At the Duchess's sudden question, Ron's face hardened.
Honestly, it's true.
Nobles usually disposed of broken items to show off their wealth, and with the princess's wealth, there would have been no need to repair the jewelry.
However, she knew that expressing her opinion openly would arouse the ire of even the kindest of dukes.
Ron quickly denied, saying: “No, there must be a good reason for that.”
Cornelia replied laughing.
“Cause… Yes, honestly, I felt so remorseful.
This beautiful necklace was almost wasted without anyone wearing it.
So, even though I heard the criticism, I felt like I had to repair it and wear it myself.”
Honestly, when Cornelia first brought the damaged necklace, Ron was puzzled, but she also felt disappointed.
Russell Felton, her sister and owner of Shining Stone, directly supervised the making of the finest jewelry.
However, Cornelia's actions and words seemed to dispel the disappointment that lingered in Ron's heart.
“What an idea...”
Ron nodded to Cornelia and spoke.
“I don't think it was unfortunate.
In fact, I found it very effective.”
“Effective?”
Revealing one's true feelings to a princess at the top of society is not advisable.
While there was a warning in her mind to stop there, she, strangely enough, did not want to.
For some reason, she was convinced that the princess wouldn't get angry, and it was also because she seemed a bit open-minded.
“Yes, many noble customers sometimes throw away broken or faded jewelry.
However, a simple repair can restore it to its original condition.”
“Oh, like my necklace?”
Ron smiled at the princess's joking response.
It was because her expectations had come true once again.
After a moment, Ron sighed and continued:
“Yes, so I felt regretful sometimes.
Of course, in my situation, it helps that valued customers can easily dispose of the jewelry and buy new things...”
And here it happened...
Bang-
“You, you bold one!”
With this voice, the eldest lady stormed into the reception room.
“I thought you were thinking for a few days, but you didn't even come to apologize to me.”
Ron was terrified by the sudden appearance, and she flinched in surprise, so Cornelia got up and addressed her.
“Mom, I'm sorry, but now...”
But the eldest lady raised her voice.
"Mom?
Didn't I tell you not to call me that?"
Cornelia sighed and nodded.
“Yes, ma’am.
But there is a guest here now.”
“Guest?”
Only then did the eldest lady notice Ron's presence.
Ruona hurriedly stood up, raised her chin, and bowed her head.
“I introduce myself to Mrs.
Blunt.”
The eldest lady looked at Ron, as if appraising her, and then smiled when she saw the fine jewelry she was wearing.
“She's still a little girl...what family do you belong to?”
“I am the second daughter of Viscount Felton, and the manager of the Shining Stone Shop, Ron Felton.”
At that moment, a wry smile appeared on the eldest lady's face.
“Guest?
Do you even use that title now for a simple merchant?”
With the rise of wealthy commoners and nobility emerging through trade, their influence in society could no longer be ignored.
However, there were those who ignored them.
However, it was rare to see someone ignore them as openly and brazenly as the Grand Lady Mother did.
In the end, the eldest lady looked at the bracelets and necklaces on the table and clicked her tongue.
“Huh, did you come here to fix this tacky necklace?
And what about this bracelet?
It looks like a serious, cheap bracelet no matter how I look at it.”
A wry smile quickly appeared on the corner of the eldest lady's mouth.
“Sure, these aren't gifts for me?”
While a typical noble might blush at such insults, Cornelia maintained her mask-like facial expression, showing no emotion.
Ruona gritted her teeth.
That's why she treated her daughter-in-law with such little respect.
Despite her annoyance, Ruona felt helpless to do anything.
Although Cornelia was a princess in her own right, she could not stand up to her mother-in-law.
Maybe it's best if I apologize and end this?
While she was thinking about this, Cornelia suddenly spoke.
“Ma’am, apologize to my guest immediately.”
Suddenly, at Cornelia's words, Ruona widened her eyes.
Mrs.
Brant laughed softly, as if amused.
“Huh?
Are you asking me to apologize to an ordinary merchant?”
“Yes, and not any ordinary merchant, but the manager of a famous jewelry store.
In my opinion, the jewelry you brought...”
Before Cornelia could complete her sentence,
“However, she is just a woman from a simple noble family, with no title to mention.”
The eldest lady quickly turned her gaze to Ron.
"It's that woman who should apologize to me.
She brought miserable jewelry and ruined my mood, right?"
Ron clenched her fists in frustration.
Annoying, but right.
Who dares to oppose the lady?
Ron quickly spoke.
“Mrs.
Brant is right.
I must apologise...”
“No, there is no need for that.”
Suddenly, Cornelia addressed the lady.
“Since the lady wants an apology from me-”
With a gentle look, Cornelia continued: “I… I thought… you liked rubies.
That’s what Madeleine told me.”
“And now you resort to lying?”
It was not Cornelia who answered the question.
“It's not a lie!
The young woman, Marquis Argen's daughter, has chosen the ruby necklace!”
After Ron finished her statement, she stared at Mrs.
Brant.
Although she couldn't face the lady directly, she could at least tell the truth as she saw it.
But instead of believing her words, Mrs.
Brant exploded in anger.
“And now you conspire and lie together?”
“It is not a lie!
There are many witnesses besides me.
The distinguished guests who listened to our conversation bear witness to this.”
No matter how noble she was, she had no choice but to remain silent with so many witnesses around her.
Mrs.
Brant thought of Madeleine and pursed her lips.
After all the tenderness and care I showed her, how dare she betray me like this?
For a moment, Mrs.
Brant's eyes sparkled.
But I would not agree to these words.
Admitting her mistake at this stage would mean defeat.
Therefore, I became annoyed, and spoke sharply, “Shut up!
How dare a despicable merchant like you answer me?”
“That's not a response.
I'm just telling the truth.”
“No, though, this vile woman...”
Mrs.
Brant approached Ron, intending to slap her.
But someone grabbed her wrist.
“You raised your hand against me earlier, and now you are trying to do the same to my guest?”
“Let go of your hand!”
"I won't!
If I do, you'll try to hit me again!"
“I said let go of my hand!”
It was just an attempt to hit her once.
And even that was by mistake.
But Cornelia acted as if Mrs.
Brant were hitting her again and again.
"Please don't hit me.
I have a baby in my belly!"
Upon hearing this, Mrs.
Brant's expression hardened.
"What?
Baby...?"
A moment ago, she was angry, but in an instant, she felt a rush of blood in her head.
This shouldn't have happened.
He wasn't her real son anymore, and now she had a child?
Mother pushed Cornelia hard.
“This is impossible!
You have not consummated your marriage yet!”
Cornelia nodded.
“Yes, but you don’t know much about marital relationships.
If you doubt that, ask your son.”
The lady's face turned pale when she heard Cornelia's words.
First I need to ascertain the truth from the fake.
Mrs.
Brant stared at Cornelia, looking displeased as if she had heard something she should not have heard.
“I'm leaving now”
After the lady left, only Ron and Cornelia remained in the reception room.
Noticing Cornelia's behavior, Ron remembered the previous scene.
The Grand Lady did not seem happy about the Duchess's pregnancy...
Although everyone knew, Cornelia was not oblivious.
Cornelia quickly covered her face with both hands and held back her tears.
“Duchess...”
Ron wanted to console her, but no words came to her mind.
At that moment, Cornelia raised her head with an expressionless expression.
“I received fine jewelry from you, but today you saw me in this state.
I hope you will leave now.”
Ron sighed and bowed her head.
“Yes, I understand.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
I watched Ron's carriage leave through the window, and I finally let out the laugh I'd been holding in.
“I must have got witnesses; now it's just a matter of spreading rumors.”
Given Ron's personality, she wouldn't spread rumors willingly.
However, you don't need to worry about this part.
"You'll deal with the rumors as you see fit.
Ron Felton, you just have to make sure they're true."
For a moment, I lowered the corners of my mouth.
It was strange, no matter what I thought about it.
It is true that we did not marry for love, but no one knew that we were sharing a room.
Why did you speak as if this truth was self-evident?
Suddenly, pre-regression memories surfaced.
However, a surprising question arose.
Could it be that he really intended to fire me and marry Madeleine?
I laughed bitterly.
Well, even if the lady said that, Eric is still an accomplice.
I remembered the family crest engraved on the marriage contract, and I gritted my teeth.