ITD

CHAPTER XXXVll

Patricia cautiously chimed in.

“Courtney. Your father only did it for the family…”

“And what about you, Mother? What were you doing it for?”

But that had the opposite effect. Now, the arrow of her anger was aimed at Patricia. While her mistakes were relatively minor compared to the others, she wasn’t without fault. Just yesterday, Courtney had caught her hiding piles of unpaid bills. Patricia, who had spoken up in support of Hendrick, immediately clammed up, regretting her involvement.

“Freddy… wanted to do well… hicc.”

Now Elise, who had been sniffling, burst into full-on sobbing. Courtney felt her frustration rising to a boiling point.

The noblemen who had accused Hendrick agreed to settle the matter after being compensated, only because the Crown Prince had personally mediated. Frederick had been released from the guard’s custody after just a day, because the Crown Prince vouched for him.

They should have both been thrown in jail.

Courtney slammed her fist onto the table.

“I told you all to just do nothing! I said I’d take care of the household expenses!”

There was a clear reason Courtney hadn’t cut ties with her family—her angelic nephew. It wasn’t Edvard’s fault that he was born into such a family of grandparents and parents.

That’s why she had made so many preparations. Not a single penny of her dowry had been spent on herself. She had used it to pay off debts, develop new fields on their rural estate, buy several shops in the capital, and invest in promising ventures.

Even though the investments wouldn’t yield immediate profits, she was planning to use her future allowances and living expenses to support them. Others might criticize her for funneling wealth back to her family, but as long as they stayed out of trouble and lived quietly, she wouldn’t ask for more.

Waiting for the right moment to speak, Frederick mumbled under his breath.

“Did His Highness say anything? He’s not… calling off the engagement, is he?”

It might have sounded like concern for his sister, but Courtney knew better. He was only worried about losing the benefits that came with being related to the imperial family, and about the possibility of having to return the dowry.

When she didn’t respond, no one else dared to speak. Courtney felt as if she might explode, so she suddenly stood up. As she stormed out of the reception room, the servants who had been eavesdropping quickly busied themselves with other tasks.

Hanson, who had been lingering near the door, looked at her with sympathy. Despite how busy she was, Courtney had managed to stay informed about her mother’s spending and her father’s scams thanks to Hanson and the butler he had introduced, Wigg.

It was obvious why they were helping her—because of the Crown Prince. No matter how much she tried to deny it, she knew she was dependent on Richard’s support. In a low, dejected voice, she spoke to Hanson.

“Prepare a carriage…”

“The destination, Milady?”

“To the palace.”

“Then please allow me to accompany you.”

When Courtney nodded, he immediately went to arrange the carriage.

Left alone, she stood still, replaying the events of the past few days in her mind. When the crisis struck, Richard had acted swiftly, even before she could ask for his help. He had settled the fraud case and arranged for Frederick’s release from the guards. He had taken care of everything seamlessly.

And yet, he hadn’t asked for anything in return. He hadn’t even come to flaunt his involvement. Maybe it had been easy for him, something he had anticipated when he decided to marry her. Regardless, help was help. It was only right to visit him and apologize.

Even though everything had been resolved, Courtney’s mood was still in shambles. She stood there, lost in thought, until Hanson came to retrieve her.

* * *

Richard sat across from Courtney, quietly observing her. The moment he heard she had come, he had dropped everything and rushed to meet her, but aside from a brief thank-you, she hadn’t said a word.

Had he made a mistake by intervening? Maybe she was upset because he had acted without consulting her first. But this wasn’t something he could have quietly resolved behind the scenes as usual. Outwardly, he maintained a calm, gentlemanly demeanor, but inwardly, he was as anxious as a dog needing to relieve itself.

Courtney sighed and mumbled softly.

“I’m sorry…”

“Pardon?”

Her voice was so quiet that Richard couldn’t make out her words. He leaned closer, and Courtney repeated herself in a low, muffled tone.

“I’m sorry, Richard. My family keeps causing you trouble… I feel so ashamed…”

“No, it’s f…”

Richard’s words caught in his throat. Courtney’s green eyes had grown hazy with tears, and a single drop rolled silently down her cheek, followed by more. Tears streamed down her face without a sound.

If any other noblewoman had cried in front of him, he would have politely handed them a handkerchief and offered the standard comforting words, then left the matter to someone else.

But seeing Courtney cry made him freeze, as if his brain had stopped working.

“Courtney…?”

She quickly covered her face with her hands, but it didn’t stop the flood of tears. She couldn’t hold back anymore.