Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 185

They would probably think that the Duke was simply enraged because his wife was insulted. Claire closed her mouth, feeling annoyed.

What troubled her was not that Erich had made a judgment before following proper procedures, but that he had taken such a unilateral approach. She did not believe his judgment was wrong—Bruno Bloom should never have been given any power, even if it was just a small estate of a local baron.

Erich’s gaze shifted to Joanna. As his cold, piercing eyes fixed on her, Joanna bowed her head deeply once more. A moment of silence enveloped the room.

Realizing that Erich had given her the opportunity to speak, Joanna, with a trembling voice, began.

“I… I will take responsibility and handle the follow-up measures.”

The Duke had already permitted her to use the Bloom family’s estate as her dowry. Therefore, she must take responsibility. She could bear that.

Her parents would likely misunderstand the Duke’s intentions as merely a way to vent his anger and think that some deception would suffice. Joanna knew her father was considering the oldest and sickliest of the collateral relatives as her marriage partner.

She could marry him, use the dowry to transfer the estate, and then, if her husband died, entrust it back to her younger brother. But that wouldn’t solve the issue. What the Duke demanded was for the Bloom family to behave with the dignity of nobility.

A responsible person needed to apologize and impose sanctions on Bruno. Joanna could do this. She was about to turn thirty.

‘Choose a trustworthy person, draw up a contract to divide the family’s rights accurately before my parents intervene, marry, and then take responsibility as the Madam.’

Just as she was about to lift her head with firm resolve, Claire spoke.

“Miss Bloom should inherit the family.”

“What?”

“That’s right. If Erich’s judgment is that neither the Baron and his wife nor the son are suitable, then the daughter must be.”

Joanna was stunned.

“Ah, no. I haven’t been trained as a successor and I’m not the only child. Such a thing…”

“What does that matter? It’s clear that the Lady is far better than your younger brother.”

Claire said.

Joanna looked at Erich in shock. He maintained a neutral expression, neither angry nor mocking. It seemed as if it was no big deal to him.

She took a deep breath. The possibility she had never considered before made her breath quicken.

“Do you really think I could do it?”

“I’m a woman too, but I’m a Baron. There was opposition within the family, but it worked out somehow.”

“But I’m different from the Duchess. I’m just ordinary and…”

“Think it over carefully. If you’re determined, I’ll help you.”

Claire responded.

* * *

The two ladies moved to another room, saying they had more to discuss. Hermann was completely forgotten, but he was not foolish enough to show his displeasure.

In fact, he felt somewhat pleased. Opportunities to see the Duke’s true nature were rare, even if he couldn’t use it as leverage.

With an expression of distaste, Erich asked.

“Are you planning to wait for Aunt?”

“I think the Archduke will stay here tonight. She missed Young Master Elliott quite a bit.”

“Hmm.”

“I intend to see Miss Bloom off when she returns.”

“Do so. Have a carriage prepared.”

“Thank you.”

Hermann did not miss the slight softening of Erich’s expression. He spoke with a hint of amusement.

“Did everything go as you hoped?”

Erich’s gaze turned cold as it swept across Hermann’s face.

Hermann smiled slightly.

“If I noticed, then the Duchess must have known from the beginning. Didn’t you intend for Lady Bloom to inherit the Barony?”

If that were the case, there would have been no need to make such a subtle demand to use the family’s estate as her dowry. While it could be seen as a way to naturally diminish the family name, it did not fit Erich’s style.

Neither the Duke nor Count Goerdeler could have failed to see through the trick that Baron Bloom devised.

Joanna seemed absorbed in thoughts of marriage and might not have noticed, but that was not her fault. An unmarried lady would naturally become fixated on marriage discussions, narrowing her perspective and thoughts.

If Erich intended to erase the family name, he would have simply stripped the title and reduced all family members to commoners without offering such options.

Even though this area was under Ernst’s influence, a single letter of understanding would have sufficed. That’s how dominant the ruling family is.

Despite this, Erich presented the option of entrusting the family’s rights to the eldest daughter. It seemed like a test in itself.

‘If she has ambition, she will come to seize the family’s real power. If she is wise, she will come to see how far she can go.’

Hermann himself had been in a similar position. He had come with ambition. But Joanna Bloom was neither. She had come to apologize to Claire.

This showed that she valued responsibility over personal gain and had the ability to view the situation objectively.

That was enough to faithfully serve the Duke’s purpose. While her abilities were still unknown, her character and sense of responsibility had been proven.

“Opportunities to take on a family with a title as a vassal are rare. This will be a good opportunity for the Duchess, no…”

Hermann corrected himself.

“It will be a good opportunity for Baron Delford. No matter how influential the Duke is, making a Baron a close aide is not an easy task…”

“I’ve long suspected that you like to babble.”

Erich said this with a disdainful tone. However, Hermann understood the threat behind it.

While Roger Carson might have relished breaking the Duke’s impassive demeanor with a few more words, Hermann was someone who pursued success over life’s amusements, so he kept his mouth shut.