MLIIWTFL Chapter 192

 192

“The tea prepared by the Viscountess of Sheafield has a truly lovely fragrance. It would be nice if everyone could enjoy it before it gets cold.”

At her casual remark, the people around the table glanced at one another, gauging each other's reactions, then slowly reached for their teacups.

The Countess of Wallace deliberately waited a few seconds longer—after everyone else had already lifted their cups—before gracefully bringing her own to her lips.

Just as Camilla said, the tea's aroma was quite exquisite. It had drawn out Arenne's signature delicate and fresh scent beautifully, and it paired harmoniously with the pound cake made with apricots that had been served as a tea treat.

However, the only one at the table who seemed able to truly enjoy that harmony was Camilla herself.

Ignoring the nervous glances sent her way, Camilla leisurely tasted the tea and took a bite of the apricot cake. Then, in a calm and composed tone, she turned to the Countess of Wallace and asked.

“The Arenne blend really is perfect for this season. In the West, floral teas are more famous, but I’ve always preferred black tea myself.”

“I enjoy black tea more as well. Especially Arenne leaves harvested in the fall. The aroma is at its best then.”

“Ah, I see. I actually thought you’d be more fond of floral teas, so that’s a bit unexpected.”

The Countess of Wallace was taken aback by the sudden jab cloaked as small talk. Hiding her surprise, she pretended to sip her tea, keeping her eyes fixed on the liquid to conceal her agitation.

"I'm surprised you saw me that way, Madam. May I ask what made you think so?"

"Even during times when floral tea should have been avoided, you still had it served in your home. I simply thought you must be very fond of it."

At Camilla’s remark, as she gently set down her teacup, the expressions of the surrounding ladies stiffened. The Countess of Wallace, putting on a show of slight irritation, responded coldly.

"It seems you enjoy mocking others’ misfortunes, Countess. If that’s not the case, may I ask why you brought up such an unwelcome subject?"

"I do feel sympathy for those who suffered misfortune. But when it’s made to look as though my daughter caused that misfortune, as her mother, I can’t just sit quietly."

Camilla’s eyes sharpened. Though her lips still curved into a polite smile, her voice and gaze brimmed with quiet rage.

The Countess of Wallace flinched slightly under the pressure, but she too was a formidable force, having built a strong faction among the old nobility in high society. Even when facing the queen of social circles, she wouldn’t be easily shaken.

"You're blaming the wrong person, aren't you? Wasn’t Sir Achilles Averil in charge of the investigation? And now you’re directing your accusations at my husband, who had no involvement? That doesn’t seem very wise of you, Countess."

"Do you think I wouldn’t know who the knights were, the ones who stormed our home and tried to paint my daughter as a suspect? I looked into it—they were all men your husband had favored since the early days of his leadership."

Camilla replied with a mocking tone. Several ladies around the table gave small nods in agreement.

The Countess of Wallace glared at them and said.

"Those knights were simply a bit too zealous. But isn’t it admirable for a knight to hold firm to their duty to investigate, even if the suspect is someone favored by Her Majesty the Empress?"

"So... if someone the Empress favors must be strictly investigated, but the daughter of the Knight Commander gets escorted like a debutante at a ball, only asked a few formal questions—are you saying that is the model of knighthood? Are you implying that Her Majesty’s authority is beneath that of your husband?"

"Countess Sharon! How could you say something so outrageous?"

A lady seated next to the Countess of Wallace cried out in shock. Camilla had invoked the authority of the Empress, almost accusing the Count of Wallace of treason—a terrifying insinuation.

But Camilla remained calm, her expression still cynical, as she went on.

"Well, I suppose it makes sense. The Wallace family has held the Knight Commander’s position for four generations now. It’s only natural that within the knight order, their leadership feels... unquestionable. But even so, the loyalty of a knight should belong to the Imperial House. Not even a commander has the right to redirect that loyalty to themselves. If they do, that’s a very serious problem."

Though Camilla spoke lightly, her words carried significant weight.

Knights were sworn to serve the Emperor. Showing loyalty to anyone outside the royal family—even a superior officer—was a crime punishable by death. In the worst-case scenario, the person who received that loyalty could also be charged with treason.

"Countess Sharon..."

Sensing the danger in the direction of the conversation, the Countess of Wallace quickly tried to redirect the topic.

"I understand why you're angry about what your daughter went through. But surely you know that misplacing your anger and trying to scapegoat someone else with false accusations doesn’t help your daughter. Just take my own daughter, for example. How could you subject her to such disgrace just to protect your own?"

This was a direct jab at the rumors circulating about Audrey in the newspapers.

Now that the topic was openly mentioned, the ladies who had gleefully gossiped about it earlier flinched and averted their eyes from the Countess.

"As if it wasn’t enough that her cousin collapsed so suddenly, now my daughter is so shocked by those nasty rumors that she can’t even step outside. She’s devoting herself entirely to nursing her cousin. Is that enough for you now? Have you succeeded in turning my daughter into a scapegoat to protect your own?"

"Oh dear… you’re saying Lady Wallace is suffering that much?"

"She must be. I mean, just look at what the newspapers are saying. No matter how much you want to shield Lady Sharon, this is just too much."

The women sitting beside the Countess of Wallace spoke sharply, glaring at Camilla and consoling the Countess—as if she were the victim and Camilla the attacker.

Their words stirred unease throughout the room. But Camilla didn’t so much as blink.

She wasn’t the kind of woman swayed by someone else's victim act—especially not when she could just as easily play that role herself.

"That’s actually what I wanted to say to you, Madam. As much as you might want to avoid responsibility for what happened at your own estate, how could you try to frame a young lady—someone your daughter’s own age—for a crime she didn’t commit?"

Her words subtly reminded everyone in the room of the real beginning of this entire ordeal: that it was Count Wallace who had made Letticia appear to be a suspect.

"My daughter may have been so frightened by the knights' intimidation that she falsely confessed to something she never did. Surely you know, Madam, that the fear of being treated like a criminal can be even more terrifying than rumors. So tell me—who is it that made her a scapegoat just to protect themselves?"

"That accusation is absolutely false! The Count would never give such an order!"

A lady seated beside the Countess of Wallace cried out in defense. But Camilla didn’t even flinch.

"Then how do you suppose the knights came to the conclusion that my daughter should be treated like a suspect? The investigation order came that very morning, and of all the knights investigating this case, the only one who was actually invited to the Wallace estate at the time of the incident… was Sir Achilles Averil."

"Now that you mention it, it is strange that the knights immediately targeted Lady Sharon like that the moment they got the order…"

"What common knight would dare lay a hand on Lady Sharon unless they had someone powerful backing them?"

"So… are you saying Count Wallace did give orders behind the scenes? That’s… terrifying."

The atmosphere, which had begun to lean in favor of the Countess, quickly turned again. Camilla’s precise remarks threw suspicion back into the room, and the guests began to murmur amongst themselves.

Though they whispered, it was more than loud enough for everyone at the tea table to hear.

The Countess of Wallace, unable to lash out or yell in such a setting, could only tremble as Camilla addressed her coldly.

"My daughter was also deeply shaken that morning when the knights treated her like a suspect. And now she’s too upset to even visit Lady Eskis out of concern, because she believes the Count sees her as the culprit."

"..."

"So, Countess—why don’t you ask the Count for us? Ask him how it feels to have failed in making my daughter look like the criminal."

The Countess of Wallace withdrew her hand from the teacup, feeling the moisture on her palm. The fragrance of the tea she once enjoyed no longer reached her senses.

She had lost the media battle; now, even in high society, the tide was turning. She had brought along Baroness Bright in hopes of swaying the narrative with favorable gossip—but she hadn’t expected Camilla to strike so directly and so soon.

She glared at Viscountess Sheafield, the tea party’s host, but the woman—though slightly guilty—averted her gaze.

Judging by the timing, she must have invited Camilla just the night before.

Normally, invitations for such teas were sent out a week in advance, so the Viscountess must have gone out of her way to issue it.

Which also meant: she had likely taken Sharon’s side. And that meant she wouldn’t step in as a neutral host to mediate now.

The Countess realized she had no choice but to retreat.

"...My husband deeply regrets what happened to your daughter. He also finds it terribly unfortunate that such misunderstandings have occurred."

♡♡♡
Hi~ If you enjoy the translation and would like to support me or access advanced chapters of this novel, feel free to visit my ko-fi by clicking here~. Advanced chapters available:
𝟭𝟵𝟰-𝟮𝟬𝟵
𝟮𝟭𝟰-𝟮𝟭𝟴 [New, July 20]
𝟮𝟭𝟵-𝟮𝟮𝟯 [New, July 20]
♡♡♡