Chapter 55

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"Grandfather, what do you mean by giving up the territory!"

At the sound of the voice, everyone who was preparing to leave turned around in surprise.

A woman was approaching. The maids and servants tried to calm her down, but she ignored them and walked over while shouting.

Her face was visibly stern, and Anna and Eleane, who were frightened by her angry voice, trembled.

Robert quickly moved Anna behind him, and Lang and Lucian stepped forward to protect Eleane.

Gaines shielded Parfait, who had gasped at the harsh voice, and Adi and Patrick also moved to protect their partners...

"Here comes a lively one! Let's get this over with!"

"Yes! Finally, it's time to give her a good beating!"

Mary and Alicia, who seemed to have found their prey, gleamed with fighting spirit in their eyes. Someone hurriedly grabbed their arms.

"Miss, you should stay calm in situations like this!"

"No way, Flora stepped back quietly, but this girl doesn't seem to be able to do that. Finally, we have someone we can take down with all our might!"

"Alicia, what happened to your calm attitude from before?"

"The princess time is over!"

Completely ignoring their partners' advice, Mary and Alicia glared at the woman with fighting spirit in their eyes.

She must be Flora's granddaughter, known as Millenia.

Dressed in a lavish dress and well-made accessories, she would have looked dignified and beautiful if she were calm.

But now, her anger was evident, and her beautiful face was visibly frustrated. Her anger was directed at her grandfather, Flora, and she shouted, "What a foolish thing to do!"

"Grandfather, don't say such foolish things about giving up the territory and retiring!"

"It's my decision, and I won't change it. Besides, we have guests, so calm down."

"That doesn't matter! This will ruin our life so far. We were just about to finalize an engagement..."

Millenia raised her voice, saying, "What are we supposed to do now!"

Apparently, she had been trying to secure an engagement with a nobleman's son, and this news was a blow. It's no wonder she was desperate.

Moreover, her complaints about "spending so much money" and "being outdone by other young ladies" suggested that she had used her family's land and wealth to her advantage. It wasn't a pleasant thing to hear.

Flora, her grandfather, seemed to share the same sentiment, frowning at Millenia's complaints. His expression of disgust and exasperation was something he hadn't shown even during the discussion with Mary and the others.

"Grandfather, you promised to give me the territory!"

"But you never tried to manage the territory yourself."

"Of course not. Why should I do such a thing? I'm going to marry as the granddaughter of a lord. I was born into a lord's family, after all!"

Everyone exchanged glances at Millenia's matter-of-fact statement.

It was a typical response from Flora's granddaughter. Millenia, who had been raised believing that "birth is everything," had indeed grown up that way.

"Your unwavering belief is admirable, but it's ironic that this is the result."

Mary said with a snort.

Hearing this, Millenia glared at her. She must have thought this situation was Mary's fault. Her tone when she asked Flora, "They must have incited you," was filled with hostility.

Without listening to Flora's denial, she walked over, her expression stern. It wouldn't be surprising if she lunged at them in a fit of rage.

Adi stepped forward to protect them, but Mary stopped him with a hand and met Millenia's sharp gaze head-on.

"What a pity. You were born into a lord's family, yet it ended in such a disappointing result. If you had taken over as a noble lady, it would have been different."

"Me? A woman like me can't be a lord."

"Are you sure? You won't know until you try. At the very least, if you had taken over, you would have had the final say. You might have continued as a lord."

Mary shrugged dramatically.

Millenia was not a lord, just the "granddaughter of a lord," and the final decision was Flora's. No matter how much she complained, she had no power to change the decision.

But if she had taken over as a lord, things would have been different. Mary and the others would have had to negotiate with her, and she could have fought back under the name of the lord.

Realizing this, Millenia's eyes widened in shock.

"Why should I, a woman, have to be a lord?"

"Because you're the granddaughter of a lord. If you're going to use your position, you should do the work that comes with it."

"What are you talking about? Just because you're guests of my grandfather, don't act so high and mighty!"

Millenia raised her voice and lunged at Mary.

Mary, surprised, stepped back, and at almost the same time, she was pulled back. Adi had pulled Mary back and stepped in front to protect her.

But Millenia's outstretched hand didn't reach Mary or Adi. It was knocked down by a cane that made a light swishing sound.

It was Flora's cane. The merciless blow to his granddaughter, accompanied by a pained cry, made not only Millenia but also Mary and the others look at him in shock.

"Grandfather... Why?"

"If you're the granddaughter of a lord, don't defy this lady. My apologies, Lady Mary."

"…Lady Mary?"

Millenia looked at Mary with a "You can't be serious" expression.

Mary, in response, looked at her with a haughty expression.

Mary Albert's name was known even in Silvino. The daughter of the prestigious Albert family and a candidate for the successor. She had declared that she would take the seat of the head of the family, which was supposed to be her brothers'.

She was the complete opposite of Millenia, who clung to her birth and insisted that a woman couldn't be a lord.

That's why Mary glared at her coldly.

"Stop clinging to outdated ideas about birth and gender. It's time to move on."

"Such... a member of the Albert family..."

Millenia whispered weakly.

The momentum from before was gone. In front of Mary Albert, her defiance seemed to wane. She lacked the noble spirit of Flora, who had stepped down with conviction, and was merely intimidated by the authority of her grandfather, which had no effect on Mary.

Even so, when Millenia tried to argue, Mary cut her off sharply.

"Believing that birth is everything is an outdated idea that doesn't fit the modern era. Everyone has the right to live happily and peacefully without being oppressed. Those in privileged positions have the duty to protect and support that privilege."

"But I'm a woman..."

"Gender doesn't matter. If you were born into a lord's family and enjoy its benefits, you should give back to others."

Mary stated firmly.

Alicia let out a sigh, and Patrick and Gaines nodded in agreement. Lang and Lucian were even more proud, saying, "That's our Mary."

Everyone in the room considered Mary's words to be sound and found her admirable for saying them.

Even Flora seemed impressed, or perhaps he was comparing Mary to his granddaughter, and his face showed disappointment. He muttered, "Is this the new era?" in a voice lacking his usual vigor.

...But Mary, looking at Millenia coldly, thought to herself, "I sound too good, and it doesn't feel right."

Of course, her earlier statement was her true belief.

Those in privileged positions should give back to others while enjoying their benefits.

But it didn't feel right.

She didn't deny it, but she knew she wasn't as virtuous as to be praised.

If it had been Patrick or Gaines, she would have applauded them for their righteousness. In Alicia's case, she would have said, "It's only natural for a princess to think that way."

"...But I'm not that virtuous."

Even as she said it, it didn't feel right. It was as if she was using someone else's words.

She felt a strange sense of discomfort and furrowed her brow slightly, but not enough for anyone to notice.

She couldn't say, "Actually, it's a bit different," and it would be bad if anyone realized her discomfort.

But it just doesn't feel right! Mary thought, and Adi stood beside her.

"Adi..."

"Miss, you were impressive. Your thoughts are admirable."

"Thank you... Yes, they are admirable thoughts."

"Yes, so..."

Adi smiled gently and reached out his hand.

He would usually stand beside her and support her waist, but Mary's eyes widened when she saw his hand on her abdomen instead of her waist.

"Adi, what are you doing?"

"I'm covering the baby's ears."

Mary's eyes widened as she looked at Adi and the hand covering her abdomen.

Adi's hand was on Mary's abdomen. ...But it was probably to cover the baby's ears inside her belly. Of course, the baby was still small and couldn't hear, but Mary understood what Adi meant and smiled softly.

"Yes, I guess serious and pure appeals don't suit me."

"Yes, it's an admirable thought, but it doesn't feel right coming from you."

"I'll have Patrick or someone else say it later."

Mary joked and looked down at her abdomen.

She warned, "Don't imitate that," knowing that children often learn and use words they shouldn't.

Then she turned back to Millenia.

Millenia, who had been watching the exchange with a puzzled look, braced herself, expecting more criticism.

Mary glared at her coldly.

"You're just the 'granddaughter of a lord.' You lack the resolve to take over as a lord and are just greedily profiting behind Flora's back. A woman like you can't match someone like me, who has decided to take over the Albert family."

"That's... not true..."

"Don't talk back to me, the granddaughter of a lord. Leave this land and stick to being the granddaughter of a lord!"

Mary said firmly, and Millenia looked at her with regret. She bit her lip tightly and trembled slightly.

But she couldn't say anything because she was still trapped in the idea that "birth is everything."

Mary looked at her coldly, thinking, "How pitiful."

She wished Millenia would challenge her or try to reclaim the lord's position. If she had that kind of spirit, Mary would have acknowledged her.

But Millenia just bowed her head and muttered, "Why...," and the maids and servants looked at her helplessly.

Flora, who had been watching, spoke up.

"My granddaughter was rude this time."

"That's beneath me to deal with."

Mary said sarcastically, and Flora's face darkened.

Millenia was still standing there, looking weak and resentful, and was led away by the maids. Her back showed disappointment, contrasting with her lavish dress.

Of course, Flora's retirement didn't mean they would fall into poverty. They could still live a comfortable life.

Flora had stepped down voluntarily, not because of a national scandal or international issue. He could still live a comfortable, if not luxurious, retirement.

But Millenia was not satisfied with that. Yet, she didn't want to become a lord herself, which was frustrating.

"Believing that birth is everything. It seems you've raised her just as you wished."

"...This is a painful lesson."

"Leave this land with her. If you do, I won't pursue further. ...But if you return, I'll show you the difference between our births."

Mary said calmly.

It was a warning and her maximum concession.

Flora seemed to understand, bowed respectfully, and walked away, leaning on his cane to follow his granddaughter.