Chapter 22
“Oh, I heard that you joined the Marchioness of Wickley’s gathering.”
“…So what?”
At the mention of the Marchioness of Wickley, Antra proudly lifted her chin.
The Marchioness of Wickley, who had grown up following an elite course, was highly respected. Many noblewomen lined up to enter the gathering she hosted.
Antra, who had long admired Wickley to the extent of bribing people around her, had finally entered the gathering. Now, her arrogance was through the roof.
“If you are a lady of such a prestigious gathering, I believe you will be a great role model for someone as lacking as me, Verita.”
Antra, who had been watching me carefully, twitched her lips, as if wondering what I was trying to say this time.
“At least you understand.”
“Of course. You always shine, Madam.”
Crossing her arms, Antra lowered her gaze with an arrogant look, waiting for my next words.
“Like sequins.”
“What?”
Antra’s expression changed instantly as she glared at me sharply.
‘You shouldn’t assume that I would compare you to a gemstone so easily.’
I smiled gently and waved both hands wide beside my head.
“Sparkle, sparkle—. Oh wait, maybe jingle, jingle?”
Pfft. The staff covered their mouths, trying to hold back their laughter.
Antra, clearly furious, clenched her lips tightly and snorted in anger as she glared at me.
I put on a sorrowful smile and lowered my brows.
“I apologize. I only speak the truth. I can’t bring myself to flatter others. Well then, Viscountess Dien, stay healthy until the banquet. I shall see you there.”
Wearing a serene smile, I politely bowed and left the room.
“Hngh—! That woman, really!”
“Viscountess Dien!”
Beyond the curtain, I could hear Antra grinding her teeth and letting out an angry groan. I glanced back at the room and scoffed.
‘So, those two have joined forces… In that case, I have my own plans.’
With a cold, hardened expression, I immediately headed to find Rainbutton.
Early in the morning, avoiding prying eyes, I wrote and sent a will and a letter of gratitude to the royal investigator who arrived as scheduled.
“I leave it in your hands.”
Since it was a confidential matter, I sincerely thanked the investigator, who had come in a shabby carriage for discretion, before heading to the dining room.
Lilien, who usually waited for me while chatting with the maids, was nowhere to be seen.
As I met the gaze of a maid, she guided me to my seat and informed me,
“She stayed up late practicing baking and fell asleep at dawn.”
“I see.”
Just as I sat down, observing the warm bread and fresh salad spread across the table, a thought struck me.
Wait, that means…
With slightly trembling eyes, I turned toward the dining room door. As expected, Edmund walked in expressionlessly and took a seat across from me. Gracefully placing a napkin on his lap, he signaled me with his eyes.
I forced a dry smile and began the silent meal.
“I heard. You caused quite a commotion at the boutique.”
Clink—.
Oh dear, I almost dropped my utensils.
It seemed that Edmund had already heard about how I hired a third-rate journalist through Rainbutton to publish an article after witnessing Antra and Verita conspiring together the previous day.
Calmly setting down my utensils, I swept my hair back behind my shoulders and smiled lightly.
“I’m not sure what you mean…?”
“An article on the front page of a gossip paper states that Countess Buell has decided to divorce due to marital discord and has run away from home. Are you seriously feigning ignorance?”
“Oh my, really? Who would…?”
Ha. Edmund twisted his lips in irritation, set down his utensils, and leaned back in his chair. His crooked gaze clearly conveyed how absurd he found this.
Realizing that I had already been caught, I shrugged.
“You once said that if they were my guests, even uninvited ones would be welcome.”
“Since when is a scandal considered a guest?”
“Divorce tends to be a messy process. But I’ll make sure neither you nor Lilien are affected. That’s fine, right?”
It had to be fine. After all, you were the one who kept me here.
Smiling meaningfully, I watched as Edmund let out a deep sigh and lowered his gaze in response.
He loosened his cravat as if feeling muted. It seemed he found himself in a frustrating position, unable to either kick me out or simply leave me be.
Serves you right for keeping an eye on Lilien’s acquaintance.
After taking a sip of water, I spoke up.
“By the way, after the upcoming banquet, things around you will become noisy. His Majesty has expressed his intent to name you the lord of the duchy, though it hasn’t been officially announced yet.”
Edmund glanced at me with a hint of suspicion before calmly responding.
“What exactly are you getting at?”
“I was wondering if you had plans to visit the duchy before the banquet. Perhaps for an inspection or something.”
Edmund frowned slightly, making his refusal clear. I smiled, clarifying that it was just a misunderstanding, and added my real reason.
“Actually, I heard that the Marchioness of Wickley is recuperating near Saint Vineyard, a famous spot in the duchy. So I thought I might visit her to keep her company.”
“…What are you scheming?”
“Oh my, scheming? That’s such a misunderstanding.”
Resting my chin on my intertwined fingers, I grinned.
“After the banquet, many pests will try to cling to Lilien. To prevent that, we need to raise her status. If we make her unattainable from the start, they won’t even dare.”
Truthfully, Edmund’s overwhelming authority alone would be enough to keep the pests away, but if they got involved with him, there would likely be a bloodbath at the banquet.
‘No, that won’t do.’
I planned to deal with Antra publicly at the imperial noblewomen’s gathering during the banquet. There could be no other disturbances.
Antra had a foul mouth and a loose tongue. I still remembered some of her slanders. I intended to isolate her completely by turning her allies against her and getting her expelled from the Marchioness of Wickley’s gathering.
To do that, I needed to win over the Marchioness. If I was going to gain her favor anyway, it would be even better if I could also secure her as Lilien’s chaperone.
Lilien, who was fragile in the cutthroat social scene, needed a strong support system, especially when I was away. Someone who, besides me, would also adore her half-updo hairstyle, for instance.
Sensing that Edmund was beginning to lean toward my plan, I smiled slyly.
“With the Marchioness’s influence, Lilien will be well-established in society. I’ll help her adjust.”
This was the most tempting offer for Edmund, who cherished his sister dearly.
Edmund frowned as if displeased by the situation but eventually sighed and leaned back.
“You are quite resourceful.”
“And you are as dashing as ever, Count.”
“…Where in this conversation did appearance come up?”
“Compliments are a must in negotiations.”
As I playfully scrunched my nose, Edmund exhaled in disbelief and relaxed into his seat.
