‘Perhaps she visited the Duke’s mansion to test if I knew about the pledge. The fact that I didn’t know allowed her to threaten me.’

Aneta didn’t think it was surprising that Zeroph Mellet had figured this out. If she had known about the pledge, she would have mentioned it and driven him out.

“Your mother requested me to give this to you if something worrying ever happened. At the time, I couldn’t understand Elena. So, I asked her. Why was she asking me for such a favor?”

“…What did my mother say?”

“She said the only trustworthy person was me.”

Aneta nodded slowly, her heart heavy.

It was true that Elena’s world was small. Her parents, as well as Derek Adenauer, forced her to stay inside the house.

Naturally, there was no opportunity for her to form close relationships. Seeking out Liliette must have been Elena’s best choice.

“Also, she asked me to take care of you if something happened to her because you would be left alone with Derek Adenauer. I wonder if she had a premonition of her own death even then.”

Aneta bit her lip tightly. Liliette’s guess was probably correct. Not long after she visited the Viscount’s mansion, Elena began to fall seriously ill.

Aneta recalled the moment when Elena, right before returning to the mansion after their conversation, bowed deeply to Liliette.

‘So that’s what she meant by asking me to take care of things.’

Without realizing it, Aneta tightened her grip on the pledge she was holding. Though she felt utterly devastated, her outward expression of emotion was all that could be seen.

Liliette stared at the crumpled paper. Her niece, whom she had just met again, was still adept at hiding her emotions, just as she had been when she was a child.

She felt an odd sense of dissonance when she first saw Aneta sitting in this room. Being in the position of raising a son of the same age, Liliette immediately noticed the difference between Aneta and children of her age.

But Liliette wouldn’t belittle Aneta by saying she wasn’t childlike. The reason why the child had to mature so quickly was because of the inadequate adults around her.

And one of those adults had been Liliette herself.

Though she pitied Aneta, that was all she had done. The only thing Liliette had done for her innocent niece was hold on to a few sheets of paper.

Liliette wondered if she had subconsciously carried a sense of guilt about this. Maybe that was why, upon hearing the news, she immediately canceled all her plans and came to the Duke’s mansion.

As she was thinking this, Aneta spoke up.

“Why didn’t you tell me about all this before?”

“Of course, it was because of Derek Adenauer. He would have rushed in immediately If he found out that you and I had met.”

And he would have undoubtedly used it against them in a bad way.

The two of them knew very well what would happen without the need for further words.

“Anyway, my role ends here.”

“Thank you for your help.”

“You don’t need to thank me. Even though it was a fight we’ve already won, things aren’t completely resolved yet, and I think my children have owed you a lot in many ways.”

Liliette, who had said she was repaying a debt, suddenly exclaimed as if remembering something.

“Ah, by the way, I heard that the glory of the Adenauer family was extinguished?”

Liliette knew just how powerful it could be as someone who once carried the Adenauer name.

Aneta was worried that there might be a reproach for giving up that glory, but it was an unnecessary concern.

“Even without glory, you’ve managed to sustain the family, impressive.”

Though Aneta was initially an unknown entity, the difference between having something and not having it was significant.

However, the current influence of the family was even greater than before, not less.

Liliette, recalling the situation she had assessed through the butler before Aneta arrived, complimented her.

“I don’t know how you came to that decision, but on some level, it’s impressive. I could never have given up glory.”

“You’re overpraising me.”

“Now that I see you, I get it. The Adenauer name suits you more than it ever suited me. I think I couldn’t take it forward because you were the true heir, so I feel a little relieved.”

“Are you acknowledging me?”

“Yes. I’m not sure if I have the right to say so, but…”

Liliette highly regarded Aneta and expressed it without reservation. These were the words of someone who had once sincerely longed for that position.

Also, it was a sentiment she could express because she had completely let go of any lingering attachment.

“Sometimes, it would have been better if I had competed for the heir position with a child like you. If that had been the case, I wouldn’t have felt bitter about losing.”

Liliette seemed to be recalling her disillusioned goal, a bitter smile forming on her lips.

It was then.

No sooner had Liliette finished speaking than a knock came from outside the door.

“Mother, I’m here. I’m coming in.”

The voice that followed was Vernon’s.

Having heard the news of Liliette’s arrival a bit late, he returned from work, pushing the door open with one hand. With the other, he carried a tray with some food on it.

“You’re later than I expected, Vernon. I thought the news had been delivered quite some time ago. I guess I wasn’t that missed after all?”

“Don’t be like that, Mother. As an apology, I even came here personally to deliver the tea.”

Vernon smoothly brushed off Liliette’s words and sat in the remaining seat.

As he placed a teacup in front of each person, he exchanged a look with Aneta sitting across from him.

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t seen his mother in a while, but his expression was brighter than usual.

“And the one who should be upset is me, not you, Mother. You didn’t even come to my wedding, all because you were busy. Not even for your eldest son’s wedding.”

Vernon pretended to wipe away a tear, saying that nothing could be more heartbreaking than this. Anyone who saw the smile on his face could tell his words weren’t sincere.

“Who even cares about eldest sons or second sons these days? So old-fashioned.”

Liliette replied skillfully to her son’s playful teasing, still showing her maternal side.

Vernon then dramatically placed his hand on his chest, pretending to be wounded.

He didn’t need to mention that many people like that “old-fashioned” person were outside, knowing full well that Liliette wasn’t ignorant.

After that, Vernon and Liliette continued their lighthearted conversation in the same manner.

Watching them smile faintly, Aneta wondered whether she should excuse herself quietly.

However, Liliette was already the first to rise before Aneta could stand up.

“I think I should head back now.”

“Already leaving?”

Vernon asked in surprise.

“Yes, I only managed to carve out a bit of time, so I can’t stay long. Once I have more time, I’ll come back.”

“You’re taking care of Rodion properly, right?”

“Even if I’ve been keeping a bit of distance from your affairs, I haven’t neglected my duties as a parent. Don’t worry about that. You focus on your wife. Though it’s late, congratulations to both of you.”

Liliette then turned her gaze to Aneta.

“Aneta, I hope the next time we meet, it will be with good news.”

Aneta’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

Seeing Aneta’s surprised expression, Liliette pretended not to notice and turned her body away.

“What are you doing, Aneta? Aren’t you going to see me off?”

“…No. I should, I’ll see you off.”

Sitting in a daze, Aneta snapped back to reality when she saw Vernon waving his hand in front of her. She stood up, grabbed the agreement that Liliette had given her, and followed Vernon out of the drawing room.

The farewell didn’t take long. Liliette, after leaving a greeting for Chris, who had not been present, immediately climbed into her carriage. It wasn’t until Liliette’s carriage was out of sight that Aneta entered her own carriage.

***

The first thing Aneta did after obtaining the agreement from the Mellet Baron family was to check the ledgers. Based on the agreement’s content, she examined the records of the date her grandfather had promised to pay the money. Sure enough, the records from that time were marked.

Her assumption that her grandfather would have made a large payment and left no trace was correct.

Now that she had secured clear evidence that the agreement’s contents were true, there was no need to waste more time.

When Aneta received the ledger containing the expenses related to the Mellet Baron family from her agent, Alex, she headed straight to the courthouse.

When she requested a restraining order against the Mellet family, the judge ruled in her favor.

It was a natural outcome, as they had taken a large sum of money under the condition of not approaching her but had broken that promise.

Zeroph Mellet tried to resist, but it didn’t change anything.

Aneta mentioned the penalty fee specified in the agreement to the furious Zeroph Mellet.

If the terms were violated, the amount he owed to the Adenauer Marquis family would be double the amount he had received.

Aneta warned him not to appear before her again if he didn’t want to incur an additional debt of 4 billion, and Zeroph Mellet, pale-faced, ran away.

Afterward, Aneta heard that the Mellet Baron’s estate had been acquired by someone else, but she didn’t concern herself with it.

Time was too precious to waste on anything other than her loved ones.

To savor the peace she had regained, Aneta buried herself in the arms of Carlos, who was holding her. She then heard a soft chuckle from him while he read a book.

“What’s wrong, Aneta?”

“Nothing. I just like being like this with you.”