Chapter 15 – The Marchioness and Her Ambition
“What do you mean, your feet hurt?”
The woman called Marchioness Camilla fussed over her daughter, Ruby, with exaggerated concern.
“I’m fine, Mother! I’m eight years old now—I can stand and wait a little!”
As the girl smiled brightly, her twin braids swung back and forth.
She had the same glossy blond hair and round blue eyes as her mother.
Wearing a frilly pink dress with lace ribbons and shiny shoes, Ruby looked like a little princess straight out of a fairy tale.
But who is she?
For her and her mother to enter the Abner Main Manor—and be escorted by Jaden Abner himself—wasn’t something just anyone could do.
Roger, the butler, asked carefully, “What brings you here today, Marchioness?”
Camilla’s face twisted with irritation.
“I heard the Abners took in a sponsored child, didn’t they?”
“…”
“Can you imagine how offended I was? When I asked my dear sister-in-law to take care of my Ruby, she wouldn’t even consider it! But for some random orphan, she—!”
“Marchioness…” Roger said calmly, but the woman kept fanning herself with feigned distress.
“When I heard the news, I couldn’t believe it! My heart almost broke, truly!”
“May I ask where you heard such a rumor?” Roger’s tone sharpened slightly.
Camilla gasped dramatically.
“Roger, do you really not know who I am? I’m Camilla Coel! They say I know everything that happens in the capital—even the mouse holes in empty kitchens!”
Roger sighed. “So, Young Master Jaden told you.”
Camilla’s mouth snapped shut.
Judging by her guilty look, Roger had hit the mark.
I sighed inwardly.
Jaden Abner.
I already knew he was rotten to the core—
but spreading private household matters without his mother’s consent?
Unbelievable.
Even in my past life, people whispered about how different Jaden was from his mother.
While Duchess Sharon Abner was known for her brilliance and composure,
Her son was infamous for being violent, arrogant, and short-tempered.
No wonder he still hasn’t been named Young Duke.
No mother in her right mind would entrust a noble house to a man like that.
The image of him slapping Roger moments ago flashed through my mind, and my stomach twisted.
Just then, one of the maids scurried off toward the Duchess’s office—
probably to inform her that visitors had arrived.
“For now, please wait in the drawing room,” Roger said politely. “I’ll let the mistress know at once.”
Camilla glared at him but reluctantly agreed, her chin lifted in forced dignity.
Then—
“Oh?”
Her daughter Ruby had stopped walking, staring curiously toward the hallway.
“Ruby, don’t dawdle—come alon—”
Camilla turned—and froze when she saw me standing there.
Her eyes went wide… then narrow… then wide again.
“No… surely not…”
She lifted a trembling hand, pointing straight at me.
Her jeweled fingers traced over my simple clothes and long, plainly brushed hair—neatly tied that morning by Miel and Soya.
Unlike Ruby, I wore no glittering accessories, no satin dress, and no silk shoes.
And I suddenly understood that look on her face.
This was the Abner estate—the mansion of one of the most powerful houses in the Taranta Empire.
Everything around us—from the marble floors to the crystal chandeliers—screamed wealth and nobility.
And yet, standing there among it all, was… me.
A small girl in plain indoor clothes.
“So the rumor was true,” Camilla gasped. “You really are a commoner?”
It happened so fast I barely had time to react.
“Madam!”
“Mmff—!”
Before Roger could stop her, Camilla stormed toward me and grabbed my face roughly with her ring-covered hand.
“How could this be possible?!” she cried.
She turned my face side to side like I was a doll on display.
Behind her, the maids gasped in horror.
“Lady Annelia!”
I heard Soya’s voice—high and panicked.
“Answer me, Roger!” Camilla barked. “Is this child really the one—this—this—!”
“Ow…”
I couldn’t help the small sound that escaped me.
The sharp edges of her jeweled rings dug into my cheek, stinging painfully.
“She is Her Grace’s official ward!” Roger shouted, stepping between us at last.
Camilla’s hand fell away, leaving a red mark burning across my skin.
Ruby just watched me with wide, curious eyes.
“Ward? Ward?!” Camilla shrieked. “So it’s true! My sister-in-law’s precious protégé is just a filthy commoner child!?”
She clutched her chest dramatically.
Roger quickly gestured to the servants.
“Miel, Soya—take the young lady upstairs at once!”
“Yes, sir!”
Miel and Soya rushed over.
“My lady!”
Miel’s eyes filled with tears as she gently touched my reddened cheek.
“I-it’s fine,” I whispered.
Soya scooped me into her arms, and we hurried up the stairs.
As we left, I saw Ruby still staring at me—curious, not cruel, but… something else flickering in her gaze.
***
“Unbelievable! She’s insane!”
Miel’s furious voice filled the room.
“No matter how angry she was, how could she grab a child’s face like that?!”
“Calm down, Miel,” Soya said softly.
I sat quietly on the sofa, wrapped in a thick blanket after receiving healing treatment.
My cheek still tingled, but I kept my eyes shut.
Thinking I was asleep, Miel lowered her voice only a little.
“She’s always been rude and self-important, but this time she went too far!
Barging in whenever she pleases—now she’s manhandling the young lady!”
“Her Grace will take appropriate action…” Soya murmured.
Miel wasn’t convinced.
“Oh, please! How long are we going to let her use that excuse? Just because she lent the family money back then?”
Money?
My eyes opened just a sliver.
Through the blur of my lashes, I could see them standing by the fireplace.
“Y-you know Lady Sharon must have her reasons,” Soya stammered.
“The Marchioness’s wealth isn’t small change.”
“Still!”
“She’s preserving a relationship that’s… useful. That’s all.”
“But she crossed the line!”
“Miel, keep your voice down! What if someone hears? You’ll be punished again!”
Soya glanced my way, so I quickly shut my eyes.
A small silence followed.
“The poor young lady,” Miel whispered. “That woman called her a commoner… she must be so hurt.”
“She’s strong. She’ll understand,” Soya replied quietly.
They were both worried about me.
But honestly, I was fine.
Technically, she’s right—I am a commoner.
It wasn’t anything new. Nobles had always obsessed over birth and blood.
In my past life, I’d heard worse insults more times than I could count.
Even as a noblewoman myself, people never let me forget that I’d once been an orphan.
Though, yeah… having my face grabbed like that was definitely shocking.
Still, I wasn’t the kind to fall apart over something like this.
My small hands trembled a little, and my legs felt weak—
But that was just the body reacting, not my heart.
And at least now, I understood the situation clearly.
So… Marchioness Camilla is rich.
That detail had jogged a memory.
Before Sharon Abner took control, the Abner family had been on the brink of ruin.
Clawing back from that required resources—and powerful connections.
So Sharon must’ve borrowed money from Camilla in those early years.
That explained why she still tolerated the woman’s arrogance.
Having a wealthy ally was better than an enemy with deep pockets.
And as for Camilla herself…
Currently, the Abners had already overtaken the Longtons in military power and weapon production.
Their northern lands were rich in untapped resources—coal, iron, and rare minerals.
But the problem is the future.
Right now, the Duchess was keeping everything stable.
But her only heir… was Jaden.
And Sharon doesn’t trust him. Not one bit.
Even in my past life, that had been a topic of gossip—
The great Abner family with no reliable successor.
I nodded slightly to myself.
So that’s her plan.
Camilla’s intentions were obvious.
She wanted to make her daughter—the sweet, pretty Ruby—
the Abners’ adopted daughter.
***
And sure enough—
“There you are!”
It was Ruby’s voice, bright and innocent, coming from the doorway.
ioness and Her Ambition
“What do you mean, your feet hurt?”
The woman called Marchioness Camilla fussed over her daughter, Ruby, with exaggerated concern.
“I’m fine, Mother! I’m eight years old now—I can stand and wait a little!”
As the girl smiled brightly, her twin braids swung back and forth.
She had the same glossy blond hair and round blue eyes as her mother.
Wearing a frilly pink dress with lace ribbons and shiny shoes, Ruby looked like a little princess straight out of a fairy tale.
But who is she?
For her and her mother to enter the Abner Main Manor—and be escorted by Jaden Abner himself—wasn’t something just anyone could do.
Roger, the butler, asked carefully, “What brings you here today, Marchioness?”
Camilla’s face twisted with irritation.
“I heard the Abners took in a sponsored child, didn’t they?”
“…”
“Can you imagine how offended I was? When I asked my dear sister-in-law to take care of my Ruby, she wouldn’t even consider it! But for some random orphan, she—!”
“Marchioness…” Roger said calmly, but the woman kept fanning herself with feigned distress.
“When I heard the news, I couldn’t believe it! My heart almost broke, truly!”
“May I ask where you heard such a rumor?” Roger’s tone sharpened slightly.
Camilla gasped dramatically.
“Roger, do you really not know who I am? I’m Camilla Coel! They say I know everything that happens in the capital—even the mouse holes in empty kitchens!”
Roger sighed. “So, Young Master Jaden told you.”
Camilla’s mouth snapped shut.
Judging by her guilty look, Roger had hit the mark.
I sighed inwardly.
Jaden Abner.
I already knew he was rotten to the core—
but spreading private household matters without his mother’s consent?
Unbelievable.
Even in my past life, people whispered about how different Jaden was from his mother.
While Duchess Sharon Abner was known for her brilliance and composure,
Her son was infamous for being violent, arrogant, and short-tempered.
No wonder he still hasn’t been named Young Duke.
No mother in her right mind would entrust a noble house to a man like that.
The image of him slapping Roger moments ago flashed through my mind, and my stomach twisted.
Just then, one of the maids scurried off toward the Duchess’s office—
probably to inform her that visitors had arrived.
“For now, please wait in the drawing room,” Roger said politely. “I’ll let the mistress know at once.”
Camilla glared at him but reluctantly agreed, her chin lifted in forced dignity.
Then—
“Oh?”
Her daughter Ruby had stopped walking, staring curiously toward the hallway.
“Ruby, don’t dawdle—come alon—”
Camilla turned—and froze when she saw me standing there.
Her eyes went wide… then narrow… then wide again.
“No… surely not…”
She lifted a trembling hand, pointing straight at me.
Her jeweled fingers traced over my simple clothes and long, plainly brushed hair—neatly tied that morning by Miel and Soya.
Unlike Ruby, I wore no glittering accessories, no satin dress, and no silk shoes.
And I suddenly understood that look on her face.
This was the Abner estate—the mansion of one of the most powerful houses in the Taranta Empire.
Everything around us—from the marble floors to the crystal chandeliers—screamed wealth and nobility.
And yet, standing there among it all, was… me.
A small girl in plain indoor clothes.
“So the rumor was true,” Camilla gasped. “You really are a commoner?”
It happened so fast I barely had time to react.
“Madam!”
“Mmff—!”
Before Roger could stop her, Camilla stormed toward me and grabbed my face roughly with her ring-covered hand.
“How could this be possible?!” she cried.
She turned my face side to side like I was a doll on display.
Behind her, the maids gasped in horror.
“Lady Annelia!”
I heard Soya’s voice—high and panicked.
“Answer me, Roger!” Camilla barked. “Is this child really the one—this—this—!”
“Ow…”
I couldn’t help the small sound that escaped me.
The sharp edges of her jeweled rings dug into my cheek, stinging painfully.
“She is Her Grace’s official ward!” Roger shouted, stepping between us at last.
Camilla’s hand fell away, leaving a red mark burning across my skin.
Ruby just watched me with wide, curious eyes.
“Ward? Ward?!” Camilla shrieked. “So it’s true! My sister-in-law’s precious protégé is just a filthy commoner child!?”
She clutched her chest dramatically.
Roger quickly gestured to the servants.
“Miel, Soya—take the young lady upstairs at once!”
“Yes, sir!”
Miel and Soya rushed over.
“My lady!”
Miel’s eyes filled with tears as she gently touched my reddened cheek.
“I-it’s fine,” I whispered.
Soya scooped me into her arms, and we hurried up the stairs.
As we left, I saw Ruby still staring at me—curious, not cruel, but… something else flickering in her gaze.
***
“Unbelievable! She’s insane!”
Miel’s furious voice filled the room.
“No matter how angry she was, how could she grab a child’s face like that?!”
“Calm down, Miel,” Soya said softly.
I sat quietly on the sofa, wrapped in a thick blanket after receiving healing treatment.
My cheek still tingled, but I kept my eyes shut.
Thinking I was asleep, Miel lowered her voice only a little.
“She’s always been rude and self-important, but this time she went too far!
Barging in whenever she pleases—now she’s manhandling the young lady!”
“Her Grace will take appropriate action…” Soya murmured.
Miel wasn’t convinced.
“Oh, please! How long are we going to let her use that excuse? Just because she lent the family money back then?”
Money?
My eyes opened just a sliver.
Through the blur of my lashes, I could see them standing by the fireplace.
“Y-you know Lady Sharon must have her reasons,” Soya stammered.
“The Marchioness’s wealth isn’t small change.”
“Still!”
“She’s preserving a relationship that’s… useful. That’s all.”
“But she crossed the line!”
“Miel, keep your voice down! What if someone hears? You’ll be punished again!”
Soya glanced my way, so I quickly shut my eyes.
A small silence followed.
“The poor young lady,” Miel whispered. “That woman called her a commoner… she must be so hurt.”
“She’s strong. She’ll understand,” Soya replied quietly.
They were both worried about me.
But honestly, I was fine.
Technically, she’s right—I am a commoner.
It wasn’t anything new. Nobles had always obsessed over birth and blood.
In my past life, I’d heard worse insults more times than I could count.
Even as a noblewoman myself, people never let me forget that I’d once been an orphan.
Though, yeah… having my face grabbed like that was definitely shocking.
Still, I wasn’t the kind to fall apart over something like this.
My small hands trembled a little, and my legs felt weak—
But that was just the body reacting, not my heart.
And at least now, I understood the situation clearly.
So… Marchioness Camilla is rich.
That detail had jogged a memory.
Before Sharon Abner took control, the Abner family had been on the brink of ruin.
Clawing back from that required resources—and powerful connections.
So Sharon must’ve borrowed money from Camilla in those early years.
That explained why she still tolerated the woman’s arrogance.
Having a wealthy ally was better than an enemy with deep pockets.
And as for Camilla herself…
Currently, the Abners had already overtaken the Longtons in military power and weapon production.
Their northern lands were rich in untapped resources—coal, iron, and rare minerals.
But the problem is the future.
Right now, the Duchess was keeping everything stable.
But her only heir… was Jaden.
And Sharon doesn’t trust him. Not one bit.
Even in my past life, that had been a topic of gossip—
The great Abner family with no reliable successor.
I nodded slightly to myself.
So that’s her plan.
Camilla’s intentions were obvious.
She wanted to make her daughter—the sweet, pretty Ruby—
the Abners’ adopted daughter.
And sure enough—
“There you are!”
It was Ruby’s voice, bright and innocent, coming from the doorway.
