Chapter 178 Lady Selyma's Thoughts
After finishing her words, Friedel turned and walked out, completely ignoring Selyma's calls from behind.
Seeing Friedel finally visit after so long, only to leave after a brief argument, Selyma was both angry and frustrated, tears streaming down her face in grievance.
Everyone else envied her for having such an outstanding son, but only she knew the truth.
Friedel had been disobedient since childhood. He refused to help her attract the King's attention and even reported the matter to Selyma's own sister, the Queen. This enraged the usually gentle and graceful monarch, who stripped Selyma of custody and took Friedel back to the palace to raise him herself.At first, Selyma didn't care, until she became pregnant again and gave birth to Princess Kalia. The previous King personally told her that she either had to take good care of the child or send her far away, never to return.
After being threatened like this by the King, Selyma finally learned to restrain herself. Her care for Kalia was adequate, but in front of Friedel, she no longer had that sense of superiority as a mother.
Friedel wouldn't follow her arrangements and sometimes would directly ignore her existence.
After Friedel's victory on the eastern battlefield, Selyma waited for him to visit her at Atarat Manor in all his glory, but he never came.
When he finally came, it was only to tell Selyma that her dear son was going to marry a woman who had been married before and shamelessly went to the battlefield!
How could Selyma accept such a thing? She slumped onto the sofa somewhat mournfully.
Her lady's maid Karina beside her gently consoled her, "Madam, don't be angry with His Highness. He's young and enchanted by that outsider right now. In time, he'll understand a woman like Duke Virlet isn't suitable for marriage."
"When will he understand? How long will it take for him to understand!"
Selyma said through gritted teeth, "Which of the noble ladies that Rolf and I picked for him wasn't good? Even among princesses from other countries, there are plenty of beautiful ones. How could he be blinded by a piece of trash who's been married before, and even go against me for her sake? I'm his mother—would I harm him!"
Karina thought for a moment and advised, "That Duke Virlet did go to the battlefield and earned merit together with His Highness Friedel. Maybe it's because of that period of time together that His Highness Friedel was bewitched."
"But how long can a woman married under such circumstances last? That female knight captain who was praised by Queen Mother Smith before—I heard that just a few months after marrying her husband, they already can't stand each other. His Highness Friedel and Duke Virlet might end up the same way. When that time comes, you won't even need to say anything—His Highness probably won't want to see the woman himself."
"Besides, that woman is a duke after all, and the Virlet family received quite a lot of rewards. When the time comes, Madam, you can have her buy jewelry and custom-make new clothes for you every month. After all, once she marries His Highness, whether His Highness wants to see her in the future or not, she'll still have to follow your arrangements."
Selyma snorted coldly, "Would I care about her little bit of money? My own sister is Queen Mother Smith of the Soth Empire, the King is my nephew, and my son is at least a prince. What could I want that I can't get? That kind of woman—even her money is dirty. I don't want it."
"Oh right, how did that thing I asked you to arrange go?"
Talking about jewelry reminded Selyma of the gemstone necklace she wanted. That was a good piece—only such a perfect piece of jewelry was worthy of being worn by her.
But Karina hesitated. She carefully chose her words before speaking, "Madam, Lain from the manor sent word that His Highness Friedel refused your request. He said he won't buy that necklace for you..."
"What!?"
Selyma's eyes widened, "He just won a battle and received rewards, and he won't even buy his mother a small gift? Damn it, I knew I shouldn't have let my sister raise him back then."
"Karina, you go. No matter what, you must help me buy that necklace. I must wear it to the ball, and I'm going to publicly select a wife for Friedel at the ball. I'm his mother—I have that right!"
"This... this..."
Karina hesitated for a moment, then lowered her head, "Madam, we can't afford that necklace."
"Why not?" Selyma looked at Karina in disbelief. "If I don't have money, ask my sister for it, ask Rolf for it. If that doesn't work, I can still ask Father and the others for money. How could we not afford it!"
"Well, two months ago, His Majesty the King said you spent too much money on unnecessary things, so from now on our spending will be limited..."
"Damn it, Rolf, that lunatic!"
Selyma viciously slapped the sofa. She had wanted to throw her fan, but when Friedel came earlier, she had already thrown it, "Didn't my sister stop him?"
Hearing Lady Selyma curse His Majesty the King, Karina was so frightened her legs went weak and she fell to the floor, answering in a trembling voice, "Queen Mother Smith agreed to it. She also contacted the family and told everyone not to help you privately."
She paused, then carefully added, "Madam, Queen Mother Smith seems to really like Duke Virlet..."
Selyma laughed coldly, "Like her? My sister and Sophia were best friends. Of course she'll love the house and its crow and be good to that woman. But should I force myself to accept it just for a little money?"
If it were before, when Duke Skoda was still alive, Selyma might have reluctantly accepted Friedel marrying Anne.
Although she wasn't interested in war and the military, she knew of Duke Skoda's influence among the people. If Friedel could marry his daughter and gain Skoda's support, Friedel's chances of seizing the throne would be much greater.
But now the Virlets were all dead except Anne—a divorced woman who abandoned her noble status to live in a military camp among common soldiers. Lady Selyma would never accept such a disgraceful woman.Especially after hearing Karina's words just now—Queen Mother Smith liked Anne and agreed with Rolf's idea to limit her spending. Wasn't this just an indirect threat to make her agree to Anne marrying Friedel!
Selyma was furious, "Send someone out to dig around and see if there's any news about this woman, preferably related to her ex-husband's family. If there is, tell me immediately!"