The one who wears the crown bears its weight.

As the saying goes, Elicity realized how burdensome the position of duchess was only after she assumed the role.

Among the many duties, the most unnecessary one was the social gatherings expected of a noblewoman. This was one of them:

<Ladies of Madonia must visit their in-laws at least once every two weeks and have tea with the women of their husband’s family.

This is an essential duty of a virtuous wife who respects her husband…”>

In other words, visiting the in-laws and dutifully attending to her mother-in-law and father-in-law.

***

Slap!

“Do you think I’m a fool?”

I knew this would happen.

Elicity thought it was fortunate that neither her husband nor Bella was present in the drawing room. She might not be able to stop the rumors, but at least she could prevent them from witnessing her mother-in-law striking her.

“Mother, it’s not like that…”

“Not like that? My family is still stuck in that rural place, Reten, barely holding the title of a mere count, while you alone waltzed into the duchy! Are you looking down on me?”

How could she call a count a mere nothing? It was absurd, but Elicity reminded herself once again that this woman was Alex’s mother and held back her words.

“Mother, our family’s rise in status was due to the late Duke Zeroden favoring my husband and adopting him into his family registry. He is an adopted son.”

“Yes! And that’s why he rightfully became the duke!”

“It wasn’t simply rightful inheritance. The former duke had no living relatives, so my husband inherited the title in his stead.”

Elicity took a deep breath and continued calmly.

“And since the former duke felt guilty for taking your son away, he granted you and Father the title of Count of Reten. So…”

“Why Reten of all places?! You know how backward that region is! I am the mother of a duke! I should be at least a Marchioness in the capital!”

“Mother, while Reten is located at the southwestern end, it is not an underdeveloped countryside.”

It was a prosperous land with hardworking tenants and fertile soil, yielding grain harvests that many nobles coveted.

Moreover, Alex had registered several mines under her father-in-law and brother-in-law’s names, and she was diligently seeking a suitable match for her sister-in-law.

In fact, giving them Reten had been an act of kindness from the late duke. Reten was, after all, her father-in-law’s hometown.

However, despite all these considerations, her mother-in-law scoffed.

“No matter how great Reten may be, can it compare to your duchy? Do you think you’re putting as much effort into finding a match for Bianca as you are for Isabella?”

“Mother.”

“Enough! I’m not even asking for much. Just come every two weeks, help around the house, boost my reputation in front of the noblewomen, and attend to your father-in-law. That is the duty of a proper daughter-in-law.”

As soon as her mother-in-law finished speaking, her sister-in-law, Bianca, gently took Elicity’s hand.

“She’s right, Sister-in-law. It’s not like we’re asking for money…”

Her soft words and sweet smile made her look like a refined young lady.

But Elicity felt as if insects were crawling over the hand Bianca had touched. It was hard to maintain her expression.

“Sister, Mother is just feeling upset. Yesterday, Brother sent a letter telling her not to interfere with the duchy anymore and to stop forcing you to visit Reten.”

“…”

“I don’t know why Brother would say such a thing, but honestly, it hurt her feelings. Even though Mother is technically his stepmother… she did raise him for about ten years.”

As if waiting for the cue, her mother-in-law collapsed onto the floor, wailing loudly.

“Oh, how tragic it is to be a mere stepmother—!”

Her exaggerated display was something one might expect at a bustling marketplace. Even the servants in the drawing room frowned.

Bianca, pretending to comfort her mother, continued speaking.

“Of course, Mother might be upset, but I know my place. I was once a fallen noble, yet thanks to Brother’s accomplishments, I am now a count’s daughter. I am satisfied.”

“…”

“I just feel a little disappointed as a family, that’s all. I truly enjoyed our tea times every two weeks, Sister. And Bella is such a darling, too.”

Strictly speaking, her mother-in-law and Bianca weren’t entirely wrong. If Elicity outright refused, she would seem heartless as a daughter-in-law.

But she did not want to visit Reten Count’s estate.

Despite the presence of servants, her mother-in-law and Bianca subtly treated her like a maid. Her father-in-law, unable to move due to illness, tormented her for failing to bear a son. Her brother-in-law, a despicable man, constantly leered at her.

And then there were the other idle family members who lived off the money Alex provided, contributing nothing in return.

Yet they never showed gratitude and only demanded more.

Whenever she visited, she felt suffocated. Her smiles were forced.

Just as she made up her mind to refuse—whether she got slapped again or not—

“I won’t let my mother go there!”

A child’s voice rang out from the doorway of the drawing room.

Startled, everyone turned toward the source. There stood Bella, flustered, with the head butler beside her.

Elicity hurriedly let down her neatly tied hair to cover her swollen cheek.

“Butler, I believe I instructed you to take Bella to the playroom. Explain this situation to me.”

“Ah, well, the young lady insisted on greeting the Countess of Reten and Lady Bianca since it had been a while since their last visit…”

Rage flared inside her, but—her child was here.

Her beloved daughter.

She couldn’t raise her voice in front of Isabella.

However, since she could still glare, the butler flinched at her menacing expression.

On the other hand, Bianca ran toward Bella as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“My dear, sweet niece! Auntie missed you so much! You remember me, don’t you?”

But to her surprise, Bella frowned and hid behind the butler.

“I don’t like you, Auntie!”

“What?”

“I don’t like Grandma either! I don’t want Mom to go to the Reten Count’s estate! Neither of us will go!”

At Bella’s outburst, everyone froze in place.

The first to react was her grandmother, who had never been fond of Bella.

“Bella, how dare you raise your voice in front of me? And now you say you won’t come to your grandmother’s house? Do you need a spanking to come to your senses?”

“That’s right. Bella, Auntie is hurt, too. Besides, all noble ladies maintain good relationships with their families. You must do what is expected of you. Otherwise, you will be punished.”

“Mother! Bianca!”

In the end, Elicity raised her voice.

“You would spank her? How could you say such a thing?”

“Are you shouting at me right now?”

Ignoring her mother-in-law’s look of disbelief, Elicity hurriedly met Bella’s eyes.

“Bella! Have you heard those kinds of things every time you visited the Count’s estate? Tell me honestly what happened!”

Her in-laws were obsessed with sons, always yearning for a male heir.

Still, since Bella was of their financial provider’s bloodline, they didn’t openly dislike her.

However, judging by Bella’s reaction, it was entirely possible they had tormented her emotionally in places Elicity couldn’t see. Elicity felt an unbearable surge of rage rising within her.

At that moment, Bella sniffled and spoke.

“They always make Mom work…”

“What?”

“There are maids and attendants, but they treat Mom like a servant! They tell her to bring cookies, pour tea! Last time, they said her dress was unfashionable and dismissed her gifts as unimpressive!”

“…”

“My father’s sisters and brothers say it’s only natural since she’s the daughter-in-law, but I hate it! I just want Mom to be happy!”

For a moment, Elicity felt as if her heart had shattered into pieces. She should have reassured Bella that everything was fine, but the words wouldn’t come out.

If she admitted it, it would mean acknowledging that her mother was treated like a servant. And if that were true, then Bella would be the daughter of a servant-like mother.

As Elicity, overwhelmed, pulled Bella into a tight embrace—

“What is all this commotion in my house!”

A thunderous voice shook the drawing room.

It was her husband.

***

The Zeroden Duke’s swordsmanship was famous for its silence.

Like magic, it could split even the continent in half without making a single sound.

His blade severed everything cleanly. If you put the cut pieces back together, they would look as though they had never been separated. The Duke’s swordsmanship was precise and quiet.

At the same time, its reach was vast. When he swung his sword, everything in its range was silently sliced apart.

Creatures cut into pieces would continue to squirm, unaware they had been struck. Even humans died without uttering a single scream.

A swordsman’s technique reflects his nature.

Thus, Alex Zeroden was a calm, composed, and still man. Some would say he was as cold as the depths of winter.

Anyone who faced Alex felt as if they had been frozen, unable to utter a sound.

Those in the knightly order knew well what happened when such a man became truly angry.

‘No one must ever enrage the Knight Commander.’

This was an unspoken rule within the Zeroden Order.

“Butler.”

Alex strode into the drawing room. Beneath his thick brows, his crimson eyes gleamed eerily. The gaze he cast toward his blood relatives was anything but familial.

The butler trembled like an aspen leaf before barely managing to part his lips.

“Yes? Ah, yes.”

“Why… is my daughter on the verge of tears, and why is my wife comforting her?”

His voice, like the bitter northern wind, swept through the drawing room.

The cold, oppressive air filled every corner in an instant.

The butler lowered his head, unable to speak. The next target of Alex’s wrath was the head steward.

“Celon.”

“Y-Yes!?”

“The butler seems unable to answer. You tell me. What is the reason for this?”

“Well, that is…”

The atmosphere grew sharper.

A killing aura.

The knights following Alex unconsciously gripped their swords.

Meanwhile, Elicity was a little taken aback.

This was the first time Alex had ever shown such fury toward his mother and sister.

The Alex she knew was always respectful to his family. He had been the epitome of a devoted son and a dutiful brother.

Rather than hoarding his wealth, Alex generously shared it with his family and even supported his incompetent half-brothers.

She had never expected him to be this enraged.

Had her husband’s personality been different twenty years ago?

As Elicity recalled the past, a hand suddenly entered her field of vision.

A rough, calloused hand reached close to her cheek.

“…Did someone slap you?”