Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 186

It took three days for Baron Bloom to confirm that he had been rejected for an audience with Duke Ernst and that there was no chance of gaining access to Ernst’s social circles, which were tightly closed.

Having experienced a similar situation in Ludendorff, he quickly resigned himself to the reality. Duchy Ernst had closed their doors and the social circle would never assist Barony Bloom.

Even if they wanted to help, they likely lacked the means.

‘Tch. It looks like I’ll have to make do with using Joanna’s dowry as a pretext after all.’

Though he was unwilling, there was no avoiding it if he wanted to stay out of Duke Klausener’s sight. Despite Joanna’s occasional jealousy toward her younger brother and rebellion against her parents, she was not fundamentally a bad person.

As a thirty year old spinster, she probably wasn’t expecting anything better than this for a match, as long as she could live with her family.

‘It will be harder to convince my wife, but it won’t take long. The Duke will soon move on to other matters and won’t spend much time worrying about this.’

With this thought, the Baron entered the Bloom residence and frowned when he saw no butler to greet him. The lobby was empty, and there were no servants or maids to welcome him.

“What’s going on? Where is the Madam? Where’s the butler?”

He asked a servant who appeared, looking pale and anxious. The servant bowed his head.

“They are all in the dining hall, waiting for the Master. The family and relatives have also gathered.”

“I see.”

The Baron responded and headed toward the dining hall. The servant’s abrupt shift from avoiding him to showing apparent fear was puzzling.

Creak.

The old dining hall door creaked open. The assembled guests, with tense expressions, turned to look at him. There was no tea set on the long table.

The Baroness turned around with a pale face.

“You’ve arrived, Father?”

Joanna stood up to greet him on behalf of the others. The Baron narrowed his eyes and surveyed the ominous atmosphere of the dining hall.

“What is this? Where is Bruno?”

“Bruno has been sent to the hospital. He’s in a sanatorium in Niberg.”

“You dare act on your own without my permission!”

Baron Bloom roared in anger.

Joanna looked at him with a blank expression. If she didn’t show her reliability now, the loyalty of the vassals and collateral relatives would waver. More importantly, it was glaringly obvious that her father was nothing more than a pitiful figure who could only shout at his subordinates.

She continued calmly.

“They say the place is accustomed to dealing with alcoholics. Since Father and Mother have failed in their parental responsibilities, it falls to me as the older sister.”

“Joanna! No, you! Did you let this child get away with this?”

Baron Bloom shouted at the Baroness this time, but she remained pale and silent. She was already in no position to do anything about it. Bruno had been dragged away yesterday afternoon.

[How dare you! How dare lowly servants defy my orders?]

[Let go of me! Let go!]

[You scoundrels, I won’t let you get away with this!]

[Ah! Ah! You filthy wretch!!]

Bruno had thrown himself on the floor, struggling and cursing in a desperate attempt to avoid being taken away. However, the butler and servants, following Joanna’s orders, seized his limbs and dragged him out of the mansion.

The Baroness tried to intervene, but no one paid any attention to her.

As the servants threw Bruno into the carriage, Joanna personally locked it from the outside. There were sounds of him scratching at the carriage doors and screaming, but Joanna’s heart was unmoved by such scenes.

[Make sure he is delivered to the hospital. And ensure that if Bruno tries to escape, we will reclaim the donation.]

[Understood, Miss Joanna.]

To ensure everything was handled correctly, Joanna assigned the task of escorting Bruno to the hospital to the most proactive of her vassals. Bruno would likely never leave the hospital again.

Though dealing with the Duchess’s issues was also important, Joanna had decided to punish Bruno and found that there were numerous offenses to address. There were many vassal children who had been assaulted and maidservants who had been harassed by Bruno.

[Are you out of your mind? Who do you think you are, acting so recklessly? Do you actually believe that Duke Klausener has given our family to you as your dowry?]

Baroness Bloom screamed in a fit of rage.

[Do you think the Duke is really backing you up? How dare you treat Bruno like this? Our heir! How did we raise you!]

Joanna chose not to respond. Each word felt like a sharp knife slicing into her heart, but she didn’t even spare a glance.

Claire had advised her beforehand.

[You should know that such people cannot be reasoned with. If they were capable of rational thought, they wouldn’t side with your younger brother in the first place.]

[Yes…]

[It’s hard to ignore your mother’s words, but just don’t listen and don’t respond. What’s important and certain is the family’s rights and the practical power to support them. The people you need to persuade are not your parents but the vassals.]

If one cannot command anyone, one cannot be the master.

If employees refuse to follow, vassals abandon their fealty, and collateral relatives ignore the main family, what use is a name registered as the head of a noble house in the House of Lords?

As Joanna remained silent, the Baroness tried to grab her by the hair, but the butler intervened.

Everyone knew how to save the family, but no one had stepped forward with the qualifications to be the new master. Joanna realized this fact, and also that everyone was waiting for her.

Thus, there was no hesitation.