I’m In Trouble Because My Husband Is So Cute - Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi

The older, more conservative ladies even slightly opened their eyes. However, most noble ladies were favorable to Iellie’s salon, and above all, it was extremely popular with young noble ladies.

“I heard she’s inviting a female violinist this time?”

“That’s right. The name is… I heard it was Anna.”

As the noble lady who uttered narrowed her eyebrows slightly, one of the noblewomen covered her mouth as her eyes widened.

“Is it really a commoner?”

“I heard so. Moreover, she gave her first paid private violin concert…”

In a conservative aristocratic society, a female commoner artist, not a male, was allowed into a noblewoman’s salon.

“Honestly, isn’t this an overly unconventional move?”

The next moment, Countess Laurent suddenly joined the conversation. The ladies looked at her with their shoulders stiffening.

“It is vulgar for a woman to be paid to perform in front of people.”

“Countess Laurent.”

“How dare they take money for such a vulgar act? How presumptuous, for a commoner!”

Seeing the Countess shake her shoulders, they didn’t think it was something to be that angry about, and the ladies rolled their eyes. On the contrary, perhaps Countess Laurent thought she had set the tone, she confidently opened her mouth.

“Besides, to invite such a vulgar woman into the salon of the only Duchess in the empire.”

The noble ladies were at a loss because of the blatant language. They glanced around and answered.

“That… Countess, your words are a bit harsh.”

“What’s so harsh? I’m just telling the truth.”

As Countess Laurent had a triumphant look, just then, the sound of footsteps came behind her.

“The Countess always seems very dissatisfied with my salon.”

It was Iellie.

The Countess immediately closed her mouth, pulling her lips as Iellie tilted her head and smiled.

“Though I don’t know why you always come to my salon.”

“This is not a complaint, this is a fair criticism!”

“Even if criticism is fair to yourself, you should give up the idea that it is fair to others.”

Iellie didn’t even lift an eyebrow. She lifted her head haughtily and looked at the Countess.

“First and foremost, this is my salon, Countess.”

“….”

“If you don’t like it, you can leave right away. I don’t care at all.”

The Countess looked angry. It was because Iellie’s salon was, in name and reality, the best salon in the North. If she were kicked out of this position, she would have to almost give up her social activities going forward.

Iellie continued leisurely.

“And if I were to answer the Countess’s complaint myself…”

The Countess stiffened her shoulders at her words. Iellie, who was staring at the Countess, went on with her words.

“I don’t know why the fact that receiving money to give concerts is considered vulgar?”

The Countess bit her lips. She bit so hard that the blood stopped flowing, and it turned white.

“In this society, prejudiced people like the Countess are very common. I persuaded them to hold a concert and even attracted the audience. The audience member overcomes such prejudices and attends concerts.”

Saying so, she tilted her head. In the meanwhile, the Countess was obsessed with the idea that she must somehow make her defense.

“It’s about breaking society’s prejudices. Don’t you know how great this is?”

“Still, she’s playing for money. That’s not what a decent woman does!”

“Countess. What right does the Countess have to make such a judgment?”

Iellie asked back as if she really didn’t understand. Her voice was calm.

“It seems that your standard for distinguishing between decent and not-so-decent women is very simple, Countess.”

“Duchess, it’s not simple. I follow universal standards!”

“It seems to me that whether or not one follows society’s conventions is the only criterion.”

Iellie shrugged her shoulders lightly. Blinking her long eyelashes, she softly opened her mouth again.

“Universal standards cannot be said to be unconditionally correct. What is wrong must be improved.”

“Duchess, since you support commoners, they would be going on a rampage without even knowing their place!”

“Countess, what do you not know? Without commoners, this empire couldn’t even exist.”

Those were cold words.

She stared at the Countess with a crooked gaze and uttered firmly.

“I know that the Countess was somewhat closed-minded, but isn’t this a bit much?”

Despite the fact that she euphemistically said the Countess was closed-minded, her words were sufficiently aggressive considering the elegant conversation of the noble ladies. When the Countess heard those words, her face turned blue and then bright red.

“And you seemed dissatisfied with receiving money for performance.”

Nonetheless, Iellie did not stop speaking. She was still smiling, yet her voice was raspy.

“I think the act of receiving money is proving in money that your performance is valuable.”

“The fact that a woman performs in front of people is a problem in itself, so how dare she get paid?”

“Isn’t it a selfish idea to ask her to show off her talent and effort for nothing?”

When she asked back with narrowed eyes, she left the Countess speechless.

Iellie spoke again.

“I just don’t understand why you think that’s a bad thing.”

“Bu, but…!”

“Well, even so, I have no intention of forcing my thoughts on the Countess.”

She really meant it.

Why deal with that Countess? Iellie didn’t mind not having to persuade her. To be honest, it was better for her not to.

“So, if you don’t agree with me…”

Iellie lifted her fan with graceful movements. She declared, closing her eyes as she pointed to the door.

“You can leave.”

When Iellie finished speaking neatly and smiled sweetly, it was apparent that the person who had the absolute upper hand in this fight was her, not the Countess. Eventually, the Countess had to drop her head heavily.

Until now, women have been the appreciative side, not the ones creating them, so after hearing her words, the ladies felt a fresh shock. Moreover, Iellie served as a reliable shield for those who entered and exited her salon—the only Duchess in the empire was on their side.

Naturally, the ladies felt relieved by that.

“Who would dare challenge the Duchess?”

“That’s right. She is one of the noblest women in the empire.”

* * *

In addition, Asha tea has now become a symbol proving friendship with the Duchess.

The Duchess used to supply Asha tea only to herself and especially close family members. So, serving Asha tea while serving the guests became a new trend among noble families. All the noble ladies turned on their eyes to get Asha tea.

“Oh my, this tea…”

“You know, this is Asha tea. The Duchess sent it directly.”

It was common to hear conversations like this in noble houses. Awareness of female artists has also improved.

“This time, the Duchess is identifying and supporting new artists.”

“Oh, I heard. Did she say this time it was a sculptor?”

“That’s right. I heard that Miss Anna, whom she had previously sponsored, was entering Epoli’s Academy.”

Iellie began supporting female artists through the salon. Of course, there were people who opened their eyes and looked at her as they saw that support. In particular, male nobles protested, but Zachary took care of stopping this.

“It’s my wife’s thing to do.”

“But, Your Excellency—!”

“Has this done any harm to you?”

When the bright blue eyes coldly stared at people, the nobles shrank without even realizing it.

“Well, that’s not it…”

“Then, there is no problem.”

As he answered firmly, the nobles looked at each other. The next moment, Zachary asked with a crooked face.

“But what are you trying to do with my wife?”

Of course, the nobles became dumbfounded as they faced his stern gaze.