In the Doghouse - Chapter 111
“Courtney, are you listening?”
“I’m listening.”
“Then why aren’t you answering? What good will it do you if your family home falls apart because it’s so old? People will talk, you know?”
Courtney’s anger was boiling inside. Honestly, wasn’t it more disgraceful to be seen as someone who immediately renovated their house and draped themselves in jewels, indulging in luxury the moment they became associated with the imperial family?
But Courtney didn’t want to argue with Patricia any further. Fortunately, an unexpected allowance had come in recently. It wasn’t enough for the extravagant renovations her mother wanted, but if she framed it as something for the sake of her nephew, she could find some peace of mind about it. Half resigned, she responded,
“I’ll discuss it with Wigg.”
“Do you always have to go through the butler for everything?”
“If you don’t like it, forget it. I’m busy, Mother.”
“Well… fine. Go on, then.”
Patricia stepped back with a disgruntled look. It wasn’t a completely satisfying result, but it was much better than if Courtney had outright refused and caused a scene.
Courtney turned her head again, scanning the room for Richard. He was still in the same place, still surrounded by women. She spotted a young lady with ribbons dangling from her hair subtly tugging on his sleeve. Just how high-ranking was this young woman to be allowed to behave like that?
Courtney’s mood, already soured by her conversation with Patricia, plunged further into the depths.
Richard’s lips curled into another awkward smile. At that moment, a surge of irritation flared up inside Courtney. An inexplicable wave of anger hit her like a storm. Without thinking, she found herself walking toward him.
She was about to reclaim her freedom, but—
“Hey!”
This time, her main adversary, Frederick Devon, appeared. His sudden entrance was enough to trigger Courtney’s already fragile temper. Her gaze immediately sharpened. His level of disrespect was beyond tolerable, enough to prompt an immediate response.
“What is it now?”
“Why have you been pretending not to see me all this time?”
“Because the way you act makes me not want to acknowledge you!”
As Courtney raised her voice, curious glances were thrown their way from the surrounding crowd. Frederick’s face turned bright red.
She felt embarrassed too, but now that her lid had been blown off, she didn’t care anymore. Pointing her fan at him, she lashed out.
“And what do you want? If you have something to say, say it quickly.”
“Well, you keep ignoring my letters…”
“Letters? Oh, the ones asking for money? I thought those were bills.”
“Keep your voice down. What did I even do to you?”
“Since when have you been aware of feeling shame?”
“You… Look at you, getting so fat from all the food and laziness, no wonder!”
Coming from her brother, who had likely indulged in more food and leisure than anyone else, this insult hit particularly hard.
As Frederick retorted just like old times, Patricia’s face went pale. Both siblings had forgotten the time and place, but now their positions had drastically changed. It wouldn’t be surprising if the imperial guards rushed in and escorted Frederick out of the palace at any moment.
“You two, calm down for now.”
“Do I look like I can calm down?”
“You, of all people, should have learned to control your temper after marrying into the imperial family! What kind of Crown Princess behaves like this?”
Frederick’s comment only added fuel to Courtney’s anger. Knowing full well who she had married, he still chose to speak so carelessly. Maybe he was hoping that she’d brush it off for the sake of appearances, but it only made him bolder.
Courtney glanced around the room. Instinctively, her eyes searched for Richard. But beyond the anxious maids, there was no sign of him. Where had he disappeared to again? And that girl with the ribbons was also nowhere to be seen.
With that, she turned back toward Frederick with fury. This was all his fault. The root of all her troubles. Courtney unleashed all the rage she had been building up, directing it squarely at him.
“Oh, so you remember that I’m married? For a moment, I thought you had no idea where you were. When will you finally grow up, even with a child of your own?”
“Lower your voice! And if you really care about your nephew, you wouldn’t treat me like this. Don’t you know that if I succeed, it’s good for Edvard too?”
Whether he was trying to calm her down or provoke her further was unclear, but the result was obvious—it only enraged Courtney more. She shot back, fuming.
“You’re using Edvard to manipulate me? What have you ever done for him? Do you even have any conscience?”
Patricia was no match for the two of them as they argued. At some point, Count Devon and Elise rushed over, no doubt having heard the commotion.
Their father, already flushed from drinking too much, and Elise, in a dress that Patricia had likely influenced, added nothing but stress to the situation. Their arrival did nothing to help Courtney control her anger.
“Courtney, calm down.”
“You should’ve told him to calm down before I lost my temper!”
For the first time in a long while, the entire family was gathered in one place. Any joy of reunion was non-existent. Just seeing all their faces together made Courtney’s stress skyrocket, and she felt like she was on the verge of fainting from sheer frustration.
