Eva looked utterly bewildered, as if she couldn’t understand what she had done wrong. She clutched at her dress, trying to defend herself. “… I heard that husbands and wives could attend banquets together..”
I remembered that after the marquis’s wife passed away, the estate had been managed by her former head lady–in–waiting. The lack of a new marchioness and the well–ordered household was one of the reasons my parents had approved of my match with Julian. But from the looks of It, Eva was now in charge. Had no one taught her how to manage such a responsibility?
Listening to the open disdain and mockery directed at Eva, I glanced at Julian. He was completely unmoved by her distress and fear, as if the woman being ridiculed wasn’t the one he had fought so hard to marry. His eyes were filled with nothing but impatien- ce and disgust.
His face a thundercloud, Julian shoved Eva’s hand away and strode towards the door. After a few steps, he turned back, holding up
2044
the misshapen sachet, and demanded, “Where is my old sachet? Where did you hide it? Give it back to mer
Eva began to sob quietly. “… I’ve been practicing my embroidery. If you don’t like this one, I can make you a better one.”
A storm was brewing in Julian’s eyes. “I’m asking you about the old one!”
Eva’s voice became a whisper. “It was so old… I… I burned it.”
The sachet flew through the air and hit Eva in the face. Without another word, Julian turned and stormed out of the banquet hall.
After the banquet, I returned to my family’s estate. My parents were overjoyed to see me. Watching them secretly wipe away tears.
my own animosity toward Julian resurfaced. If not for him, I would not have been separated from them for three years, causing
them so much worry.
After asking about my life with my grandparents, my mother dismissed my father and pulled me aside, her voice low and cautious.
“My dearest, do you still think of that boy from the Blackwood estate?”
I was so shocked my head nearly shook off my shoulders. “Mother, how could you ask such a thing? After the humiliation he put me
through? My heart is not so vast as to forgive such an insult.”
My mother hesitated, then finally told me what had happened after I left.
After our engagement was broken, the Marquis had refused to allow Eva into the family. He had even threatened to disown Julian if he married her. But Julian, blinded by love, not only moved out of the estate but also swore he would never return until he could
marry Eva.
The rift between father and son was deep.
Less than a month later, the Marquis was dispatched to the northern frontier. Although he won the battle, he was gravely injured. Upon his return to the capital, he and Julian finally sat down for a long talk. In the end, the Marquis relented and allowed Eva to marry into the family, on one condition: they must produce an heir as soon as possible.
Julian thought his dream had come true, but he never imagined his wedding day would become the biggest joke in the capital.
As she recounted this, even my impeccably mannered mother couldn’t hide a smirk of satisfaction.
“Eva’s brother and sister–in–law, knowing their little sister had married into high society, brought their children and a whole horde of
other relatives to the wedding feast.”
they st
Before the ceremony could even begin, started demanding a larger betrothal gift. Julian had been generous, even giving Eva a priceless jade bracelet that had belonged to his late mother. The Marquis promised them a large three–courtyard house and a
thousand silver pieces after the ceremony
guests, they
But Eva’s greedy family wanted more, and they feared the Marquis would go back on his word. So, in front of all the gu threw themselves on the floor, wailing and rolling around.
The wedding of the Blackwood heir was attended by the highest nobility in the land. None of them had ever witnessed such a spe- ctacle. The Minister of Revenue’s youngest daughter was so frightened she fainted on the spot. The scene was utter chaos.
