THHAAWMF

Chapter 61

The appearance of nobility was forgotten.

Isabella ran to the front door as fast as she could fly. She hugged her son, who had asked a servant to unload his luggage from the carriage, and patted him on the head.

Her son was a grown man in his twenties, but in her eyes, he looked like a child.

"It took a lot of effort to come all the way from so far away."

"How are you?"

Gerald, with his striking flaming red hair, chuckled as he patted his mother on the back. He checked behind her in that state.

"Where's father and Ciella?"

"Why are you so late? Was something wrong?"

Gerald felt a strange air from Isabella, who pretended not to hear. But he passed it pretending he didn't realize it.

"My friend asked me to do some swordplay. We delayed our departure itself."

"I told you to come early. Then your father's decision on his successor... Huu."

Isabella, frustrated by her son's foolish behavior, struck a chord.

Knowing how his mother felt about Ciella, Gerald could not speak matter-of-factly, 'It's too late to give the bullshit about Ciella's breakup.'

Instead, haha, he only let out a meaningless laugh.

The mother and son, who hadn't seen each other in a long time, went inside in friendly conversation. He met Marquis Lavirins, who had just greeted him, in the lobby and greeted him happily.

"Are you here?"

"How are you? How is Ciella?"

The Marquis' complexion darkened at the words of Ciella.

The mood of the employers around them calmed down as well.

After all, Isabella said quietly.

"She left home."

"What?"

"She had some business to attend to. She'll be right back. Don't worry about it."

"No, mother-"

"It's been a long trip and you're tired, so I guess you'd better go now. Go take a bath in hot water and change your clothes too. Then let's have dinner next. Yes?"

It was a silent pressure not to talk anymore.

He understood that his mother was not happy with Ciella. But this was the first time she had done so in public.

Gerald was inwardly perplexed. But he obeyed his mother's words without showing it to the best of his ability.

Instead, he secretly ordered the chamberlain who had accompanied him to the academy to find out Ciella's whereabouts.

***

The next day, Isabella visited the Imperial Palace.

She had recently put in a request for an audience with the Empress in an attempt to resolve Ciella's broken marriage, and that request was finally accepted.

The calculating Empress would not accept an audience unless it was someone who could benefit her.

Therefore, Isabella's mood was now at its maximum. It was as if the Empress had accepted her need.

Isabella met the Empress in the gardens of the palace, which were glamorously decorated.

After exchanging pleasantries with her by presenting her with a gift she had prepared, and after a brief conversation about her personal affairs, Isabella carefully broached the subject.