Marilyn Lehr has been having some very unsettling times lately.
After the incident at the hunting festival, Dorothea and she were on people's lips for a while.
It wasn't anything to be ashamed of, but the problem lay elsewhere.
“Are you thinking of not going just because the other person doesn’t call you? If the Lady Marquis has shown you that much favor, you should know how to return the favor.”
“...”
Even when her father clicked his tongue in disapproval, she could only lower her eyes and remain silent.
Her heart felt heavy as she looked at the expectant eyes directed at her.
How she once hoped and hoped for the anticipation that filled those eyes.
At best, she is the second daughter of a baronial family. She has no special talents or outstanding bloodline.
Her father, a Baron, was completely focused on the son of the newly-created government, and in a household where all her siblings were busy looking after their own futures, she was always put on the back burner.
Although she had a few interactions with the Princess during her childhood thanks to the achievements of the previous Baron, that was all.
The prestige she displayed was in fact nothing more than an empty boast based on her friendship with the Princess during her childhood.
Since she had nothing, she had to put someone down to build her reputation.
Let's admit it.
Marilyn Lehr misjudged Dorothea Highclere.
She believed the rumor that Dorothea had such bad manners and a weak personality that she had to stay in the mansion for a long time, and that the Marquis would not let her go out because he thought she was ashamed of her.
'But it wasn't like that.'
It wasn't that the Marquis family didn't spare her and left her in the mansion.
Because she is so precious and valuable, a strong wall has been built to protect her from being swept away by the harsh storm outside.
The gentle eyes that looked at Dorothea. The worried attitude. The hand that stroked her hair without hesitation and the affectionate smile.
These were things Marilyn had never received before in her life, so she had never known about them.
“Huh? If Lady Highclair doesn’t call you, why don’t you go and see her?”
When she saw her father, who was so excited and urging her, Marilyn felt a surge of anger inside her.
She was breathless at the look in his eyes, full of calculations to gain something by relying on the glory of the Marquis.
“I'll think about it.”
“What is there to think about? Huh?”
Marilyn got into the carriage, pretending not to hear her father's words as he followed his daughter's buttocks.
“To the dressing room.”
She didn't feel like going shopping, but she knew that if she stayed locked up in the mansion, she would be harassed by her father and siblings.
'I have to choose a new hat for the season anyway.'
She was lost in thought as she watched the scenery outside the carriage passing by quickly.
How did things end up like this?
From that day on, when she received the most game as a gift at the hunting festival and became the envy of all the other young ladies, she was overcome by the urge to tell the truth.
In fact, Lady Highclere and her have a feud because she publicly criticizes the necklace that the 7th Prince gave her.
But she couldn't find the courage.
'If I attack the 7th Prince and the Lady Highclare at the same time, it probably won't end with just a burial.'
Even Richard, the third Prince of the empire, was brutally broken before the eyes of the people.
Although Dorothea had attacked the Prince's reputation, the Emperor did not despise her but praised her and bestowed treasures on her.
Whatever her true intentions, it must mean that she was an important person to the Emperor.
As a mere Baroness, she couldn't even think of talking to him.
“Miss, we have arrived.”
As she got off the carriage and entered the dressing room, people greeted her in a somewhat chaotic atmosphere.
“Madam?”
“There was a guest who arrived earlier, so I...”
The familiar clerk frowned at the child he was guiding.
“Young Lady, come this way.”
“If there are any guests who arrive first, I will wait.”
“You know the Young Lady very well. It would be better to get your clothes tailored together. These days, close friends visit salons together to choose matching accessories.”
“Best friends?”
Before the look of confusion could even disappear from his face, the clerk opened the door.
“...”
Dorothea Highclere and Valerie Germain were seen chatting with Madame, dressed in elegant dresses.
***
Dorothea greeted Marilyn with a faint smile as she froze in place at the sight of her.
“It’s my first time seeing you since the hunting festival. Are you feeling well?”
"...Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.”
Judging from her pale complexion, he seemed quite frightened.
'I don't think I did anything in particular.'
Suddenly, she remembered the enormous amount of game that the men of the family, led by Dane, had brought to Marilyn as the hunting festival was coming to an end.
She was sure Marilyn must have had some emotional distress.
“I didn’t know Young Lady was here.”
Dorothea gently urged her on as she fidgeted helplessly with her gloomy eyes.
“If it’s okay with you, let’s choose together. Is that okay, Valerie?”
"Of course."
Since it's a show anyway, the more people there are, the better.
Before Marilyn could respond to Dorothea's suggestion, Valerie smiled and nodded.
Then she led Marilyn away with her characteristically gentle speech.
“Come here, Marilyn. Thea offered to buy me a nice hat today. Marilyn, you choose one too.”
“How could I...”
The mumbling voice was full of embarrassment.
Dorothea looked at Marilyn, who hesitated, then glanced around at the people in the dress shop, whose ears were pricked up.
From the moment she entered this place, they were on edge, as if they were watching her every move.
“It’s okay. As you know, Marilyn, I have received quite a bit from His Highness the Third Prince.”
For a moment, the dressing room became quiet.
Marilyn's eyes widened at Dorothea's surprisingly honest words.
Unlike her usually quiet and calm self, she was unusually excited and talkative today.
“What could I possibly ask of him? The Third Prince must have a wealth of valuables, so I asked him to share some of them with me.”
At Dorothea's words, Marilyn covered her gaping mouth with both hands.
And then she started hiccuping.
“Thanks to you, I have become very rich. I can buy you as many hats as you want.”
Dorothea smiled as she watched her eyes shake with anxiety.
You can buy as many hats as you want.
It was the same even if the Third Prince didn't give anything.
When she said she was going to raid the treasure trove, his distorted face came to mind.
The Prince could not possibly tell anyone what Dorothea had asked him to do or what he had given her.
Because it would have left him with great shame and humiliation.
“I, I, I simply cannot accept such a favor...”
Dorothea shrugged as she listened to the trembling voice.
“Then would you like one of the jewels that His Highness the Third Prince gave me? There’s more than enough.”
Marilyn, who seemed to have regained her sense of sanity and took a long time to catch her breath, slowly opened her mouth.
“If His Highness the Third Prince gave something to Young Lady, you cannot give it to someone else without permission.”
Dorothea pursed her lips.
“Then what should I do? Wouldn’t it be better for someone who needs it to use the things I’ve received rather than just leave them in my room? Should I just sell them all?”
Marilyn was again taken aback by her childish grumbling.
Valerie, who was standing next to her, patted her friend in a soothing voice.
“It’s rare to find a shop that can handle such a large number of gems at once. The highest grade ones are the norm, and there seem to be quite a few rare grades as well. The merchants will probably run away in fear.”
“Then, I guess I’ll just sell it little by little to those who know its value.”
Madame's hand, which had been searching through the recommended hats, flinched for a moment before quickly moving again.
Dorothea smiled at Marilyn, who was blinking blankly.
“Among the close friends you know, isn’t there anyone who likes precious and pretty things?”
Her face turned red with embarrassment at the subtle question.
It was as if she was doubting her ears, wondering if she had heard correctly.
“So now, Young Lady...”
“His Highness the Third Prince has bestowed upon me many gifts, so wouldn’t it be good to create a place where I can ‘show’ them off?”
If only to think of his kindness in filling the carriage to capacity.
"Ah..."
“If you want, I can show it to Marilyn too.”
Marilyn flinched and slowly shook her head.
Dorothea continued speaking calmly, looking at the frightened expression on everyone's face.
“I hope Marilyn will help us invite the interested young ladies. Madame will do the same, right?”
The startled madam nodded with a forced smile.
Dorothea hummed as she picked out the three most expensive and valuable hats in the store and placed them all in Marilyn's arms.
She, who had been absentmindedly accepting the gift, ran towards Dorothea, who was leaving the dressing room with Valerie, out of breath.
Marilyn whispered, her face covered in sweat, seemingly oblivious to her messy hair.
“I know this may sound off-topic, but...”
"Yes?"
“You should only show precious things to people you can truly trust.”
Dorothea, who had been staring at the trembling lips, nodded with a gentle smile.
“I know. I will do that.”
No matter how valuable the gold and silver treasures the Third Prince gave her, they were not very valuable to Dorothea.
So, she should show it. As much as she wants.
As soon as the carriage door closed and they started off, Valerie muttered in surprise.
“Surprisingly, Marilyn is quite a soft-hearted person. She must have ‘mistakenly’ thought you were holding an ‘illegal auction’ or something.”
Although Dorothea intentionally led her to make that mistake.
It wasn't Marilyn who tried to spill the beans in the first place, but Madame, so it didn't really have anything to do with her.
With or without Marilyn, Dorothea and Valerie's conversation would probably have gone in a similar direction.
“Thanks to your timely appearance, the conversation went more naturally than I expected.”
“Yeah. I guess I should send you an invitation as a token of my appreciation.”
Judging from the fact that her complexion was already very bad when she entered the costume shop, she must have been suffering for quite some time, whether it was from her family, relatives, or acquaintances.
If she wakes up from a faint, she'll be confused and angry at the sudden change in situation.
Dorothea muttered, resting her chin on her hand.
“Really... I never expected that.”
Valerie glanced at her friend, then looked down at her new hat without saying anything.
Her shoes, which had been fiddling with her wide-brimmed hat with a pretty blue lining, lightly touched the feet of Freed, who was sitting next to Dorothea.
Valerie didn't even flinch and slowly brought her feet inward.
Silence fell on the carriage.
***
'Invitations' were sent out one after another to the noble families.
They didn't know what criteria they used to send out the invitations, but the content of the invitations was extremely ambiguous.
“It offers a variety of things to see and enjoy... Is this really a banquet or a tea party?”
“Besides, it’s the first time I’ve heard of this place.”
It was not uncommon for nobles to rent a space to hold a banquet, but it was rare for them to simply give the address and time.
Moreover, it was not clearly stated what awaited them.
Word was secretly spread among those who tilted their heads in bewilderment.
'Dorothea Highclere intends to auction off the jewels she obtained from the Third Prince.'
No matter how much the Emperor trusted the family, if a single Marquis's daughter were to put the imperial property up for auction, it could become a huge problem.
“Is the Marquis of Highclere completely unaware of this problem?”
“Even though she is the Marquis’s granddaughter, she is quite arrogant.”
“Because the Kingdom of Rohen wants her. I guess His Majesty would just let things slide.”
“Maybe she does this because she trusts His Highness the 7th Prince.”
Amidst all the noisy talk, rumors spread quickly.
For the nobles thirsting for amusing stimulation, the spark Dorothea stoked was quite a tasty prey.
Soon the date written on the invitation arrived.
Among the nobles who were gathering at the venue one after another was the haggard-faced Marilyn Lahr.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment