A Change of Husband - Chapter 90

You’re here?”

Countess Bonaparte greeted Geoffrey and his wife when she spotted them.

Monica, who had been glaring at Asilie like she wanted to kill her, suddenly smiled brightly and replied in a soft voice as if nothing had happened.

“Yes, Mother. I’m sorry we’re late.”

“It’s fine. I actually had something to say while everyone is gathered.”

“Something to say?”

In most noble families, important news was shared briefly at dinner and followed by light conversation. But the Bonaparte household was a bit different.

The dinner table here was mainly a place to torment Asilie so it was never meant for deep conversations.

Instead, after dinner, everyone would gather in Count Bonaparte’s study to talk about things that needed to be discussed.

Monica looked at the Countess with hopeful eyes, wishing that whatever she was about to say would upset Asilie.

“Yes,” the Countess replied kindly, but when she looked at Asilie her expression changed completely.

“It’s about you.”

Surprised at being suddenly mentioned, Asilie looked up with a puzzled face.

“What is it, Mother?”

“Honestly, every time I look at you, I feel frustrated.”

“……”

“It’s already been seven years since you came into the Bonaparte family and became one of us. But you still haven’t done anything. Have you never thought about that?”

At the Countess’s scolding words, Monica let out a small laugh without realizing it.

But her face immediately stiffened at what the Countess said next.

“That’s why I’ve decided to help you. Starting tomorrow, you’ll participate in family affairs.”

“In what way should I participate?”

“Like a child learning from their mother, you’ll help me with the accounts and managing the household. It’s time for you to start learning the family’s internal affairs seriously. I think it’s time you stopped doing chores like a maid.”

That basically meant the Countess was finally acknowledging Asilie as a member of the Bonaparte family—at least on the surface.

Monica, who had never discussed this beforehand with the Countess, turned pale and cried out in a slightly shrill voice.

“Mother, how could you give Sister-in-law such responsibilities?!”

“Of course, I know she’s lacking, dear. But what else can we do? We can’t just throw her out for being useless, so we need to make her useful.”

Calling someone stupid to their face was extremely insulting.

But to Monica, what mattered more than the insult to Asilie was the fact that she would now be involved in family business.

“Mother, Sister-in-law still has so much to learn! She’s different from us by birth, and she’s still lacking in many ways. Just look at that dress she’s wearing!”

“Her dress?”

“She’s been buying tons of dresses from Shop Sophia lately. She’s wasting all her allowance! With that kind of mindset and attitude, she’ll ruin the family’s business!”

At Monica’s words, Countess Bonaparte looked puzzled.

Dresses from Shop Sophia were very expensive. But the money she gave Asilie for her appearance was only about what a commoner family would live on for a month. Even saving for a year, Asilie wouldn’t be able to buy even one of those dresses.

The Countess’s face hardened.

“Did you steal something?”

“……What?”

“How could you afford a dress from Shop Sophia? Don’t tell me you secretly sold something from our house?!”

Asilie was speechless at the accusation.

No matter what, she was the adopted daughter of the Duke of Grandier, and though not warmly welcomed, still the daughter-in-law of the Bonaparte family.

She had never once crossed the line, which made the ridiculous suspicion even more absurd.

But it was also a clear sign of how the Countess truly viewed her.

“I didn’t do anything like that, Mother.”

“Then how could you be wearing a dress from Shop Sophia?”

“Designer Sophia gave it to me as a gift. For free.”

“……What?”

In aristocratic society, it was hard to believe that Designer Sophia would give a gift without asking for anything in return.

Especially to someone like Asilie!

Monica shouted, her face twisted with rage.

“Sister-in-law, why are you lying about something that will be exposed so Asilie? Since when did you know Designer Sophia well enough to receive gifts from her?”

“Connections can be made anytime, Sister. And I think you should care a bit more about your own reputation.”

“……What are you talking about right now?”

“I heard you’ve bought dresses from designers and then cut off contact without paying the rest of the money. Three times, in fact. Isn’t that what truly tarnishes the Bonaparte family’s reputation?”

Everyone turned to Monica in disbelief at Asilie’s words.

Merchants usually trusted nobles because of their honor and were willing to receive payment later.

Problems did happen sometimes, but nobles also believed that not paying for something you bought was so shameful that you couldn’t show your face in society again.

So, if what Asilie said about Monica was true, it was serious enough for the family to take action.

Monica, knowing this, turned pale and quickly shook her head.

“I-I’ve never done such a thing. Sister-in-law! Are you accusing me now?!”

“What’s going on? What is all this about?”

Count Bonaparte, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, looking displeased.

“It must be some misunderstanding,” Geoffrey said quickly to smooth over the situation.

He knew his wife well. Sadly, though Monica seemed noble on the outside, she lacked a real understanding of honor.

What Asilie said could very well be true.

But the one who completely ruined the moment was Joseph, who suddenly jumped in.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but you can’t attack family without proof like this. Apologize to your sister-in-law right now!”

He said it to defend Monica, but since Asilie already knew about their secret relationship, she couldn’t believe how shameless he was.

Asilie raised an eyebrow and replied with a smile.

“If you want, I can tell you the names of the designers she wronged. Right here and now.”

“I never did that!”

Monica yelled in desperation, but her back was already drenched in cold sweat.

“Really? Because Shop Sophia said that’s the reason they won’t sell to you anymore.”

Count Bonaparte looked around and sighed deeply. To him, Asilie didn’t seem to be lying or trying to frame Monica without proof.

Still, confronting Monica like this in front of the servants wasn’t a good idea.

Count Bonaparte decided that the unpaid bills would be sent to Count Bellucci’s family instead.

“That’s enough. Let’s stop here.”

“I……”

Monica was about to say something more, but when she saw Geoffrey grab her arm, she barely held back her anger and closed her mouth.
He rarely interfered in her actions, so him stepping in now was a clear sign: this was the end of the discussion.
Once Monica fell silent and the situation settled, the Countess Bonaparte spoke again.
Of course, there was no sign of apology on her face for having doubted Asilie.

“Anyway, then it shouldn’t be a problem for you to take part in family matters.”
“Yes, if that is what you wish, Mother.”
“Good. Then starting tomorrow, come to my office at 9 a.m. We’ll be busier this week since we’ll begin preparing for the banquet next week.”
“Yes, Mother.”

Until now, Asilie had always been excluded from anything important in the Bonaparte family.
So the sudden offer to include her clearly meant there was some hidden agenda.
Asilie had no way of knowing what the plan was, but she decided not to avoid it.
She thought that in order to help Esperad, she needed to understand how the Bonaparte household worked.

‘I just have to endure a little hardship.’
She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but Asilie decided to push herself, at least for now.

After the uncomfortable dinner, she returned straight to her bedroom.
Even though she hadn’t done anything particularly tiring, just enduring the Bonaparte family dinner had completely worn her out.

She changed out of her dress and was tying up her heavy hair when she noticed a small piece of paper on the window sill.
‘What’s that?’
Asilie walked over without thinking much of it.

Because she hadn’t lit the candles brightly, she hadn’t seen it before, but up close, she saw that it was a small folded piece of stationery.
She had no idea who might have sent her a letter.
‘Could it be…?’

At that moment, her meeting with Esperad flashed through her mind.

“I’ll think about it more and contact you separately.”
“I’ll be waiting, Your Majesty.”

It had been about a week since they had parted.
She had been trying not to think about Esperad, afraid she might start hoping or expecting something from him.

Asilie stared at the letter for a moment before making up her mind.
No matter who had sent it or what it said, she wouldn’t be disappointed.
Then she carefully opened the envelope.

The handwriting was familiar.

I have considered your cautious suggestion carefully, and once again realized how wise and trustworthy you are.
But because I know the value of someone precious, I don’t want to lose you.
If the time comes when I need help, I will ask you then, but I urge you not to act rashly.
Also, I will support any decision you make on your own.

It was a letter from Esperad.

Asilie feeling a little strange, read the letter several times.
She wanted to avoid any misunderstandings and clearly understand his intentions.

But something kept bothering her.

‘Why did he write this himself?’

The king’s handwriting was rare.
Usually, unless it was someone truly special, his aides or someone close to him would write for him.
But this letter was clearly written in Esperad’s familiar handwriting.
And moreover…

I have once again realized how wise and trustworthy you are.

Asilie found the phrase “once again” odd—at least, for their relationship.
The two of them had never really shared trust or friendship before. Not even once.

Maybe, just maybe…

She didn’t want to get her hopes up.
She didn’t want to torture herself with those feelings.

Even so, a strange emotion took hold of Asilie.
That’s why she couldn’t sleep and kept reading the letter again and again.

Knowing what would happen in the future gave a huge advantage when it came to planning.
Of course, in the previous timeline, Esperad had become king six years from now, so some things were different.
But what she had learned recently was that even if the exact timing varied, the same events still occurred around similar times.

‘If that’s the case, then the leak of the weapon-making method to other countries will also happen within a few years. Especially now, with so many foreign workers coming in.’

Even when the government had controlled weapon distribution, the method had been leaked about ten years after the army started training with guns.
Although weapon distribution was slower in this world, the lack of regulation meant there were even more chances for it to leak.
So it wasn’t something to just sit back and watch.

“Therefore, I plan to begin exporting weapons to Austin in earnest in the first half of next year.”
“Isn’t that too hasty of a decision?”

At Count Mirk’s words, Esperad turned to him.

“I’d like to hear why you think that.”
“Guns are Astel’s exclusive weapon. No other country has managed to create anything like them.
Exporting a weapon with such destructive power means you risk leaking the production method.”
“When someone owns new technology that everyone envies, it’s bound to leak eventually.
That’s why I plan to sell them to Austin—who suffer losses from beast attacks every year—for a much higher price.”
“Aren’t you being too unrealistic?”

Count Mirk sneered with a smirk.
The progressive nobles raised their voices to criticize him, but Esperad raised his hand to silence them.

“Then I’d like to hear your idea, Count, on how to refill the empty royal treasury caused by the former king’s failed politics.”
“Anything rushed leads to problems, Your Majesty.”
“Even now, people are dying from hunger.
I became king for the people, and now you’re telling me to wait and watch while my people starve?
You’re the one who has no sense of reality.”
“But Your Majesty—!”
“History shows this has always been the case.
Technology that everyone covets eventually leaks and becomes shared.
Humans are desperate when it comes to greed and survival.
And guns stimulate both of those desires.”

Completely ignoring Count Mirk, Esperad looked over the rest of the officials and asked:

“I plan to select a noble to lead the negotiations with Austin by the end of this month.
Are there any volunteers?”

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