Episode 2
“That’s….”
Mother seemed speechless at the thought of something she had never even imagined.
It was only natural. For our family, Uncle Dietrich was the only person to succeed the family. It was so obvious that we had never considered any other assumption.
‘But Uncle Pascal? Why is he coming up now?’
After gathering her thoughts for a moment, Mother spoke firmly.
“If Dietrich does not return within three months, I will succeed the Arno family. Since I am my father’s daughter, I also have the right of inheritance….”
“Pfft.”
Before Mother could even finish her sentence, a burst of laughter erupted from somewhere. Mother’s and my gazes turned toward the source of the sound. Uncle Pascal was covering his mouth with a handkerchief.
Mother raised one eyebrow and asked.
“What is so funny, Pascal?”
“Ah, sorry.”
Uncle adjusted his expression and apologized, but it didn’t feel sincere at all.
“Rayna, you are a daughter.”
“So?”
“Under Imperial Law, a daughter cannot inherit the family.”
“You mean an unmarried daughter. I am married and have a daughter….”
“Oh, my goodness. Rayna. What are you talking about? You couldn’t get married.”
Uncle Pascal shook his head as if he felt sorry. That exaggerated appearance was like watching an actor’s performance in a play.
“It is true that you gave birth to and raised Vivi, but legally, you are indeed unmarried. You are still officially Rayna Arno. Because that family did not accept you. What did you say that family was again?”
“Be quiet. What are you saying in front of Vivi?”
Mother was startled and covered both of my ears.
I just blinked my eyes while looking at Uncle Pascal, who was smiling meaningfully.
‘Did Uncle just talk about my dad?’
There was one taboo word in our Arno family that no one could easily bring up.
It was my biological father, whom even I didn’t know.
I didn’t have a father from the moment I was born. Just as Uncle Pascal said, Mother was not officially married, and naturally, I inherited Mother’s surname, Arno.
Grandfather, Mother, and Uncle Dietrich all acted as if they had made a pact not to tell me stories about my biological father.
So, I grew up without knowing my father’s face, let alone who he was.
Then one day, I was able to catch a glimpse of what happened between Mother and my father from a drunken Uncle Dietrich.
– Your father was a good person, Vivi. The bad ones were that man’s parents.
According to Uncle, Mother and Father met by chance at a party and fell in love.
However, Father’s parents opposed the marriage between Mother and Father on the grounds that the family status was inferior.
But Father chose Mother instead of the family, and I was conceived before the two could get married.
My grandparents, who had opposed their marriage until the end, finally permitted the marriage then.
‘It would have been a beautiful story if it had only ended like that.’
However, before I was born, and before the wedding ceremony could even be held, Father passed away from a sudden illness.
My grandparents drove Mother out of the mansion, making the ridiculous claim that our mother had killed Father.
When Mother returned to the Arno family with her swollen belly, she was said to be eight months pregnant.
Grandfather and Uncle Dietrich were also greatly enraged and declared that Mother and the child in her womb were Arnos no matter what anyone said.
After that, Mother gave birth to and raised me alone in the Arno family.
I had no complaints about that. Living with Grandfather, Mother, and Uncle Dietrich was very good. I didn’t feel the absence of a father.
I didn’t even particularly want to know which family my father belonged to.
However, the important thing now was that Mother was officially unmarried.
As a side note, when Mother found out that Uncle had told me the story of my biological father, she got incredibly angry at Uncle for the first and last time, and Uncle never told me stories about Father again, so I didn’t know anything beyond that.
“Rayna, think about it coldly. What are the chances that Dietrich, who hasn’t returned for three months, will return within the next three months to succeed the title?”
“Dietrich will surely….”
“It’s good to have hope. But you have Vivi. You have to think about Vivi’s future.”
Mother’s sad eyes turned toward me.
“Of course, even if I end up succeeding the Arno family, I won’t ignore you. As a cousin and as an Arno, I will respect you and guarantee the livelihood of you and Vivi. But how long can that last?”
“What are you trying to say?”
Mother asked in a slightly trembling voice. I also tightly grabbed Mother’s arm at the creeping sense of anxiety.
Finally, Uncle Pascal said.
“If I come to succeed the title, how about marrying me?”
“……Wh-what?”
Mother’s eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Are you cr….”
I also almost said ‘Are you crazy?’ reflexively but covered my mouth with both hands.
Fortunately, Mother and Uncle Pascal didn’t seem to have heard me. Although Simon Weaver, who was standing behind Uncle Pascal, looked at me and smiled meaningfully.
‘Is he really crazy? Uncle Pascal is going to marry Mother?’
Under Imperial Law, it was possible for cousins to marry. In fact, until a few generations ago, there were quite a few cases in the Imperial Family or noble families where cousins married because of interests such as the succession of power or the inheritance of property.
However, it was different now. Even if it was possible in principle, it was safe to say that there were practically no cases of cousins marrying.
‘If such a thing happened, the social circles would be turned upside down. They would say it’s something only savages blinded by instinct would do.’
Uncle Pascal would not be unaware of the backtalk that would come out of the social circles.
If so, why is Uncle making such a proposal?
Is it really for Mother and me?
‘There is absolutely no way.’
He is the uncle who mentioned inheritance rights as if he had been waiting as soon as Grandfather passed away, even bringing a legal representative. There was no way he would do this out of a sense of debt to Mother and me.
Furthermore, saying he would get married because he doesn’t know how long he can take care of Mother and me? What kind of nonsense was this?
I carefully observed the expression of Uncle Pascal, who was keeping his gaze fixed on Mother. I hadn’t noticed it before, but Uncle’s gaze was subtle.
‘Could it be…….’
While I was trying to deny it, Mother slammed the table and jumped up.
“What on earth does this mean, Pascal?”
“It’s exactly as it sounds. Once we become a legal couple, I can take care of you and Vivi without any interference. If by any chance a son is born between us, that child will inherit the Arno….”
“Are you in your right mind now? Is that something to say in front of Vivi right now?”
“I am more rational than ever, Rayna.”
“No, you have completely lost your mind now!”
Mother pointed toward the door with a face that had turned red in an instant.
“If you’re going to talk nonsense, I’d like you to leave now.”
“Rayna, don’t think emotionally, think rationally.”
Uncle Pascal’s blue eyes flashed. They were exactly like the eyes of a snake eyeing its prey.
“Do you think I can think rationally now? Not anyone else, but how could you to me…!”
Mother stopped speaking for a moment and caught her breath.
“Anyway, Father’s funeral is over, so I’d like you to return to the capital now. Did you say you were Mr. Weaver? I’m sorry, but I’m not in the frame of mind to welcome guests yet, so you’ll have to stay at another lodging. If you wish, I’ll have a room booked through a servant.”
Simon Weaver, who had been listening to the conversation between Mother and Uncle with great interest, shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s fine. I’ve already booked a room.”
In other words, it means Simon Weaver was predicting that something like this would happen.
Uncle Pascal, who calmly downed the remaining tea at once, picked up his hat and stood up.
“By all means, think over my proposal well. I will also be in the Arno territory for the time being, so contact me anytime if you change your mind.”
“That won’t happen, so get out of my sight this instant.”
“You say that now, but once your anger subsides a bit, you will realize that my proposal isn’t bad. Vivi, Mother will be going through a lot because Grandfather passed away, so take good care of Mother.”
“…….”
I just glared at Uncle Pascal without a word. Uncle Pascal tousled my hair with his large hand, completely unbothered by my wariness.
“Then, I’m going.”
Uncle Pascal and Simon Weaver left after leaving behind a threat disguised as conciliation. Mother couldn’t bring herself to see the two off and sat blankly on the drawing room sofa.
I only stuck close to Mother after seeing the carriage carrying the two men leave the main gate.
“Mother.”
“…….”
“Mothe-er.”
Mother muttered blankly, as if she couldn’t hear my words.
“I should have remarried sooner.”
I flinched and hunched my shoulders. Mother continued to mutter to herself.
“If I had known something like this would happen, I would have sooner….”
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