“It’s nice to see His Highness the Second Prince often at parties these days, whether it’s the victory ceremony or the Crown Prince’s birthday party.”
“After all, since you’ve been an adult for quite some time, wouldn’t you like to see the young ladies of marriageable age in person?”
The women who already had husbands sighed in regret, and some of the young ladies who were not yet married, like Irene, could not hide their embarrassed faces from the corner seats. Some of the gossipy ladies even glanced at me.
“Speaking of His Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday party, Countess Acacia was with Grand Duke Trovica as his chaperone that day, wasn’t she?”
“I remember! He couldn't even get over his grief, but he did it at the urging of his vassal, Count Acacia...”
“After all, since you’ve been an adult for quite some time, wouldn’t you like to see the young ladies of marriageable age in person?”
The women who already had husbands sighed in regret, and some of the young ladies who were not yet married, like Irene, could not hide their embarrassed faces from the corner seats. Some of the gossipy ladies even glanced at me.
“Speaking of His Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday party, Countess Acacia was with Grand Duke Trovica as his chaperone that day, wasn’t she?”
“I remember! He couldn't even get over his grief, but he did it at the urging of his vassal, Count Acacia...”
“Madam, what is it like in reality? His Highness the Grand Duke of Trovica! Everyone says he is a difficult person to approach...”
I looked around at the eyes that sparkled with interest as I did when I was telling the story of Rhodnes. Doris also looked at me, pretending to sip her tea as if she was curious about my answer.
“...It looks like he's wearing a mask.”
“Is that a mask?”
“What mask?”
This is the mask of a terrible hypocrite. He tried to kiss the government before his dead wife's funeral was even over, and yet he appears to others as a magnanimous lord who will never be able to do so again.
“He may be wearing a cold mask, but it feels like he has a lot of wounds inside.”
The expressions of the ladies strangely rose to the surface as if the words were amplifying their fantasies about him. The ladies who heard my answer chattered again, wondering who would be the next Grand Duchess.
'The next Grand Duchess.'
My mouth, which had been chewing on the name of Rhodnes, felt like it was burnt black this time. Even before my funeral was over, other people were wondering who would be next to Noevian. Even a love full of deception must have been love at that moment. Seeing my mouth feel so bitter.
“He was known to be such a loving husband, so it will probably take some time for him to forget Her Highness the Late Grand Duchess.”
“This is just a rumor, but didn’t he ask His Majesty the Emperor with all his heart and soul to bring the body of the Grand Duchess, which should have been on display, back into the mansion?”
“I heard that he earnestly requested that he do this, saying that he did not want his wife to become a spectacle. So, His Majesty the Emperor could not refuse the request of His Excellency the Grand Duke, who is his beloved younger brother...”
One of the ladies, who was particularly talkative, glanced at the unresponsive Doris and opened her mouth to the ladies with sparkling eyes.
“There’s more gossip about that. Of course, it’s just ‘gossip’...”
“What is it?”
“The Grand Duke is having a meal with the corpse of the late Grand Duchess!”
“Hey! No way!”
“There is also a story that he goes to sleep while holding the body of the late Grand Duchess in his arms.”
“He doesn’t come out of the mansion much these days because it’s the funeral season?”
'You're talking nonsense.'
The romantic of the century, Noevian Trovica, tried to kiss his mistress before the funeral was even over and declared war by saying he would have sex with her as soon as the funeral was over.
“He was known to be such a loving husband, so it will probably take some time for him to forget Her Highness the Late Grand Duchess.”
“This is just a rumor, but didn’t he ask His Majesty the Emperor with all his heart and soul to bring the body of the Grand Duchess, which should have been on display, back into the mansion?”
“I heard that he earnestly requested that he do this, saying that he did not want his wife to become a spectacle. So, His Majesty the Emperor could not refuse the request of His Excellency the Grand Duke, who is his beloved younger brother...”
One of the ladies, who was particularly talkative, glanced at the unresponsive Doris and opened her mouth to the ladies with sparkling eyes.
“There’s more gossip about that. Of course, it’s just ‘gossip’...”
“What is it?”
“The Grand Duke is having a meal with the corpse of the late Grand Duchess!”
“Hey! No way!”
“There is also a story that he goes to sleep while holding the body of the late Grand Duchess in his arms.”
“He doesn’t come out of the mansion much these days because it’s the funeral season?”
'You're talking nonsense.'
The romantic of the century, Noevian Trovica, tried to kiss his mistress before the funeral was even over and declared war by saying he would have sex with her as soon as the funeral was over.
My mouth was itching to go crazy, but I could only smile quietly as I felt the gazes of the noble ladies and Doris scanning me.
***
The tea party broke up early, and we stopped by the Crown Princess’s palace with Doris. Noura repeatedly asked Doris if she wanted to hear information about the delegation.
“Her Majesty the Empress must be very busy.”
“It’s been a long time since a messenger came from Elacon.”
“Are the messengers coming soon?”
As I, who had been silent, asked the first question, Noura's cold face looked straight at me. It was a face that seemed to say, "Do you not know something obvious?"
“Of course. The Grand Duke himself has visited Elacon. High-ranking nobles and royalty of Elacon will visit the Empire in return.”
"Yes."
Noura shook her head, seeming even more taken aback by my refreshing answer. Then, she turned her eyes wide towards Doris as if telling her to look at my thoughtless appearance, but Doris instead gave me a very warm gaze.
“Her Majesty the Empress is busy redecorating the main conference hall, so I have decided to take charge of this welcoming ceremony.”
Noura's eyes sparkled and she immediately straightened her back.
“Her Highness the Crown Princess is hosting this event...!”
“Her Majesty the Empress must be very busy.”
“It’s been a long time since a messenger came from Elacon.”
“Are the messengers coming soon?”
As I, who had been silent, asked the first question, Noura's cold face looked straight at me. It was a face that seemed to say, "Do you not know something obvious?"
“Of course. The Grand Duke himself has visited Elacon. High-ranking nobles and royalty of Elacon will visit the Empire in return.”
"Yes."
Noura shook her head, seeming even more taken aback by my refreshing answer. Then, she turned her eyes wide towards Doris as if telling her to look at my thoughtless appearance, but Doris instead gave me a very warm gaze.
“Her Majesty the Empress is busy redecorating the main conference hall, so I have decided to take charge of this welcoming ceremony.”
Noura's eyes sparkled and she immediately straightened her back.
“Her Highness the Crown Princess is hosting this event...!”
“So I need help… … .”
“Just leave it to me, Your Highness!"
“I guess I’ll need an aide in addition to a maid now.”
"Your Highness...!"
Noura's eyes, seething with ambition, looked at her earnestly.
“I’m trying to give everyone a fair chance. Of course, Lady Irene hasn’t debuted in the social world yet, so it might be difficult for you, but I think it would be enough for you to just help the two people here.”
Doris gave me a secret look, even though she was giving everyone a fair chance. When her deep green eyes looked straight at me, I realized.
'Doris is giving me food to eat.'
The bait that would become the stepping stone for the position of Grand Duchess that she had promised me.
'It's a huge opportunity.'
I had planned to act like a blind man and gather various information, but I did not mean to handle things like a blind man. It was one thing to be a maid, but if I could successfully hold this event and catch Doris’ eye, I could become her assistant...
'I might even be able to get my hands on information that I currently cannot see or hear.'
“I will do my best.”
Hosting such events was originally the main job of the Empress, Crown Princess, or Grand Duchess with similar status. Although I have never participated because of my poor health, I have read all the event-related books in the Grand Duchess’ study to help Noevian someday. I have also hosted large and small events with Bianca at my parents’ house when there was no hostess.
“I'll be looking forward to it.”
Although not as a Grand Duchess, perhaps those efforts would finally pay off.
***
When Irene, who was busy with her debutante performance next season, disappeared, Noura called me on my way back to the palace.
“Look at me for a moment, Ma’am.”
"Great."
I readily answered and got into the carriage of Viscount Giuseppe, but the atmosphere was colder than I expected. Even though I tried not to pay attention, I was startled by the occasional glances I made with Noura. Leaving the palace, it didn’t take long to get to the central square of the capital, but the time felt really long. Without a single escort, we headed to a dessert shop near the central square.
“Are you here, Ma’am?”
“3rd floor.”
“It’s empty!”
A man with half a head bowed and greeted us. The third floor was a terrace-like space, and each had dark blackout curtains, so when the curtains were drawn, it became a secret space that no one could invade.
'It's perfect for class.'
Suddenly, that thought occurred to me, and only then did I realize that the place where I had met with Rhodnes, “Restaurant Zendica,” was right next to the terrace I had just entered. Thinking of Rhodnes, my heart grew heavy again. If I had just gone back, Rhodnes would not have been able to sleep properly either.
“The owner will bring me what I always eat, but if you don’t like it, you can ask him to bring something else.”
“Yes, I will.”
Noura narrowed her eyes again as she watched me, who was not being respectful. I didn’t often attend social events in the capital, but I knew that I would have to go someday, so I memorized the names and genealogies of the major nobles. The Viscountess Giuseppe was maintaining her family, which was on the decline, solely through Noura’s information and the jewelry store she ran. Above all, as Doris’s closest confidant, I needed to understand the reason for her ‘hostility’ toward me.
“I want to become close to Madam.”
“Yes, me too.”
To her words, which she spoke with a face that showed no desire to become friendly at all, I answered similarly, as if reflecting myself in a mirror.
“In the Knights Templar, there are senior riders and junior riders.”
“...”
“In this empire, too, married ladies are respected by unmarried young ladies.”
"Yes."
“I also clearly heard that when the envoy comes from Elacon this time, Her Highness the Crown Princess will preside over the event?”
What was she trying to say to educate me with such obvious words? I nodded silently at her words which seemed both understandable and unknowable.
“Get out of this.”
“Why?”
I was about to ask her a question, but suddenly the staff members who were bringing in desserts appeared and I shut my mouth. Noura pushed aside the staff member who was trying to pour me tea and continued talking while pouring me tea herself.
“I mean it. I've staked my life on this.”
“...What does that have to do with what you said earlier about married ladies being more respected?”
The tea dripping smoothly into the teacup trembled for a moment. Noura did not hide her expression from me as if she was wondering how I could not understand the meaning of those words.
“I became the maid of honor to the Crown Princess before Irene.”
“Why should that be a reason for me to leave?”
Doris's 'trust' itself is not my goal. When Doris entrusts me with something, my goal is to do it well, prove my usefulness, and find something that will bring down Noevian. To be honest, Noura's words 'I have staked my fate on this' do not resonate with me. That is because every moment I breathed was like that to me. I could never leave this work as Noura wanted. If I did not move, who knows when Rhodnes might kill Noevian? Since she asked me to trust her, I had to do my best in this position, no matter what.
“As expected, it seems that you cannot understand the language of the nobles, so I have no choice but to speak directly.”
Noura glared at me with a face full of contempt.
“I hate to see a rolling stone gather no moss.”
There was a moment of silence. Unlike the two cups of warm steam rising from the teapot, Noura's eyes were literally like ice. She was attacking me. For some ridiculous reason.
“Madam, you didn’t answer the first question I asked you.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
And to those who would attack me...
"Great."
I readily answered and got into the carriage of Viscount Giuseppe, but the atmosphere was colder than I expected. Even though I tried not to pay attention, I was startled by the occasional glances I made with Noura. Leaving the palace, it didn’t take long to get to the central square of the capital, but the time felt really long. Without a single escort, we headed to a dessert shop near the central square.
“Are you here, Ma’am?”
“3rd floor.”
“It’s empty!”
A man with half a head bowed and greeted us. The third floor was a terrace-like space, and each had dark blackout curtains, so when the curtains were drawn, it became a secret space that no one could invade.
'It's perfect for class.'
Suddenly, that thought occurred to me, and only then did I realize that the place where I had met with Rhodnes, “Restaurant Zendica,” was right next to the terrace I had just entered. Thinking of Rhodnes, my heart grew heavy again. If I had just gone back, Rhodnes would not have been able to sleep properly either.
“The owner will bring me what I always eat, but if you don’t like it, you can ask him to bring something else.”
“Yes, I will.”
Noura narrowed her eyes again as she watched me, who was not being respectful. I didn’t often attend social events in the capital, but I knew that I would have to go someday, so I memorized the names and genealogies of the major nobles. The Viscountess Giuseppe was maintaining her family, which was on the decline, solely through Noura’s information and the jewelry store she ran. Above all, as Doris’s closest confidant, I needed to understand the reason for her ‘hostility’ toward me.
“I want to become close to Madam.”
“Yes, me too.”
To her words, which she spoke with a face that showed no desire to become friendly at all, I answered similarly, as if reflecting myself in a mirror.
“In the Knights Templar, there are senior riders and junior riders.”
“...”
“In this empire, too, married ladies are respected by unmarried young ladies.”
"Yes."
“I also clearly heard that when the envoy comes from Elacon this time, Her Highness the Crown Princess will preside over the event?”
What was she trying to say to educate me with such obvious words? I nodded silently at her words which seemed both understandable and unknowable.
“Get out of this.”
“Why?”
I was about to ask her a question, but suddenly the staff members who were bringing in desserts appeared and I shut my mouth. Noura pushed aside the staff member who was trying to pour me tea and continued talking while pouring me tea herself.
“I mean it. I've staked my life on this.”
“...What does that have to do with what you said earlier about married ladies being more respected?”
The tea dripping smoothly into the teacup trembled for a moment. Noura did not hide her expression from me as if she was wondering how I could not understand the meaning of those words.
“I became the maid of honor to the Crown Princess before Irene.”
“Why should that be a reason for me to leave?”
Doris's 'trust' itself is not my goal. When Doris entrusts me with something, my goal is to do it well, prove my usefulness, and find something that will bring down Noevian. To be honest, Noura's words 'I have staked my fate on this' do not resonate with me. That is because every moment I breathed was like that to me. I could never leave this work as Noura wanted. If I did not move, who knows when Rhodnes might kill Noevian? Since she asked me to trust her, I had to do my best in this position, no matter what.
“As expected, it seems that you cannot understand the language of the nobles, so I have no choice but to speak directly.”
Noura glared at me with a face full of contempt.
“I hate to see a rolling stone gather no moss.”
There was a moment of silence. Unlike the two cups of warm steam rising from the teapot, Noura's eyes were literally like ice. She was attacking me. For some ridiculous reason.
“Madam, you didn’t answer the first question I asked you.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
And to those who would attack me...
“What does that have to do with the knights and married ladies you mentioned earlier?”
The best thing was to play like a fool.
“....It means to respect elders. It means to respect me who came in first.”
“But I am neither a knight nor an unmarried young lady.”
Noura stared blankly at me without even thinking about reaching out to the cooling teacup. It seemed like she was trying to teach me a lesson and give me a warning, but when I couldn't understand what she was saying, she seemed to lose her cool.
“And my husband, Count Acacia, is older than you.”
I slapped her cheek with a voice that seemed oblivious to the fact that I had been slapped. Noura Giuseppe stared at me with eyes that looked like she had really been slapped.
“If we really have to be specific, my husband’s status and age are both higher than yours.”
And I had no intention of doing as this woman wished.
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