Immediately the next day.
The portrait of the former Marquis was consigned to the flames.
After that, Clara moved her residence to the Marquis's chambers.
Furthermore, the room Clara had been using was given to Adel.
That fact shocked everyone.
The so-called 'Bud Room' was a chamber traditionally bestowed only upon the most noble young ladies of the Merriweather family.
And now they were giving that place to an illegitimate child?
On top of that, they were even providing that shameful mother with a decent, if small, room!
As the backlash from relatives and retainers intensified, Clara's worries deepened.
"So this is what they call digging your own grave."
Adel's appeal lay in being an incompetent guardian incapable of coveting Clara's position.
But conversely, if that very point was attacked, Clara had no retort.
While Adel had performed a service by saving Clara this time, that alone was insufficient grounds to argue for her legitimacy.
Clara raised her head and quietly observed Adel standing before the desk.
Should she fabricate some fake credentials?
No, a hastily concocted lie, if exposed, would only become a weakness.
'How pathetic of me.'
Clara sank deep into the large chair and reproached herself.
She had only wanted an incompetent person, without giving any thought to a plan for keeping her close.
If that was the case, even if Clara herself were called incompetent, she'd have nothing to say in her defense.
"Is something troubling you?"
At Adel's words, noticing her gaze, Clara shook her head.
There was no need to confide her worries to Adel.
What was required of her was simply to exist.
So, she hadn't intended to consult her... but.
"Is it... perhaps because of the backlash against me?"
Surprisingly, Adel deduced the problem on her own.
'Is Adel perhaps more astute than I thought?'
Well, when the poisoning incident occurred, Adel was the first to notice it.
Anyway, regardless, she had no intention of relying on her.
"Don't worry about that matter."
Who would have thought she'd need the help of a 'guardian'?
"I can handle it myself."
Adel, perhaps feeling awkward, fiddled with her long black hair and smiled slightly.
That smiling face was, upon reflection, quite pretty.
Thinking about it, Adel was blessed with smooth, pale skin and possessed distinct, clear features.
But her beauty rarely stood out, probably because...
'...Is it her excessively shabby attire?'
Still, she's supposedly a young lady of the Merriweathers. How could she dress like that?
"Well, I suppose quelling that backlash shouldn't be too difficult."
Huh?
Clara, momentarily lost in thought while staring at Adel's face, was startled.
Not difficult? How?
"Then I shall go to the conference room first."
Adel gave a slight nod asking for understanding and headed for the door.
Come to think of it, there wasn't much time left before the regular meeting now.
"...Wait!"
Without realizing it, Clara jumped up from her chair.
Adel, who was stepping outside, turned to look back.
As if she knew Clara would call for her, she was even wearing a smile.
It felt as if her inner thoughts had been seen through.
"N-no, it's nothing."
She was embarrassed.
Acting like a normal child, almost seeking the help of her guardian.
"My Lady Marquis."
Adel turned her steps and came right up to Clara's desk.
"Is there perhaps something I should do at today's meeting?"
"No. I'll handle what needs to be done. Miss Adel just needs to stay by my side."
"But wouldn't it be more persuasive if I also acted as if I were invested?"
"That is..."
Just as she was about to ask what she meant, Clara felt a shock as if she'd been struck on the back of the head.
It was a hint.
Meaning, if Clara and Adel acted as if they were madly in love with each other, everything would be resolved.
It was a tactic used by couples with a considerable status difference when seeking family permission.
The so-called 'We are deeply in love with each other' strategy.
The argument that their love was so profound they couldn't be separated, that if forced apart they would lose the will to live.
Ultimately, it was a threat: 'If you don't want to clean up a corpse, just give your permission.'
'A very traditional method.'
But times are different now.
Now is a world where everyone speaks in unison about the fleeting nature of emotions.
Would such an old-fashioned, emotional appeal even work?
Preposterous.
"Hmph, I'll handle it myself!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The conference room located on the first floor.
With the petite Clara seated at the head, participants were arrayed on either side.
As the saying goes, when people gather, it's in their nature to split into two factions and fight.
On the right side, led by the retainer 'Olson', were those who supported Clara.
And on the left side were those who viewed her unfavorably.
Fortunately, the more extreme figures among them were in prison along with the nursemaid, which had somewhat dampened their momentum.
However, the general tendency to oppose Clara's opinions on principle remained.
So they would surely oppose making Adel her guardian as well...
"Yes, please do so."
"...?"
Clara looked at each person seated to her left one by one.
Every single one of them was nodding without objection.
Why were the people who opposed her every day being so compliant today?
"You vile lot!"
But today, a loud voice came from the right side.
The side that usually listened attentively to Clara's words.
Olson, who had risen from his seat, shouted towards the people across from him.
"Who do you think is fooled by your approval, given in hopes of finding a pretext someday?!"
He now turned to look at Clara.
"You must reconsider, My Lady Marquis."
His already sharp, straight eyebrows grew even fiercer.
"If Miss Adel causes any trouble, it will all become your fault, My Lady."
Olson pointed a finger at the people on the left.
"Those vile scoundrels are only agreeing in hopes that such an incident occurs before the formal succession."
All to drag you down, My Lady, he added in a sinister voice.
Then the other side didn't remain silent either.
Sir Thomas, a sixth cousin of the former Marquis, smoothed his gray beard and rose from his seat.
"What insolent words are these! Who among us would agree for such cowardly reasons?"
"Ha, is that so? Then let's hear your thoughts. What exactly about Miss Adel makes her suitable as a guardian?"
At Olson's question, Sir Thomas hesitated for a moment.
But soon, he answered, barely maintaining his dignity.
"Miss Adel is... um... ac, academically..."
"She has none whatsoever."
Olson immediately cut him off, but...
"Here is a copy of her academic transcripts from the educational courses she completed."
Olson, having obtained it from somewhere, publicly shared a copy of Adel's shameful report card with everyone.
"And that's not all. Some tutors even voluntarily refunded her tuition fees."
He looked at Adel with contemptuous eyes as he spoke.
"On the condition that she never reveal she was taught by them."
Adel could not refute this.
So Sir Thomas quickly changed his argument.
"Character! Yes, Miss Adel possesses an excellent character!"
"We have a letter of complaint from the manager of a real estate brokerage office, stating that Miss Adel ran away mid-contract without just cause."
This time too, he distributed a letter containing Adel's shameful secrets to those around him.
Still, Sir Thomas did not give up and defended Adel.
"B-but didn't she save the Marquis this time?"
"Is that something your side should be saying?!"
Olson's brow furrowed sharply.
While Sir Thomas had not participated, it was, after all, an act committed by the opposing faction.
"Most importantly, the people who practically resolved that incident were the Marquis herself and His Grace the Duke of Winchester."
Olson looked back at Adel.
"A generous reward would suffice for Miss Adel. Am I wrong?"
No.
Clara almost answered that way.
But she quickly bit her lip and held back.
'By the way, is Adel alright?'
Amidst all the harsh remarks flying back and forth, had she been hurt?
Clara glanced subtly at Adel.
'...!'
And she was surprised.
Adel was wearing a faint smile.
Was she simply not bothered by all the slander they were spewing?
'Or else...'
"I can handle it myself."
Was it because... she genuinely believed the words Clara had spoken?
'That can't be.'
Adults don't trust children.
No, they don't even consider them equal humans with whom to share trust.
Adel might just be smiling because she finds this commotion amusing.
"Then we should simply ask the Marquis herself!"
At that moment, Sir Thomas turned the arrow of conversation towards Clara.
"Tell us what about Miss Adel is worthy of being shown to others!"
Instantly, Clara's mind went completely blank.
...Huh? There's nothing like that at all?!
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