Chapter 43
What is this? They clearly don’t believe a word of it…
Eliana let out a silent sigh. The pack of hyenas before her, so lost in their assumptions and ignorance, left her feeling deflated.
“My lady.”
How should she handle these insufferable women? Just as she mulled it over, a voice called from behind—and her expression brightened at once.
“Ah, Sir Terius.”
He was the knight who had helped her practice the waltz before her wedding. Now part of the Wespera delegation, his familiar presence brought a touch of ease.
Terius? Wait, could it really be that Terius?
The hyenas’ gazes, previously locked on Eliana, snapped simultaneously to Joel. His voice flowed like honey, his features were handsome and composed, and his attire radiated the unmistakable aura of someone born into luxury.
“His Grace sent me.”
Unfazed by the stares boring into him, Joel continued smoothly.
“Oh… he did? What is it?”
“He said you mustn’t skip dinner under any circumstance, and insisted you eat something.”
At Joel’s subtle gesture, the attendant behind him stepped forward and gracefully offered a silver tray at a perfect height for Eliana to reach. Resting on a pristine white porcelain plate were dozens of neatly arranged finger foods, each bite-sized and elegant.
“You must eat at least three,” Joel added, gently but firmly.
“All right, I understand.”
Oh my goodness! Oh my…
Wait… could it really be true?
The hyenas, who had unintentionally eavesdropped on the entire exchange, were thrown into disarray.
Impossible. The Duke personally sees to her meals? And who is this man…?
My daughter—where is she?! Someone bring her here right now!
Oh heavens, that voice. It’s too smooth…
What on earth—he’s pulling off a floral cravat? His fashion sense is unreal!
The Duchess’s earlier remarks, once dismissed as absurd, suddenly didn’t seem so implausible. But it wasn’t just that. The arrival of a dazzlingly handsome knight had completely derailed their attention.
“……”
Eliana, her torso bound tightly by her corset, took care to eat slowly. Anything too heavy might upset her stomach. She selected lighter options—one by one, chewing carefully. Oddly enough, the boisterous hyenas had gone utterly quiet.
“Starting today, I have been assigned as Your Ladyship’s personal escort. I will remain at a distance of exactly three paces. Should you require anything, you need only call.”
“Oh, is that so? I’ll be in your care then, Sir Terius.”
Unlike the other knights—who all had an air of severity—Terius possessed a rare warmth. It was comforting, and to Eliana, that meant everything.
“It would be an honor if Your Ladyship addressed me as Sir Joel.”
“All right, Sir Joel.”
A personal escort… He’s going to be her personal escort!
Lady Gituzern, daughter of Count Gituzern, had been listening from nearby—and her eyes went wide with disbelief.
“Are you… perhaps that Terius from Terius Trading Company?”
Once the attendants had quietly stepped back, and Joel took his position precisely three steps behind Eliana, a noblewoman separated from the group and approached him. She was the daughter of the Marquis of Geunsapine, and her steps were full of intent.
All the most coveted luxuries—fine tea and silk from the Eastern Empire, porcelain, the highest-grade perfumes from the Kingdom of Jaiphen, gold and tobacco from the Kingdom of Kantoor—none of it could be obtained without going through Terius Trading Company. Well, technically it could… but anything not acquired through Terius was often of questionable quality and considered second-rate.
Yes—Terius Trading was not just the finest in the Empire, but the most powerful trade company in the world.
“That’s correct. I am Joel Terius, second son of Count Terius,” he answered politely.
Even his modest smile made the dimples on his cheeks deepen handsomely, catching the light just so.
“I… I’m the daughter of the Marquis of Geunsapine. A pleasure to meet you, Sir Joel.”
The young lady, utterly captivated by those dimples, blushed furiously as she managed a clumsy greeting.
“Oh my…”
Though the smile wasn’t even directed at her, Lady Gituzern’s eyes glazed over, entranced.
“Lady Geunsapine, what a pleasure to meet you. The olive shade of your dress pairs beautifully with your emerald hairpin. Since this is Madam’s first appearance in Wespera’s social circles, I trust she’ll be in good hands.”
“Ah… y-yes! Of course!”
His voice—sweet as if dipped in honey—flowed like a melody, and Lady Geunsapine felt herself melting like ice cream under the summer sun.
“Um… um… Sir Terius, by any chance… do you have a fiancée? Or perhaps… a lover?”
The Lady of House Geunsapine, heart pounding so fiercely it nearly deafened her, mustered an immense amount of courage to ask.
“Regrettably, I do not.”
“Ah!”
The moment Joel answered, her legs gave out, and she staggered weakly.
“My lady, are you all right?”
“Y-Yes, I’m fine.”
Overcoming a brief wave of dizziness, the young lady steadied her trembling legs and managed to walk forward, albeit unsteadily.
“Um… Duchess, may I have the honor of inviting you to my tea party?”
Her voice trembled with hope as she addressed Eliana directly.
“Of course, my lady. If you send me the invitation, I’ll check my schedule and let you know.”
What’s the use in arguing? It’s a waste of energy.
Eliana decided to simply stand still and enjoy the benefits of Joel’s presence.
“Duchess of Ascher! It would truly delight me if you could attend my tea party as well!”
Hot on her heels, Lady Gituzern sprang forward before anyone could accuse the Geunsapine heiress of stealing the initiative. There was no time for such petty accusations. This was a star that had to be claimed—no matter what.
The star of the Southern social scene had just landed in Wespera.
A storm of overwhelming fragrance swept through the hall. Yes—it was the unmistakable scent of the number one bachelor.
While being the second son might’ve been a slight drawback, he was still from the Terius family—a household said to have enough wealth to buy the entire Empire. Title or not, serving as the Duchess of Ascher’s personal escort knight marked him as a trusted aide of Duke Ascher himself. His future rise was practically guaranteed.
Ugh! Those vipers…! Terius should be meeting with my daughter, not them!
The fact that the Ascher ducal house and the Terius earldom had a well-known military alliance only added to the frenzy. For the son of such a wealthy family to be working as a mere escort knight—it was clear. This star had to be seized before it soared any higher.
“Duchess! As a married woman, you should associate with fellow married ladies, don’t you think? I do hope we can see you at the ball hosted by my family!”
Watching the backs of the quickly transforming Lady Geunsapine and Lady Gituzern with increasing anxiety, the Marchioness of House Ibisagun shouted her invitation as well.
“Our tea parties are known for their refined atmosphere! We would be honored to host you, Duchess!”
The Countess of House Hokishin would not be outdone.
The pack of hyenas—once filled with hostility—were now transformed into docile lambs, drawn in by the Joel Effect, swarming around Eliana. Their invitations had one shared motive: to see the Duchess’s escort knight, even just once more.
“Sir Joel Terius. From this moment forward, you are appointed as the personal escort of Her Grace, the Duchess. See to it that you handle yourself appropriately.”
Just before their departure for the Imperial Palace, Joel had received this unexpected assignment.
Michalis had made the decision after much deliberation. With a man this handsome and obviously noble at her side, no trivial pests would dare approach her.
With this, Her Grace’s debut in the social world shall be smooth.
Recalling the order given just two hours earlier, Joel calmly scanned the grand banquet hall.
His lord was still surrounded by a sea of nobles. A few guests sent subtle glances toward Eliana, but none dared approach. That was thanks to the overpowering charisma of His Grace, which had silenced the hall the moment he entered.
Judging from what she chose earlier, it seems Her Grace prefers sweet things. Perhaps His Grace’s next gift should be a lovely dessert box.
Handling situations with subtlety and precision was his specialty. Wearing a composed smile even amid chaos, Joel was already planning the next move.
“Duchess of Ascher! Please, I beg you to attend my tea party. I truly mean it!”
“If you send me an invitation, I’ll check my schedule and get back to you.”
“P-Please! I hope for a favorable reply.”
“Your Grace, I will be opening my salon in a week. I would be honored if you could stop by.”
Like bees and butterflies drawn to a blooming flower, young noblewomen and ladies with marriageable daughters flocked to her in droves.
Here, a splash.
There, another.
Splash. Splash!
Joel’s metaphorical fishpond was on the verge of overflowing with eager suitors.
“Sir Joel.”
Eliana, feeling her energy drain from the growing crowd, finally couldn’t take it anymore. She called out to Joel, who stood three paces behind her.
“Yes, my lady?”
“Stop smiling.”
Though her lips were curved into a smile, her heart was far from pleased.
There’s no CTRL+CV here! For the love of—please stop already!
Eliana was already dreading the countless rejection letters she would have to write. Her wrists ached just imagining it.
“Understood.”
“Stop—seriously. No more smiling either.”
“Yes, my lady. As you wish.”
At her desperate command, Joel’s dimples disappeared. But what use was it now? The rumor that the Terius star had appeared in the banquet hall had already spread far and wide.
Unintentionally, Eliana had become the eye of the storm.
“Duchess, we meet again at last.”
Just as Joel’s smile faded and the storm quieted momentarily, Freya approached the eye of the hurricane.
“Ah, Freya. I’ve been waiting for you.”
And she truly had. Eliana erased her fatigue with a soft smile and welcomed her warmly.
“Yes, Your Grace. I was searching everywhere for you…”
Freya, who had approached Eliana with perfect timing, was inwardly startled. Her plan had been to swoop in and save the Duchess in her moment of crisis—earning her trust and gratitude. But an unexpected variable had turned the tide.
Eliana, who should’ve been torn apart by the claws of the hyenas by now, was instead surrounded by a flood of eager followers. In the high-nosed Wespera social circle, such a thing was unthinkable.
It didn’t take Freya long to identify the cause of this overwhelming shift.
Who is this man? I’ve never seen him before…
The cause? A stunning escort knight radiating elegance from every angle. Freya had the sudden urge to rip that violet cravat with the pansy embroidery right off his neck.
