Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Translator: Effe

Editor: Yonnee

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“A guest?”

Since no one was scheduled to come, Claire opened the door and asked curiously.

The attendant was breaking out in a cold sweat. If it was just any normal guest that’s waiting for her, he would not be so nervous like this. He was doing all he could to stop the manager from coming out.

“It’s, well… The Elder Madam of House Klausener said… If you don’t come out right away, she…”

The attendant mumbled, not being able to say the rest of the message.

“Ha.”

Claire sighed.

* * *

The lounge on the ninth floor of the Innenhof Hotel usually served breakfast in the morning and would operate as a teahouse afterwards.

It was Claire who encouraged them to do this. The hotel had only nine floors, but at this time, it was the tallest building in this avenue. This could be considered a sky lounge.

And her decision was correct—there were always guests here. Today, there were many people as well.

But as soon as she entered, Claire instantly knew which one the Elder Madam of House Klausener was. It took only a single glance.

Her attire exuded luxury, and there were three attendants lined up next to her. But more than that, she carried herself with such a formidable aura.

‘Wow, physiognomy.’

She didn’t believe in physiognomy, but the Elder Madam’s appearance was the textbook image of a vicious mother-in-law.

A periodic community board would be the prime place to post pictures with the title ‘This is the husband, but this is the mother-in-law: To marry or not to marry?’

When the Elder Madam was young, she must have been a splendid beauty—actually, she’s still a beauty even now. Originally in morning soap operas, the villain was the prettiest.

Claire let out a small sigh and walked towards her. Everyone in the lounge followed Claire with their eyes.

Louisa also turned her attention to her. Claire saw the older woman’s eyes going narrow.

Louisa looked up and down at Claire, scanning her. Claire didn’t mind, but she could guess what Louisa thought of her.

Even though she was the owner of the Weaving Guild, Claire didn’t really indulge herself in clothes made of fancy fabrics. Especially when it came to work attire. Koreans were known to wear achromatic palettes.

She wore no jewelry on her hair, neck, or ears. Not because she didn’t have money or because she didn’t like it, but because it was just a bother. That kind of thing would only annoy her.

The corner of Louisa’s mouth was downturned into a slight sneer. She must be thinking that Claire was much too dull. She might be quite pretty, but by Louisa’s standards, she was merely ordinary.

But she froze when her eyes, which scanned Claire, saw her hand.

Claire was wearing an engagement ring. It wasn’t very large, but at first glance it was a classy sapphire ring with a mysterious color.

Louisa’s eyes squinted even more.

“Are you Baron Delford’s daughter?”

“You seem to be misunderstanding, I am the Baron.”

“Hmph, being a baron is no big deal. You are also from the southern Arren.”

There was nothing for her to be pleased about. A baron’s daughter or anyone else with her stature should run out barefoot, clamoring to welcome her for visiting, but how dare this young woman order the manager to block her.

[ This elevator is for the exclusive use of guests staying on the tenth floor. ]

For Louisa to be told such a thing…

Who waits for whom was one of the principal methods of hierarchical warfare in high society. By making Louisa wait here for fifteen minutes, Claire had committed an intolerable discourtesy.

It wasn’t even in the parlor. She was made to wait in a place where many commoners came and went.

It was an unacceptable insult. Louisa had never sat in a chair like this and drank tea since her marriage.

“Why are you even so proud of a title that would go to your husband anyway after you get married.”

Louisa scoffed.

“If your family had had the right heir at that time, you would not have inherited the title yourself. I don’t know why you’re proud to say that, and I don’t know why you’re not ashamed of not being able to get married at the right age. I feel sorry for your parents, Young Lady. Did they close their eyes properly?”

Claire’s fingers twitched.

She was not ashamed to call herself a baron. It was natural. It was passed on to her by her deceased parents, and it also meant that she had to protect her household.

Her parents thought their eldest daughter was a bit of an eccentric, but they didn’t weren’t ashamed of her despite her deviation from this country’s common notions. Rather, they regarded her as a smart daughter who they were proud of.

Claire let out a light sigh.

‘They say that if you can hold onto your patience three times, you can avoid murder.’

She could not complicate this situation even more.

Louisa was not even arguing with her to give up the child. With opposition raging like a storm, it would be good if Erich shut up, too.

She sat across from Louisa without a word. Then Louisa said sharply.

“I didn’t allow you to sit down. How rude, Lady.”

“Since you were the one who came to visit me, Elder Madam, of course I am the master and you are the guest.”

Claire tried to smile. Louisa exhaled shakily.

“You are really mannerless. Do you even know who I am?”

Oh really.

There’s a reason why the lines in dramas were always similar. These people had no creativity whatsoever.

“For the great and noble Elder Madam to come see me, it must be due to a very important matter. Do tell me about that first.”

“Ha.”

Louisa spat out, baffled.

“Well, what can I expect from a lowly person who has no shame of dirtying herself before marriage and even has had a child?”

“Is it your business to say such a thing?”

Though her stomach was all twisted up, Claire pictured one more factor to be patient in her mind.

Louisa beckoned with a laid-back attitude. The maid came forward quickly and set down one bag in front of Claire.

“What is this?”

Claire looked at Louisa curiously. Louisa said, holding her chin up and looking down at her in arrogance.

“Still, it’s not like my son is without any fault. Child support will be given just as it should. Return to the countryside. Stop thinking about unnecessary things and raise the child quietly in Delford.”

Louisa continued.

“In a rural place like that, the child won’t be hurt either. Why did you even come up to the capital, making things noisy?”

“…….”

Claire was stunned and speechless for a moment.

Was she talking about an illegitimate child without even running a proper background check?

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