Chapter 91

To Aaron, Lennox was not only his sister’s husband but also a long-time friend. The fact that he believed her story despite that was something she was grateful for.  

Which made what she was about to say even harder.  

“I don’t know how this will sound…”  

Aaron swallowed nervously, waiting for her next words.  

After a deep breath, Harriet spoke quietly.

“You won’t believe it, but I think Marianne’s fall… might have been orchestrated by Lennox.”  

“What… do you mean by that?”  

Aaron froze, blinking incredulously as though he couldn’t trust his ears.  

“That Lennox… had something to do with the accident?”  

“I understand it’s hard to believe. But I have my suspicions.”  

“What kind of suspicions?”  

“To explain that…”  

Harriet would have to start with what Lennox had done three years ago. But she wasn’t sure if Aaron would believe her about that part. After hesitating for a moment and opening her mouth as though to speak, Harriet quietly shook her head.  

“I’ll tell you about it later.”  

“What are you talking about?”  

Aaron jumped to his feet, clutching his head in frustration.  

“Yvonne hasn’t told me the full story, and now you’re doing this too. What am I supposed to do?”  

“I’m sorry. That’s all I can say for now.”  

Harriet let out a heavy sigh and cradled her belly. Seeing her like that, Aaron, who had been about to argue further, finally gave in.  

“Alright.”  

“Aaron!”  

Harriet stood up and grabbed his hand, deeply grateful for his understanding.  

“Have I ever won against you? No, not even when we were kids, especially not now.”  

“No, you haven’t. That’s true.”  

Aaron had always been kind, considerate, and thoughtful. Overcome with emotion, Harriet pulled him into a hug. After patting her back a few times, Aaron gently pulled away.  

“You’ve grown so soft since you got pregnant, Sister. You even cry now.”  

“Well, I guess it has had some effect.”  

Harriet chuckled faintly and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the tears pooling in her eyes.  

“How is Yvonne? I couldn’t talk to her much the last time I was here.”  

Aaron sat beside her on the couch after helping her sit down again.  

“She’s doing well. We’re probably getting married next year.”  

“Really?”  

“Yes. I’ll introduce her to Father and Mother, and then we’ll visit her family right after.”  

“Congratulations, even if it’s a bit early.”  

It was a marriage between two of her most cherished people. Feeling genuine happiness for the first time in a while, Harriet smiled warmly.  

“You two are a perfect match. All those years of pining after Yvonne were worth it, Aaron.”  

“S-Sister, come on. I didn’t…”  

Blushing, Aaron averted his gaze and quickly changed the subject.  

“But the issue with Claire is real.”  

“Yes.”  

“You have the contract, don’t you? Did you bring it, by any chance?”  

“Aaron.”  

Harriet sighed softly and spoke with honesty.  

“You and I both know it’s wrong to take a child away from their mother.”  

“Well…”  

Aaron hesitated, clearly flustered, before responding seriously.  

“But that child is Theo’s. She could inherit the Vanetti Earldom someday.”  

“She’s a girl, isn’t she?”  

“Father’s perspective has changed recently. He says there’s no reason a woman can’t inherit the family if she’s capable.”  

It was an unexpected shift. Harriet widened her eyes in surprise, unable to respond immediately. Aaron smiled faintly at her reaction.  

“It’s thanks to all your hard work, Sister. You’ve managed to change Father’s once rigid beliefs.”  

“…”  

“And since she’s the first child of our family, Father would adore her, even if she’s illegitimate. Mother would feel the same.”  

After a brief silence, Harriet, who had been quietly listening, shook her head.  

“But this isn’t right, Aaron.”  

“What?”  

“It doesn’t matter if it’s the Vanetti Earldom or even the royal family. Forcing a mother to give up her child is wrong.”  

This was a conclusion she had reached after much thought. Initially, she had thought it absurd for a child to grow up under someone like Claire. That was why she had secured the contract. Her resentment toward her own mother had likely played a part as well.  

But over time, Harriet had grown fond of Claire, realizing that she wasn’t the woman she had seemed at first. She had even visited her mother’s grave and resolved the misunderstandings she had harbored.  

It was true that Claire had done something unforgivable by having a child with a married man. That would never change.  

But the child born from that situation was innocent.  

“Father will be furious. You know he’d never let go of his grandchild.”  

“That’s true… but wrong is wrong. Claire loves her child and has the potential to be a good mother.”  

“What about Sister-in-law Olivia?”  

“Aaron.”  

“She’d surely be a great mother. She’s gentle and has so many admirable qualities.”  

Aaron wasn’t wrong. But he wasn’t the same kind of person as Harriet. After a moment of silence, Harriet calmly tried to persuade her brother.  

“Making Olivia raise that child would create yet another victim. What could be crueler than asking her to raise a child her husband fathered with another woman?”  

“Well…”  

Aaron lowered his gaze, unable to refute her argument.  

“So, are you saying we should just let it go? Even though we know that child is Theo’s daughter and my niece?”  

“I’m saying we should find a compromise. Not force things.”  

Given Claire’s personality, if the situation escalated to the point where her child was taken from her, she might decide to run away. That would put not only her fragile postnatal body but also the newborn at risk.  

“Let Claire raise her child as the mother, but allow us to see her occasionally. Maybe she could even stay at the estate sometimes.”  

“Would she… agree to that?”  

“If we grant her custody, it’s possible. She’ll need financial support to raise the child, of course. That’s only natural. I doubt she’d oppose having a family who loves her child.”  

Aaron fell silent, processing the unexpected compromise. Harriet stood up, brushing off her dress.  

“We can discuss what to do next later, with Yvonne as well.”  

“Stay a bit longer.”  

“I’ve stayed long enough.”  

Harriet smiled brightly, grabbed her coat, and walked toward the door. Aaron followed her to open it but suddenly called out.  

“Sister.”  

“Yes?”  

“You didn’t think well of Claire at first, did you? You thought she was vulgar, selfish, and only cared about money.”  

“I did.”  

“What changed your mind? Was it because you’re having a child too?”  

“Well… I suppose that did have some influence.”  

Harriet admitted honestly, shrugging her shoulders.  

“But getting to know her changed my perspective. I thought she only cared about money, but she was someone who would knit clothes for her child.”  

“…Like how a coin has two sides, so does a person.”  

“Exactly.”  

Impressed by his quick understanding, Harriet gently stroked her brother’s cheek for the first time in a while.  

“Well, I’m off.”  

“I’ll call for a carriage.”  

“No need. I’ll walk to the main road and catch a passing carriage. I’d like to take a look around anyway.”  

“Then I’ll come with you. Wait a moment.”  

Aaron hurried upstairs and quickly returned, dressed for an outing.  

***

Although it had been a short outing, Harriet felt exhaustion wash over her as she returned to the Ducal Mansion. Stepping down from the carriage with the escort of the waiting butler, she surveyed the quiet estate.

“Where is he?”  

“He is in the study, Madam. Have you eaten?”  

“Not yet.”  

“If you wash up and come down, you can dine right away.”  

“In the dining room…?”  

Harriet, who had thought she would be confined to her room again as soon as she returned, widened her eyes in surprise. The butler, tilting his head as if confused by her reaction, answered kindly.  

“Yes, His Grace has instructed us to prepare for you to dine together in the dining room for every meal from now on. He mentioned that your health has greatly improved.”  

“Oh.”  

It seemed that was the explanation given to the staff. Harriet felt a twinge of guilt toward the maid who had quietly endured her irritability all this time.  

“Then I will inform His Grace that you have returned.”  

“No.”  

Harriet stopped the butler and shook her head.  

“He’s probably deeply focused right now. I don’t want to disturb him.”  

“Then…”  

“I’ll go to him myself after I wash up. I need to greet him anyway.”  

Would he stop me or let me go?

Harriet asked the question casually, but her mouth felt dry with nervousness.  

However, her tension proved unnecessary, as the butler smiled faintly and nodded.  

“Very well, Madam. I’ll prepare the bathwater.”  

“…Thank you.”  

“Not at all, Madam.”  

Something had clearly changed in Lennox’s attitude. Harriet glanced up toward the second floor, where the study was located, her expression complicated.  

She had thought she would simply wash up and go straight to bed, but that notion melted away like snow as soon as she stepped out of the bath.  

Ever since she was young, Harriet had always been the type to dig into anything that piqued her curiosity or seemed suspicious. She knew that unless she resolved this lingering question, she wouldn’t be able to fall asleep even if she lay in bed.