When The Count’s Illegitimate Daughter Gets Married

Chapter 91

The dining hall in Duke Reinhardt’s residence was no less than that of the Imperial Palace.

A huge chandelier occupied the center of the ceiling. With artistic gold and silver decorations, combined with beautiful glass sculptures. The light from the candles continued to reflect, illuminating the dining room.

Ian and Laritte were seated facing each other at a long table covered with a tablecloth. And…

Of course, there was Olivia. She chirped, “oh my God. I never thought your mother would eat at a place like this. Just look at the pattern on the tablecloth.”

“…..”

“Even I searched for a tablecloth like this for my poor old house, but I never found the best quality. The shops that receive orders from aristocrats tend to choose their customers.” Food dishes were placed on the table one by one while Olivia sat chattering. “I never thought I’d be having these kinds of foods!”

Meanwhile, Ian was having a headache. He was never disturbed when Laritte chattered, but why was the older woman bothering him, causing his hatred to increase toward her? On the other hand, Olivia’s words invaded one of Laritte’s ears and simply went out of the other. Olivia kept talking to Laritte who didn’t care, while Ian kept glaring at Olivia.

“Madam,” a maid placed a white bowl full of potato salad in front of Laritte. It was beautifully plated. Immediately, Olivia reached out her hand to take the salad.

“This looks so delicious! Do you eat like this every day? Can you give your mother a chance to taste it?”

Ian pressed hard on the silver fork he had in his hand. His grip was strong enough to crush the fork. With ferocious eyes, he stared at Olivia. How dare she steals Laritte’s food… That look could leave knights sweating. Although she felt the energy in front of her, Olivia ate the salad steadfastly. Even after she finished eating, she kept taking a share of Laritte’s food. Her face was full of greed.

Wasn’t her life worth it? Ian’s patience had reached its limit. He remembered what Laritte had said when Olivia wanted to enter the mansion. ‘Hold on,’ Ian and Laritte both tried to put up with it, reflecting on the reason why Olivia was allowed. However, something made him end his patience.

Olivia exclaimed at the peach sorbet, “peach in this winter!” Laritte was allergic to the fruit. “Laritte, do you eat a lot of peaches here? Peaches could not be grown well in the place we used to live in when you were young. Neither were there shops near the slums. Finding fruits was more difficult than it is for aristocrats.”

Olivia, unaware of Laritte’s allergy, scooped up a cold bite of sorbet and ate it. She then forced a laugh.

“This sorbet is so good. Laritte, come on, accept your mother’s sincerity. Shouldn’t you have a bite?”

Laritte quietly declined, pulling her body back, “I’m fine.”

“No, why? Is it because you didn’t have the habit of eating it when you were young? Try it. It’s priceless,” Olivia pushed her sorbet to Laritte, and it touched her lips. Ian couldn’t contain his anger. He recalled how Laritte had collapsed and suffocated right after she ate a peach. Grinding his teeth, he became furious.

“Olivia!” His voice bellowed in the hall. He stomped over to where she sat, snatched the spoon, and threw it on the floor.

“D-Duke?”

Ian glared down at Olivia, “Stop it! Why do you keep bothering Laritte? Can you not hear when someone says no!”

“….”

“Or shall I pierce your ears myself for a better experience? Huh? Or do I have to fix your head for pestering someone who refuses because they’re allergic?”

Olivia stuttered as she glanced at Laritte, “But… But… she isn’t allergic to peaches. I know that!”

Of course, Laritte became allergic recently. However, it was clear that Olivia was lying. Because she said it herself, that there were no peaches grown where they had lived. Then, only rotten food was available for them to eat.

Ian laughed, “stop lying. Peaches, huh!” Olivia’s gaze turned to Laritte. Laritte looked like she had no idea what she was saying. Olivia furrowed her eyebrows as Laritte kept her mouth shut.

“Laritte, you must–”

“Isn’t it too conscientious to ask for Laritte’s help just because you share blood? You couldn’t even give her a proper meal, let alone a word of kindness!” This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“I….!” She couldn’t speak. She stood up from her seat. Her eyes turned to the spoon that had fallen. She couldn’t eat anymore because the maids didn’t provide her with a new one. “I’m sorry, Laritte. I’m sorry….” And with that, she ran out of the dining room.

Ian ruffled his hair, expressing his annoyance before he knelt in front of the chair Laritte was sitting on. “I think a piece touched your mouth? Are you okay?” Pulling out his handkerchief, he began to wipe her lips. “Are there any stinging sensations? Any swelling… Do you feel dizzy?”

“As long as I can smell it, I have no problem.”

Laritte rolled her eyes as Ian became frantic with his movements of wiping her lips and face. “Oh, Ian. It’s fine, so don’t bother me,” she savagely pushed Ian’s face away. Ian got up from his seat and firmly checked Laritte.

“From the beginning, it was forbidden to present food to which you were allergic to the table. If you’re not eating it, I shouldn’t eat either! We need to check the chef’s sense,” he grumbled.

Laritte leaned towards the spoon that had been thrown on the floor. Noticing, Ian grabbed the spoon before she could reach it. “I’m sorry I got mad at you. Did I hurt your ears?” His eyes were full of concern. The way he gazed at Laritte was also an art. It was one of the reasons she liked Ian, but it was cumbersome at times.

“How are you going to sit still when I ride Bertrand?”

“It’s nice to know that you care about me. Please pray for your husband’s heart before riding a horse and hurting yourself,” he handed over the spoon to the maid. And the peach sorbet.

Suddenly, something came to her mind. Something long forgotten.

“Laritte, wake up. I told you to wake up.”

It was Olivia’s cold voice. Such a tone was more familiar to her than Olivia’s chirping voice now. What type of memory was this?

“Laritte?” Ian seemed worried when he saw Laritte stiffen. He leaned down and looked at her face.

Laritte got up from the chair. She wanted to recall the moments clearly. She had received something secretly from Olivia.

“You’ll be in trouble if you tell others that you ate this. Okay? Hurry up and eat so that you don’t get caught!”

‘What did my mother give me back then?’

Passing by Ian, Laritte walked off absent-minded.

“Laritte, where are you going?”

“To see mothe– No, Olivia. Hold on a moment.” With that, she walked down the hallway after Olivia. When she spotted Olivia from afar, she realized. She might have eaten peaches when she was young.

What Olivia hid tightly in her skirt and gave to Laritte was nothing but a peach. Olivia had given it to the young Laritte with her calloused hands—the art of rough work. After which, she lost her job. She was also often short on money to fill in Laritte’s stomach.

Therefore, Laritte—always hungry—used to search for food in the trash. She lived, believing that she had never seen a peach before. Until 10 minutes earlier. Was this memory an illusion of her imagination? Or was it true?

As far as Laritte knew, Olivia had no money to buy her daughter peaches. She could only buy it if she worked and starved for a full day.

Was it related to this that she continued to bother Laritte today, unlike her brilliant hair?

“Olivia.” Laritte approached Olivia, who stood on the other side of the hallway.

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