The Abandoned and Terminally Ill Lady Married a Monster - Chapter 49
Chapter 49
“Lady Minerva, I’ve brought the Madam.”
“Let her in.”
The voice granting permission echoed from within the room. My mouth went dry. Carefully entering, I tried to appear at ease as I sat before my mother-in-law.
Mother-in-law regarded me with a stern expression. With her blond hair and blue eyes, she resembled Kin, but her features were sharper. Her flawlessly styled golden hair and icy blue eyes intensified her already formidable presence.
Her disapproving gaze was familiar. This suffocating silence, too, was familiar. Yet, a bitter taste lingered in my mouth.
‘She must despise me. An incompetent woman, unfit for the Grand Duchy, just… stumbled in.’
Kin insisted I possessed abilities, but there was no proof. Every time I tried to tell Mother about them, I was dismissed, leaving me with no way to confirm their existence. Even if I could prove my abilities, I doubted it would change her opinion of me. I had no education, no possessions, nothing to offer.
I swallowed, feeling the weight of her disapproval.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll leave soon enough.’ I smiled bitterly to myself, staring into my teacup. ‘But this silence is unusually long.’ She usually said something by now. ‘Does she truly dislike me this much?’ I worried my lip. It seemed I would have to speak first.
“…Why did you summon me?” I deliberately omitted any title, fearing she might dislike being called Mother-in-law. Though a breach of etiquette, it seemed preferable. Far better than someone like me, a mere addition to the family, formally addressing her as such.
The moment she heard my voice, her eyes widened in surprise. She then covered her mouth with her hands. “She’s not human….”
Not human. She was right. My heart plummeted, but I maintained my composure. Even I found her words undeniably true. How could I, abandoned by my own family, be considered human—
“…A fairy.”
“Pardon?” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
‘Am I nearing my death? I’m hearing things.’ Or perhaps, in high society, “fairy” held a different meaning than the one I knew. Perhaps it was their slang for… monster. ‘Come to think of it, the maid called me a fairy too.’ Were they all mocking me with their sophisticated wordplay? I had been so worried about the burden of their compliments.
As I pondered this, Mother-in-law spoke, “I noticed at the wedding, but you’re so beautiful, my dear.”
‘But my face was completely veiled at the wedding, Mother-in-law.’ Taken aback by the sudden compliment, I stared at her blankly. “…?”
“I thought a fairy was speaking. So lovely and beautiful…. I wondered who this angel was, gracing us with her presence, taking care of my brainless son. It seems he has an eye for beauty after all.”
Brainless? Taking care of? Angel? Fairy? I was utterly bewildered. Though I couldn’t grasp her meaning, I understood those terms referred to me. A strange mix of embarrassment and unfamiliarity heated my cheeks.
“Oh my, look at me. This isn’t the time for this. The reason I called you today, my dear, is….” She rang a bell, and maids filed into the room. “Your wedding gifts arrived quite late. I wasn’t sure of your preferences, so I had everything prepared. I hope you like them.”
“Pardon?”
Gifts? The procession of gifts seemed endless. ‘Mother-in-law, the gifts… they just keep coming.’
“I apologize for the hasty preparations. I wasn’t able to gather as much as I wanted. First, let me explain this. This isn’t from the House of Blashur, but from my birth family, the House of Malogini. It’s an heirloom….”
‘I’m sorry, what?’
Could heirlooms be included in hastily prepared gifts? If anyone looked into my eyes, they would see my pupils trembling, practically vibrating out of their sockets. That’s how poorly I concealed my astonishment as I listened to her explanations. My usual anxiety around authority figures had vanished, replaced by sheer bewilderment.
I glanced around, but no one else seemed as confused as I was. I was the only one struggling to keep up.
‘What… what is happening?’
