/
“Why are you so surprised?”
But the Grand Duke looked at my mother with a strange expression. A smile spread across his face as he spoke words that seemed to doubt my mother’s very existence.
I was trying not to be suspicious towards my mother
 but somehow, the gaze between my mom and dad was strange.
The two looked at each other for a long time so that others would misunderstand.
‘I’m grumpy for no reason. My mom is my mom
 You can’t do that
 She’s my mom but she’s going to be everyone’s mom. My mom is the best so everyone will like her.’
I was saddened but I tried to smile as if it was nothing.
“Honestly, that’s possible. It’s suspicious enough. But you know what? Whoever becomes my wife is something I’m always nervous about.”
“What do you mean?”
“If I took a wife from one of the vassals’ families as you wished, is there any guarantee that they won’t betray me?”
“That
!”
“Is it just that again? The vassals will carry my wife, who has become the Grand Duchess, on their backs and try to control me like they used to.”
“No, it’s not like that.”
“If that’s not the case, then why do you have to make the Grand Duke marry a woman from one of the vassals’s families?”
At those words, the vassals just muttered.
They seemed to be looking for a reason among themselves, but they didn’t seem to be able to find a clear answer.
‘They look like idiots.’
They thought that they could make their daughters the Grand Duchess and get hold of the Grand Duke.
I had seen this a lot in books so it felt too obvious.
“Please don’t think too badly about our intentions, Your Highness.”
It was the Marquis again.
As if to wrap up the whole situation, he looked around before looking straight into the eyes of the Grand Duke.
“My, my, that’s possible. Anyone can fill that empty seat. You’re right. Your Highness is all right.”
“So?”
“But if you don’t know anything else, shouldn’t you be certain of her identity?”
“It’s her identity. Then, as long as Adelaide’s identity becomes clear, you won’t oppose it?”
“Yes.”
He nodded as if he had a bit of faith.
A smile spread across my mother’s face.
“If it’s my birth, I can prove it.”
My mother, who had not spoken the whole time, raised her voice louder than ever.
Her brow furrowed slightly after someone thought she would never prove herself to speak up. I was a little confused too.
Could my mother prove her birth? For my mother, the only family members she had were abusers. Grandfather also thought of my mother as an object.
But was she going to prove it?
Without realizing it, my lips were dry.
‘That’s not
 I have to stop it. I won’t make my mom have a hard time.’
I want to protect her. What should I do? What should I do so my mom won’t have a hard time. At that time, I had such worries.
The Marquis spoke again.
“I’m so glad you can prove it.”
“Right. Then there will be no complaints about having Adelaide as the Grand Duchess?”
“No. The Grand Duchess issue won’t be solved at once, so let’s discuss it again later.”
“It really is like the snake’s tongue. You said yes, but you also said no.”
“I’m saying this because the problem doesn’t seem to be a priority right now.”
“Are there any other problems?”
As if trying to twist his words, he made a move that was too obvious.
“There are only a few days left to prove Lady Harris.”
“Seeing you talk so openly, it seems that you have prepared thoroughly. Harris, who seemed to not be able to prove herself not long ago, also has changed.”
Somehow, Harris was confident. It was kind of weird to see this. Was it so different from last time?
“But Marquis, it’s really weird. Do you really seem to care for Harris, Ellinson’s supposed last child, after not paying attention to the children? It’s like there’s something between the two of you.”
The atmosphere became suffocatingly tense.
“Maybe it’s because she’s the real lady. I’m just particularly concerned.”
“What do you mean ‘real lady’? Do people think I’m an old man?”
When the Grand Duke asked straightforwardly, the Marquis nodded as if it were nothing.
“Is that possible?”
“Yeah, it can’t be. But it’s better to not be so overly biased, because it’s perfect for misleading people when they see it.”
The Grand Duke, who smiled, looked at Harris, who was next to him.
“But Harris, you’ve changed a lot. Not only you, but the Marquis over there. No, even the vassals here. Did you say that there would be a way? You could bring something to replace
”