Aneta, I’ll handle the cleaning. You should go to the Viscount’s residence. I love how cute you look when you’re this nervous, but you might hurt yourself. Calm down a bit.”

“…Alright.”

“Have a good trip. I’ll be waiting.”

Carlos gave Aneta a quick kiss on the lips.

“Thank you, Carlos.”

Aneta returned the kiss and then left the mansion.

Waiting on Carlos’s orders, the coachman immediately set the horses in motion as soon as Aneta climbed into the carriage. Before long, they arrived at Viscount Kainer’s mansion.

“Welcome, Aneta.”

Chris greeted Aneta at the front of the mansion.

Before following Chris, Aneta took a deep breath. She felt as if Chris’s nervousness had rubbed off on her, and Chris smiled faintly.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you so nervous, Aneta.”

“I can’t help but be nervous. My aunt is no ordinary person.”

“That seems to be true. Honestly, I’m nervous too.”

Aneta talked with Chris as they crossed the garden.

A familiar face appeared between the open doors as they approached the main building.

With neatly styled golden hair and blue eyes, the person was Liliette Kainer, who looked unmistakably related to Aneta.

She stood there, almost unchanged, as though time had passed since their last meeting.

“It’s been a long time, Aunt.”

“You’ve come, Duchess.”

“Duchess? Please speak casually.”

“Alright, if you insist, I won’t resist.”

Aneta encouraged her to speak informally, and Liliette willingly accepted the suggestion.

“Then you two can talk. I’ll step aside.”

Chris smiled brightly and bowed before stepping away.

As if they had already planned it, Liliette’s role was to guide Aneta into the sitting room.

“My daughter-in-law seems to be very fond of you, Aneta. She insisted on going out to meet you herself.”

“She’s a dear child.”

“I also like her very much. Vernon might not excel at everything, but he did well when it comes to marriage. I would have met her earlier if I had known she was like that.”

“Is this your first time seeing her face?”

“Yes. I knew they hung out together since they were young, but I never interfered. Who they associate with and who they marry should be their decision.”

Liliette, who had been staring ahead, briefly looked back at Aneta.

“When I heard reports about you and Rodion spending time together, I didn’t intervene for the same reason. What I can do is only respect their choices and trust them.”

Her tone was casual, but there was a clear sense of trust in her voice when it came to her two sons.

“Please take good care of Chris.”

Aneta thought it would be good if Chris received that same trust so that the name of the family could more firmly bind her. That was why she had mentioned her name.

“Isn’t that something a mother-in-law like me should ask?”

The conversation, which had been a little nerve-wracking, flowed much smoother than expected. Despite having met only a handful of times, there was no awkwardness.

They arrived at the sitting room while talking about trivial things unrelated to the main topic. The only noticeable change from the last time Aneta visited was the envelope on the table.

Liliette didn’t mention it until she sat down, but Aneta noticed it immediately.

As Vernon said, Liliette likely had a way to stop Zerophf Mellet and the baron family’s schemes.

And that way would be in that envelope.

“Now that we’re here, let’s get to the main topic. I hear your maternal family is causing some trouble?”

Liliette, much like Aneta, had a straightforward way of speaking.

It was almost the same thing Vernon had said when he came to deliver the news.

“It seems like the Adenauer family never has a peaceful day. The head of the family is a mess; if not, it’s the close relatives. It’s always one or the other.”

Liliette expressed genuine disgust, then quickly composed herself, wondering if it might be rude to her niece. But Aneta didn’t seem bothered at all.

She seemed to agree, so Liliette felt more at ease continuing.

“You know better than anyone, but don’t forget that in times like this, you need to stay grounded and not get swept up in it.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Unfortunately we’re talking about this after a long time. But what can we do?”

With a deep sigh, Liliette fixed her gaze directly on Aneta.

“I came to the mansion to fulfill a request your mother made to me when she was alive.”