Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 23
Confrontation with the husband’s stepmother
It takes about ten days to travel from the capital to the Arcturus domain by horse.
However, before the newlyweds even arrived, the dreadful tale of their marriage had already spread throughout the lands of Arcturus.
And, as everyone had anticipated, chaos ensued.
“How could such an absurd thing happen!”
Elder Madam Electra, Izar’s stepmother, was frothing with rage.
“Even a woman of perfect lineage would barely suffice, and yet this has happened!”
Declaring the situation intolerable, Elder Madam Electra screamed.
But the deed was already done, and the newlyweds eventually arrived at the Arcturus castle.
Upon seeing the ‘new bride’, Elder Madam Electra’s anger intensified to the point where veins bulged on her neck.
Beside the ‘comet’, the revered master of Arcturus, stood such an insignificant woman!
Electra herself hadn’t fully secured the perfectly pristine title of ‘Duchess’, yet it was to be granted to this woman?!
Elder Madam Electra didn’t even pretend to acknowledge the new bride.
Warm greetings? Words of comfort for the journey endured?
‘Forget that!’
She should be thankful she wasn’t torn apart right then and there.
Elder Madam Electra hurriedly followed Izar, airing her grievances as she went.
“Izar! What exactly is going on here?”
“Didn’t I already explain the situation in my letters, Mother?”
“But still…! Antares is bad enough, but is that woman out of her mind?”
Naturally, Elder Madam Electra couldn’t directly criticize the Emperor or the noble house of Antares. Ultimately, her fury was directed solely at the unimpressive newcomer.
“If she had any sense of decency, she would have left before even arriving here! Or better yet, she should have just died!”
“…”
“To think I felt pity for her mad mother, only to be deceived like this? Surely, she’s making a mockery of you, Izar—”
“Enough.”
Izar cut off the incessant ranting with a voice tinged with irritation.
He was grateful to his stepmother for managing the household in place of his deceased parents. Thus, he tolerated her occasional overstepping remarks.
However, Izar was also displeased for another reason.
‘That woman with unnecessarily large eyes.’
Throughout the journey, the shepherdess he had brought in the carriage had been staring intently at him, evidently hoping he would initiate conversation. He had long noticed this but chose to ignore her gaze throughout the trip.
‘That woman will be treated as if she does not exist from now on.’
Having already succeeded in invalidating the marriage, there was absolutely no need to acknowledge her presence here.
He sharply rebuked his stepmother, ready to dismiss any further complaints.
“I will never acknowledge that woman as my wife, and I will expel her at an appropriate time.”
“But has our Arcturus lineage not already been tarnished!”
At that moment, Izar stopped walking and looked directly at Elder Madam Electra. His father’s widow.
Boasting a superior background among the duchy’s vassal households, she was often compared to his own mother. Despite losing her husband early and having no children of her own, she sought to act maternally towards him.
He had let her have her way to avoid complaints of being neglected after dedicating herself to the family…
But this time, she had crossed the line.
“The preservation of the family’s lineage is my responsibility, not yours.”
Izar’s stern gaze made Elder Madam Electra back down. His mature stepson bore such a resemblance to his father that just a hardening of those intense eyes and a furrow of his brow was enough to crush anyone’s spirit.
Only monsters would dare to confront that expression.
“Umm…!”
“So, leave that woman be. Just ignore her.”
After giving a cold admonition, he headed straight to his office, leaving Elder Madam Electra behind.
Mrs. Merope, the chief handmaid, approached the left-behind Elder Madam.
“Elder Madam, are you alright?”
“How could I possibly be alright!”
Elder Madam Electra erupted once more.
Electra’s pride in the family was as strong as Izar’s. Despite Izar continually drawing lines, she knew all too well how much further the family would have fallen after the ‘former Duchess’ had caused such an incident if she hadn’t been there!
Though she hadn’t borne any children, this castle was her domain to rule.
“Our great family cannot be tarnished by that woman.”
Izar said to ‘just leave her be,’ but what did that mean? How long was that ‘trash’ supposed to stay?
A month? Three or four months? Or even a year?
How could she endure such a long time with that thorn at her fingertip?
‘But if I take the lead in driving her out, Izar will throw a fit.’
Though he showed respect in front of his stepmother, Izar was fundamentally a very stubborn man. If it were discovered that she had disobeyed his order to leave the woman alone, not even being his stepmother would save her from his wrath.
However, Mrs. Merope brilliantly picked up on her mistress’s mood.
“Then, Elder Madam, wouldn’t it be better if that woman ran away on her own accord?”
“…!”
“If she realizes the burden of a Duchess’s duties, she’ll come to her senses.”
“…Ah, indeed.”
The once trembling Elder Madam Electra’s lips curled up in realization.
“Should I have her host a tea party first?”
“Yes, Elder Madam. It would be a perfect lesson.”
“Good. Once I’m settled, bring her to my room.”
Elder Madam Electra fanned herself, muttering complaints. She planned to trample on the woman as much as she had been angered. But before leaving, she gave one more order.
“Ugh, throw that woman into one of the remaining rooms used by the maids.”
A shepherdess of illegitimate birth could hardly be housed in the illustrious duchess’s room. Even Electra herself couldn’t enter that room freely because of Izar.
