Chapter 3

After the funeral began, Mia stood before the crowd and started reciting her eulogy.

At first, she only sniffled softly. Gradually, it turned into uncontrollable sobbing.

Everyone around her stared in bewilderment, but Mia was completely oblivious. She mistook the shock in their eyes for admiration, convinced that her grief had deeply moved them.

A gentleman noticed how heartbroken she seemed and offered her his handkerchief as she stepped down.

Mia's eyes lit up. She took it as him flirting with her. Her crying instantly grew louder, tears flowing like she had turned on the waterworks.

The woman at the gentleman's side let out a scoff and mockingly jabbed her, "You're from overseas, so I suppose you don't understand our customs? This is a solemn funeral. Who exactly are you putting on this crying show for?"

Mia was certain the woman was just jealous that a man had shown her attention. She lifted her chin defiantly.

"You clearly don't feel any grief over the Duke's death. That's why you think shedding a few tears isn't worth it!

"Someone as cold and heartless as you has no right to lecture me on manners!"

After putting the woman in her place, Mia noticed something.

Her crying really had attracted a man, and it had even made the noblewomen beside him sour with envy!

She was now certain her act was working. She immediately grabbed Paige and they wailed together, loud enough to wake the dead.

Every guest in attendance furrowed their brows. Wanting to avoid a scene, several of them urged the priest to step forward and intervene.

They figured if he explained the funeral customs, perhaps this foreign woman would listen to reason. However, the moment the priest raised his hand, intending to pat Mia's shoulder in comfort, she looked up.

Seeing it was just an old man, she flung his hand away and shoved him back.

The priest's expression darkened at her rudeness. He warned her sternly, "Stop crying! Our aristocratic funerals require quiet mourning! This kind of commotion is deeply disrespectful to the deceased!"

Mia convinced herself that this old man was just bitter because he had tried to take advantage of her and failed. Now he was picking a fight!

She turned on him immediately.

"God himself teaches us to show compassion, yet here you are clinging to your stuffy old rules!

"You won't even let people cry! Why would you suppress basic human nature like this?"

She hurled this twisted logic at him, and the priest stood frozen, unable to find a response. Then all eyes in the room turned toward her, and Mia swelled with pride.

She was certain her unique perspective and sharp tongue had dazzled the entire crowd.

As for those unfriendly looks? Just jealous women losing their minds, nothing more.

She immediately leaned over and whispered into Robert's ear.

"Robert, start crying! Don't you see how much everyone admires me? Don't you want to make connections with the nobles? This is the perfect chance to get noticed!"

Robert heard there was something to gain and immediately burst into loud, dramatic sobs, as if he were at his own parents' funeral.

At that moment, I had just been unexpectedly rescued by a nobleman and was standing on the second floor of the funeral hall. I had a clear view of the whole crying spectacle Mia had dragged the family into.

Those fools were wailing their heads off, completely oblivious to the expressions of the nobles watching from upstairs.

The real show was only just beginning.