Doris shouted again, as if she had gained courage.
"Yeah. Mother is a liar and a hypocrite, and also, she is someone who habitually abuses children!"
"It looks like my ex-daughter-in-law promised you something, but who are you to stand here and yell at me?"
Yurizella looked around at the people, as if thinking of escaping the ballroom soon.
"This woman is an uninvited guest, so kick her out immediately! You don't all believe that, do you?"
However, the sound of people fanning the flames only grew louder.
No one would miss out on this interesting gossip.
Then, Asha pushed Doris behind her and encouraged Yurizella to make a decision.
"Mother, please make your choice now."
Asha approached Yurizella again and continued speaking kindly.
"If you accept Ms. Viache's child, the bloodline left behind by your beloved son, I may not be able to return custody of Linea, but I will consider visitation rights."
"What?"
"If what you say is true, Mother, you just want to be good to Linea, don't you? You want to do what is best for the child."
Yurizella was simply at a loss as things went increasingly differently than expected.
"You certainly aren't doing this just to take Linea back for the trial, are you? Surely you didn't cause this commotion to sway public opinion in your favor?"
Yurizella blushed upon hearing Asha's words, which seemed to say, "That can't be true."
"For my mother's sake, I went to see Ms. Viache, my husband's mistress, and personally introduced her to my mother like this."
"You, you wicked thing. It was a trap from the start."
Yurizella muttered in a voice filled with malice, glaring at Asha.
"If Mother hadn't caused such a commotion, would people have even cared who I brought home?"
"You... don't live like that. You cunning little thing!"
"Even though I didn't receive a single penny of the inheritance my ex-husband left me, I was moved by Linea, who had grown up abused, so I brought her out."
Then, Asha took out a recording magic tool from her pocket.
Upon seeing this, Yurizella's eyes wavered.
"Do you think I wouldn't be able to see this in front of people?"
"..."
"If you are so determined to take Linea away by force, please think once again about how much you have to lose as well before you act."
Asha pressed on without giving Yurizella a moment to think.
"And as soon as Ms. Viache gives birth, we will proceed with a paternity test and initiate legal action regarding child support and the miscarriage. We will provide special assistance as well."
"Seriously, why are you acting like this? If you hated me that much, you could have just said it."
There was no way to escape anywhere.
Asha firmly drew a line because she found the content of what Yurizella was saying, while trembling uncontrollably, absurd.
"If talking it out between you and me could have resolved it in the first place, would you have planned to humiliate me in front of everyone like this?"
Upon hearing that, even Yurizella had nothing to say.
"So, if you truly care about Linea, please turn back now."
Yurizella looked around.
Until just moments ago, even her friends had taken a step back from cheering her on and offering words of encouragement.
It felt as if she could hear the ladies whispering beyond the fanning.
"Good heavens, what else could have driven the ex-daughter-in-law to hold hands with the mistress?"
"Seeing as you're staying silent, it seems there really is some evidence."
Eventually, unable to bear the humiliation, she sprang to her feet and hurriedly slipped through the crowd.
Only low laughter trailed behind Yurizella like a long tail.
And Asha looked around at the people and smiled sweetly again, just like before.
"The spectacle is over, so I think it would be best to resume the ball."
At this, Carcel, who had been gazing at his wife as if she were the most lovable being in the world, opened his mouth.
"Of course. I will start the fourth dance right now."
At those words, the host of today's ball, who was wary of the conflict between those of higher status than himself, urgently signaled the orchestra.
Then, as if nothing had happened, the music began to play joyfully again.
With one person's existence easily swallowed up in the joyful music.
***
The ball is finally over, and I have arrived at the Marquis's mansion!
I held Doris's hand as we rode together in the carriage to the Marquis's mansion and said.
"Doris, stay at my place tonight. I'll find you a townhouse in a safe area of the capital tomorrow."
"I really... I don't know how to express my gratitude."
"You don't need to thank me. Doris showed enough courage for me today."
Doris gripped my hand even tighter.
"Please call me if you need me in the future. If my testimony regarding that person is required, I will gladly do so."
"If necessary. Until then, Doris, please stay at ease so the baby can grow up well."
Once the child is born, I plan to engage in a full-scale legal battle with the Count of Delmore.
"Ms. Viache, I will escort you to your room."
So, Doris followed the servant and entered the mansion first.
And I smiled at Carcel, who was standing behind me.
"Carcel, thank you for today."
"Asha did everything today, so why should you thank me?"
"You trusted me, didn't you? And you even allowed Doris to stay at the Marquis's mansion."
At those words, he let out a sound like air escaping from somewhere.
"Asha, you don't need to thank me for such trivial things. Even if you were to gather all your relatives and live at the Marquis's mansion for the rest of your life, I would just accept it."
"Carcel is a real pushover."
At those words, he let out a meaningless laugh.
"Asha, you really... didn't you really need to go out of your way to provide Miss Viache with a safe place to stay and living expenses?"
It was like that.
Even if I had no relationship with my ex-husband, the fact that she is his mistress doesn't change. But...
"First of all, it breaks my heart to see a pregnant woman living in such a place, holding her breath, and my mother-in-law is bound to be seen as a disadvantage in court. Why would I begrudge the money?"
"Is that so?"
Carcel bumped his forearm against my shoulder as if to tease me.
I nodded as I looked into those eyes filled with a smile.
"Carcel probably wanted to solve it differently today, too, but I was grateful that you were patient and waited as I advised."
"...Did you know?”
"Honestly, if only my troublesome ex-mother-in-law would disappear, things might be resolved peacefully, but she wouldn't be properly punished, would she?"
I smiled awkwardly.
"It’s just my wishful thinking that this matter be cleanly resolved so that when Linea grows up and wonders what happened to her grandmother, no bitterness remains."
"Do whatever Asha wants."
Carcel spoke kindly to me.
At those words, I grinned and asked.
“Then shall we go in?”
This time, as I extended my hand first, Carcel briefly cast an unreadable gaze at me.
"Huh?"
As I tilted my head in confusion, Carcel chuckled and eventually held my hand.
A cool hand that instantly wrapped around mine led me home.
'When we get home, Linea will be sound asleep, and we'll fall asleep together in the bedroom again.'
I blushed because I felt like we were somehow becoming a real family.
It was then that we entered the Marquis's mansion together.
"Have you arrived? Um... I have something urgent to tell you."
The butler whispered to us in a low voice.
“What’s going on?”
The butler answered Carcel, who was asking that.
"Miss Linea is ill."
"Yes?!"
Completely unexpected news struck.
***
Carcel couldn't apply an ice pack to Linea's whole body because she was a girl, but he had gone out in the middle of the night to procure more necessary items, starting with ice.
The child's body was already boiling with fever.
'It’s a relief that it ended this way, thanks to the maids who noticed the pain and took action.'
I dipped a towel in a basin of cold water, took it out, and wiped Linea's body several times.
Fortunately, the attending physician said it was just a common cold and body aches.
The child groaned pitifully, with their cheeks flushed red.
"Ugh, Mommy."
"Linea, oh my, my little one, you were sick, but Mommy wasn't here. I'm sorry."
I brushed Linea's hair back and finished.
This is the first time I've seen Linea in this much pain.
Linea smiled weakly at me as I blamed myself for going to the ball and failing to notice that the child was sick, even though I knew it wasn't a serious illness.
Even though she can barely open her eyes, she is happy whenever I call her name.
“It’s mommy.”
The child, perhaps enjoying the sensation of the cold towel, pressed their soft cheek tightly against my touch.
And she rubbed against it.
"It feels so good."
"It feels good, Linea? But you need to take your medicine."
You must eat quickly to recover quickly.
Linea, who would normally be composed, became more spoiled because she was sick.
The child groaned and shook their head.
I was surprised by that.
It’s the first time I’ve seen Linea reject me so blatantly, so it’s fascinating, but it also makes me think she’s become that comfortable with me, so I find her adorable.
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