The afternoon of the banquet.
A sumptuous dinner was held in the dining room of the Grand Duke's mansion.
Flowers that were hard to find in the North were placed here and there, and luxuriously colored frills and curtains decorated the ceiling and window frames.
On the dining room tables decorated with flowing silk and high-quality fabrics were antique candle holders and decorations.
Unlike the cold temperature outside, the fully decorated banquet hall was filled with warmth.
An event where noble ladies from the North gathered together for the first time in a while.
Even before the main event began, many noble ladies filled the banquet hall.
Of course, even in the midst of all this, the ladies each showed off their own splendor as if they were competing.
They showed off their beauty with hats decorated with flowers and feathers, dresses draped with intricately patterned lace, and expensive accessories that sparkled in various colors.
The young noble also subtly showed off their wealth with suits made of luxurious fabrics and belts and shoes made of the strong and durable natural leather of the horse.
The banquet hall was like a gathering of peacocks trying to woo.
Among them, the one who stood out the most was Caroline.
“Princess. You look so beautiful today.”
“You look so beautiful every time I see you. No one in the empire can match your beauty.”
“Oh my, Princess. Aren’t those earrings you’re wearing the highest-grade rubies from Lephia Island?”
“My goodness. Such delicate workmanship and clear colors. I think you look great in gorgeous jewels.”
Caroline smiled leisurely at the compliments and admiration of the young women.
“I don’t know what to do with myself when you compliment me on such trivial things.”
After the formal greetings, someone who was not tactful suddenly asked.
“By the way, when will the Grand Duchess arrive?”
When the topic shifted to the Grand Duchess, Caroline’s eyes turned cold for a moment.
Even so, she did not lose her smile.
“Well? The Grand Duchess seems to be putting a lot of effort into her appearance.”
“Oh my! I thought she missed the last tea party, but she won’t be doing the same this time, right?”
“I really want to know who she is, but it’s really hard to meet her.”
“What kind of person is the Grand Duchess?”
Caroline felt uncomfortable with the continued interest in the Grand Duchess.
However, she smiled skillfully and answered.
“Well. I don’t see her that often either.”
“Since she used to live in the capital, it won’t be easy to adapt to the northern lands, right?”
“The environment and people will be very different from before, so it won’t be easy to adapt.”
“I see. I think she needs a lot of help, Princess Caroline.”
“How can I be of any help? I can only give her a word or two of advice.”
As the story about the Grand Duchess continued, Caroline’s smile also grew colder.
The quick-witted people noticed her discomfort and sneaked in.
“She's late even on a day like today. I know it’s rude to say this, but Your Highness the Grand Duchess is really in a bad mood.”
“It’s all my fault. I should have taken care of her more.”
Caroline said as if she had been waiting.
“What could be wrong with the Grand Duchess?”
“Of course. She must have been busy preparing for the banquet. No matter how unfamiliar the place is, she can’t take care of everything on a day like this.”
Caroline sighed with a troubled expression.
“Still, I’m worried about the Grand Duchess. I’m worried that she might be misunderstood as looking down on the northern nobles.”
“I see. I think she needs a lot of help, Princess Caroline.”
“How can I be of any help? I can only give her a word or two of advice.”
As the story about the Grand Duchess continued, Caroline’s smile also grew colder.
The quick-witted people noticed her discomfort and sneaked in.
“She's late even on a day like today. I know it’s rude to say this, but Your Highness the Grand Duchess is really in a bad mood.”
“It’s all my fault. I should have taken care of her more.”
Caroline said as if she had been waiting.
“What could be wrong with the Grand Duchess?”
“Of course. She must have been busy preparing for the banquet. No matter how unfamiliar the place is, she can’t take care of everything on a day like this.”
Caroline sighed with a troubled expression.
“Still, I’m worried about the Grand Duchess. I’m worried that she might be misunderstood as looking down on the northern nobles.”
As she tried to make a worried voice, the people around her supported and praised Caroline.
“How could you be so kind?”
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess should know how hard you’ve worked.”
As the atmosphere of naturally criticizing Karina formed, Caroline relaxed.
“Hard work? Don’t mention it.”
Caroline smiled inwardly.
'If you have something to say, come to me in person? You should make yourself look bad today.'
It was even harder to hold back a smile as she imagined the interesting situation that would unfold later.
At that moment, the entrance to the banquet hall became noisy.
Jeremiah had arrived.
The noisy banquet hall suddenly became quiet at the appearance of the Grand Duke.
Although there was no loud announcement, everyone who saw him bowed respectfully and showed respect.
"How can he be so handsome?"
"My goodness. He's become more handsome than when I saw him at the last banquet!"
The excited voices of the ladies who had been peeking at Jeremiah could be heard from one side of the banquet hall.
It wasn't just them.
Here and there, women’s eyes flew towards Jeremiah.
Jeremiah was wearing a luxurious, toned-down suit that was tailored to his body. The neat, not-too-excessive outfit matched his neat features very well.
Even the small gesture of casually touching his cuffs with one hand looked luxurious and attractive.
Jeremiah exchanged light greetings with a few people, glanced around, and walked straight to Caroline.
“Sister.”
A charming, low-pitched, soft voice filled the space.
“Welcome. Your Highness.”
Since it was a public setting, Caroline spoke to him in a high voice.
She stood quietly next to Jeremiah, looking like a winner who had won a trophy of glory.
The surrounding ladies looked at Caroline with envious eyes.
To her, it was a normal, everyday occurrence. But today was different.
“Where is the Grand Duchess?”
“...”
As soon as they arrived at the banquet hall, Caroline frowned slightly at Jeremiah’s search for Karina.
However, she immediately changed her expression and whispered quietly so that only Jeremiah could hear.
“Karina hasn’t come yet.”
Jeremiah frowned at Caroline’s words.
“The ladies from the capital are a bit slow. I’ll go and get her, so don’t worry.”
“...”
Caroline asked Jeremiah, who didn’t answer, something she had been curious about, to change the subject.
“By the way, I heard someone from Count Dax came last time? About the leather business. I heard it was a pretty good business.”
“I’ve decided to cancel that contract.”
Caroline’s face hardened at Jeremiah’s answer that he had decided to cancel the contract.
The leather business of Count Dax was a contract that she had been secretly working on.
“Cancelled? Why?”
“When I investigated the company listed in the business contract, it wasn’t a proper business. No track record, and a mess of credit.”
Caroline forced a smile and tried to appease him.
“A place as big as Count Dax could possibly be that messy. They’re dealing with the Grand Duke of Colesberg, of all places. If they were in their right mind, they’d do it right. Right?”
“How could you be so kind?”
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess should know how hard you’ve worked.”
As the atmosphere of naturally criticizing Karina formed, Caroline relaxed.
“Hard work? Don’t mention it.”
Caroline smiled inwardly.
'If you have something to say, come to me in person? You should make yourself look bad today.'
It was even harder to hold back a smile as she imagined the interesting situation that would unfold later.
At that moment, the entrance to the banquet hall became noisy.
Jeremiah had arrived.
The noisy banquet hall suddenly became quiet at the appearance of the Grand Duke.
Although there was no loud announcement, everyone who saw him bowed respectfully and showed respect.
"How can he be so handsome?"
"My goodness. He's become more handsome than when I saw him at the last banquet!"
The excited voices of the ladies who had been peeking at Jeremiah could be heard from one side of the banquet hall.
It wasn't just them.
Here and there, women’s eyes flew towards Jeremiah.
Jeremiah was wearing a luxurious, toned-down suit that was tailored to his body. The neat, not-too-excessive outfit matched his neat features very well.
Even the small gesture of casually touching his cuffs with one hand looked luxurious and attractive.
Jeremiah exchanged light greetings with a few people, glanced around, and walked straight to Caroline.
“Sister.”
A charming, low-pitched, soft voice filled the space.
“Welcome. Your Highness.”
Since it was a public setting, Caroline spoke to him in a high voice.
She stood quietly next to Jeremiah, looking like a winner who had won a trophy of glory.
The surrounding ladies looked at Caroline with envious eyes.
To her, it was a normal, everyday occurrence. But today was different.
“Where is the Grand Duchess?”
“...”
As soon as they arrived at the banquet hall, Caroline frowned slightly at Jeremiah’s search for Karina.
However, she immediately changed her expression and whispered quietly so that only Jeremiah could hear.
“Karina hasn’t come yet.”
Jeremiah frowned at Caroline’s words.
“The ladies from the capital are a bit slow. I’ll go and get her, so don’t worry.”
“...”
Caroline asked Jeremiah, who didn’t answer, something she had been curious about, to change the subject.
“By the way, I heard someone from Count Dax came last time? About the leather business. I heard it was a pretty good business.”
“I’ve decided to cancel that contract.”
Caroline’s face hardened at Jeremiah’s answer that he had decided to cancel the contract.
The leather business of Count Dax was a contract that she had been secretly working on.
“Cancelled? Why?”
“When I investigated the company listed in the business contract, it wasn’t a proper business. No track record, and a mess of credit.”
Caroline forced a smile and tried to appease him.
“A place as big as Count Dax could possibly be that messy. They’re dealing with the Grand Duke of Colesberg, of all places. If they were in their right mind, they’d do it right. Right?”
“A decent place wouldn’t mess up who they’re dealing with.”
“Still...”
“I don’t think we need to talk about Count Dax anymore.”
Caroline bit her lip at Jeremiah’s coldness.
He knew she was the one who pushed for it, but he refused so coldly.
But what hurt her pride even more was his attitude of watching the entrance the whole time he was talking to her. It was as if he was being ignored, and she felt like she was being ignored.
“... She's finally coming.”
Jeremiah’s stern expression sank with a soft voice.
There was a commotion from the entrance of the restaurant, saying that the Grand Duchess had arrived.
“Oh my, how long did it take you to dress up?”
Caroline pretended not to know and regained her lost smile.
Of course, Karina must have dressed up extravagantly. She even had someone else do it for her.
“Still...”
“I don’t think we need to talk about Count Dax anymore.”
Caroline bit her lip at Jeremiah’s coldness.
He knew she was the one who pushed for it, but he refused so coldly.
But what hurt her pride even more was his attitude of watching the entrance the whole time he was talking to her. It was as if he was being ignored, and she felt like she was being ignored.
“... She's finally coming.”
Jeremiah’s stern expression sank with a soft voice.
There was a commotion from the entrance of the restaurant, saying that the Grand Duchess had arrived.
“Oh my, how long did it take you to dress up?”
Caroline pretended not to know and regained her lost smile.
Of course, Karina must have dressed up extravagantly. She even had someone else do it for her.
'She must have really dressed up, not knowing that she might be embarrassed.'
Caroline was already feeling good at the thought of Karina being humiliated.
As expected, Jeremiah's mouth leaked questions as he saw Karina.
"Why is she dressed like that?"
"Why? Did she dress strangely?"
'Of course, you would have dressed strangely.'
The merchant's clothes she had given her were all overly extravagant.
No matter which one she chose to wear, it would have been difficult to avoid gossip.
If she had worn overly extravagant jewelry, it would have been quite a sight.
Thinking of Karina, who must have believed that ridiculous dresses and excessive decorations were a northern tradition, she could already laugh.
However, her smile was soon shattered by Jeremiah's voice.
"Why is she dressed so plainly?"
“Plain...?”
No way.
Caroline frowned and looked at Karina, who had emerged from the crowd.
“...!”
She couldn’t help but be surprised at Karina’s appearance.
She should have been covered in gorgeous decorations from head to toe.
However, Karina, who entered the banquet hall, was wearing a plain white dress with almost no decorations.
‘What’s going on?’
Caroline was greatly embarrassed by the completely different situation than she had expected.
In the meantime, Jeremiah walked up to Karina.
“...Why are you dressed like that?”
There was a faint annoyance in his voice.
It was a formal occasion.
Moreover, she was a Grand Duchess.
Nevertheless, Karina’s attire was not much different from her everyday clothes.
“Did I dress a little plainly?”
Karina said with a bright smile.
“There was a reason for it.”
“I want to hear what that reason is.”
Jeremiah answered bluntly.
At that moment, Caroline stepped in between the two.
“What on earth could it be? I even sent someone in advance in case something like this happened...”
It was a remark that scratched at her feelings, but Karina smiled innocently, pretending not to know anything.
“Princess. I am grateful for your consideration. You sent me a dress and jewelry because you thought of me. I was very touched by your kindness.”
Caroline was slightly embarrassed by Karina’s unexpected remark.
It was because she didn’t know that she would say so openly that she had prepared Karina’s dress.
However, Caroline, who quickly thought about it, quickly changed her expression and smiled.
“...Don’t mention it.”
Karina gave Caroline a meaningful look and looked back at the nobles gathered in the banquet hall.
“You don’t know how kind the Princess is. She even sent a merchant for me, who is not familiar with northern culture.”
Her voice was not quiet because she had deliberately told the nobles in the banquet hall to hear.
“I thought it would be good to share this joy with you all. So...”
Karina continued speaking while looking at the servant standing at the entrance of the restaurant.
“Let’s go in.”
The servants brought mannequins dressed in dresses one by one into the banquet hall.
Then the merchant Abdul came in with the knights.
“...?”
Caroline realized that something was wrong when she saw Abdul being dragged in as if he was being taken away.
‘What’s going on?’
If it had gone as planned, Karina should have shown up wearing one of those clothes.
Then she would have been completely embarrassed in front of everyone.
But instead of Karina, the clothes she was supposed to be wearing were being worn by mannequins.
Karina’s voice continued.
“I want to give you these dresses as a gift. They say the designs of the dresses were specially designed to fit the culture of the North. Feel free to choose whatever suits your taste.”
“...!”
Caroline’s expression hardened.
In fact, the nobles in the banquet hall had been whispering in bewilderment since the mannequins had come in.
This was because the clothes the mannequins were wearing were all so outdated and bizarre.
“What on earth is that merchant thinking, recommending those clothes to Her Highness the Grand Duchess?”
“How can that be considered Northern culture?”
“Look at those clothes. They look like chameleons.”
“Wearing such bizarre dresses. It’s terrifying just to imagine.”
“I wouldn’t wear them even if I paid for them.”
The murmurs of the people gradually grew louder.
“...”
Jeremiah also glanced at the dresses. Even to him, a layman, they were bizarre and strange.
However, to him, the fact that the Grand Duchess’ reputation was becoming a laughing stock was more serious than the bizarreness of the dresses.
Jeremiah looked at Karina and asked,
“What on earth are you doing?”
“What am I doing?”
Karina asked in a calm voice.
“I’m just giving a gift to the nobles who attended the banquet to express my gratitude.”
“Don’t you think that this behavior is ruining the Grand Duchess’ reputation?”
“Not at all. These dresses were prepared with great care by the Princess for me.”
Karina replied with a serious expression.
Merchant Abdul sweats profusely as the atmosphere becomes serious. Caroline’s expression as she looked at him was serious. It seemed like something big was going to happen if things continued like this.
She said she wanted to see them properly in a bright place. Who would have thought that she would display the dresses in front of the nobles like this?
A chill ran down his spine as he thought that if things went wrong, he could end up taking the blame for everything.
As expected of a merchant who made a living by his wit and eloquence, Abdul quickly used his wit to evade the situation.
“Wow, weird? Hahaha. You may not know this, but these costumes are very popular in foreign countries, including the Kingdom of Sahal. Even if they feel unfamiliar now, you will soon get used to them.”
Abdul laughed a little exaggeratedly and joked.
“Did you hear that?”
Karina smiled with satisfaction and clapped her hands again to signal to the servant at the door.
“Bring them all.”
Soon, the servants came in with their arms full of jewelry boxes.
The jewelry boxes were lined up on the table where the food was supposed to be.
Abdul broke out in a cold sweat as he watched the situation. The jewelry boxes contained necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, brooches, hair ornaments, and other colorful gems and accessories.
Karina held up a beautiful jade necklace.
“I know that green chrysolite is soft and fragile, so it has no value as a jewel, but...”
Karina looked at Abdul and slowly shook the necklace in front of her eyes so that the others could see it.
“You said it was so popular that you couldn’t get it in the North. You said that, right? Abdul?”
“...! ”
Abdul was startled by Karina’s actions.
“No, that’s...”
Abdul, pale and shocked, stuttered in embarrassment.
Karina ignored Abdul and calmly reached for the jewelry box next to him.
This time, it was a hair accessory with a blue gem set in it.
“This blue gem is called ‘Bloominus’, right? You told me that it’s used as a blessing in the North.”
“T, that’s...”
As Karina continued to speak, Abdul’s expression went from pale to ashen.
“...Bloominus?”
Jeremiah, who had been watching Karina’s actions with his arms crossed, reacted to the word Bloominus.
“Are you talking about the magic stone of the Ventrum Canyon?”
Bloominus was a magic stone extracted from a demon living in the Ventrum Valley.
Bloominus was originally a magic stone with a vivid blue color.
Since it glowed even in the dark, it was processed into a gem and distributed long ago.
However, people who possessed Bloominus often suffered from madness or met unfortunate ends.
That’s why it was nicknamed the “Curse of the Blue Blood.”
People considered it ominous because having that magic stone would make them unhappy.
The North, where monster attacks were frequent, was more sensitive to such stories than the capital.
But that cursed magic stone was used as a blessing in the North?
“Who said such nonsense?”
Jeremiah looked at Abdul, who was at the end of Karina’s gaze.
Telling the Grand Duchess such a ridiculous fact as the truth was ultimately the same as ignoring the Grand Duchess.
“Huh!”
Abdul trembled under Jeremiah’s dreary gaze.
“The North seems to be different from the capital in many ways. I learned a lot thanks to Abdul.”
Karina added one more thing with an innocent expression like a child. This is a fact that she wouldn’t know if she didn’t know much about monsters and jewels.
So in the past, when she didn’t know much about the world, it was a scam that she couldn’t help but fall for. Because of his incident, she was branded as a fool who spent a lot of money on worthless items that would have been rejected even if she had paid for them.
She had to carry the label of “foolish Grand Duchess” around in high society for a long time.
Karina, who had gone through such a humiliating experience, returned from the past.
She was no longer as ignorant or foolish as she had been in the past. The innocent Grand Duchess was no longer here. Only Karina, who would later be called a villainess, was there.
“Take him away.”
“Now, listen to me for a moment!”
Abdul made a loud excuse but was dragged away by the knights who had been ordered by Jeremiah.
Karina didn’t forget Caroline’s presence at this moment.
“Oh my, why are you doing that? Abdul was the one the Princess sent for me.”
“...!”
At Karina's words, the nobles' eyes were focused on Caroline.
Caroline, who had been watching with bated breath, flinched when she felt the gazes gathering on her.
Karina also looked at Caroline with an innocent smile.
Caroline felt a chill for some reason at that smile.
Caroline was already feeling good at the thought of Karina being humiliated.
As expected, Jeremiah's mouth leaked questions as he saw Karina.
"Why is she dressed like that?"
"Why? Did she dress strangely?"
'Of course, you would have dressed strangely.'
The merchant's clothes she had given her were all overly extravagant.
No matter which one she chose to wear, it would have been difficult to avoid gossip.
If she had worn overly extravagant jewelry, it would have been quite a sight.
Thinking of Karina, who must have believed that ridiculous dresses and excessive decorations were a northern tradition, she could already laugh.
However, her smile was soon shattered by Jeremiah's voice.
"Why is she dressed so plainly?"
“Plain...?”
No way.
Caroline frowned and looked at Karina, who had emerged from the crowd.
“...!”
She couldn’t help but be surprised at Karina’s appearance.
She should have been covered in gorgeous decorations from head to toe.
However, Karina, who entered the banquet hall, was wearing a plain white dress with almost no decorations.
‘What’s going on?’
Caroline was greatly embarrassed by the completely different situation than she had expected.
In the meantime, Jeremiah walked up to Karina.
“...Why are you dressed like that?”
There was a faint annoyance in his voice.
It was a formal occasion.
Moreover, she was a Grand Duchess.
Nevertheless, Karina’s attire was not much different from her everyday clothes.
“Did I dress a little plainly?”
Karina said with a bright smile.
“There was a reason for it.”
“I want to hear what that reason is.”
Jeremiah answered bluntly.
At that moment, Caroline stepped in between the two.
“What on earth could it be? I even sent someone in advance in case something like this happened...”
It was a remark that scratched at her feelings, but Karina smiled innocently, pretending not to know anything.
“Princess. I am grateful for your consideration. You sent me a dress and jewelry because you thought of me. I was very touched by your kindness.”
Caroline was slightly embarrassed by Karina’s unexpected remark.
It was because she didn’t know that she would say so openly that she had prepared Karina’s dress.
However, Caroline, who quickly thought about it, quickly changed her expression and smiled.
“...Don’t mention it.”
Karina gave Caroline a meaningful look and looked back at the nobles gathered in the banquet hall.
“You don’t know how kind the Princess is. She even sent a merchant for me, who is not familiar with northern culture.”
Her voice was not quiet because she had deliberately told the nobles in the banquet hall to hear.
“I thought it would be good to share this joy with you all. So...”
Karina continued speaking while looking at the servant standing at the entrance of the restaurant.
“Let’s go in.”
The servants brought mannequins dressed in dresses one by one into the banquet hall.
Then the merchant Abdul came in with the knights.
“...?”
Caroline realized that something was wrong when she saw Abdul being dragged in as if he was being taken away.
‘What’s going on?’
If it had gone as planned, Karina should have shown up wearing one of those clothes.
Then she would have been completely embarrassed in front of everyone.
But instead of Karina, the clothes she was supposed to be wearing were being worn by mannequins.
Karina’s voice continued.
“I want to give you these dresses as a gift. They say the designs of the dresses were specially designed to fit the culture of the North. Feel free to choose whatever suits your taste.”
“...!”
Caroline’s expression hardened.
In fact, the nobles in the banquet hall had been whispering in bewilderment since the mannequins had come in.
This was because the clothes the mannequins were wearing were all so outdated and bizarre.
“What on earth is that merchant thinking, recommending those clothes to Her Highness the Grand Duchess?”
“How can that be considered Northern culture?”
“Look at those clothes. They look like chameleons.”
“Wearing such bizarre dresses. It’s terrifying just to imagine.”
“I wouldn’t wear them even if I paid for them.”
The murmurs of the people gradually grew louder.
“...”
Jeremiah also glanced at the dresses. Even to him, a layman, they were bizarre and strange.
However, to him, the fact that the Grand Duchess’ reputation was becoming a laughing stock was more serious than the bizarreness of the dresses.
Jeremiah looked at Karina and asked,
“What on earth are you doing?”
“What am I doing?”
Karina asked in a calm voice.
“I’m just giving a gift to the nobles who attended the banquet to express my gratitude.”
“Don’t you think that this behavior is ruining the Grand Duchess’ reputation?”
“Not at all. These dresses were prepared with great care by the Princess for me.”
Karina replied with a serious expression.
Merchant Abdul sweats profusely as the atmosphere becomes serious. Caroline’s expression as she looked at him was serious. It seemed like something big was going to happen if things continued like this.
She said she wanted to see them properly in a bright place. Who would have thought that she would display the dresses in front of the nobles like this?
A chill ran down his spine as he thought that if things went wrong, he could end up taking the blame for everything.
As expected of a merchant who made a living by his wit and eloquence, Abdul quickly used his wit to evade the situation.
“Wow, weird? Hahaha. You may not know this, but these costumes are very popular in foreign countries, including the Kingdom of Sahal. Even if they feel unfamiliar now, you will soon get used to them.”
Abdul laughed a little exaggeratedly and joked.
“Did you hear that?”
Karina smiled with satisfaction and clapped her hands again to signal to the servant at the door.
“Bring them all.”
Soon, the servants came in with their arms full of jewelry boxes.
The jewelry boxes were lined up on the table where the food was supposed to be.
Abdul broke out in a cold sweat as he watched the situation. The jewelry boxes contained necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, brooches, hair ornaments, and other colorful gems and accessories.
Karina held up a beautiful jade necklace.
“I know that green chrysolite is soft and fragile, so it has no value as a jewel, but...”
Karina looked at Abdul and slowly shook the necklace in front of her eyes so that the others could see it.
“You said it was so popular that you couldn’t get it in the North. You said that, right? Abdul?”
“...! ”
Abdul was startled by Karina’s actions.
“No, that’s...”
Abdul, pale and shocked, stuttered in embarrassment.
Karina ignored Abdul and calmly reached for the jewelry box next to him.
This time, it was a hair accessory with a blue gem set in it.
“This blue gem is called ‘Bloominus’, right? You told me that it’s used as a blessing in the North.”
“T, that’s...”
As Karina continued to speak, Abdul’s expression went from pale to ashen.
“...Bloominus?”
Jeremiah, who had been watching Karina’s actions with his arms crossed, reacted to the word Bloominus.
“Are you talking about the magic stone of the Ventrum Canyon?”
Bloominus was a magic stone extracted from a demon living in the Ventrum Valley.
Bloominus was originally a magic stone with a vivid blue color.
Since it glowed even in the dark, it was processed into a gem and distributed long ago.
However, people who possessed Bloominus often suffered from madness or met unfortunate ends.
That’s why it was nicknamed the “Curse of the Blue Blood.”
People considered it ominous because having that magic stone would make them unhappy.
The North, where monster attacks were frequent, was more sensitive to such stories than the capital.
But that cursed magic stone was used as a blessing in the North?
“Who said such nonsense?”
Jeremiah looked at Abdul, who was at the end of Karina’s gaze.
Telling the Grand Duchess such a ridiculous fact as the truth was ultimately the same as ignoring the Grand Duchess.
“Huh!”
Abdul trembled under Jeremiah’s dreary gaze.
“The North seems to be different from the capital in many ways. I learned a lot thanks to Abdul.”
Karina added one more thing with an innocent expression like a child. This is a fact that she wouldn’t know if she didn’t know much about monsters and jewels.
So in the past, when she didn’t know much about the world, it was a scam that she couldn’t help but fall for. Because of his incident, she was branded as a fool who spent a lot of money on worthless items that would have been rejected even if she had paid for them.
She had to carry the label of “foolish Grand Duchess” around in high society for a long time.
Karina, who had gone through such a humiliating experience, returned from the past.
She was no longer as ignorant or foolish as she had been in the past. The innocent Grand Duchess was no longer here. Only Karina, who would later be called a villainess, was there.
“Take him away.”
“Now, listen to me for a moment!”
Abdul made a loud excuse but was dragged away by the knights who had been ordered by Jeremiah.
Karina didn’t forget Caroline’s presence at this moment.
“Oh my, why are you doing that? Abdul was the one the Princess sent for me.”
“...!”
At Karina's words, the nobles' eyes were focused on Caroline.
Caroline, who had been watching with bated breath, flinched when she felt the gazes gathering on her.
Karina also looked at Caroline with an innocent smile.
Caroline felt a chill for some reason at that smile.
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