LUCIA

Chapter 43 Love, Understanding and Family

Lucia entered the central tower and checked behind her. Damian who said he would be following her shortly was nowhere to be found.

She asked a maid to fetch him and went into the receiving room. She sat down, placed her head on the sofa and closed her eyes. Her head was hurting.

'I was too complacent. To think it would be a party-break.'

She thought too lightly of the women's stubborn pride that wouldn't break even if their neck was snapped. She let her guard down at the fact that the atmosphere here was distinctly different from the one in the capital's social circles.

She also might have been conceited about the fact that she was a Duchess without even realizing it. Even though she knew that in the high society, one's reputation and personal connections accumulated over the years was much more important than status, she had foolishly overlooked it.

'From the first time I saw that woman, I didn't really like her.'

Lucia was deeply impressed by the character of Countess Corzan, the godmother of the northern high society so she had high expectations before meeting the Countess of Wales, whose influence was much greater. However, her expectations quickly turned into disappointment.

In her eyes, the Countess of Wales, who was invited to her tea party a couple of times, was like a snake in human skin. It was mistake to just smile in the past because she wanted to avoid unnecessary confrontation. Because now, the Countess took her to be a joke and led this kind of thing.

'Although I knew it wouldn't be easy.'

Which is why she had asked Kate to definitely bring the Countess of Corzan if possible. She wanted to have a safety shield. There was no way the Countess wouldn't know how to make a frontal confrontation when faced with a party break. Her result of her mistake of not being careful was painful.

'Is the Countess of Wales angered because of her extramarital issues?'

It would be too shallow to simply see this incident as a crafty high society greeting. If the Countess wanted to humiliate Lucia using the party-break, she had a lot more to lose than to gain from it.

Even if status was not absolute in the high society, status could never be ignored. Moreover, the Duke of Taran's absolute influence in the north was not inferior to that of the King's in the capital.

The Countess of Wales wouldn't have thought to do such a thing if she hadn't assumed what was in Lucia's mind and calculated off of that.

One villain recognizes another. No matter how much Lucia observed the behavior of people in the high society, she did not have a mind twisted enough to grasp the psychology of the people who were capable of scheming and conspiring.

'A person's actions can't only be judged with rationality.'

It was unprecedented that an illegitimate child entered into the family was selected as a candidate. Lucia began to mull over the problem a bit more seriously.

'If the northern atmosphere is like this then the capital's must be formidable as well.'

She wondered if Hugo would have any idea on how to resolve this issue. Seeing as he didn't think bringing Damian to party was a big deal, he may not have any ideas.

'Damian inheriting the title may the beginning of a different era in the future. That's probably why people are resistant.'

She was too hasty. She didn't want to miss this chance since Damian might be going back to the Academy soon. She introduced Damian to the women at the horse riding field and took it lightly because the garden party could not considered be Damian's formal social debut.