Chapter 198 Malicious Mother and Daughter
As for Mephist, he had long been stunned. The ladies' words crashed over his pitiful dignity like waves, criticizing the Titan family as utterly worthless, and taking this opportunity to trample Anne underfoot. So this was the social circle of top nobles?
Mephist would rather stay in a room with Trion reading and talking than be in this awkward place listening to his mother make up lies.
What nonsense about Anne taking everything from the Titan family, about deliberately bankrupting the Titan family—Mephist had helped Trion sort through the account records and checked the inventory. He had a clear understanding of that vault that even rats wouldn't bother entering. If someone said Anne took things, he didn't believe it for a second.
But one of the people saying this was his mother. Mephist didn't have the courage to stop her. He could only quietly take his wife's hand and shake his head at Trion, signaling her not to speak.
Trion had no choice but to stand beside Mephist, swallowing her anger.
As for Old Lady Titan, she had even gotten to the part about Holden remarrying, claiming Anne forbade the nobles from attending Holden's wedding. She described it so vividly, as if this fabricated story were fact.
Even though the nobles around knew it was a lie, they still went along with it. When you're on someone's turf, you have to watch their mood—they understood that much.
Before long, who knows what most people there were really thinking, but whenever Anne or Duke Virlet was mentioned, everyone acted as if they couldn't wait to get away from something dirty.
That's when Selyma arrived. She lifted her chin slightly, paying no attention to the greetings around her, and walked straight in.
Selyma hadn't wanted to come—Kirenya and her daughter Lucida were both bad news, and she still remembered the grudges. But she knew Kirenya and Starr were rumor-making machines who'd spread lies faster than they could be refuted. Not wanting that frustration, she gritted her teeth and showed up.
Not coming would make her angry, but coming and hearing these people discuss Anne made Selyma furious, especially hearing them say how shameless Anne was, going alone to a dangerous place like the eastern battlefield just to beg her ex-husband to get back together, and with so many men there, how could she have the nerve to stay as a woman.
Selyma nodded, then immediately shook her head. These past days Queen Mother Smith had grabbed her and scolded her several times. Even though Selyma didn't want to listen, she had learned that military camps weren't dirty places, and the army had strict discipline. In the army you were a soldier or a knight of the order—female soldiers weren't shameful or disgusting. Everyone was human, everyone was just trying to survive.
This brainwashing was somewhat effective. At least when Selyma heard what these people were saying, she got angry right away. "What are you all talking about!"
Everyone present knew Selyma. This woman was willful and difficult, arrogant and domineering, but her older sister was Queen Mother Smith, her nephew was the current king, and her son was Prince Friedel with all his military achievements. If anyone present dared to oppose her, it would only be Kirenya and her daughter.
Lucida was young after all and hadn't learned to hide her thoughts like her mother. Her eyes were full of malice as she looked at Selyma. She said loudly, "We were just talking about mistresses. I remember you're the only mistress here. Why don't you share your experience with everyone?"
Selyma was furious. She rolled her eyes and replied coldly, "At your age and still can't talk about proper things, just going on about mistresses this and mistresses that. I wonder how Princess Kirenya raised you."
Lucida glanced at her. "You know being a mistress isn't proper business, so why do you strut around every day like a proud hen?"
"You—!"
Selyma gritted her teeth. Although her words were sharp, she really was no match for the Kirenya mother-daughter duo when it came to insults. Besides, Kirenya was the previous king's sister, and as for status, she, Selyma, really was the king's mistress—she couldn't compare. Even with Queen Mother Smith as her sister backing her up, she could only endure it.
She remembered that Friedel was supposed to come to this banquet today, but she hadn't seen him anywhere on her way in. Maybe he hadn't arrived yet, or maybe knowing she was coming, he deliberately avoided her.
Selyma felt a bit sad. Most of her life had been smooth sailing, but in front of her son, she seemed to be nothing. She couldn't get her son's respect and love, and he wouldn't follow her arrangements.
Now Friedel had earned military merit, received generous rewards, and his reputation was rising, but he hadn't even thought of sending his birth mother a gift, nor had he taken the initiative to see her. If it weren't for informing her about the marriage arrangements, he probably wouldn't have gone to Atarat Manor at all.
The more Selyma thought about it, the sadder she became. Looking at Lucida standing arrogantly before her, even such a vicious woman knew to protect her vicious mother, but Friedel didn't. He wouldn't even give her the gemstone necklace she wanted.
Never mind that she couldn't find Friedel—even if he were standing right beside her, he probably wouldn't help teach Princess Kirenya a lesson.
"What's wrong, being called a hen made you speechless? Weren't you acting all high and mighty just now?"
Lucida sneered. "Mother, look at Selyma. She looks like she's about to cluck like a hen and fly away any second, haha!"
Princess Kirenya looked at Lucida indulgently. "Don't talk to your elders like that."
Selyma was about to say "at least you know better," when she heard Princess Kirenya continue, "You can't even tell the truth. You need to learn to use some nice words to humor old women, understand? Otherwise when they go crazy, they're even more hateful than crazy hens."
Selyma's face immediately turned ashen. In all these years, no one had dared to say such things to her face. So what if she was a mistress—at least she was the king's mistress, and her son was the most outstanding Prince Friedel of the Soth Empire!
The people around rarely saw Selyma lose face, and they all covered their faces with fans and laughed.
Selyma felt both wronged and angry. Looking at those mocking faces around her, she momentarily lost control and wanted to start cursing. As for dealing with the consequences—who cares! With her sister Queen Mother Smith backing her up, these people couldn't do anything to her anyway!
Just then, a clear female voice like a tinkling spring came from the side.
"Princess Kirenya speaks so well. Some old women really are hateful when they go crazy. Is this speaking from experience?"