144 Like a worm caught in a spider’s web
***[My aunt’s former nemesis]***
I loved you when I was young
At first, pushed by his parents, he approached him with a high status, but after meeting him a few times, he came to like it.
He was a man with a soft smile.
He was always courteous and elegant, and looked much nicer than any other man his age.
‘ha.’
The figure of that person vaguely comes to mind.
Many years have passed, and now I can’t remember the details.
I forgot exactly what my eyes, nose and mouth looked like and what color my eyes were.
But I still remember his soft eyes and smiling lips.
Even though he was the heir to a famous family, he did not show off, and he was gentle towards people of low status.
Both men and women, everyone liked him.
Such a wonderful man is kind to me.
She had just entered the social world, and her eyes were blinded by the friendliness of a man she was receiving for the first time.
I fell in love with my first love and lost sight of the front and back.
He must have liked her a little too.
No, maybe I liked it more than I thought.
I thought so at the time.
Countless women approached him to win his love, but only a few kept him by his side, and he was in them.
He hadn’t yet had a fiancée, and he was kind enough to believe he had a chance.
That’s why I’m so arrogant.
‘I was mistaken.’
I thought there was a chance and ran.
But that kindness wasn’t just poured out on her.
The same was poured into the other, no more.
‘Natalie.’
beautiful woman.
She was an elegant and beautiful woman, like a flower and a star.
She herself was perfect, but her family was also a prestigious family.
Every man wanted to get his hands on her.
When she appeared, all the other women lost their color and turned into a background that made her stand out.
It’s not just because of her pretty looks.
Each movement of talking, laughing, and acting was as beautiful as a craft.
Count Becker, whom she loved, belonged to the upper ranks among men of his age, but even he was interested in Natalie.
But Count Becker treated Natalie as he did to any other woman.
Like no different than any other woman.
But as if they were a little bit more interested.
‘I was a fool.’
Why did he mistakenly believe that Count Becker had a similar interest in him and Natalie?
Natalie and herself are as different as the roses and weeds in the garden, so why did I get it wrong?
That person was the heir to a long-established county family.
Why did you think he was just a gentle man who was thoroughly trained to become a count?
Why did you mistakenly think that you would fall for a girl like yourself?
Why hadn’t it ever occurred to me that that soft smile might be a lie?
It was only later, a very long time later, that he realized, but maybe he didn’t have himself in mind from the beginning.
Maybe, maybe, he belatedly realized that he might have just been a prop to get Natalie’s attention.
The other women, dismayed by Natalie’s family, perfect looks, behavior and culture, gave up on him and retreated, but she may have kept her aside because she was charging at him like a wild boar.
To keep the interest of Natalie, which every man was trying to reach out for.
But it was too late to realize.
When she came to her senses, she had been pushed to the edge of the social world and was far too far down to go near the two of them again.
The Viscountess crossed her hands on her lap.
Power automatically enters the hand.
I didn’t want to meet you.
After being pushed down the stairs by Natalie, she complained to people that someone had pushed her and that Natalie was the only one around, but no one believed her.
Rather, he was suspected of rolling down the stairs on purpose to frame Natalie.
Natalie’s allies were everywhere, but none took her side.
Even Count Becker twisted those soft eyes.
At the time, I was shocked that he didn’t trust me, but maybe he knew.
The man, maybe he knew that Natalie had pushed.
‘Only Count Becker knows what the truth is like.’
Anyway, I don’t want to get involved anymore.
After getting a bad reputation because of Natalie, she couldn’t find a good marriage partner.
The heir to the viscountcy, who was unable to marry due to problems, was the best she could find in her family.
Even after they got married, the label of conspiring against Natalie continued to hang, and the more Countess Becker’s reputation grew, the more her allies grew.
Even if he occasionally goes up to the royal capital, he only interacts slightly with the families he is close with.
He was far from social circles.
‘But why all of a sudden…’
Why did Natalie send her a letter?
It was written that I want to see your face after a long time, would you like to visit me?
It was like a greeting letter from an old friend.
It is a letter from a high-ranking aristocrat higher than one’s family.
I wanted to refuse, but there was no other way than to visit her as she said.
‘It’s scary to think what will happen if I refuse.’
In the social world, she is like a devil.
I can’t even imagine ignoring Natalie’s words now that I know the fear firsthand.
couldn’t resist
‘But what the hell is going on? Why did you call me?’
In the midst of nervousness, time passed, and after a while, the door opened.
The Viscountess jumped to her feet.
Countess Becker entered, wrapped in clothes of muted colors.
“…”
Over the years, wrinkles began to form on his face.
Now, it is difficult to hide old age even with makeup.
No, that time has already passed.
I’m already over fifty.
Her cheeks were drooping, and the deep wrinkles around her mouth stopped disappearing.
Her waist, which was not even a handful when she was young, is still as thick as a log even when her corset is tightened.
But getting old is God’s providence.
no one will get out of there.
But why is that girl still young?
Time passed like this, and Natalie looked pretty much the same as when she first came out to social life.
It seems that the years have eluded her.
“It’s been a while. Seeing you like this, it seems like yesterday that we were arguing over a man.”
Countess Becker laughed softly.
Thinking of the past, his eyes became hazy as if he were dreaming.
It looks like he’s thinking about the nostalgic past, but no, the relationship between us probably wasn’t that smooth.
‘Because of you, I didn’t even come to a proper wedding talk. All because of you…’
But I can’t get those words out of my mouth.
The Viscountess forced a smile and lowered her body a little.
“It’s been a while, Countess Becker. You’re… you’re just the same. You’re still beautiful.”
Looking at Natalie’s waist, which was thinner than her own forearms, the Viscount squeezed out her voice.
“Oh, thank you even for the words. As I get older, my body has changed… Huhuhu. Hearing those words makes me feel a bit embarrassed, but on the other hand, I’m happy.”
“… that… I mean it.”
“Whoops. Thank you.”
The Viscountess chatted with Natalie for a while.
It didn’t sound like he had called for anything else.
It doesn’t even look hostile at all.
It was like meeting an old friend.
Maybe Natalie thought it was too much a long time ago.
‘Yeah, maybe. Because now she lacks nothing.’
When people are happy, they become generous.
I heard that she married the man she wanted, Count Becker didn’t seem to have a single mistress that everyone else had, and her children were all well established.
‘Well, even if I tried to have a lover, it must have disappeared. Natalie must have managed it somehow.’
As we talked, for some reason, I began to feel that the days when I also quarreled with Natalie were just a childhood fling, or a sweet and spicy memory.
‘The fact that I couldn’t come out to the social world was because of rumors rather than because of Natalie.’
Natalie hadn’t touched anything.
It was because of the misunderstanding that I was framed because of what happened when I was pushed down the stairs.
“…”
Of course, it was true that Natalie did it on purpose, but what happened after that was just due to the habits of aristocratic society.
Natalie may not have known that she was in that situation for a long time.
After that, she must have been very busy.
He quickly became close to the count and got married.
You must have been busy without blinking your eyes.
‘At that time I was crying a lot.’
Thinking back on it, I got a little angry, but Natalie reached out to me after a long time. Then let’s throw things into the water.
It was when I thought of that and smiled sincerely.
As if suddenly remembered, Natalie opened her mouth.
We were talking about a monastery sponsored by noble ladies.
“Oh, by the way. I met a woman by chance at the monastery I’m sponsoring. But she, well, whoa, looks exactly like you. I was really surprised when I first saw it. It felt like I was going back to the old days and meeting you.”
“!”
For a moment, it felt like my body froze.
It felt like being in cold water.
The Viscountess managed to hide her expression and smiled awkwardly.
“Th-was there such a woman? It’s very strange.”
“Isn’t it?”
Natalie let out a small sigh.
“She was a very pitiful woman. She was abandoned in a monastery with a little money when she was a baby. Looking at the fabric that the baby was wrapped in, she must have come from a noble family. I saw the fabric in person at her request.”
“…”
Natalie narrowed her eyes and looked at the Viscountess.
smile softly
“When a child is born through an affair, there are often cases where the child is abandoned without the husband’s knowledge. It’s unfortunate.”
“…”
You know.
I don’t know how this woman knew, but I noticed that it was her own daughter.
Natalie didn’t say what kind of monastery it was, but she knew without hearing the name.
It is a monastery located far away from the royal capital.
“She wanted to know who her mother had abandoned her. I replied that I didn’t know, but you’ll find out if you look for it.”
“…”
“I’m thinking about what to do.”
The Viscountess held her hands tightly and opened her mouth.
“… the woman who abandoned that baby, probably, would do anything… really anything, as long as she kept her secret. Not about me, of course… I think she would.”
“Do you think so?”
As if he remembered Natalie, he looked at her with a bright expression.
“Ah, yes, there was a reason I wanted to meet you, but I forgot. Viscountess, as a friend, I have a request for you.”
The Viscountess forced her trembling mouth to move.
“Muh, what’s going on?”
“It’s not difficult. Is there a baron who bought a title with money near your estate?”
“…”
Know.
My husband had an exchange with him.
I don’t know what I’m doing.
Maybe it’s borrowing money, or maybe there are other reasons.
She only knows because she sometimes invites the man and a few others to dinner, but the story of the work is completely unknown to her.
“All you have to do is let that person know about a certain woman naturally. Let him be interested in it. Enough to think he wants it.”
It’s a strange request.
Perhaps the Count had found a woman he was interested in.
Are you trying to deal with that woman?
‘He’s a scary person.’
Thinking so, the Viscountess lifted the glass from the table and moistened her lips.
Mouth was dry.
The Viscountess hesitated and opened her mouth cautiously.
“But I don’t know the man very well.”
Natalie smiled softly.
But the eyes seem to have gotten a little stronger.
scary.
“It’s okay. It shouldn’t be too difficult since he’s the woman he was interested in at one time. He seems to be quite obsessed with her.”
Natalie’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re also a nobleman, so there shouldn’t be a problem with your conversational skills, and I think it’s possible enough.”
“…”
“Yes?”
The Viscountess nodded.
If you refuse to do so, the fact that you gave birth to another man’s child will be known to your husband.
Maybe it spreads throughout the social world.
‘If so….’
It’s terrible.
You will end up in a worse situation than dying.
“thank you.”
Natalie smiled brightly like a spring breeze before continuing.
“A couple should meet together sometime. Your husband will miss you too.”
“… Go, thank you.”
The Viscountess bowed her head.
My husband will be delighted if I get a chance to meet Count Becker.
To someone who doesn’t know what a socialite is, they all look the same, but once inside, the classes were divided.
High-ranking nobles gathered among high-ranking nobles, and low-ranking nobles gathered among low-ranking nobles.
do not mix
Even when banquets were held, they gathered among themselves, and low-ranking nobles were not invited to high-ranking families.
It’s hard to see your face
It was the same at the palace banquet.
I only peeked at her from afar, but couldn’t get close.
So if I told you that I could meet with Count Becker personally, my husband would be very pleased.
‘That’s right.’
From nob le mt l dot com
Just do what she tells you to do and you will be rewarded.
‘At least… this will be for my husband.’
The Viscountess smiled awkwardly, suppressing the shaking of guilt and fear.
“Make sure no one knows that I asked. You know?”
As soon as Natalie’s voice reached her ears, the Viscountess frantically nodded.
Instead of stepping out directly, he deliberately calls himself and asks for it.
Of course it will be a secret.
“thank you.”
Saying that, Natalie smiled flawlessly and beautifully.
Seeing that smile, she suddenly felt sorry for the woman Natalie had spoken to.
Renee.
What the hell did that woman do to earn Natalie’s hostility?
If she fails, she will be pursued by Natalie through another person.
‘Poorly.’
As long as Natalie doesn’t fall where she wants, she will be constantly targeted.
You will never run away.