Chapter 6 No Qualification
After handing over the family management burden, Anne felt absolutely refreshed.
The morning sunlight was gentle and bright. It seemed to wash away all her past exhaustion as it fell on her. After breakfast, Anne felt like having tea in the courtyard for once and thinking about what to do next.
She found the glass greenhouse dirty and naturally wouldn't go there anymore. After some thought, Anne decided to just sit on the third-floor balcony nearby, where she could enjoy the breeze and the view from up high.
Elisa poured her tea and stood to the side, looking around contentedly. After all, Anne had been busy all these years, and as her personal maid, she'd naturally been cooped up at the desk helping out. In such lovely weather, even the breeze carried a faint floral scent - something she hadn't experienced in far too long.
Just as Elisa couldn't help wanting to stretch while no outsiders were around, laughter came from behind the glass door beside her, followed by a dull thud of a body hitting the wall.
Anne heard it too. She put down her teacup in confusion, about to speak, when she saw the people making out behind the door shifting around. Someone casually turned the handle, and they stumbled onto the balcony still wrapped around each other.
Looking closer - who else could it be but Holden and Candy?
Candy naturally noticed Anne's presence right away. After all, she was the one on top of Holden at that moment, and through the glass door, she could see Elisa directly. This master and servant were often inseparable, so Anne must be there too.
The urge to provoke took over her mind again. Candy immediately hooked her arm around Holden's neck, pulling him into a wet kiss, while one hand reached around to turn the door handle, then continued with the passionate deep kiss.
Anne spoke coldly, "So the two Knight Commanders have a hobby of performing in front of others. I had no idea."
Hearing her voice, Holden released his entangled tongue and looked at Anne, frowning. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Holden, your wife is just jealous."
Candy withdrew her hand and walked closer, tapping the table. "May I sit here?"
Anne turned to signal Elisa to leave first, then seriously looked over the woman before her. "Of course."
She'd only heard about her from others before. This was Anne's first time having close contact with the Empire's first female Knight Commander. She looked from those domineering eyes to those red lips, finally settling her gaze on the ring on Candy's hand. If she remembered correctly, she'd just seen the same style on Holden's hand.
"Miss Anne, you don't mind me calling you that, do you?" Candy followed Anne's gaze to the ring on her own hand, unable to suppress a triumphant smile. "This is what Holden gave me when he proposed. He said he has a wife at home, but time and distance have faded what little feelings there were. So now that he's met someone he truly loves, he's decided to be brave for once."
Standing beside her, Holden's face showed a faint smile at these words. He sat down next to Candy and took her hand, interlacing their fingers.
Anne ignored their deliberate display of affection. "So you need me to step aside?"
Candy raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say that. After all, Holden and I have discussed it - the Titan family can still support you, so outsiders won't say he abandoned his wife. In fact, if you need it, I can accept Holden having a child with you."
"After all, you need someone to inherit the Virlet family estate, don't you?"
Holden had been about to say something, but hearing Candy's last sentence, his expression changed several times before he finally fell silent.
When his family had arranged for him to meet Anne, they'd emphasized that he must win over this lady, regardless of her looks - because behind her was the Virlet family. Duke Skoda's wealth had almost all been left to his only daughter. Whoever married Anne would get a great deal.
Holden considered himself not the type to covet wealth. When he later developed feelings for Anne and successfully proposed, he'd even felt pleased that he wasn't marrying Anne for some shameful purpose - he didn't care about that wealth and money, and wouldn't stoop to deceiving anyone for it.
But now his beloved Candy had openly mentioned that Anne needed someone to inherit the estate, and only then did he realize that if Anne had no children, after her death, that wealth would go to the national treasury.
While Holden inwardly marveled at Candy's generosity and thoughtfulness - willing to share him with Anne and even kindly planning for her rival's future - what about Anne? Besides learning those underhanded tactics from those superficially glamorous women, having commoners from her territory smear a hero's name, what good had she ever done!
However, hearing Candy's words, Anne couldn't help but curve her lips. "Why do you think I would need such a child?"
"Moreover..." She gestured toward Holden, "carrying that kind of person's blood."
Holden hadn't expected Anne to mention him in such a disgusted tone. His face darkened. "Candy and I are in love. I never planned to sleep with you anyway - you're in no position to be picky!"
He suddenly seemed to think of something, staring intently at Anne. "Unless... If you get pregnant from cheating with another man, you'd better find a way to deal with it. If you dare give birth and damage the Titan family's reputation, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Anne, who had been smiling, suddenly spoke up.
"Holden Titan, you'd better watch your words."
Anne's face showed a coldness never seen before. "I am Anne Virlet. My father is Skoda Virlet. I'm not someone you can slander at will, and I would never stoop to the kind of premarital promiscuity you people engage in."
She looked at the stunned Holden. "At our wedding, you promised to love only me for life. You didn't keep that promise. Now you've said the same thing to Candy. I don't care whether you'll break your word to her a second time, but with your character, what right do you have to be the father of my child?"