Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Translator: Effe

Editor: Yonnee

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That aside, unnecessary things? Countryside? Did she even know what kind of place Delford was?

Well, sure. Here in Rottenburg, Delford would be a countryside with nothing but cotton fields and factories.

However, this Elder Madam herself was the one who could not beat the production of the so-called countryside. She also went as far to reach her hands into the coffers of the Klausener household, bringing it back to the Belf Marquisate. She of all people had no right to say anything.

‘This person. Does she not know who I am?’

Claire opened the bag, thinking only to herself. What was inside was a commemorative coin of the imperial family encrusted with jewels, worth about a whopping five thousand gold.

“Even if this is the down payment, it’s too small of an amount.”

“What?”

Down payment? Louisa very much thought that this amount of money would be enough to rid a country girl. Her eyebrows twitched.

“What do you mean, down payment? Take this and leave!”

“You said it’s for child support.”

“How much money does it cost to raise a child? That’s all you’re getting.”

Claire sneered, “And, this isn’t actually child support, but a bribe, right? Aren’t you telling me not to marry Senior Erich?”

“What? Bribe?”

“Then you should at least give me a lump sum of three times the amount I can expect when I take the position of duchess. I am giving up my status and honor to remain a single mother who gave birth to an illegitimate child.”

“What!”

It never crossed Louisa’s mind that this was tantamount to exchanging the position of Duchess Klausener with cold hard cash. She was utterly stunned.

“I think the money that the Duchy gave to you this year, Elder Madam, will exceed at least ten million gold… Looking at what you’re wearing, your allowance alone must be about five million gold, right?”

Thinking of the money being copied from the Prach Guild, Claire gave an estimate. This was also a pretty easy catch.

She smiled pleasantly. This was because she seemed to be able to get Louisa by the back of her neck and have her go.

“Then you can spend fifteen million gold a year, but even if the marriage lasts only ten years, that’s around a hundred and fifty million. It would be better if you give me at least half a billion gold.”

“You…! What this is, how dare…!”

Louisa was furious enough that her breathing became heavy.

The lounge was as quiet as a dead mouse. People were staring at their own glasses, pretending not to listen to everything. They either looked at each other yet were talking with their eyes without saying a word, or looking at a distant mountain.

Claire was fully aware. The papers would cover this entire scene for tomorrow’s tabloids.

But it couldn’t be that Claire would be the only one getting messed with, right? It was Claire’s snide intention to make Lousa angry.

In a voice that sounded even friendly, she spoke to the reddened Louisa.

“Oh my, Elder Madam. Do you have high blood pressure? Your pallor looks bad.”

“You vulgar thing! How dare you equate Klausener’s inner chambers with money?! Do you think someone like you, a mere baron of Arren, could ever dare to be Klausener’s mistress?!”

“What else can I not do? I heard Senior Erich has been waiting for me for over five years.”

Claire had never called Erich a friendly title anywhere else. Because she didn’t want to appear as if she’s raring to show off her closeness with Erich.

But now, things were a bit different. If Louisa’s dress had been turned inside out, she intended to take out her intestines, turn them inside out, and put them back in even more.

“But after meeting you here, Elder Madam, I think I know the reason why.”

She smiled widely.

“The Klausener household is so big, but you’re so preoccupied with worrying about your parents’ family. That’s why Senior Erich couldn’t ask you to keep taking charge of it and was looking for me.”

Louisa jumped to her feet, unable to overcome her anger and shame.

“How dare you!”

She lifted the teacup wanting to splash the tea.

Wouldn’t that be hot? Claire opened her eyes wide and looked up at Louisa.

Would it put her in a terribly difficult spot if she grabbed Louisa’s wrist and twisted it? Unfortunately, her athleticism was insignificant. She decided that she’d be better off being the victim in this situation.

It was then.

“Put that down, Mother.”

A low voice came from behind Claire. It was a voice full of confidence that no one would disobey his words.

Louisa was startled and dropped the teacup. Before it could get splashed on Claire, Erich strode over and took the teacup away.

“Ahh!”

The teacup had rather turned towards Louisa, and she jumped up with a scream.

“Auntie!”

Elliot, who was held in Erich’s arms, shouted in fright. His body was trembling.

‘Big scoop!’

There were many reporters sitting on standby in the lounge, wondering if there would be anything they could find out about the child—the heir of Duke Klausener—and here was the shining chance. Their hands moved like crazy as they took down notes.

Since the article appeared in the newspaper today, they knew that Louisa, who could never be calm about this, would not stand still. They expected that, and there were also people who secretly followed her from the duke’s residence.

Since the moment Louisa was ushered into the hotel lounge, they already thought that she would explode. But the Duke burst in and was even holding the blond-haired boy who looked just like him?

The only problem would be the headlines now.

《 Klausener’s Elder Madam, Trying to Buy the Heir with Money! 》

《 Can You Solve Anything with Money, Klausener’s Elder Madam? 》

《 The Wife or the Mother? 》

Of course, there were reporters who paid more attention to the contents of the conversation than to what happened.

《 A Stepmother Is Just A Stepmother, After All? 》

《 The Mother Who’s Stealing Her Son’s Money? 》

《 Gold and Silver Treasures Siphoned from Klausener to the Stepmother’s Family 》

Each one of those was a scoop.

There were so many people in the lounge, but it was so quiet that they could hear the scratching sound of the pen. It was so chilling that it was like an academy’s classroom where a test was being held.

Erich did not look around. He wasn’t the type to care about other people’s eyes from the beginning, and he was used to it.

His low voice permeated throughout the lounge.

“I told you to put your hands away, Mother.”

“Uh… uh…”

Louisa let out a panicked sound. Claire shouted clearly as she approached him.

“Is it the time to do that now? Are your hands okay? Get me some cold water here!”

Erich answered, “Why are you making such a big deal? I can’t believe you care so much about me.”

“Your hands are red!”

“It didn’t feel hot when I scalded myself.”

As Claire took Elliot from his arms, Erich showed her his hand. The stunned Elliot looked like he was about to cry. 

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