Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 176

“Count!”

“And, Baron, I trust by now you understand that His Excellency follows due process thoroughly.”

Baron Bloom breathed heavily.

This was unfair. Unfair.

It was only a minor criticism of a lady Baron from Arren—how could this be happening? But she was also a Duchess.

The Duke had enough influence to obliterate a lineage with a single statement.

“Wait, please wait. I need time to think.”

“Take your time.”

Count Goerdeler politely adjusted his mustache as he responded.

“I’ll leave these proposals for your consideration. They might help you think.”

He stood up. His polite smile appeared more like a grim reaper’s to Baron Bloom.

* * *

This was not only a problem for the Bloom family but also for Ludendorff.

Marquis Ludendorff was furious.

Bang! Crash!

A paperweight thrown in anger bounced off the floor and rolled several times.

Glass and gas lamps shattered, and an overturned ink bottle stained the carpet.

The Marchioness stood head bowed amidst the chaos, hands clasped as if she was a criminal.

“I told you it was important! I said we must forge a good relationship with the Duke and Duchess through this event!”

“De, Dear…”

“How do you manage people, letting such a fool slip through? Are you even fit to be the mistress of Ludendorff?!”

Marquis Ludendorff screamed.

“That’s why they say Ludendorff’s social circle is ruined, gone!”

“Does blaming me make you feel better?”

Unable to bear it any longer, the Marchioness raised her voice.

“What could I have done? They say I’m just a Baron’s daughter who got lucky with the position of Marchioness, but no one listens to me!”

Marchioness Ludendorff’s eyes were red as she shouted.

“What else does our family have to show besides the support from Augusta? Or have you ever fully taken my side?”

“Hah, this woman?”

“Or have you ever protected me as thoroughly as Duke Klausener protected his wife? Would you have grabbed Baron Bloom by the collar for me?”

He wouldn’t have done that. Marquis Ludendorff might have ignored it if it were an insult directed at him, perhaps pretending to be magnanimous.

She knew it, and so did the Marquis himself.

“Talk sense! The Duke is from Klausener!”

“And just as you cannot manage high society like the Empress or the Duchess, I can’t either!”

“Are you saying you did well now?”

The Marquis screamed again. The Marchioness turned around sharply.

As she walked away, tears fell from her cheeks.

“Ah, Mother.”

Horst, who had been hesitating in the hallway in front of the study, called out in dismay, but the Marchioness simply walked away.

“Ha, incredible, really.”

The Marquis muttered to himself.

Horst cautiously peeked into the study. The Marchioness was sitting at his desk, his head back, hands covering his face.

“Father, I’m back.”

“Horst?”

The Marchioness spoke with a tone full of displeasure. Horst cautiously mentioned,

“I’ve secured agreement from Baron Gagern.”

He deliberately did not say uncle because it was right after his father had shouted at his mother.

“That’s at least some good news.”

The Duke lowered his hands and looked at Horst with bloodshot eyes.

“Most of the conditions you mentioned were agreed upon, and negotiations on the investment and shares are finalized. County Krozik has offered to increase the investment from what was initially discussed.”

“That’s also fortunate.”

Marquis Ludendorff felt his head throbbing.

“Father.”

Horst called him carefully.

He had already heard about the incident at the tea party.

The situation had become quite awkward. The generous treatment promised to Baron Gagern was decided on the premise of involving the Klausener family in this project.

But after paying all the compensation due to Baron Gagern, there would be no funds left for mining development.

If they asked Krozik for more investment, that side’s share would increase, potentially reducing their own significance.

“Ha….”

Marquis Ludendorff sighed deeply.

“What if I go to apologize?”

“To Duchy Klausener?”

“Not managing our guests properly is our family’s responsibility. Mother and I will go and apologize.”

Horst suggested that.

“I’ve heard that Duke Klausener is a reasonable person. It wasn’t our family that made the irreversible mistake, was it?”

“Well, that’s true. Managing high society is your mother’s role, and it has nothing to do with men’s affairs.”

“Yes. We still need to apologize, though.”

Marquis Ludendorff pondered for a moment before responding.

“You’re right. It would be better to send Hermann.”

“Really?”

“He has a connection with the Duchess.”

Moreover, Hermann had tried to intervene with Bruno at the event.

Truthfully, it was proper for him to personally go and apologize to the Duke and Duchess, but he did not want to because of his pride.

He would gladly make an effort to socialize with the Duke under normal circumstances, but the idea of apologizing to a young couple, when he hadn’t done anything wrong, was somewhat distasteful.

Horst looked visibly flustered.

“But Father.”

“What difference would it make if you apologize? Your mother too. She was the hostess there, yet the Duke left without even a greeting.”

The Marquis clicked his tongue, behaving like someone inconvenienced by the missteps of an incompetent subordinate.

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