MHYFMAMD Ch 27
by rosey“Where is she now?”
“I thought there would be an uproar if I didn’t let her in, so I’ve brought her into the hall for now, but…”
“It’s fine. Just tell me everything.”
“…She says she won’t leave until she takes you with her.”
Tenesia stiffened her expression.
“Where is Margrave now?”
“Master usually goes to inspect the borderlands at this time. He’ll probably return around dinner.”
Unfortunately, Dietrich, who would have been her strong shield, wasn’t here. Tenesia furrowed her brows.
‘Did she intentionally choose this time?’
That wasn’t the most urgent matter at the moment. Tenesia grabbed Helle’s restless hand.
“Can you guide me to where Baroness Blanchette is?”
“But… she will definitely harm you.”
“It’s fine. We have to greet our guest.”
“Madam.”
Emily briefly showed concern. Tenesia smiled, reassuring her.
“…You want me to give up as a daughter?”
No sooner had she stepped into the hall than she heard the shrill voice scratching at her ears. The butler standing in front of her was sweating, trying to calm her down.
For the sake of the poor butler, Tenesia quickly approached the woman.
“Mother, you’re here.”
“Tenesia! My child!”
Her voice was so affectionate that it could not be compared to when she had confined her to the house. Baroness Blanchette’s eyes were wet with tears.
“I haven’t been able to sleep since you were taken by the Margrave. Do you know how hard I worked to get you back?”
She approached quickly and grabbed Tenesia’s hand without hesitation. The touch, which lacked even the slightest warmth, was unmistakable.
“Not only was it not enough to separate mother and daughter, but now I’ve heard all sorts of rumors about you.”
“Mother, please, let go of my hand…”
“You’re getting married? To Haberfeld!”
A tight pressure ran up Tenesia’s wrist.
“The only person you were going to marry was Count Weigelin. Who are you marrying now?”
Her mocking voice fell.
“What does this place look like? How hideous is this statue? Compared to Count Weigelin, it’s nothing but shabby. And what about this chill, staying here too long will only make you ill.”
In that instant, the expressions of the people around her changed. Though it wasn’t overt, it was clear they were uncomfortable with her words.
It was no surprise to be angry. To them, Haberfeld was their homeland and livelihood.
They couldn’t sit idly by while she belittled the person who protected Haberfeld.
“Mother.”
And Grace within Tenesia felt the same way.
“The statue you just insulted is worth hundreds of dollars. You’d never see one like it if you sold all of our household items.”
“This… this is…?”
Baroness Blanchette looked at the statue with skeptical eyes after Tenesia’s explanation.
The statue had lost its teeth and was worn from improper preservation, with signs of aging scattered across it.
Perhaps it was the mention of its price, but the Baroness’s gaze softened as she looked at it.
“Now that I look more closely, it does have a certain charm…”
“Ah, maybe I was talking about something else.”
At that moment, the Baroness’s face flushed with embarrassment. She had become the one pretending to know, having believed Tenesia’s words without truly understanding the value.
“Tenesia! Are you mocking me?”
“Of course not.”
Tenesia shook her head.
“I was just trying to point out that you can’t judge the value of this estate by its appearance. There’s more to it than what meets the eye.”
Tenesia spoke sincerely.
She didn’t want people to judge Dietrich’s carefully protected estate and territory based on its outward looks.
“Then what are you saying! How can we revere the nobility if we don’t even uphold dignity and appearance? Do you really think someone who lacks those qualities deserves to be called nobility?”
“Is that truly the right mindset?”
“What?”
“Do you really think that loyalty built on money and power is genuine? I don’t think so.”
Tenesia remembered the territories connected to Akelart. Those people, who only knew their own kind. They wouldn’t hesitate to exploit the common folk for their own comfort.
But Dietrich was different.
He genuinely cared for the people in his lands. Clothing. Food. He said that the things he enjoys couldn’t be achieved alone. He had to protect the land and give back as much as he received.
“At least Margrave Haberfeld has earned his respect through…”
“Now that I think about it, it was from that time on.”