TLS : Shenks
Iâve been quiet on purpose since I arrived at the banquet.
I was keeping a close eye on Vestian, killing my presence as much as possible.
To witness this very moment.
I could see Vestianâs gaze stuck in Maria Patron far away.
He was clearly taken aback.
To the point that he stopped walking because he was so surprised
"...Vestian?"
Shananet, who was walking hand in hand with him, wondered why her husband stopped.
"Uh..."
His brazen and leisurely face no longer there. He turned pale.
If Vestian is really having an affair, so be it.
If your wife and mistress are all in one place.
Youâll be having cold sweat behind your back.
"Whatâs wrong? Are you sick?"
Shananet asked anxiously.
"No... I thought I saw someone I knew."
Vestian said dazedly. Shananet tilted her head.
"I think it would be more amazing if you donât know anyone here. So who is it?"
"No, no one. You donât have to care.â
But Shananet was already looking around.
And said exactly pointing at Maria Patron.
"Is it that woman?"
"Oh, itâs....â
Vestian was struck speechless.1
Maria Patron who found Shananet and Vestian began to walk towards them with a smile on her face.
Brown hair and brown eyes.
She was a woman with an extremely ordinary appearance who would not be particularly noticed.
But I didnât let my guard down.
The glistening eyes that did not match the smiling face, similar to those of Vestianâs who I happened to see last time bothered me.
Click-clack.
As she approached, Vestianâs face was hardening once over.
I held my breath even more.
I called this woman here on purpose where both my grandfather and Lombardy people attended.
It was to psychologically pressure Vestian more so that grandfather could know the truth right away if it happened.
However.
"Hello, sir."
Maria Patron greeted grandpa first with a gentle smile.
"You are..."
Grandpa seemed a little embarrassed when a young woman he had never seen before talked to him.
Maria Patron introduced herself politely, bending her knees.
"My name is Maria of the Patron family, commissioned to the estate of Schultz. My lord, itâs an honor to meet you in person."
"Oh, I see."
Grandfather nodded but still wondered why Maria Patron came to greet him.
No one in the Empire doesnât recognize my grandfather.
However, not many people were qualified to come and greet him in person.
She was not even an in-law of the Schultz family. It was quite arrogant for that lowly woman to stand in the way of my grandfather and greet him.
Grandfather looked through Maria Patron and asked, pointing to Vestian.
"You know my son-in-law, Vestian, right?"
"Yes, I grew up with him ever since we were children. Long time no see, Sir Vestian."
"Yes, itâs been a while."
Vestian greeted Maria face to face.
It was a very natural and polite greeting to each other.
Were my suspicions wrong...
Indeed, it does not make sense for a mistress to treat her cheating partnerâs wifeâs family with such confidence.4
I thought his face was a bit pale, but now itâs okay.
I felt drained but relieved at the same time.
I knew Angenas were backstabbing us, but at least Shananetâs marriage wasnât betrayed yet.
"Are you perhaps Mrs. Shananet? Iâve always been curious of you because the Schultz estate praised you a lot.....â
Maria Patron spoke to Shananet in a friendly mannerly.
"Youâre as beautiful as what the rumors have said.â
"I see. Thank you for the compliment."
Shananet, though awkward, smiled politely.
"......Youâre welcome.
But Maria Patronâs gaze at Shananet did not say she was pretty at all.
It was the exact opposite of what she has said.
Somethingâs not right.
Maria Patron and Vestian looked like old acquaintances that really happened to meet.
But something was off.
Iâm getting a hunch.
"Then, I hope to see you again."
Maria Patron greeted and moved away.
Vestian glanced at the woman and returned to his usual business, chatting about wine again.
After that the Lombardy people scattered.
Me, my father, Shananet, and grandfather sat down and ate together.
Viese and Laurelâs family went away, saying they knew people on the other side of the banquet hall.
Clerivan was busy with people looking for him throughout the banquet, but he would return from time to time to make sure we were comfortable.
Oh, I feel ill at ease.
What I thought would happen, didnât happen and it left me with a vague feeling.
I need time to find out more.
It shouldnât go on like this, my gut was saying something.
"Our Tia is quiet today, isnât she? Whatâs going on?"
My grandfather asked, putting a small cut of steak in front of me.
"Nothingâs wrong. I was just a little surprised, so I was busy looking around, grandpa."
"Yes, Tia is close to Clerivan, so she deserves it."
Grandfather patted my head and said,
"No matter how busy Clerivan gets, he said he will continue teaching Tia, so you must learn hard."
"Yes, grandpa."
I answered gently like a good granddaughter and brought a piece of meat to my mouth.
I feel a little strange.
For many of these people, the success of the Pellet Company which is currently being celebrated by the nobles of the Empire is all mine.
And no one here knows about it.
No wonder I felt kind of proud. It really feels strange.
After I had a rough meal, I left the table under the pretext of going to the bathroom.
It was to meet with Clerivan and conduct an interim inspection of the banquet.
We were supposed to meet secretly in a small room on the second floor of the banquet hall.
The problem is, I donât even know where the stairs to the second floor are.
I walked around looking for a place where there could be stairs, I turned at the corner of the banquet hall and saw a sign that said âbathroomâ.
Where the hell are the stairs?
As I turned around swallowing a sigh inside, I saw Maria Patronâs back just coming out of the bathroom.
And a hand sticking out of the corner deeper into the hall pulls her away.
âAhh!â
"Shh, itâs me."
Itâs the voice of Vestian.
I stood close behind the corner and hid myself.
But itâs weird.
I didnât hear anything.
I quietly extended my head and looked in the direction where the sound had been heard.
What the hell are you two doing to be so quiet?
You crazy double-crosser!
âuhng....â
Vestian and Maria Patron were kissing.7
Hiding in a shady corner, there seems to be only the two of them in the world.
But it just looks disgusting to me.
I wanted to bring people over here and make them a spectacle.
I listened to the conversation between the two of them to which I had such a hard time.
"Baby, it was worth seeing you a little while ago, wasnât it? Are you so surprised that Iâm kind to her?â3
Maria Patron asked Vestian with a smile.
"Of course I was surprised, werenât you? How did you get here? How did you get in?â
"What, am I not supposed to be here?"
The womanâs voice became sulky.
"Well, itâs not that... Itâs a place where you canât come without an invitation."
"Yes, I came because an invitation was sent at home.â
It was the invitation I sent to summon Maria Patron.
"Werenât you the one who sent it?â
âAn invitation was sent at home?â
After a moment of panic, Vestian quickly turned around.
"Uh, uh, uh...I sent it. But you canât come to me like that when my wife is present. And you even said hello to Lulak Lombardy."
"Because Iâve never seen her in person."
Maria Patron said.
"I was wondering because so many people said she was pretty. But sheâs not. How the hell have you been living with a woman like that?â3
Is she for real?1
How dare you compare Shananet to yourself!1
But the words of Vestian that followed were more spectacular.
"Sheâs unattractive. Maria, you are the most beautiful to me. You always were."19
What a good scoop!
"But itâs dangerous to step up like this. You know, Maria. Itâs not the time yet. Lombardy may be stupid, but there are a few who are quick-witted."
"But Iâm bored...â
"It hasnât been long since I moved to the capital but Iâm already bored.â
"I feel lonely and alone, baby. You only come every few days to sleep."
So he already built a house for her.
"Hang in there. Iâm sorry to have kept you waiting so long, Maria."
"But..."
âIâd really like to divorce her right now but itâs not the time yet. You know we have a lot more to prepare.â5
You want a divorce right now?
I was dumbfounded and laughed.
Vestian placated Maria Patron and the two separated shortly afterwards to return to the banquet hall.
I was left alone in the quiet hallway calming my still pounding heart.
Youâre sorry to have kept her waiting for so long?
Then it means this extramarital affair happened so long ago!
It isnât time yet?
Vestian said so over and over and over again.
It sounds like youâre waiting for the right time to divorce.
And what bothers me most was the last thing Vestian said.
"You know we have a lot more to prepare.â
What more do they have to prepare?
Money? Grounds for divorce?
Whatever it was, one thing was certain.
In his previous life, Shananet was completely deceived by Vestian not only in marriage but also in the grounds for divorce.
Shenks Notes: //The drama!! I live for this kind of chapters fr. The boiling hot tea that Tia holds!! I hope she spill it on Vestianâs cheater ass smh.