Penelope, caught off guard by the question, answered hastily and cleared her throat again.

Saying, "It just sort of happened," was a pitiful excuse, and even Rianel seemed to think so, as he appeared at a loss for words.

It was Carla who broke the silence.

“Rianel, I’m not sure why you’ve come all this way, but it’s best if you leave immediately. Staying here any longer will only stir up a scandal in the social circles.”

The statement was clearly aimed at Penelope. If word got out that Rianel had visited the Halo estate, it would undoubtedly cause a stir.

Carla continued.

“And besides, Ivetta isn’t suitable as your bride. I misjudged her.”

“Duchess, you can’t mean that…!” Countess Corindel began, her voice trembling, but she quickly fell silent under Carla’s icy glare.

“Here’s some advice,” Carla said coldly, fixing the Countess with a stern gaze. “If you want to marry your daughter off to someone respectable, you’d better start teaching her properly. Her manners toward her elders are atrocious.”@@novelbin@@

The Countess’s expression crumbled into despair. Ivetta had fallen out of favor with the Duchess—a crushing blow. With that, the last hope of repaying her gambling debts had vanished.

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