Obviously, It’s My Child - Chapter 84

Chapter 84

Translator: Effe

Editor: Yonnee

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Claire continued speaking without hesitation.

“I will send out invitations to Klausener’s employees, to students from the territories who attend the academy, to all of the retainers, to the Delford family’s business partners, and, if possible, to all the middle-class people I have had business with.”

“It will be controversial.”

“That’s why I’m trying to secure the grand cathedral.”

Within the church, although people of the same rank tended to sit together, there was no such thing as a complete segregation of space.

“I see. There is no problem with the budget, and even if further increases are required, all you have to do is say the word.”

“Thank you.”

Claire smiled, but she wasn’t feeling so serene on the inside.

‘There are people who want to stop the marriage, so it’s better to do it with more intimidation.’

If it was clear that it was because of the grudge or because of Elliot, Claire would have cowered.

If she could get over the storm by getting on her knees and prostrating, she was willing to do so.

But she didn’t. Whether the ultimate goal was the interests of the Klausener family, Rommel supremacy, or matters concerning love, what the other party took issue with was the marriage itself.

If the goal was to eliminate her, they would have tried another way. It was much easier to attack her with a dagger on the road at night, like how Nora Hoffman had been killed, or to attempt poisoning at once with a poison as strong as cyanide.

They must have had many opportunities since she had never bothered to take a bodyguard with her.

But why would they bother making a case against Louisa and drugging her congratulatory drink at the engagement party?

Whether it succeeded or failed, they tried to bury her socially by raising the scandal to an unbearable level.

She felt goosebumps at the malice directed at her. Did they do that just because of the marriage?

Claire would never bow down to someone like that.

‘If they act passively, I will become more energetic and wreak havoc.’

She will grab them and toss them around.

But she couldn’t do it right now. The link was cut when Nora Hoffman died.

Louisa knew nothing, and nothing was found in her room, nor in the Belf Marquisate.

All she could confirm now was that the drug in the congratulatory drink was an opium alkaloid.

But what exactly it was remained unclear. This was not yet an era where all ingredients could be identified with certainty through a chemical analysis.

Opiates were found in Louisa’s room and in the house of Marquis Belf, but it wasn’t anywhere close to conclusive evidence. In this time, morphine was prescribed as a headache medicine.

It was an opportunity for her to decide to personally check all prescriptions, even for her own family.

For now, she had no choice but to continue the investigation and wait for the opponent to move.

‘I can’t believe Wilhelm is so cooperative.’

Meanwhile, Maximilian, who was standing guard at one side of the office and watching the scene, was surprised.

Wilhelm had a demanding and conservative personality. Since Claire was Erich’s chosen wife-to-be, Maximilian was expecting that the butler might serve her with respect, but he would hold the strings of the household’s pockets. Of course, except for the budget specifically allocated to the duchy’s internal affairs.

Well, Maximilian had to admit that he was the same.

Although it was an emergency, three days after Erich’s collapse, he opened up all the information on the Security Department he had to Claire and began to take orders from her.

He judged that he could place his faith in her, both in terms of ability and trust.

If Wilhelm, the financial manager, and himself, the head of the security department, were to kneel… It would be as if the whole of Klausener had been taken over.

She was already holding both money and power, which were the core forces that maintain the family.

‘Because of this situation, I accepted her as the family head’s proxy easily, but if I hadn’t seen her in action with my own two eyes, I probably would have taken a little longer to warm up to her. Was His Grace… deliberately aiming for that?’

It was a bit unconvincing that Erich did it simply because he was worried about Claire, but now, it seemed like Maximilian could understand.

Perhaps he had too many thoughts to himself, Claire’s question brought him to his senses.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Oh, I apologize.”

“To apologize like that is a bit… Never mind.”

Claire sighed and looked around the office.

Papers overflowed not only on the desk, but also on the tea table, so they brought more desks and filing cabinets, but there were too many papers piled up that it was going to topple over.

She felt it again. But she couldn’t help it. There was not much she could entrust to others.

“Ugh…”

“Why don’t you take a break? The non-urgent matters can be postponed until His Grace recovers.”

“That is true. Being in a rush won’t solve anything.”

He wouldn’t have told her to hand it over to the secretary, but on Erich’s hand, she would be handing over five to six times that amount.

‘I’m sure I’m doing three people’s shares. Maybe.’

If the proxy can do three shares, she should do seventeen shares.

Claire stood up.

“Thank you for caring. Please tell the aides to leave work as soon as the work is finished today.”

“I will convey it.”

“It’s just moving inside the house anyway. That’s okay. I’m going to see Erich.”

Maximilian bowed his head and said farewell. Claire left the office.

* * *

It was a secret from Claire, but Erich was meeting a guest at that time.

It was not being held at an official reception room, but a small reception room attached to the living room.

The guest was Count Schneider.

“It’s been a while, Count. Pardon me for bringing you to a place like this.”

“No, I should thank you for giving me the opportunity to apologize for the disgrace my daughter has done.”

Count Schneider lowered his head. When he heard what Iris had done the other day, he was stunned and did not know what to do.

[ Didn’t I tell you not to go? Even if you had no sense, rumors had spread in the social world, you didn’t know what people would say to you if you showed up there! ]

It was the first time he had ever scolded his daughter so loudly. It broke his heart to see Iris crying so hard that her whole face was red and swollen, but it was her fault nonetheless.

[ Why can’t you understand me? I know that you adore Duke Erich, so I haven’t said anything until now. Just in case the day might come that your feelings are reciprocated. ]

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