Shin Hye entered the right wing mansion's main door and everyone present in there was shocked by her sudden intrusion. Everyone stopped what they're doing and just watched her passed by them. Shin Hye glanced around and sighed hopelessly as she walk.
[ I am a duchess yet no one is even greeting me. This place is hopeless. ]
She stopped walking and glared to a nearby maid, "Where are the kids?"
That maid didn't answer. Shin Hye raised her eyebrows and sneered in complete loss of words.
"Is being disrespectful not enough? Why won't you answer me?" she coldy complained.
The maid snapped out and rushed in front her. She awkwardly bowed down, "Sorry for my incompetency, Her Excellency. The Young Masters are in their rooms having their etiquette lessons," she stuttered.
Shin Hye walked straight to the stairs and ordered, "Hurry and lead the way."
She maintained her bowing position, "Understood, Her Excellency."
She led the way and Shin Hye followed her every footsteps. The maid who led the way felt very uncomfortable with Shin Hye behind her. Shin Hye can't help but sighed hopelessly.
[ Aren't she being obvious? ]
After minutes of walking, the maid stopped in front of a certain room.
"This is the Young Master's room, Her Excellency," she said as she bowed down.
[ Aren't this room a little bit small compared to the rooms in the main mansion? ]
"Open the door," Shin Hye commanded.
The maid knocked on the door and announced her presence to the Young Master.
"Her Excellency is coming in!" she shouted.
The door opened and a certain person welcomed and greeted her.
"It's finally nice meeting you, Her Excellency. What made you come in her?" she said the words with poise.
Shin Hye examined the woman in front of her as well as the entire room.
[ She looks like someone with a status. With the way she looks, she's probably a Count or a Viscount. ]
[ The room is pretty shabby despite being the duke's child. Is he also being discriminated? What a messed up world, indeed. ]
Shin Hye reacted normal and smiled as she greeted her back, "It's also my pleasure, Miss..!" she stopped.
[ Shoot! I don't know her name! ]
Shin Hye sweated in nervousness and just smiled back in order to hide her worries. The both of them began exchanging looks as they smiled to each other. After a few seconds, the woman suddenly opened the fan she's holding and covered half of her face with it. She eventually gave Shin Hye a duchenne smile that made her surprised.
[ Heh?! She also knows how to smile with her eyes huh? I thought we can be friends but ... in the end she also hated me. ]
Shin Hye fought back and gave her the same smile. The woman's expression instantly loomed after seeing her smile.
"I am Baroness Ismenia Helewisa of the Helewisa Family. I am the Young Master's etiquette instructor assigned by the late duke of Faques," she suddenly introduces herself.
*** ( Changes in POV ) ***
A sudden knock on the door interrupted Ismenia's etiquette lesson.
"Her Excellency is coming in!" a sudden scream in the other side of the door made Ismenia rushed in front of the door.
As soon as the door opened, Ismenia welcomed the duchess in a noble way.
"It's finally nice meeting you, Her Excellency. What made you come in her?" she said the line with such elegancy for a noble.
[ So she's the rumored trash duchess. The rumors said she's a commoner inside and out but ... she got this strange atmosphere around her. It's making me uncomfortable. ]
The duchess glanced at her and after a few seconds, "It's also my pleasure, Miss..!" she stopped and just smiled.
[ Ho?! Is she intentionally not saying my name or is it just she doesn't really know my name? I can't read her mind. ]
The both of them began exchanging looks and in the end, Ismenia retreated. She opened her fan and covered half of her face. As the duchess gave her a smile, she can't help but restlessly sneered behind the fan.
[ What's with this woman? The vibe she's emitting is way too terrifying. She's only standing still and smiling yet it gives me goosebumps. What in the world is she? ]
*** ( Changes in POV ) ***
[ So she's only a baron's wife. The way she faked a smile in front of a noble with a higher status, it's a great feat worthy for a praise. It'll be a great addition for me to have her by my side. But ... the problem is ... she hated me ... This is really inconvenient. ]
"Thank you for your everyday presence in our estate, Lady Ismenia," Shin Hye sincerely said.
"It's also my pleasure, Her Excellency," Ismenia responded still wearing a fake smile.
After their short greetings, Ismenia called the Young Master and ordered him to greet his mother.
"Young Master isn't it already time for you to greet your mother? Hurry up and show him what you've learn. Remember, you can't show a half-baked manner. Quickly greet Her Excellency!" she lectured.
A cute young lad stepped in and, "G--, good morning, Her Excellency," bowed down like a gentleman and shyly said.
[ Is he really my son? He looks quite different. He totally looked different. ]
"Young Master! I told you before right, you need to bow down 60° and place your right hand on your left chest!" Ismenia began scolding.
Shin Hye just looked at the kid and contemplated deeply in her thoughts.
[ I looked at my face this morning and I have a light brown hair and gray - colored eyes totally different to what he looks. His black hair might be inherited from his father but his pair of lime - colored almond eyes, it's strange. Is he really my kid? ]
Shin Hye snapped out of her deep thoughts and coughed roughly.
"Lady Ismenia, can I take my son from here? We've got business to do," I interrupted.
Ismenia smiled flusteredly and hesitantly handed him over.
"Should we visit your sister?" Shin Hye smiled down as the kid gripped her dress with force.
[ What's wrong with him? ]
Shin Hye noticed some bruises on the kid's hand.
[ Huh? Is that a bruise? How can a son of a duke have that kind of bruise? ]
Shin Hye looked around and Ismenia's fan caught her attention. Ismenia flinched after seeing Shin Hye's glare. She evaded Shin Hye's eyes and can't help but sweat in cold.
[ So that's the culprit. Is this how they educate the future lord of the estate? Isn't this a bit overboard? ]
Shin Hye patted the kid's head and smiled at him sincerely, "Should I carry you?" she offered him her hand.
The kid looked at Ismenia and shook in nervousness. Shin Hye took a glance and saw a glimpse of Ismenia's agitated face.
"It's okay, I'm here ..." Shin Hye assured the kid as she kept her smile intact.
The kid slowly reached for her hand and she carried him in her arms. Lady Ismenia instantly felt restless as Shin Hye looked at her coldly.
[ Heh?! Is she worried that I might see the abuse she gave to this kid? Too late but I already realized. A mere baroness harmed a duke's son. There's no light punishment for this. Should I let her know her place? ]
"We will take our leave now. You can go back to your manor, thank you for your service until now," Shin Hye turned around and started walking.
Without a moment of hesitation, Ismenia bowed down, "Then, I'll be back tomorrow. Thank you for today, Her Excellency."
As soon as the kid heard Ismenia's reply, he gripped Shin Hye's clothes tightly and shut his eyes while shaking nervously.
[ What in the world did that woman do to make such kid tremble in fear? ]
Shin Hye stopped walking and, "Don't worry son, mother is here," she whispered as she caressed the kid's head.
With a cold, piercing gaze, she looked back and, "I think you've got the wrong idea of what I've said, Lady Ismenia," she bluntly stated.
Ismenia can't help but paused in confusion. "Huh?"
Shin Hye completely turned around and, "A baron harming a duke's son? Do you think you can handle the punishment, Lady Ismenia? You should be thankful that you're just being fired or else you want this to drag even further," she threatened her openly.
Ismenia fought back and denied every accusations. "What do you mean by that, Her Excellency? Do you have any proofs? I'm innocent, Her Excellency!" she boldly denied every allegations.
[ Playing dumb now that you've already been caught? ]
Shin Hye sneered and giggled. "Aren't you mistaken about this, Lady Ismenia?" she said as she walked away.
"Pardon?" Ismenia showed a flustered expression.
Stopped momentarily outside the room, Shin Hye looked back wearing a menacing expression, "My words are already proof, Lady Ismenia," each word she said gave intimidating pressure to Ismenia.
*** ( Changes in POV ) ***
[ What the heck is wrong with that woman? Why am I shaking restlessly on my own? If she knew what I did to that kid, my estate will be completely annihilated. ]
When Ismenia thought that she was already safe, Shin Hye looked back at her with cold and piercing gaze. "I think you've got the wrong idea of what I've said, Lady Ismenia," she bluntly stated as she locked her eyes with Ismenia.
Ismenia flinched.
[ I'm doomed. ]
"A baron harming a duke's son? Do you think you can handle the punishment, Lady Ismenia? You should be thankful that you're just being fired or else you want this to drag even further," Shin Hye turned around and threatened her face to face.
Ismenia tried to deny every allegations but the duchess just laughed at her.
"My words are already proof, Lady Ismenia," the words that the duchess said made Ismenia flopped down on the floor right after she left.
[ What did just happened? They said that the Faques duchess is stupid but ... what in the world did I just saw? ]
Ismenia's face was completely horrified as she was deep in her thoughts.
[ She's a monster. ]
Ismenia trembled in fear.
[ Is my family ruined? What did I just do? I should beg for forgiveness. I can't let it end here. If I need power, staying by her side is the best option. I need to by her side! ]
*** ( Changes of POV ) ***
After leaving the room, Shin Hye shooed the maid away as she was being too tense and stiff around her. The maid was totally uncomfortable the whole time even the kid can notice her weird actions.
[ She's being too obvious. ]
The moment the maid left, her and her son walked towards the twin sister's room. The kid led the way while being carried by Shin Hye in her arms.
"Are you okay? Tell me if you have any worries," Shin Hye abruptly asked.
The kid just looked at her and swayed his head. He was a little bit awkward to open up to her despite Shin Hye being her mother.
[ Am I really his mother? Why won't he speak out? Is it really that uncomfortable? ]
To give him a piece of mind, she sincerely said with a smile, "Don't worry. Everything will be back to normal soon. I promise," as she caressed his head.
As they've reached the sister's room, Shin Hye unhesitantly opened the door. Upon opening, an unexpected scene made her agitated. As she can't tolerate anymore she's seeing, she exploded in anger.
[ What in the world am I seeing right now? Are you serious?! ]
"What in the world are you doing to my daughter?!" she shouted furiously.