Chapter 83.1
“Lady Canillia.”
The words were something even she was not familiar with.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Canillia bent her knees slightly to bow, then linked her arms with Claude and approached the table. The closer she got, the darker the astonishment that bloomed on the faces of the n.o.bles. The most surprised was Anastasia.
Canillia approached the marchioness, who was unaware that she had dropped her wine gla.s.s.
“I’m sorry I’m late, mother,” she greeted.
Was it because of the firm confidence in her greeting? Anastasia’s lips twitched, and she unconsciously swore. Those who were close enough to hear frowned.
The marchioness was able to regain her composure only after the servants removed all the broken gla.s.s.
“Canillian, you surprised me. I really thought you became a woman. Do you know how surprised I was to find out I had a daughter?”
Anastasia smiled brightly and hugged Canillia. Claude laughed as he became speechless at her performance, and Wade’s hands were shaking trying to hold back his laughter.
“Mother, why are you acting like this? Did you lie again today?” Camellia asked. She hoped her nervousness did not seep.
As Rosina and Pepe had told her, she kept her back straight and tried to look as elegant as possible. They said that she had to keep her lips still and make the other person listen to her, as that way they could not read her thoughts.
“Do not deceive me. How shameless,” Anastasia said, hugging Canillia even tighter.
Wade cleared his throat as the hug carried on longer than expected.
“So the rumors are true, marchioness.”
Only then could Canillia be freed from Anastasia’s arms.
“It’s not a rumor, Your Highness. My son must be very angry with me to dress like this, no matter how beautiful he is.”
Anastasia’s eyes curled with terrifying grace as she covered her mouth and smiled.
Wade smiled and raised his gla.s.s. Anastasia finally sat down.
Claude wrapped his arms around Lia’s waist to express his affection. Then, as they went back to their seats, Ian, who had been waiting for her all this time, kissed the back of Canillia’s hand.
“Lady Canillia. It’s nice to see you.”
“h.e.l.lo, Your Highness, Archduke Sergio.”
The n.o.bles were now about to collapse as they bubbled with excitement. In addition, the n.o.ble ladies who had actively spread rumors of infidelity between the two did not even feel the wine flowing from their mouths at this unimaginable event.
Canillion Vale from Louvre. It was surprising that the illegitimate child, the disgrace of the marquess, was a woman, but what was even more shocking was that she could be so confident among the great n.o.bles.
That wasn’t all. It was as if she was the hostess. It seemed that the whole greenhouse had been set up for Canillia.
“Well, then. Let’s start again, marchioness. Weren’t you apologizing to Canillia?”
Anastasia, who was glaring at Lia at Claude’s words, smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“Okay. I forgive you, Canillian. Even if you act surly like this, you are my dear son. So why don’t you forgive your mother’s mistakes, too. I didn’t mean it, Canillian.”
Canillia stood speechless at Anastasia’s sorrowful expression. Instead of answering, she just nodded lightly.
The music that had stopped filled the room again, and the servants resumed serving food. Everyone enjoying this exciting situation shared meaningful glances. The n.o.ble ladies were busy creating rumors to spread after the banquet.
Their interest was not the relationship between Anastasia and Canillia. The target of their gossip was Canillia, who was sitting confidently between the two grand dukes. While the marchioness insisted that her son was dressed as a woman, no one believed her.
The grand duke could not tear his eyes from the woman next to him. Like lovers, the two did not hide the affection in their eyes.
He gently held Canillia’s hand and wiped the sauce from her mouth. Not only was he whispering gently to her, but the archduke’s body was completely turned in her direction.
“This has turned into something else. I can’t believe he was actually a woman…”
“I wonder what Marilyn Shelby saw.”
“I know. And why do you think she raised her daughter as a man? The marchioness herself.”
“It’s strange. It would be simpler to raise a girl as there are no complications in the property inheritance.”
“Her pride probably didn’t allow it. Since the marchioness was not well, it seemed that relatives often came to ask for their son to be adopted. I remember hearing about it a long time ago.”
“Oh, my. In other words, they were practically praying for the marchioness to stay sick.”
“I understand where they’re coming from, but still… raising a girl to be a man is a bit…”
Like water had dropped on a fireplace, their temperature had changed in the blink of an eye.
Every time they burst out laughing in unison, the sound of the instruments also grew louder. Anastasia, unable to touch the food, continued to drink wine.
“You should cut back on the alcohol, mother.”
When Kieran, who had been quiet until now, raised his head and spoke, everyone focused on his low tone. The marchioness had just picked up the wine gla.s.s. Her hands trembled.
“It’s just one gla.s.s a day, Kieran.”
“That one gla.s.s may do the trick.”
Some expressed their discomfort at his choice of words, but Kieran continued speaking regardless.
“Call Dr. Blanchett tomorrow and make an appointment. He was worried your symptoms were getting worse these days.”
“Kieran…? What do you mean by that?”
“I heard that you were making up stories, that you’re either hearing nonsense or seeing it. Dr. Blanchett contacted me saying you believed someone would kill you.”
Hearing and seeing nonsense? Anastasia glared fiercely at Kieran, who was treating her like a patient, and gulped down her wine.
“The doctor must not be in his right mind,” she snapped.
“No, I don’t think so. Even though I tried to convince you that Canillia wasn’t the culprit, you didn’t believe me. Why did you do it? It was you who gave them the diamonds, right?” Kieran asked.
“Kieran!”
“Stop it, mother. Anher told us everything. Before he pa.s.sed out, he saw you handing the diamond to Frank Ash.”
“Stop!” Anastasia shouted sharply. Kieran was now accusing his mother of being a criminal. He was letting everyone know that everything was planned by Anastasia.
The prince stood up, wiped his lips, and spoke coldly.
“This is disappointing, marchioness. How dare you invite me to such a rude and vulgar banquet.”
“No, it’s not true! Your Highness, I’m being set up!”
Anastasia shook her head like someone possessed and breathed heavily. The marquis belatedly returned to his seat and shouted when he saw how the situation had turned out.
“Today we will end here! Everyone please go back. I will apologize for today soon.”
Only then did the n.o.bles get up one by one and leave the greenhouse. Each of them did not hesitate to drop a vicious comment, saying that this was the first time such a low-level banquet had been held.
They were itching to spread this rumor as soon as possible.
To think it was all the plan of the marchioness! Was she in collusion with the anarchists? The contempt on their faces confused Anastasia.