Chapter – 20
In the original story, the plot unfolds only after Leo has already become a scoundrel, and the circumstances of his wife divorcing him weren’t described in detail.
Why did she want a divorce so soon after giving birth?
Juliet Chablin, Marchioness.
My biological mother, the second daughter of the Chartier family. After returning to her family, she never recovered from the aftereffects of childbirth and tragically passed away.
Afterwards, the Chartier family rose to become the highest-ranking noble house, with the emperor’s first minister coming from their line—absolute power at their fingertips. That was all I knew about Juliet. She had, like Erusha, very little presence in the original story.
Their relationship had reportedly been distant, so I couldn’t be sure of the exact reason Leo became a scoundrel.
“I need to find out the details now.”
I hugged Sasha tightly and asked bluntly,
“Papa, why do you dislike Haraburdy so much?”
Leo responded, seemingly annoyed,
“Is there even one thing to like about it?”
“…….”
That wasn’t exactly the question I wanted to ask. I hoped he might share more details, but I realized there was someone more suitable to ask about this matter. Someone who knew a lot about Leo and was also friendly to me.
It was too sensitive a topic to interrogate Leo directly.
“Arata, take care of the doll for me!”
After giving Leo a quick greeting, I hurried down to the first floor. Luckily, he was waiting in the parlor.
“Crovie.”
At my call, Crovie immediately lifted his head from the newspaper. He looked at me as if he couldn’t believe it, covering his mouth with his hand.
“Erusha, did you really come to see me first?”
“Yep. Can I ask you something? It’s about Papa.”
“Ah, I see! You came at the right time! If it’s about the Marquis, I’ll tell you everything except the compliments!”
Crovie threw the newspaper aside and cleared a spot beside him. He was clearly excited. I quickly sat down there.
“Alright, Erusha. What do you want to know?”
“Why did Mom want to divorce Papa?”
“Hmm? That’s… unexpected.”
Crovie blinked, clearly surprised by my direct question. I, showing the innocent curiosity of a child, made my round eyes sparkle.
The topic I had brought up was forbidden within the Chablin family. No one spoke of Juliet.
Because Juliet died right after the divorce, what was already a tragic past became an untouchable story.
So this was something I absolutely needed to know.
Knowing why they divorced, and what kind of conflicts they had with Grandpa, would help me understand the current situation.
“……I just wanted to know why Papa dislikes Haraburdy.”
“Ah, yes, Erusha. You should know these things!”
Crovie, though surprised, soon seemed prepared and smiled. He leaned slightly forward, as if to whisper into my ear. I straightened my back as much as I could and tilted my head toward him.
I focused intently, a little worried, hoping he was really going to tell me.
“Well, there was a decisive reason. The Marquis took Rozan Phoebe as the wife of his fourth son. Phoebe’s family and your mother, Juliet Chartier’s family, are mortal enemies! So the Chartier family, furious, took Juliet away. The Marquis never expected the Chartier family would go that far….”
“!”
I widened my eyes in shock. I had never heard this before.
Rozan Phoebe.
She was the mother of the Briana and Diana sisters, still living somewhere in the Chablin Marquisate.
So my parents’ divorce had happened because of a marriage with the Phoebe family!
“The Marquis tried to stop the marriage with the Phoebe family. Juliet’s family was already allied with him, and causing trouble was unnecessary. But the Marquis couldn’t give up on the Phoebe marriage. You don’t know yet, but the competition and betrayals between noble houses were fierce, and at that time, the Phoebe family was more influential than the Chartier family. Eventually, your father believes he lost Juliet because of the Marquis’ greed.”
“Wow…….”
I was stunned. I already knew from the original story that this world was fiercely competitive among noble houses.
But I never imagined my parents’ separation happened for such a reason.
‘This is like Romeo and Juliet…’
Here, twelve noble houses were ranked from the emperor’s first minister to the twelfth. Rank meant prestige and power.
Among them, the Chablin Marquisate had long held the fifth rank, while the Chartier family, as the first minister’s house, enjoyed unmatched power.
Crovie’s whisper returned to my ears.
“Anyway, the Marquis must regret it now. Who could have known the Chartier family would become so dominant? When Juliet married the Marquis, they were only the ninth rank, barely noticeable.”
“I see…… so Mom hated Papa because of that?”
“No. Juliet wouldn’t hate the Marquis for something like that. She loved you dearly, Erusha. But the family pressures must have been immense. Who could ever defy a family’s wishes?”
Crovie clicked his tongue, pitying the situation, then looked seriously and continued.
“Your maternal grandfather, Duke Giyord Chartier, is the most ruthless man alive. When the Marquis went to fetch Juliet, he was treated so coldly! Thinking about that, I can understand why your father resents the Duke so much.”
I quietly opened my mouth, lost in thought.
So Juliet had no choice but to divorce Leo.
Now I finally understood why Leo hated Surman so much.
Surman, as head of the house, had to make certain choices to strengthen the family, which Leo opposed.
Those conflicts weren’t just about the Chartier family. Like when Surman’s overbearing educational methods prevented him from assigning me a tutor.
Surman’s ambition caused irreparable harm to his wife and father-in-law, and since Juliet died, Leo’s heart must have been exhausted.
“But, Erusha?”
“Hm?”
“Do you understand all these stories?”
Crovie blinked. The story was probably too complex for a five-year-old to fully grasp. I scrunched my face, pretending it was difficult.
“Umm… so the arrogant Grandpa got scolded by the family, and Papa smashed everything and got first place?”
“Yes, exactly that! Haha!”
Crovie laughed heartily, clearly impressed by my summary. Then, looking slightly embarrassed, he cleared his throat.
“Well, the Marquis probably believed the Marquis would understand his decisions. He never expected the Chartier family to demand a divorce so strongly. And he certainly didn’t foresee your father becoming a scoundrel out of resentment.”
“I see……”
“In any case, Erusha, never tell the Marquis about this. He hasn’t healed from it yet. You could mention it if you want to see him argue with the Duke again, but that’s up to you.”
“Hmm? Got it. Thanks for telling me!”
I hopped off the sofa.
The story had been long, and I didn’t know when Papa might come down to the parlor.
“Already leaving? But, Erusha, that doll―.”
“Hm?”
Crovie suddenly stared at my doll. I looked down at Sasha in my arms, then back at Crovie.
He glanced at Sasha briefly, then laughed awkwardly, as if nothing had happened.
“Ah, never mind. Haha.”
