I Returned as the Obsessive Duke’s Wife Once Again

Chapter 8 – Part 3

“I’m back.”

As soon as she entered the mansion, Vernon greeted her as if he had been waiting.

“Kristin. Yes, you’re back! I heard about what happened at the Levi Mine. You did very well.”

It seemed the Viscount had been waiting for Kristin’s return without even bothering to change out of his rumpled shirt.

His gaze was fixed solely on Kristin.

“So that mine you told me I should buy before was the Levi Mine? The one that collapsed? If we had bought that, we would have been in trouble.”

“I suppose so. But still, I wanted to become the mine owner.”

“What were you thinking when you recommended that mine to me?”

Vernon was worried about his daughter, but on the other hand, he resented her for insisting on buying a mine that was about to collapse.

In their already difficult financial situation, he had even considered taking out a loan to buy the mine but ultimately failed.

But it wasn’t enough to just recommend purchasing the Levi Mine; she had even saved the workers trapped in the collapse. He couldn’t understand it at all. He doubted where she got the money to act in such a way.

“You, by any chance…”

“Yes, Father?”

“Did your mother Elesia perhaps leave an inheritance for you?”

Kristin was stunned by her father’s words. An inheritance from her mother? If she admitted that there was an inheritance, her father would surely not leave it alone.

Kristin answered, pretending to be completely unaware.

“An inheritance from Mother? I only found out through you that Mother passed away from illness, and I couldn’t even properly see her during her illness. How could I possibly know if there’s an inheritance left behind? Isn’t that right, Father?”

As Kristin continued to speak, the Viscount’s face turned red.

“I merely sold the jewels and used the money to buy the mine cheaper than I thought I could. Are you doubting me now? Father?”

She used to be the child who would cry all day in her room at the mere mention of her mother’s name.

But now, her attitude was somewhat aggressive, as if she knew something, which surprised Vernon.

“Well, that’s right. I sometimes think that if she had gone to a neighboring country and received better treatment, she might be alive today.”

“Do you think so? Do you grieve over Mother’s death as much as I do?”

Kristin hated her father’s hypocrisy intensely.

She could not understand why he had sought out Rose after essentially driving her previous wife to her death.

It was ultimately his actions that had ruined the reputation of the Edith family.

“Of course. I loved Elesia dearly. I chose Rose because she promised to care for you as if you were her daughter.”

“I see. Of course, I knew you would. It’s not like I don’t know how you feel.”

As Kristin spoke to the Viscount, Rose, who was standing nearby, made a displeased expression.

She then remembered that Kristin had become the owner of the collapsed mine and spoke.

“Kristin?”

“Yes, Mother?”

Kristin turned her gaze to Rose and answered slowly.

“Did you suggest to the Viscount to buy the Levi Mine?”

“Yes, I did.”

Now that she was the owner of the mine, she could admit it.

And since it was the same mine where the collapse incident had occurred, Rose would not try to take it away.

Instead, she would surely use the Levi Mine as an excuse to belittle Kristin further.

“You shouldn’t have bothered the Viscount just to buy some insignificant mine like that. If he had listened to you and bought that mine, we’d all be under investigation at the Imperial Palace right now.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“I’ve asked you this many times, but I wish you wouldn’t keep interrupting me when I’m speaking. I may not be your real mother, but I am still your mother, and your constant dismissive behavior towards me is truly unpleasant.”

When Rose said this to her, Kristin turned her head away sharply. Her words were no longer worth listening to.

Rose was one of the main reasons for the downfall of the Edith family.

“It’s not right to keep talking back to your parents. However, I do want to praise you for taking responsibility and handling the incident at the Levi Mine with your effort.”

As Rose spoke those insincere words while looking at Kristin, the Viscount chimed in.

“Kristin, I believe that what you did will improve the standing of the Edith family.”

As the Viscount spoke indecisively, Rose gently patted Kristin on the shoulder.

Seeing this, Vernon, feeling pleased by the interaction, smiled and headed to his study.

Once Vernon was completely out of sight, Rose spoke again.

“We’ll discuss the mine later when we have time. You must be tired, so go rest for now. Oh, and I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

Rose smiled and continued.

“For the upcoming debutante ball at the royal palace, our Elena will be attending. She wants to use fresh flowers for her hair accessories…”

“Yes, and?”

“Lenci’s brother owns a flower shop, and it’s good for both of us to help out in times like this. Since you’re closer to Lenci than we are, I was hoping you could arrange some flowers for Elena.”

“Flowers, you mean?”

“Yes, the most splendid and beautiful flowers. She must stand out the most at the debutante ball.”

“Understood.”

Kristin glanced toward where Lenci was working.

Since entering the mansion, Lenci had gone straight to clean the house and wouldn’t know about this yet.

Kristin wasn’t pleased with Rose’s suggestion. Knowing Rose, she had no intention of helping Lenci, whom she hadn’t liked.

Nevertheless, if she was asking for flowers under the pretext of the debutante ball, it meant she was up to something new.

Kristin glanced at Elena standing beside Rose and then continued speaking.

“I’ll ask Lenci. For now, I’ll go up to my room.”

With that, Kristin went up to her room, while Elena had a mysterious smile on her face.

* * *

‘I wonder what expression Elena would have if she knew I was aware of the past?’

Kristin thought deeply about Elena, who had mocked her the previous night.

After marrying Raphael, Kristin had heard about Elena.

She had heard that after Elena attended the debutante ball, she became friendly with many nobles.

Elena boasted about her stepsister marrying the Duke and becoming a Duchess.

She acted confidently everywhere, claiming to be part of the ducal family and even showing contempt for other nobles.

In the past, Kristin had deliberately turned a blind eye to such things, as dealing with Rose and Elena was more emotionally draining than having nightmares.

That year, Kristin had briefly heard about Elena. Rose was inviting one nobleman after another to the Edith mansion, trying to find a marriage match for Elena.

It was something unimaginable before her marriage to the Duke.

Young noblemen used to turn up their noses at the mention of the Edith family, disliking even speaking with them.

However, the young noblemen who wanted to enter the fallen Edith family were all like Elena.

They pretended to show interest in Elena because they wanted to gain something from or get help from the Duke.

Nobles valued power and wealth above all, so even if it meant a loveless marriage, they desired the backing of Duke Raphael to support their families.

Therefore, Kristin couldn’t give any chances to those who wanted to use the Edith family, not just Elena.

She didn’t want to see anyone being used anymore.

‘A debutante ball? Elena, will you be able to mingle well with the nobles?’

Kristin pondered, comparing her past and present reputation.

Thanks to the incident at the Levi Mine, Kristin Edith’s reputation was slowly changing.

Little by little, nobles were sharing rumors about Kristin, curious about her recent activities.

Rumors of her relationship with the Marquis of Winston had also spread among the nobility, including one that she had deliberately pushed the Duke aside to gain the Marquis’s favor.

However, amid such dirty rumors, there were positive evaluations of Kristin.

She had become the young lady who generously used her jewels to help the commoners.

“My Lady.”

Lenci knocked and spoke to Kristin as she entered the room.

Kristin, who had been sitting on the bed, moved to the table.

She decided to relay Rose’s request to Lenci as it was.

“I brought you a warm drink. You’re staying home to rest today, right?”

Lenci, worried about Kristin who had been overexerting herself for days, asked.

Kristin replied to Lenci.

“I have plans to go out today, Lenci.”

“What? Who are you meeting today? I wish you would just rest today.”

“Lenci.”