TDWO Chapter 23
by xxsiennaIn fact, Edwin didn’t have even a nominal wife in the original story.
He had fallen deeply in love with Princess Erze at today’s ball, but he hadn’t married anyone, not even by name, to express his genuine feelings for her.
As a result, Elizabeth, the Grand Duchess, was deeply heartbroken and spent many nights soaking her pillowcase in tears.
Anri, if she were in Elizabeth’s position, would surely be upset too.
Who would be pleased knowing that such a remarkable son as Edwin had dedicated his body and soul to a queen?
That said, Erze did not make Edwin her consort (the queen’s husband).
The disgraced queen’s man
Anri still remembered how Elizabeth had even wept and vowed to tear that queen to pieces.
Nevertheless, Edwin didn’t give up on Erze, despite his mother’s anger and pleas.
Even when Erze had merely given Edwin partial affection and hurt, weighing him between politics, reason, and emotion.
Anri felt a pang of unease as she looked at Edwin’s profile.
A sudden anxiety struck her: What if he already knew Erze?
The fact that Edwin’s marriage proposal was a deviation from the original plot made her wonder what else had changed.
Or what if he met Erze for the first time after today?
“Everyone!”
Anri was jolted by the Grand Duchess’s suddenly louder voice.
She hadn’t even heard what the Grand Duchess had been saying until now.
However, she clearly saw large teardrops glistening in the Grand Duchess’s eyes, like precious jewels.
The Grand Duchess, now deeply emotional, took a deep breath.
The two hands clasped over her abdomen trembled faintly.
Everyone watching was so anxious that it felt like the blood in their bodies had turned cold.
“I earnestly hope you will congratulate us. Finally, my worthless son has found his lifelong companion.”
With a trembling voice, the Grand Duchess finished speaking and extended a hand as if pointing somewhere.
It was towards where Anri and Edwin were standing.
Only then did the nobles stop glancing furtively and begin to openly look at Anri.
Finally, the Grand Duchess, with a face filled with tears of emotion and regret, shouted,
“Miss Anri Wentworth of the Wentworth family!”
Anri’s eyes widened, and she couldn’t even breathe.
As a brief silence passed, the nobles began to clap one by one, and soon the applause turned into a thunderous roar.
Cheers and whistles followed.
The quick-witted string quintet didn’t miss the opportunity and launched into a brilliant, cheerful performance.
…Oh.
It felt like she might faint.
Haha…
How They Ended Up Getting Married
Inside the drawing room, a strange yet subtle feeling of awkwardness lingered.
The elegant and wealthy drawing room’s walls, which appeared to be something out of a classic painting or film, were adorned with portraits and landscape paintings.
The decorations showcased luxurious elegance in their appropriate places.
The numerous gaps and decorations between the frames meant there was ample space for dust to settle comfortably.
However, even at a glance, it seemed the drawing room was tidied two or three times a day, as not a speck of dust was visible. The air was also pleasant.
…That must mean there are quite a few servants, and the management is thorough.
The operational status of the Briston Duchy was clearly evident from the drawing room alone.
Anri, after briefly surveying the drawing room with her eyes, clasped her hands demurely.
Grand Duchess Elizabeth sat on the opposite sofa, trying to suppress her excitement as she appraised Anri.
They had already exchanged most of the greetings one would share upon first meeting.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Grand Duchess.”
Or,
“I’m also delighted and pleased to meet you, Miss Wentworth.”
After that, the Duchess politely, or perhaps out of curiosity, asked about Anri’s age and family, to which Anri responded calmly, accurately, and kindly.
She had to explain, quite thoroughly, where the Wentworth family was located.
The Grand Duchess tried to feign unfamiliarity and surprise at hearing about Anri’s hometown, but she clearly seemed quite familiar with it.
As Anri smiled along with the Grand Duchess, she realized,
‘The madam is not in her right mind either, but she’s pretending to be calm and smiling.’
Though she was indeed welcoming Anri, the Grand Duchess’s demeanor clearly conveyed a sense of bewilderment, as if she were seeing a daughter-in-law from Mars.
Elizabeth, though not directly related to the King, had been born into the royal lineage and lived her life as a high-ranking noble.
How strange and unsatisfactory must it seem to her that a mere country viscount’s daughter, such as Anri, was now her daughter-in-law?
It must be like looking at a commoner.
Yet, since her aging son had brought home his bride with his own efforts, she couldn’t refuse outright. The thought of passing on her position must be confusing and disheartening, and she likely felt uncertain about many things.
Anri, thinking to herself, ‘I’m just as anxious, Duchess,’ managed a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Fortunately for the Grand Duchess, Anri knew quite a bit about the Briston Duchy and its future.
After all, she was only a temporary Duchess.
“Now, I must ask Miss Anri what she finds so charming about our Duke Edwin that she decided to marry him. May I?”
“Oh my.”
“Oh ho ho.”
Once again, a desperate exchange of smiles occurred between Anri and the Grand Duchess.
Was the smile meant to hide tears?
“From the very first meeting, I was impressed by His Grace’s character. He is exceptionally generous and kind.”
“……”
Edwin’s eyebrows twitched slightly at Anri’s words.
The remark seemed to carry an edge.
“……?”
Meanwhile, the Grand Duchess couldn’t hide her confusion.
‘Character? Not his face, wealth, or title, but his character?’
Everything else made sense, but being impressed by his character was something she couldn’t understand as a mother.
Edwin was certainly not a disobedient child, but he had a strangely cold and indifferent side that sometimes left her feeling disappointed.
Still, she had come to terms with it, believing that Edwin’s nature was simply unfeeling and detached.
It wasn’t just her that Edwin was cold to.
But character? Impressed by his character?
Suppressing her astonishment, the Grand Duchess forced another smile.
“……Oh, Miss Anri, it seems Duke Edwin has treated you very well.”
If that wasn’t the case, a normal young lady wouldn’t be impressed by Edwin’s character!
In any case, it seemed Edwin was quite fond of the Wentworth young lady.
To the extent that he treats her well, she was impressed by his character.
At that moment, a knock was heard from outside, and servants entered.
They had come to announce that the Viscountess of Wentworth and her daughter had arrived.
Outside the drawing room, Catherine and Candice were still unable to control their shock and astonishment.
It was already astonishing that Anri was dancing with Duke Edwin, and even more so that they had danced together three times in a row, but marriage?! No way……?!
Catherine and Candice were so stunned, they nearly fainted.
The nobles gathered in the hall were applauding and shouting in celebration, but they were still in shock and couldn’t speak for a while.
Meanwhile, Albert, who was already acquainted with them, appeared in front of Catherine and Candice.
That’s how they came to the drawing room to meet the Grand Duchess and the Duke.
“Mother, how could Anri do this to me? She knows I have a crush on him and yet took him away, sob.”
“Be quiet, Candice.”
Candice had been shedding tears of frustration the entire way, but Catherine remained resolute.
It was as if she were a person on the verge of winning a fortune, her expression slightly excited.
Candice knew what she was thinking.
“Mother, are you going to abandon me now?”
“Abandon you? Who would do that! Just be quiet.”
Catherine scolded her softly, making sure Albert wouldn’t hear.
Now was not the time to worry about Candice.
‘Of course. If anyone becomes a Duchess, it should be my daughter.’
Catherine pretended to walk gracefully, hands clasped and shoulders straight.
Finally, the heavily closed door of the drawing room was opened.
“Ah, the Wentworth Viscountess.”
Elizabeth and Catherine exchanged their first formal greetings.
Catherine greeted her with a dignified gesture and gaze, as if she were a duchess rather than a viscountess, and then opened her mouth.
“It is an honor to meet you, Grand Duchess. My goodness, I never imagined that Duke Edwin would take our Anri away without her parents’ permission.”
Catherine’s words, full of apparent joy, made the Grand Duchess gaze intently at Edwin.
After thinking about it, she had never heard whether permission from her parents had been obtained.
The Grand Duchess quickly concealed her surprise and calmly apologized.
“Edwin did that, did he? That’s my oversight, Viscountess.”
“Oh ho ho!”
Catherine laughed cheerfully and lightly tapped Elizabeth on the arm.
Elizabeth flinched, as if she had just experienced something utterly absurd.
“That means Duke Edwin must have really liked our Anri, Grand Duchess.”
“Even so, I should have asked the Viscountess first. How should I apologize…”
“Apologize? Please don’t say that. We’re becoming in-laws now, aren’t we? Oh ho ho!”
“Ah ha ha…”
Elizabeth, somewhat reluctantly, joined in Catherine’s laughter.
Meanwhile, Anri glared at Catherine with clouded eyes.
How dare she act like her mother and try to match herself against the Grand Duchess?
If she had truly cared for her as a real daughter, Anri might not have been so displeased.
The Grand Duchess, maintaining her calm demeanor, kept her eyes wide open, but her confusion was evident.
If it wouldn’t help her in life, she shouldn’t interfere.
It seemed best if Anri cut ties with the Wentworths or if this stepmother left the Wentworths, to avoid causing unnecessary trouble for the Bristons.
Just then, with another knock, servants entered.
“We’ve brought Miss Wentworth.”
It seemed they had brought Eunice.
The dazzling white dress slowly started to appear through the open door.
The movements were so cautious and slow that the Grand Duchess, Catherine, and Candice all held their breath.
