27. I Wondered If He Was Being Hard on His Wife
The morning before the formal meeting between families, an unwelcome visitor arrived at Riley’s home.
“It seems someone sent by Baron Ryan, shall I let them in?”
“…From my uncle?”
“Yes.”
Why all of a sudden?
Riley stood up with a displeased expression. The door opened, and Richelle ushered in an unwelcome guest. A maid whose face seemed familiar glanced around nervously and, upon seeing Riley, immediately dropped to a deep bow.
“Ah… it’s been a while, Miss.”
Riley didn’t know her name, but she remembered that this maid had been part of the group that often harassed her—not severely, but enough that she always had to endure Claire and her personal maid, Liz, cursing at her.
The maid looked terrified. She hadn’t done anything threatening or looked at Riley with malice, yet she cowered as if overcome with guilt, clearly feeling some pangs of conscience.
“What brings you here?” Riley asked.
“I’ve finished organizing the luggage today.”
“And?”
“My master said he’d like to arrange a lunch. There’s something to discuss regarding tomorrow’s formal meeting.”
Having lunch with her uncle and aunt was enough of a formal affair on its own. But the idea that there was something to discuss about the meeting worried her.
After all, her uncle and aunt would be attending the meeting as family tomorrow. To avoid mistakes, it made sense to agree on what to say beforehand. Judging by the fact that Givnen hadn’t been invited, Riley guessed the conversation wouldn’t be pleasant.
After a brief pause, Riley responded:
“Tell them I’ll come in an hour.”
“Yes, Miss!”
The unnamed maid hurriedly left the mansion, scurrying out like a thief caught in the act.
Richelle spoke to Riley with concern.
“Miss, are you alright? You don’t look well.”
“I’m fine.”
“Just in case, I can report this to your master.”
“Do that.”
Riley exhaled and headed to the dressing room.
Usually, she preferred simple, understated dresses. She first reached for a plain white dress, but then she put it back and instead chose a more luxurious dress adorned with delicate lace.
She then called to Richelle:
“Call Madame Blanche.”
Madame Blanche was a rising star designer who had recently gained fame in Blestige. Her boutique had become so popular that appointments had to be made a month in advance. While her dresses were highly sought after, her greatest acclaim came from her makeup skills.
She could perfectly match hair and makeup to the outfit, and people of all ages sought her out, especially among young nobles.
“It’s been a while, Miss,” Madame Blanche greeted.
Riley was familiar with her. When she first arrived at the mansion under Givnen’s instructions to have a dress made, she had met Madame Blanche while being measured. Madame Blanche had a strong cooperative relationship with Givnen, promising to come whenever needed.
Riley had never thought she would have to call her herself.
“How have you been?”
“Of course well. I didn’t expect you to call me this early.”
“Why not?”
“You never seemed interested in appearances.”
“I’m still not that interested… but I wanted your help.”
“Of course. What do you need me to do?”
“Something neither too extravagant nor too simple. Appropriate for a formal setting.”
Though it wasn’t exactly a formal occasion, Riley understood that appearance reflected one’s status. She knew why nobles fussed over appearances, why they worked to look good in others’ eyes.
“Something that no one can ignore,” she thought.
No one, not Ryan, her aunt, nor Claire, would look down on her anymore.
It might be childish, but Riley wanted to show a changed version of herself. To show that she could live well without them, that she could be happy and loved. She didn’t want to embarrass Givnen with a shabby appearance.
Madame Blanche smiled and nodded.
“Leave it to me.”
“Did you arrange a separate lunch?”
“Yes, they invited Miss Riley.”
“Why today? Planning another one of their secret threats?”
Givnen recalled today’s schedule with a blank expression. Today’s lunch was unusually flexible—there was an appointment, but it wasn’t with someone particularly important. Compared to a casual lunch with someone of minor significance, seeing Riley endure her abusive family’s company made the choice clear.
“Cancel the lunch appointment.”
“Welcome.”
Ryan awkwardly greeted Riley at the door. Beside him, the baroness shifted nervously. Claire, emerging from the room, saw Riley and froze, then clenched her fists, trembling with anger.
“You’ve changed so much, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Ryan, the baroness, and Claire were all shocked because Riley looked unrecognizable. When she first entered the home, they had assumed she was someone else. Her once emaciated body had filled out attractively, and her formerly gloomy face now glowed with vitality.
With her hair neatly tied up, her lively, petite face was even more striking. In an evening dress that hugged her figure and a pearl necklace, she looked as sophisticated as the nobles of a major city.
It was true—clothes really could transform a person, and Riley’s changed circumstances were evident.
“Your complexion looks healthy. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”
“I have no choice but to do well. My living environment is entirely different now.”
“Ha, well, let’s start with lunch.”
They moved to the dining room. Though Ryan had prepared the meal impressively, to Riley, the menu seemed meager—barely half of what she usually ate.
When Riley sat, Ryan jumped in.
“What have you been up to?”
“I’ve been eating well and staying busy with studies lately.”
“What studies?”
“I’m preparing for the Horizon Academy entrance exam.”
Claire, who had been frowning, burst into laughter.
“Ha! You? Preparing for Horizon Academy?”
“…I don’t see what’s funny.”
“Funny? It’s the most ridiculous thing. With your brain, you think you can prepare for the top elite school in the world? You still don’t understand your place?”
The baroness quickly defended Riley, shocked by Claire’s words.
“Claire! How dare you speak like that!”
“Mother, isn’t it funny? There’s an order to everything, yet you haven’t even had basic education. You’re jumping straight to Horizon Academy? That’s not just a school—it’s an elite institution above higher education. Only the best can attend.”
Claire lightly tapped Riley’s shoulder, smirking.
“Becoming rich doesn’t make you smart. You can buy education, but you can’t buy intelligence.”
“Yes, my tutor mentioned the same thing recently,” Riley said.
“What?”
“They said brains for studying and foolishness are separate. Looking at you, I understand.”
“What? Are you calling me foolish? I’ve never missed being top of my class!”
“Exactly—brains for studying and foolishness are separate. You’ve been so careless here, not realizing your priorities are behind mine, and you keep babbling recklessly. Or are you only foolish in front of me?”
“….”
“Everything here—the house, the meal, even the clothes in your new wardrobe—came from the money I got for marrying Lord Lianster.”
Ryan and the baroness looked uneasy. Claire gripped Riley’s collar, fuming.
“Don’t act high and mighty! You’ve done nothing for yourself!”
“Don’t you remember what you always told me?”
“….”
“You said luck is skill.”
Claire had repeated it endlessly: that luck is skill, and the real talent is seizing it.
-
You blame your parents for your misfortune, but luck is skill. You blame your lack of luck. You blame being ignored on your parents leaving you, not me.
-
Being registered as my father’s child was the luck of a lifetime. Without him, you’d probably be dead by now. You don’t know how cruel the world is for a lone orphaned girl.
-
The Ermeinz Count family would have been too good a match. Riley, you’re lucky. Marrying a noble in the capital is a blessing. Meeting a good man is luck too. You are lucky.
“So, marrying Lord Lianster was my luck, and seizing that luck was my talent, right, Father?”
Claire ground her teeth but could not reply. She had said “luck is skill” so often it left her speechless.
“Yes, Riley is right. Claire, calm yourself. You can’t even celebrate your sister marrying well?”
“My parents are wrong too! I’m your biological daughter!”
“Ha! And who said Riley isn’t like a biological daughter? So be friendly. Must we shout at a rare family lunch? It’s better to get along. Riley, don’t respond to your sister’s tantrums. Aren’t you mature?”
Riley let out a small laugh, exasperated.
“I didn’t want to get angry over a meal today. I wasn’t going to argue with Claire. But I’m no longer in a position where I just have to stay quiet and endure, am I?”
“Well… that’s true…”
Ryan wiped sweat from his forehead nervously, and Riley continued eating silently.
“About the formal meeting…”
“You called me here because of it. What do you want to say?”
“Nothing major. I just thought we should agree beforehand to appear as harmonious as possible.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
Ryan began discussing topics for the formal meeting: stories about family trips, subjects taught by tutors, everything. They had never given Riley proper education, but now they would pretend she had studied alongside Claire under the same tutor.
Riley was incredulous, but the baroness explained awkwardly:
“You can’t make it obvious she never received basic education. But since she’s preparing for Horizon Academy, just focus on that if it comes up.”
“Deceiving people? They already know everything about our family. You think lies will work?”
“You still studied under Mrs. Bayricsid for a month. She said your comprehension and aptitude are excellent for your age.”
“I will speak as I am. Why hide or lie? I have nothing to be ashamed of. It is you and uncle who should feel ashamed.”
Ryan finally lost his temper.
“Why are you always so obstinate! Didn’t you write a letter swearing to forget the past?”
“I’m not forgetting. I’m just not holding you accountable for the old matters.”
“Then why be so uncooperative when we’re trying to get along?”
“If you truly want to get along, you shouldn’t act this way. You still try to control me.”
Just then, a voice called out:
“Master!”
“What is it?”
“Uh… the Master of Magic from Horizon has come.”
Everyone froze. The clatter of dishes and sounds of eating stopped.
Riley was the most surprised.
“…This is too much, Father-in-law. Leaving me out like this…”
Givnen had arrived unannounced, confidently sitting next to Riley as if it were his own home. He smiled faintly at her shocked expression.
“You should’ve told me if there was a gathering like this.”
“Oh… well, um…”
“May I join you, sir?”
“Of course, Lord Lianster. Please sit.”
Once he sat, the meal resumed, but the atmosphere had turned cold and tense. It felt like a final dinner before the end of the world. Riley fidgeted nervously, unsure whether her food was going in her mouth or not.
‘Why did he come here?’
Ignoring everything, Givnen ate gracefully, as usual.
“The room was lively until now, but my arrival seems to have dampened the mood,” he said, slicing his steak.
“Oh, no, it’s not that…”
“What were you talking about?”
“Just… catching up on news.”
“That’s good.”
He cut the steak and offered it to Riley.
“I was worried you might be hard on your wife when I wasn’t looking.”
Ryan wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking embarrassed.
Givnen then spoke in a teasing yet sincere tone:
“Baron, you seem sensitive to heat. It’s not even that hot.”
“Haha, age does that sometimes.”
It felt as if a predator had joined the table of herbivores. Everyone, including Riley, kept their eyes on Givnen.
Then, Givnen quietly pushed aside the fish in front of Riley and replaced it with a plate of fruit. When she stared at him, he shrugged.
“You can’t eat seafood and like sweets, right?”
He picked up a piece of pineapple and offered it to her.
“Go on, try it.”
Everyone else gasped, but Givnen seemed oblivious to their stares.
Here, he was truly a loving husband. Riley smiled faintly as she took the pineapple from him.
It was the sweetest, most delicious pineapple she had ever eaten.
