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Chapter 48

At those resolute words, the Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony’s eyes widened.

“Now, my mother-in-law is denouncing my wife as a ‘wicked woman’ because she recovered the investment?”

Alexei smiled.

It was a smile as sharp as the tip of her sharpened sword.

“That’s what I suggested.”

What?

The Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony fixed her gaze on Alexei with an astonished look on her face.

“The Duchy of Valois has been participating as an investor in Ivan’s business until now.”

Still, he continued to speak softly as if she was a child. Though the content of what he was saying was not mild at all.

“That means we have the right to decide how much money to invest, when to proceed with the investment, and when to withdraw the money invested…”

Blue eyes looked down at the Grand Madam.

“That means me and my wife have it.”

“Duke, Duke of Valois. But…”

“My wife and I were only exercising our legitimate rights.”

As if Alexei didn’t really understand, he asked the Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony.

“Why should my mother-in-law say that my wife is ‘wicked’?”

Speechless, the grand madam of the Marquisate of Saxony, bit her lip.

He added calmly.

“If it wasn’t for the teacher, Viscountess Ivan, who had taught my wife in the first place, I wouldn’t have invested in the business in the first place.”

It was true.

In fact, Alexei refused to invest several times. He couldn’t overcome Anriche’s insistence, so he eventually made the investment.

“Based on Valois’ investment, Ivan’s business has grown tremendously.”

“….”

“Though as important as increasing the scale, isn’t it important to strengthen the internal structure?”

He nailed it directly.

The Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony, unable to resist his wrath, clenched her fists tightly.

Nonetheless, Alexei’s words weren’t over yet.

“At least, so that the business is not shaken enough to pay off their one investor’s investment.”

“That, though. That’s…”

“Well. Just by recovering this amount of investment, the business is driven to the brink of collapse…”

Alexei’s smile widened a little.

“It just meant that the business itself was like a castle built on sand?”

Alexei did so, and sentenced to death Viscountess Ivan’s business.

“It seems that the choice to recover the investment was also right.”

“Duke…!”

At that, the Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony called to Alexei like a scream. “What, what if you look at my face?”

“Mother-in-law’s face?”

“Yes, this is also for Anriche! Anyway, there is such a thing as a social reputation, right?”

She spoke desperately.

“Viscountess is good with ladies. She gets along very well…!”

It shouldn’t be like this. Saying she would take care of this, and she spoke a lot of things to Viscountess Ivan…

But, Alexei coldly shook his head.

“No, I want to put my wife’s opinion first and foremost.”

“Yes, though…!”

“My wife has already told me she doesn’t care about gossip like that.”

Having said that, he glanced back at Anriche, and she nodded her head slightly.

“If my wife doesn’t care, I won’t care about it either.”

It was a resolute voice that even the tip of a needle wouldn’t go through.

“It’s a good thing that my mother-in-law cares about my wife, of course…”

He added calmly.

“But, please bear in mind that my wife is the mistress of Valois, and she is the only Duchess of the Empire.”

She felt like she was out of breath.

The Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony looked up at her son-in-law with a pale face.

“Treating my wife disrespectfully is the same as being disrespectful to her husband, me, as well.”

Alexei nailed his words.

Anriche stared at the Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony. When she treated Anriche, she raised her voice like a boss. Though on the other hand, she didn’t say a word when Alexei was in front of her.

She was very happy that Alexei was on her side.

However…

‘…I can’t help being bitter.’

She, of course, wanted to ignore her image as the daughter, but she wasn’t trying to go against Alexei’s intentions.

No wonder… It was a little sad.

After the Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony left, Anriche and Alexei remained side by side in the parlor.

Silence passed.

Anriche’s eyes were deep in thought as if thinking about something the whole time. Normally, he would have left her like that.

But, today…

“Madam.”

“Yes, Duke.”

Looking back at her husband, Anriche put a bright smile on her lips, as her habit. Although Alexei still couldn’t hide his worried expression.

“Are you okay?”

At that question, she opened her eyes wide.

After a while, she eventually nodded her head softly.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“But, why…”

Alexei muffled his words.

She replied that she was fine, but why…?

Alexei didn’t know how to ask about the discomfort he felt. So, in the end, he was forced to ask only vague questions.

“…Do you look like that?”

“Yes? Why is my expression…”

“I mean…”

Alexei bit his lip and asked.

Even though Anriche, who was sitting in front of her, had a smile brighter than the sunlight…

…But, why does it look like she’s seriously injured in his eyes?

The violet eyes are just dry. Somehow, it seems that the woman now was desperately holding back her tears.

“I’m not good at talking, so I can’t express it properly, but…”

For the first time, Alexei resented himself that he had always been reticent. If he had polished his speech even a little, he could have been able to speak more smoothly in this situation.

“Now the Madam doesn’t look all right.”

This was all he could say for her, only like this.

“A decent person… doesn’t make that face.”

At those words, Anriche’s smile grew a little darker.

She asked him back as if she were joking. “What’s on my face?”

“…You are forced to smile.”

“….”

For a moment, Anriche opened her mouth, biting her lips.

‘Stupid.’

It was pathetic for her to show sympathy to Anriche in the original story. She was asked to ‘become useful’ by her family, and she was used as a tool to raise the honor of Saxony.

All of that has nothing to do with her now.

All of those things are just what Anriche of the original story went through…

With that thought, she took a deep breath, calming her mind.

She then opened her mouth as she once again gave her a smooth smile. “Ah, I unintentionally bothered you. I’m sorry.”

“Ma, madam?”

“I’m sorry to the Duke, and I was also angry with her mother… I guess my face hardened without me knowing.”

Alexei stared at her quietly.

Although she shrugged her shoulders and spoke to him.

“The fact that my mother broke in like this means that she doesn’t show any respect for Valois at all, right?”

“….”

“I didn’t want to show off such a side… I’m really ashamed.”

Pretending to be nothing, the moment she was talking like that, Alexei’s fingertips touched Anriche’s face.

Astonished, she looked at Alexei.

“…Du, Duke?”

The long, graceful fingers gently caressed the corners of her eyes. Contrary to his aristocratic appearance, his fingers had the hardness characteristic of those who held the sword for a long time.

But, he was very warm.

“That’s all right.”

“….”

“Aren’t we a family?”

It was a simple but kind word.

In an instant, her emotions surged.

Alexei spoke in a stern tone.

“So, you don’t have to force yourself to smile like that.”

“Ah… really.”

For a moment, Alexei’s fingertips got wet. It was because suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes.

She hurriedly took a step back from him and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

“To show you such a stupid expression… It’s all because of the Duke.”

To Anriche, who blames herself, Alexei shook her head resolutely.

“No, you’re not stupid at all. Rather…”

“Yes?”

“I think it’s much better to be honest with your own feelings.”

At the unexpected words, she blankly blinked her eyes. After a while, she smiled brightly with her tear-soaked eyes.

It was a very pretty smile.

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