Chapter 5 Do Not Compare Me With Others
The Titan Old Lady looked Anne up and down with an ambiguous gaze. "Actually, I know several young masters from noble families who are interested in you. If you can accept Candy marrying in—of course, as long as you don't cause trouble—I can turn a blind eye. After all, it gets pretty lonely for a woman spending nights alone."
The Titan Old Lady felt she was offering a huge favor. After all, while finding someone to spend the night with was something everyone knew about but didn't discuss openly, having it out in the open would naturally be more convenient. As long as Anne didn't produce any children with questionable bloodlines in the future, she could generously help Anne out. If needed, she could even help screen the list of potential partners.
At this thought, the Titan Old Lady's eyes lit up.
Rather than letting Anne choose for herself, it would be better if she arranged things. First, it would give her better control over Anne. Second, she could use Anne to curry favor with those prestigious families who could help the Titan family. After all, a woman's beauty and body were very effective weapons!
"It's just that the choice of who to spend nights with should be discussed with me first—you know, those who could better help the Titan family."
Anne was almost amused by her words.
"So Mother, are you telling me to sleep around like Holden, or do you want me to be the family prostitute?"
Never mind that she had no intention of casually giving her body to any man—listening to her words, it seemed like in the future she'd be expected to accompany different men for the Titan family's development and needs? What kind of arrangement was this!
The Titan Old Lady didn't expect her goodwill to be rejected. Her eyes immediately widened. "What are you saying! As Holden's wife, you can't please him, so I'm kindly planning for your future. As long as you can contribute to the family, you won't end up being sent to a nursing home!"
"If you keep being this difficult, you won't even have the power to manage the household in the future. Then you'll have nowhere to cry!"
Anne's expression was cold. "I don't care for that kind of power. I only took over management because Trion was seriously ill. Today I see she's well enough to go out and about, so I think the management should be returned to her."
The Titan Old Lady panicked. "She can't manage people! Besides, her family is only a baron at most, where would she get that much money..."
Seeing her afraid to continue, Anne's lips curved into a mocking smile.
Right, her family was a duke's household. Even after her father's death, his military achievements had earned the Virlets land and treasures beyond measure from the grateful King. When the Titans pushed Holden to marry her, wasn't it because they coveted this enormous wealth?
While the Titan family maintained their glamorous facade, everyone spent recklessly. To preserve their noble lifestyle, they were burning through money faster than they earned it. Even Holden's salary and the King's rewards couldn't fill the hole. When Anne first took over, she discovered records of sold farms and wineries, while the remaining properties lay neglected.
Without her dowry and decisive action against the lazy freeloaders throughout the estate.
Anne spoke quietly, "Although my sister-in-law's family is only a baron, as a daughter of a noble family, she's been learning to handle family affairs since childhood."
"Tomorrow morning, I'll hand over all the current documents and treasury keys to my sister-in-law."
"You dare!" The Titan Old Lady panicked and no longer maintained her charitable facade. Pointing at Anne, she said angrily, "Being so disrespectful to your elders and unable to win your husband's heart—if you really give back the household management rights, what will others think of the Titan family! And what will they think of you!"
"You—do you want to become the laughingstock of noble circles!?"
Anne no longer wanted to pretend to be the weak and easily bullied lady that others saw her as. She came from a duke's family, her father was a fierce general who charged across battlefields—how could his daughter be ordinary!
Her expression was indifferent as she stood up and smoothed her skirt. "Holden isn't afraid of others' opinions in what he does, so how would I become a laughingstock?"
Saying this, Anne silently added in her heart: No, how could he be compared to me!
"You!" The Titan Old Lady was furious and wanted to clutch her chest and pretend to be ill again, but Anne just stood there. The candlelight beside her illuminated half her body while the other side of her face was hidden in shadow. Her cold gaze looked at the Titan Old Lady, actually pinning her in place, not daring to move.
"Since Mother has nothing else, I'll take my leave first."
With that, Anne didn't wait for the Titan Old Lady's signal and walked straight out of the room. After a long while, the sound of something heavy hitting the floor came from behind. Elisa, who had been waiting anxiously outside, came forward. Hearing the noise, she sighed, "If that's broken, it'll add another big expense to the accounts."
Anne seemed to find this amusing and couldn't help but curve her lips slightly. "Elisa, when we get back, pack up all the account books and notes on the desk and deliver them to my sister-in-law tomorrow morning."
"No matter how big the expense is, it won't be our concern anymore!"
Elisa was stunned for a moment, then realized what she meant and broke into a smile. "Alright!"
She had long been heartbroken seeing her young lady suffer like this! Now they should figure out how to fill that hole themselves!
Early the next morning, Anne called several servants to follow her and deliver all the household management account books, notes, and keys to Mephist's side. Sister-in-law Trion was completely bewildered by this sudden bombshell. When she took the keys, the cold metal touch finally brought her back to her senses somewhat.
"This... this..."
How could Trion not know how hard Anne had worked handling affairs these three years? Originally, before Anne, she was the one responsible for this, but she really wasn't good at it. She left most things to the butler and others, knowing nothing about the skimming happening below. She only needed to drink a cup of hot tea and eat some pastries during afternoon tea time.
Even though the numbers on the accounts were so dismal they were hard to look at, her husband said that Holden was a hero of the empire, and His Majesty the King's rewards would surely be generous and wouldn't let the Titan family fall into an awkward situation. Later when Anne came, Trion knew this was an opportunity. Even though noble families generally had the eldest son inherit the family business, Mephist had no ambition. Especially after having such an accomplished Knight Commander younger brother, he even more readily accepted that all the burdens should be carried by Holden.
So Trion pretended to be seriously ill and threw the task of managing family affairs to Anne as well.
She could handle it fine, so why give it to me! She thought gloomily. But Anne didn't give her a chance to say more, curtsied, and turned to leave.
This attitude—where was the gentle and beautiful lady from before!
Trion held the keys and went back to her room with a worried face to find Mephist. Her dear husband was unconcerned. "Holden came back with military honors anyway, so what are you worried about? Just wait to count the new rewards until your hands are tired!"
Trion was about to be happy when she remembered what she heard from a servant last night—that Holden claimed he had exchanged all his military honors for the King's permission to marry Candy. So the rewards... would there really still be any!?