“Right, of all times, why did this have to happen just as he returned?”

Marisa, recalling Cedric’s return, also wore a look of dismay.

To the couple, their eldest son Cedric—whom they proudly displayed to the outside world—was sometimes a burden. Mature from a young age and excelling in every field, always saying the most righteous things, he was impossible to argue with, even as their son.

To Cedric, their adorable Judith seemed like nothing more than a deficient being. Even before going abroad, he constantly criticized her for being rude, lacking focus, and having poor comprehension; he seemed ready to devour the ten-year-old.

Couldn’t he find his doll-like baby sister cute at all? Where on earth had such a cold-hearted child come from…?

Before he left to study abroad, he had even warned that if Judith hadn’t changed by the time he returned, he wouldn’t let it slide. That was what worried Count and Countess Calley most.

“Still, Cedric wouldn’t do anything drastic to Judith, right?”

“He absolutely would. What if he claims she’s tarnished the family name and threatens to send her to a convent?”

Though Bernard was still the head of the house, Cedric, as the heir, held an opinion that couldn’t be ignored. Even before leaving for his studies, Cedric had already become the face of House Calley.

The royal family also had high expectations for the brilliant heir of a count’s house. That was why Bernard and Marisa, burdened as they were, had no choice but to rely on their eldest son.

The same applied to Judith. Looking ahead, Judith would spend more years under Cedric’s protection than with her parents.

Even if the world had changed, that was the fate of women. Before marriage, they belonged to their father. If the father passed away, they came under their brothers’ care. After marriage, they were subordinated to their husbands.

So in the count couple’s view, Judith needed to be married off into a respectable family while they were still alive. Otherwise, it was clear how Cedric would treat her.

Both parents knew full well that Cedric’s concern for Judith wasn’t out of brotherly love or worry.

Children born of a loveless political marriage like theirs didn’t share such sappy emotions among siblings.

Just like any other noble household, House Calley prioritized the family’s honor and succession over personal feelings.

Daughters were often used in political marriages for the good of the house, so it was only natural that the family managed them carefully.

“Then why did you have to say she was delicate and frail?”

Finally overcome by anxiety, Marisa snapped at Bernard.

“What, should I have called a frail child strong? Didn’t you see how much she was struggling that day? You were agreeing with me then, why are you saying something else now?”

“I backed you up because I was afraid you’d mess it up, and now you’re blaming me? You’re always like this.”

“What?!”

Bernard shouted and stood up abruptly at Marisa’s words. Marisa, too, dropped all formality and raised her voice.

“What, am I wrong? You can’t even talk back to your precious firstborn, and that’s why I’m so worried!”

“Ha! Unbelievable!”

When his wife, nine years his junior, dropped honorifics, Bernard raised his hand toward the air, then grabbed his waist in frustration and trembled.

“What, you gonna hit me? Go ahead, hit me! Hit me!”

Marisa shoved her hand against Bernard’s chest and leaned forward. Knowing timid Bernard wouldn’t resort to violence, she confronted him without fear.

Bernard didn’t back down and grabbed Marisa by the hair.

“Ugh, you—!”

“You what? What?!”

Even with her hair caught, Marisa didn’t flinch but defiantly stuck her face forward. Though in her forties, her well-maintained face was still striking. Her perfectly styled hair was now a mess from the scuffle.

As he struggled to restrain her, her supple frame was pulled into Bernard’s arms.

In that tangled moment, the two collapsed onto the bed. Their eyes met above the mattress, and without knowing who initiated it, they clutched each other’s faces and pressed their lips together.

In truth, this wasn’t the first time the two had reignited their fire this way. Though they had little affection for one another and both entertained lovers, this was how they reconciled after fights.

They bit and sucked each other’s lips like they would devour them. The techniques they’d honed with other partners now shone between them.

As Bernard deftly removed Marisa’s dress, she matched him, skillfully unfastening his trousers.

The count’s bed began to shake. The couple, who had long turned away from each other, burned hot once again.

***

The news of Judith’s broken engagement reached Cedric through Rufus’s report.

Having worked as Cedric’s secretary for a long time, the capable Rufus had even gathered testimonies from the servants present in the banquet hall that day. Cedric came to know, in full detail, the disgraceful behavior Judith had shown in front of the Soreth baron family, who had nearly become in-laws.

“Who’s currently in charge of Judith’s lessons?”

Cedric asked after hearing the full story.

“Madam Margaret.”

When Rufus answered without hesitation, Cedric gave an equally prompt order.

“Dismiss her.”

“Yes, young master.”

As soon as he returned home, Cedric began asserting his authority, and Rufus obeyed without complaint. He knew better than anyone how sharp Cedric’s character was.

“Tell my parents I’d like to see them for a moment.”

“Yes, understood.”

Rufus gave a small bow and went out to deliver the message.

Soon after, Rufus managed to persuade the count and countess, who kept pretending to be busy, to sit before Cedric.

“Ahem, I have an appointment, so let’s keep this brief.”

Bernard spoke first, remembering what he had said earlier to Rufus.

“No matter how busy you are, it concerns your beloved Judith, doesn’t it? Of course, we’ll keep it short. I’m not exactly free either.”

Cedric replied, glancing between Bernard and Marisa, who looked equally displeased.

“I’ll take charge of Judith.”

“W-What do you mean by that?”

Though they had expected Cedric to comment on Judith’s broken engagement, Bernard and Marisa were startled to hear that he would take her under his wing.

“Exactly as I said. I’ll take full responsibility and teach Judith myself.”

To Cedric’s words, Bernard tried to speak firmly.

“We could look for a good tutor again—”

But as he met Cedric’s sharp eyes, his words faltered.

“—I suppose.”

Marisa shot him a look as if to say, ‘I knew this would happen.’

“If it were something that could be solved by hiring another tutor, we wouldn’t be in this mess now,” Cedric said.

Those who applied for the tutor position were typically well-educated but of modest status. Naturally, they had no choice but to be overly conscious of the count couple’s authority, regardless of their teaching.

Moreover, Judith was cunning enough to wield her status to her advantage. Raised with her parents doting on her like a princess, it was no surprise.

Watching his parents’ grim expressions, Cedric laid out the situation plainly.

“Baron Soreth’s family was the most suitable match for Judith.”

Despite Bernard’s bluster about marrying her into a better family, the reality was just as Cedric said.

Judith’s brash personality and ignorance were already somewhat known in society. Even so, Baron Soreth’s family, bound by a conservative tradition and a historically friendly relationship with the Calley family, had been the perfect match.

Additionally, in political marriages, one couldn’t ignore things like political alignment or geographic advantages.

‘That’s why I tried to push the engagement forward…’

It had been Cedric who worked behind the scenes to have the baron’s family send a proposal.

Naturally, the other family must have run their own calculations and found the marriage advantageous, until they saw Judith in person…

The reason the Soreth baron family canceled the engagement after visiting the Calley household, despite all the benefits, was because the burden of bringing her into their home felt far greater.

But in political marriages, the family’s interest mattered more than the individual’s opinion.

What’s more, the Calley family’s reputation had been rising thanks to Cedric, the clever heir well-known since childhood. Everyone anticipated what kind of impact he’d have in politics after studying abroad.

Knowing this better than anyone, the count couple had never imagined Judith’s engagement would fall through like this.

“Baron Soreth will come to regret it. Our Judith can still marry into a good family,” Marisa shouted angrily, sounding out of touch with reality.

“Really? Who would take in a girl with no basic manners who can’t even do simple math? Even if she does marry, as soon as they realize the truth, she’ll be divorced. Is that what you want?”

At Cedric’s pointed words, Bernard and Marisa’s faces turned pale.

They had thought everything would be fine once she married, but Cedric was right. If she were divorced after they passed away, it would be a far greater problem. Judith would end up despised under Cedric’s control again.

“And I already told you. If Judith was still like this after I returned from abroad, I wouldn’t let it slide. You wouldn’t say you forgot that, would you?”

At Cedric’s question, Bernard and Marisa looked at each other instead of replying. Their eyes showed concern about what would happen to their beloved daughter in Cedric’s hands.

But after hearing Cedric’s next words, they both nodded in agreement.

Even after the meeting with Cedric ended, Bernard and Marisa remained in the same room. To be exact, Marisa had followed Bernard back into his room.

“Are we doing the right thing?” Marisa asked anxiously, chewing her nails.

“This might be for the best. Cedric wasn’t wrong.”

Apparently dissatisfied with her husband’s answer, Marisa glared at him.