Chapter 203 Getting Hard of Hearing with Age
If it weren't for her disdain toward Anne being all alone, how would Old Lady Titan have dared to ask a duke's daughter to sell her body in exchange for benefits for the Titan family?
But now, Anne stood before her again. Even Kirenya, whom Old Lady Titan had to bow and scrape to and treat with utmost care, was someone Anne could scold to her face without showing any respect. And what was most terrifying was that in the end, the princess could only be forced to apologize, while Anne got away completely unscathed.
When Anne declared she was a duke, Old Lady Titan's legs nearly gave out.
Now that Kirenya wanted her to keep framing Anne, how could she dare?
Anne glanced coldly at her. Seeing the woman's guilty expression and how she didn't dare meet her eyes, Anne understood that the earlier scene had probably scared this outwardly fierce but inwardly weak woman out of her wits.
"Princess Kirenya is so eager to help others. You're even concerned about the Titan family's needs. Since you already know what Old Lady Titan wants, why not help directly instead of dragging me into this?"
Princess Kirenya curved her lips in a perfunctory smile, speaking with a fake grin, "Although I really want to help this poor woman, I heard that Duke Virlet demanded that Dr. Pascal not treat anyone from the Titan family. Since it's related to you, we naturally hope you'll let the Titan family off the hook and allow Dr. Pascal to help them."
Selyma, who had been watching Anne with shining eyes, had been impressed because when Lucida, that little bitch, had bullied her, it was Anne who appeared and drew the hatred away. And despite Anne's delicate and beautiful appearance, she actually dared to stand up to Kirenya and her daughter—she was really tough.
However, when she heard Kirenya's words, Selyma immediately frowned again, and the little bit of goodwill she had just developed toward Anne disappeared.
If Friedel really married Anne, then Old Lady Titan's present situation might very well be her own future. How could Selyma not worry?
Anne raised an eyebrow, looking at Princess Kirenya with mockery in her eyes. "Oh? It seems the princess is out of touch. You don't even know the reason why Dr. Pascal won't treat the Titan family, yet you're blaming me."
She turned her head to look at the trembling Old Lady Titan beside her and said lightly, "I remember when we last met, we made everything very clear. At that time, it was Dr. Pascal himself who said he didn't want to treat anyone from the Titan family. What, after coming to Princess Kirenya's party, you've forgotten everything?"
Old Lady Titan's lips immediately began to tremble. Even though she wanted to argue back, she couldn't get the words out.
Lucida frowned tightly. "Stop threatening people. She's your ex-husband's mother after all. You even called her mother once. Why can't you learn some manners even now!"
Kirenya didn't stop her, only sighed, "Duke Virlet, since you once called her mother, don't make things difficult for this lady. Her husband needs help, so just agree to let Dr. Pascal go."
She turned to look at Old Lady Titan. "You really hope Duke Virlet will agree, don't you?"
Old Lady Titan nodded eagerly. Anne would never help her anyway, so she might as well go along with the princess's words. If she could please the princess while also taking the opportunity to pressure Anne into agreeing to save her husband, it would kill two birds with one stone.
Anne looked at Kirenya, and after a long moment suddenly sighed. "Fine, I know the princess is getting on in years and can't hear too well. But I've said it before—Dr. Pascal's refusal to treat the Titan family wasn't my demand. If you really must know, you should ask Old Lady Titan what exactly she did to make Dr. Pascal so angry that the old gentleman left the Titan house overnight."
"Oh right, I remember Dr. Pascal will be here too. Why don't we ask him in person what the reason is for his refusal to help? That way everyone can be a witness, so after today, the rumors outside won't say I deliberately oppressed the Titan family and wouldn't let anyone help treat their illness."
Kirenya's face turned livid with anger. This Anne actually dared to say she was getting old right to her face!
And just as Anne said, Dr. Pascal had received an invitation and would be attending today. Although Princess Kirenya didn't mind Dr. Pascal publicly embarrassing the Titan family, she even less wanted to let this little bastard Anne feel smug.
"Fine, let's have Dr. Pascal come and explain the situation to everyone in person, so Duke Virlet won't be misunderstood in the future."
Old Lady Titan's expression changed, and Nina behind her couldn't help but cry out, "No!"
During that scene at the estate entrance last time, that damned little old man had already cursed out their whole family. Now Old Lady Titan had been led by Kirenya to say a lot of bad things about Anne, continuing to push the blame for Dr. Pascal's refusal to treat them onto Anne. Although Nina wasn't bright, she knew they couldn't let that doctor talk nonsense again, or the Titan family's reputation would be completely ruined, and she could forget about finding a satisfactory husband.
But Kirenya ignored Nina and coldly signaled her maid., "Send someone to the entrance to ask if Dr. Pascal has arrived. If he hasn't, wait at the estate gate. If he has, go find where the old gentleman is."
Kirenya still showed some respect for Dr. Pascal. After all, Lucida hadn't gotten pregnant since her marriage, which worried both mother and daughter greatly, especially since Lucida's husband had found several mistresses outside, one of whom had already given birth to a son and been brought back home.
At first, Lucida had wanted to demand that her husband hand over the child for her to raise, but her husband refused. With no other option, Lucida could only place her hopes back on her own belly.
Dr. Pascal was famous in the Soth Empire, and Lucida had always wanted to meet him—which was exactly why Kirenya invited him.
Before long, a young servant respectfully brought Dr. Pascal over. The white-bearded old man glanced at Anne and snorted lightly, "Why is it their business again?"
Anne smiled bitterly. "I don't want to keep bothering you with the Titan family's affairs either, but some people insist on latching on, and I can't shake them off."
Kirenya spoke up at the right moment. "Dr. Pascal, here's the situation. I just heard this lady explain her family's circumstances, and I really couldn't stand by. I heard that Duke Virlet demanded you not treat anyone from the Titan family, so I wanted to bring you all together to see if we could resolve this conflict."