Obviously, It's My Child - Chapter 127
But it wasn’t so. He needed to know. He had to confirm.
That’s why he came to the reception hall.
And there he encountered this brief performance.
Unaware of Iris’s grasp, he brushed off her hand. Iris looked down at the hand, then at Count Schneider and exclaimed again, “Dad!” as she reached for it.
Many eyes were on her. They also looked at Count Schneider and the actress on stage.
Since Maximilian didn’t intervene, the Count stepped onto the small stage without any hesitation.
And with a voice close to sobbing, he asked.
“If it’s not too forward, may I ask the lady’s name…?”
“My name is Lina.”
“Your parents?”
“I don’t have a mother or father.”
Lina answered with a voice as calm and gentle as her tone. It was a composed attitude, as if she had prepared for everything.
“I heard my mother was murdered when I was six. My grandmother fled with me. But she never told me my mother’s name, saying it was better not to know.”
“Mrs. Grace…”
“You know her. Yes, that’s my grandmother’s name.”
Count Schneider gasped for breath. Mrs. Grace was the housekeeper who took care of his lover’s home. His lover had disappeared with her when she left.
“Evangeline.”
The Count barely managed to say with a voice squeezed out.
“That’s, Lady’s, mother’s name.”
“Ah…”
Count Schneider saw the turmoil in Lina’s blue eyes.
Her eyes were exactly the same.
“My, daughter…”
He whispered hoarsely.
“My daughter, my daughter…”
He collapsed onto the floor, drained of strength. Then, clutching the hem of the woman’s dress, he wept bitterly.
* * *
Finally, the guests invited to the house had left.
Despite various excuses for not attending the reception, it was impossible to ignore two Archdukes of the empire and Grand Prince Arren.
Especially since Archduke Victoria had traveled the long distance from her estate to the capital to attend the wedding. Even though the journey was made by train, it wasn’t easy for an elderly person.
So, after seeking understanding for not attending the reception hall, a small banquet was held at the Duke’s residence’s dining table. It goes without saying that James was delighted to have the opportunity to dine with the ‘Your Highnesses’.
It was also an occasion to introduce Elliott. The plan had been not to present him in public until his formal registration, but that couldn’t apply to relatives.
After Archduke Victoria complained of fatigue and Lady Bettina slyly withdrew, claiming not to disturb the newlyweds, they finally returned to their private chambers.
It was late at night when they returned to their inner chambers.
Claire, throwing off her shoes haphazardly in the living room, lamented.
“I feel like I’m going to die of exhaustion.”
“Don’t use vulgar language.”
“What else should I say when I feel like dying?”
“Bad habits rub off on Elliot.”
“Give me some water. And a hug.”
Erich sighed, turned a glass of water upside down on the table, filled it, and drank it himself.
“Oh, really!”
Before she could complain a second time, his lips descended onto Claire’s, moistening her lips. The water trickled into her slightly parted mouth.
“It’s gotten lukewarm.”
Claire, despite her complaint, willingly stole the moisture from his mouth.
Erich wrapped his arms around her waist. Lifting her slightly against gravity, her feet felt relieved.
“Why didn’t you make the shoes more comfortable?”
“What are you saying? From head to toe, everything must be a complete set. I can’t just make the shoes less pretty.”
Claire said so, then sighed briefly.
Erich said, sensing her thoughts.
“The reception is still going on. Worrying now won’t change anything.”
“Don’t you think I was too much on the Count?”
“You did what you thought was necessary. There’s no need for regret.”
“The end doesn’t always justify the means.”
“The purpose and the means aren’t really for you to decide. Lina has the greatest right to decide, and compared to her, even the Count isn’t that significant.”
“That’s true.”
Claire was cautious about whether she had made this decision out of selfishness.
Lina responded to this with a smile.
[I know that Lady Claire isn’t doing this just for money.]
[Miss Lina…]
[I’ve been working in theaters since I was very young. I know that the only thing that can make a star’s name be forgotten is a new star.]
Lina also understood the value attached to the name Lady Iris.
To completely clean up the misdeeds committed by Countess Schneider, Iris’s reputation needed to be entirely removed. Iris could no longer be the prima donna or the soprano soloist.
Because if that remained, she might eventually recover.
[It doesn’t have to be done by using Miss Lina.]
[But you want to take everything from Iris and give it to me.]
Lina spoke with a composure that exceeded Claire’s expectations.
[Usually, people call that a favor.]
[Being the subject of public talk is never easy.]
[I wanted to be a singer, Lady Claire. Do you think someone like me would dislike being the talk of the town?]
Lina said with a slight smile.
[And to become the model for Lady Claire’s diamonds, I need to be famous, right?]
[Umm…]
[And why wouldn’t I want revenge? The position originally belonged to me.]
[Miss Lina…]
[Not just the status of the Count’s daughter… but also the life of singing without worries, that was originally mine.]
Thus, Claire orchestrated the events of today.
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