No One Ever Loved Me - Chapter 110

“The second option is to remarry and pass the Estas barony to that man.”

According to the kingdom’s laws, women couldn’t inherit noble titles.
Even though I was the only direct heir left in the Rosette family, the title would remain suspended in limbo until the day I bore a son.

That was why Count Berger, a cousin of the late Count Rosette, had to step in and handle the estate’s legal affairs.

Thanks to Ricardo pushing me into a position as one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting, I’d managed to avoid the awkward position of having the name without the power.
Had I not become one of Her Majesty’s attendants, the divorce from Edgar may never have happened.
But even if it had, skipping that part and jumping straight to being divorced would have left me in a truly humiliating position.

In this society, a noblewoman getting divorced was practically a public spectacle.

Had Count Rosette still been alive, I would have returned to my family home and taken shelter under his protection. But unfortunately, he passed away far earlier than Cecilia did.

So, if I had returned to a family without a head, it was only a matter of time before a distant cousin would be summoned to take over everything, while I—his direct bloodline—would be reduced to a powerless figurehead.

“You’ve completely lost your mind, haven’t you, sister? Mother is still the Countess of Rosette.”

Isla seemed eager to treat the questions raised in court about my mental state as fact.

Watching her, I couldn’t help but think—was stubbornness a trait passed down through generations of the Estas family?

“Technically, she was the Countess.”

“Are you trying to insult Father now, too? Isn’t ruining Count Linton’s name enough? Mother and Father were the perfect couple while he was alive. Of course, you wouldn’t know that—you’re the one who dragged things this far! If Father were still alive, he would never have agreed to that divorce. And now you expect us to recognize a divorce paper signed by a fifth cousin? I don’t know how you tricked Her Majesty, but once she comes to her senses, she’ll have that voided immediately!”

It was better to let a child ignorant of reality say what she pleased.
Her claims weren’t even worth refuting. More importantly, the decision wasn’t hers to make—it was Joanna’s.

Isla may have been legally an adult, but only by a few weeks.

It was still customary for unmarried noblewomen to remain under the guardianship of their family elders.
Even Joanna—no longer young, once married, and now a mother—had no choice but to return to the Estas family once she lost her title as Countess.

“Of course, the second option would damage Lady Joanna’s reputation. She’s remained faithful to her late husband while raising his stepdaughter, and now she’s expected to find a new suitor the moment the divorce becomes official? Society won’t look kindly on that.”

Now that I’d fully repaid the debt left by Cecilia, I had no reason to be hostile toward Joanna.

Ideally, she’d choose to press charges against Edgar. But even if she opted for remarriage, it wouldn’t matter much to me.

If Joanna were to consider only what benefitted her, remarriage would be the far more profitable choice.

The barony might be a modest title, but to someone without any title, it could be quite the enticing prize.

Joanna, who once defied expectations and even captured Count Rosette through sheer boldness, might not be impressed by the kinds of suitors available—but from a different angle, this was her chance to be completely in control.

“Mother, what are you even thinking? My sister forced us into this situation! Betraying Count Linton is unthinkable—and now you’re talking about remarriage? Do you really plan to make me live the rest of my life as the Lady of House Estas?!”

It was the most realistic thing Isla had said so far—and also the most selfish.

“Wait a minute!”

Baron Estas, who had been struggling to keep up with the sudden change in conversation, finally seemed to grasp what was going on.

“Lord Ricardo, are you just going to sit by and watch this insubordination? I won’t stop Joanna from remarrying if that’s her wish—but using my barony like it’s some kind of dowry? Who gave her the right to hand over my title?! That title belongs to me until the day I die!”

Even now, the one he appealed to was Ricardo.

Joanna, who’d already been scolded for overstepping her authority, now looked at her father with tired disgust.

“His Majesty would never allow such nonsense! Lord Ricardo, you know His Majesty’s wishes better than anyone—put a stop to this madness, I beg you!”

Count Berger let out a groaning sigh and slumped deep into the sofa, neck stretched out as if he’d rather study the ceiling than watch this disaster unfold.

“I couldn’t care less about His Majesty’s wishes right now. I think Lady Cecilia’s opinion matters more, Baron.”

“You’re still young, Lord Ricardo, and I understand why you might hesitate. Cecilia is attractive, after all. But we’re talking about a woman without any right to inherit. A true man should look beyond fleeting feelings to see the bigger picture.”

Coming from the most emotionally driven person in the room, that statement was as hypocritical as it was ironic.

“Lady Cecilia holds a right more important than inheritance.”

“And what right might that be?”

“The right to name the next Count of Rosette.”

Baron Estas had shown no manners, but I had no reason to sink to his level.
I responded calmly and with respect.

Baron Estas, on the other hand, glared at me like I was an insolent servant.

“Who taught you it was acceptable to interrupt your elders? Ah, of course—it must have been Joanna. That woman never taught her children respect.”

“If she did, maybe it’s because even as a child, she saw nothing in your behavior worth respecting.”

Joanna looked genuinely startled. I hadn’t exactly taken her side, but if that’s how she saw it, then maybe—just maybe—it would be enough to get her to talk about Edgar’s hidden assets, even if she never went so far as to press charges.

“Saving the title for a son I might have someday wouldn’t be a bad idea, but my first marriage wasn’t exactly filled with hope. It ended easily because there was no child. I may not be able to become the Count myself, but until I name a successor, the title is mine. And since I’m holding a valuable card, it would be a waste not to use it. So I plan to use it fully.”

It seemed clear that all Baron Estas had passed down to Joanna was his stubbornness and selfish nature.

Joanna already seemed to understand what I was saying—her expression calculating, as though mentally weighing her options. Meanwhile, Baron Estas still hadn’t recovered from his rage and confusion.

“The House of Rosette is a long-standing noble family. If I promise the title to a promising young man, he’ll likely be willing to do anything for me. As someone destined to be a count, a lowly baron wouldn’t even register as an obstacle.”

They say men move the world, and women move the men.
I’ve never liked that saying, but in this moment, it felt accurate.

I could remove Baron Estas whenever I pleased. If I did, Joanna, as his only direct descendant, would gain the right to name the next Baron Estas.

She’d hold the same power I currently did—only with a different title.

“So, Baron, would you kindly step aside? The person I need to speak with is Lady Joanna, not you.”

Naturally, Baron Estas didn’t move.

Ricardo let out a deep sigh and pulled him away from my line of sight.

Though the baron was far from frail, Ricardo, blessed with both height and strength, removed him as easily as if he were swatting away a stone.

“Have you made your decision, Lady Joanna?”

“No, Mother, please say no!”

Isla quickly grabbed Joanna’s arm in a panic.

“I don’t want to live as the daughter of Baron Estas! Even if you leave me behind, if you remarry, the rumors will follow me everywhere! But if I get married, I can restore your honor. I’ll make sure, at least on paper, you’re reinstated as the Countess of Rosette. I promise. Please!”

Isla was desperate. But from where I stood, Joanna had already made up her mind.

She was ambitious—but not more than she loved her daughter.

The gap I had opened between them had shaken Isla’s trust in her mother, and that fear had made her cling all the harder.

Joanna looked at her daughter, a mixture of sadness and tenderness in her eyes.

“I don’t want to go back to the home I once ran away from, Lia.”

Her voice was warm again, like when she used to play the part of the kind stepmother.

“Mother, no—you’re not going to sue Count Linton, are you? He didn’t do anything wrong! He’s innocent! He doesn’t owe us anything, let alone compensation!”

Just like always, Isla ruined the moment.

“Then sue my sister instead. Yes—that’s what you should do! She’s the one who caused all of this! She’s the one who brought this disaster into our lives! If anyone owes compensation, it’s her!”

The brief glimpse of maturity Isla had shown earlier vanished the moment her worst-case scenario—being known as Baron Estas’s daughter—was off the table.

“And—and I’m entitled to Father’s inheritance too! Why does she get to name the heir? Whoever she picks, I’ll object. Then the Rosette title will remain unclaimed. While that’s happening, I’ll get married and restore Mother’s title as Countess!”

Count Berger groaned even louder, and Ricardo finally burst out laughing.

“Just to be clear, I’m not laughing at your family drama,” Ricardo said between chuckles. “Technically speaking, Lady Joanna is no longer part of the House of Rosette. And your sister—well, she’s only your half-sister, if even that. I wouldn’t exactly call her a rightful heir to the Rosette title.”

“I am Father’s biological daughter!”

Isla shouted in outrage.

“Count Rosette is dead,” Ricardo said calmly. “And if the person Lady Lia names as the next count isn’t some illegitimate child of his, then neither he nor Lady Isla has any legal connection to the Rosette family.”

“That’s true for her too, isn’t it?!”

“Even wild animals repay kindness. People should be even more grateful. Besides, Lady Lia is Her Majesty’s trusted lady-in-waiting—and she also has me, a knight who’s sworn loyalty to her. So, yeah.”

That final “yeah” said a lot.

It meant that if the future Count of Rosette ever dared to show less than gratitude, I had the backing to make sure they regretted it.

I wasn’t sure if Isla understood that—but Joanna certainly did.

“You’ve made it clear you have no intention of looking after Isla.”

Joanna’s tone had cooled noticeably.

“Neither Isla nor I have a queen’s favor or a knight’s oath to protect us. So I won’t go around stirring up trouble with Count Linton. But—if you’re willing to treat Isla as part of the Rosette family, I’ll cooperate.”

“Mother!”

As expected, Isla protested loudly.
No one paid her any mind.

I was satisfied. This was a fair agreement. I nodded in approval at Joanna.

“Just as Count Linton isn’t broke, I doubt Lady Joanna is either. If you could leave the estate with Isla by the end of the week, that would be best. We’re not exactly close enough to chat about Count Linton over tea, so if there’s anything I need to know, please put it in writing.”

Joanna gave a bitter smile and nodded.

Gone was the elegant countess who once greeted me so gracefully at the Rosette estate gates. Now, she was just a mother leading her angry, shouting daughter away.

Her life wouldn’t be easy.
She might have some hidden funds, so her basic needs wouldn’t be a problem. But rebuilding the emotional bond with Isla—that would take far longer.

Maybe, even after Isla’s anger faded, the two of them would remain distant. Strained. Barely close enough to call mother and daughter.

“You’re smiling again.”

Ricardo smiled beside me.

If Count Berger weren’t here, I might’ve told him.

That I’d finally paid off Cecilia’s debt.

Just a little… I wished I could’ve said it.

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