This Villain Is Mine Now - Chapter 36

“Lyle Grant, that cursed fool must have been spreading rumors everywhere,” the Marquis muttered through gritted teeth.

The information about the dowry had been known only to him and the Archduke. If rumors had spread, it meant one of them had been loose-lipped, and since the Marquis had told no one, the culprit was clear.

“If you set such a dowry for a family like the Archduke Grant’s, then surely you would set an even larger amount when arranging a marriage with our family.”

The young men visiting that day had all implied the same thing. They demanded dowries ranging from five times to even ten times the original amount.

As the Marchioness regained her composure, her expression turned harsh and cold.

“Don’t be ridiculous. That wretched girl will not see a penny more than what was already promised.”

“Exactly. I have no intention of spending more money on her than necessary.”

The mere mention of money brought a wave of irritation over the Marchioness, causing her to tremble with anger.

“In that case, just do what I suggested! Send that girl to the convent immediately!” she shouted at her husband.

The thought of increasing Diane’s dowry meant that there would be less inheritance left for their sons, a notion the Marchioness couldn’t bear.

“I can’t stand the idea of that, so you’d better handle this properly. Do you understand? It’s like everyone’s conspiring to drive me mad!”

With that, the Marchioness slammed the door behind her and stormed off to her room, her footsteps echoing with fury. The Marquis sighed deeply, frustration etched on his face.

By the afternoon, the Marquis had instructed his wife to bring Diane to the afternoon tea party they were to attend. His suggestion made her recoil in disgust.

“Why on earth should I bring that girl to the tea party? Are you out of your mind?”

“I said bring her!”

“No, I won’t. I’m telling you, send her to the convent tomorrow and be done with it,” she snapped back, her irritation clear.

The Marquis scowled at her, his patience wearing thin. “Are you trying to disgrace our family?”

“Disgrace our family? What are you talking about?”

“Do you think the news of nearly twenty suitors showing up at our doorstep hasn’t spread throughout the capital? How would it look if we sent Diane to a convent after that?” he retorted.

His wife fell silent, realizing the truth in his words. He was right. With nearly twenty suitors coming to propose, there was no way to justify sending Diane to a convent now.

“But we can’t spend that kind of money,” she protested.

“I know. I’ll come up with a way to handle that later. For now, just take Diane with you and talk about what happened today. It’ll look much better if she’s present at the party,” he insisted.

After all, excluding the dowry demands, having twenty suitors was quite an achievement and a significant point of pride. The Marchioness narrowed her eyes, contemplating.

Indeed, raising a well-sought-after child was a mark of high status among noblewomen. While she may not have shown Diane much love, the fact that twenty suitors had flocked to her daughter would elevate her status just as much as an expensive jewel or a luxurious dress.

“…Very well,” the Marchioness finally conceded, nodding in reluctant agreement.

***

Diane fidgeted with her hands nervously. The thought of going out with the Marchioness was unsettling. Usually, the Marchioness would give her prior notice, but this sudden outing was a first.

“Stop dawdling and get in the carriage. We’re going to be late because of you,” the Marchioness snapped, glaring down at Diane from inside the carriage with clear disapproval.

Startled, Diane quickly gathered herself and climbed into the carriage. Even after they had set off, the Marchioness’s scolding continued.

“You.”

“Y-Yes?”

“Hold your head up and stop fussing with your skirt. Do you think I’m going to eat you? Honestly, you’re such a nuisance. Are you planning to behave like that in front of other people too?”

“N-No, I’m sorry. I won’t,” Diane stammered, hastily smoothing out her wrinkled skirt. The Marchioness clicked her tongue in irritation.

“Even when dressed in fine clothes, you can’t help but look shabby. Perhaps it’s true that one’s birth can’t be concealed. And you wonder why I’m so reluctant to spend money on your attire?” she added, her eyes narrowing in a menacing way as she issued a thinly veiled threat.

“If you make a single mistake today, you can forget about having dinner tonight.”

Diane nodded meekly, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickering at the corners of her lips before disappearing.

Forget about dinner. The old threat, one she had heard countless times since childhood, seemed especially hollow today.

Skipping a meal was no longer the significant punishment it had once been. The fact that the Marchioness still thought such a threat held any weight only underscored how little attention she paid to Diane’s life.

“I’ll be careful, Mother,” Diane replied softly.

The word Mother made the Marchioness’s expression twist in displeasure. If she could have disposed of Diane at that very moment, she would have done so without hesitation.

Why had things turned out this way? She turned away sharply, not wanting to engage further with Diane.

“Oh my! Marchioness Redwood, you’ve arrived!” exclaimed the exuberant Countess Deaver, greeting them with enthusiasm. The Marchioness responded with a warm smile, the harsh demeanor she had shown in the carriage vanishing as if it had never existed.

Feigning the role of a caring mother, she linked her arm with Diane’s and pulled her closer. With a display of affection, she said, “I brought my daughter with me today. I hope that’s all right?”

“Oh! Of course, that’s wonderful. The more, the merrier at a tea party. I’ll just have to ask the butler to bring out another chair,” the Countess replied cheerfully.

“Oh? It seems you have quite a few guests today,” the Marchioness observed, noting the need for additional seating. Her tone carried a hint of pride, as if she were showing off.

Seeming to anticipate the question, Countess Deaver nodded eagerly and quickly replied, “Indeed! Do you know who is here today? None other than the Duchess of Winchester herself! Can you imagine? The Duchess attending an afternoon tea party that I’m hosting—what an honor!”

Countess Deaver’s eyes sparkled with delight, her hands clasped together as if she were dreaming, her words pouring out in a rapid stream.

“The Duchess is here?” The Marchioness asked, her disbelief evident.

‘Why?’

She couldn’t fathom why the Duchess would attend such a modest tea party. After all, while she herself was here due to her acquaintance with the Countess, this gathering was far below the Duchess’s usual standards.

But not wanting to dampen the hostess’s spirits, the Marchioness forced a smile and offered her congratulations. Beaming with pride, Countess Deaver led them both inside.

***

As the Marchioness was guided down the corridor, her mood had already soured. The presence of the Duchess of Winchester alone was enough to overshadow everything else, ensuring that all attention would be focused on her.

When they entered the room, the Marchioness’s eyes immediately fell on the Duchess, seated at the head of the gathering. The other guests were clustered around her, vying for her attention, eager to exchange words with someone of her stature.

‘This is pointless,’ the Marchioness thought with a slight frown as she discreetly released Diane’s hand. She had hoped that bringing Diane would draw some attention to them, but with the Duchess here, that seemed impossible.

However, events took an unexpected turn.

The moment the Duchess of Winchester met the Marchioness’s gaze, she rose from her seat to greet them.

“Oh my, the Marchioness of Redwood is here, and she’s brought her daughter with her,” the Duchess said warmly.

The Marchioness, caught off guard, awkwardly offered her greetings. “It is an honor to meet you, Duchess.”

“There’s no need for such formalities. Everyone, would you please make room? Marchioness, young lady, come over here, please.”

At the Duchess’s request, the other noblewomen moved aside, making space for the Marchioness and Diane to sit close to the head of the table. Being offered seats so close to the Duchess signified that she regarded them as important guests.

Though initially surprised, the Marchioness couldn’t help but feel pleased by the gesture. The envious glances from the other guests caused her to lift her chin a little higher. Diane and the Marchioness took their seats beside the Duchess and began to partake in the refreshments.

“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. This is our first time, isn’t it? Your name is Diane, correct?” the Duchess inquired.

“Yes, Your Grace. My name is Diane Redwood.”

“My daughter has spoken so highly of you. Elaina mentioned that she’s made a wonderful new friend—someone kind, beautiful, and with such grace and maturity that I remembered your name because of her praise.”

Diane’s cheeks flushed with a soft pink. She had never received such compliments in a public setting, and hearing them from the Duchess, who was as lovely as Elaina, left her feeling shy and uncertain of how to respond.

“Indeed, what a lovely young lady you’ve raised, Marchioness. She’s like a blooming flower,” one of the other guests chimed in, adding to the chorus of praise.

The Duchess’s gaze lingered on Diane for a moment longer before shifting to the Marchioness.