A few days after I officially became Duchess Albrenovitch and began to live in the mansion of Albrenovic, letters began to fly in with the words 'To Duchess Albrenovic.' Of course, the first thing that came was the emperor's tearful greeting letter when he heard about the chandelier incident. After sending a reply to the Emperor, party invitations began to fly.
The invitations first went through Malcolm, the butler, and then through Betty, the Duchess's direct maid, and only the right ones came up to me. Thus, not a single invitation came to me during those days.
When I asked why, Betty replied:
"Because they are all miscellaneous invitations from miscellaneous families."
Betty's scathing answer made me hesitate a little.
"Miscellaneous?"
"There is a strict class among the nobility. You should hang out with people who are suitable for your status. Therefore, there is no need for you to accept such a false invitation."
"Then I can't go anywhere?"
"That's a bit... It's a problem."
Betty wrapped her head in pain. It wasn't unexpected. Some people had already changed their posture and treated me kindly before marriage, but the nose of the great aristocrats that Betty called 'fit the class' was beyond Imagination. The problem was that things would gradually change over time, but not yet. The nobles will need time to search for Duchess Albrenovic, who is confined to a villa palace and suddenly confronts Princess Lena one day.
'But if you want to explore, you have to see her face at a party or anywhere, right?'
Being really a nobleman was frustrating. I felt that I couldn't just stay still until the frustrated people found me. The Duchess's duties included helping the Duke through social activities.
'Besides, Brandt doesn't know...!'
I couldn't blow away this good opportunity for outside activities. I had a mistake. I had to do something.
After lunch, I discussed the issue of liberal arts education with the head maid, Kreisel. I thought that no matter where I was called, I had to be ready to leave immediately. Kreisel, who was well aware of Edita's situation, who was far from the social circle when she was a lady, said as if she had been waiting.
"Why don't you let Malcolm and me help you without any hassle? The two of us have brought the Duchess of Albrenovic with us, so we know the culture and etiquette befitting the Duchess."
"Can I tell you something?"
Betty stepped forward carefully.
"Wouldn't it be better for you to get help from the ladies? Of course, I think your choice is important."
Kreisel waited for my reply without showing any signs of displeasure at the young maid's comment on her.
"Betty. Is there a lady you would recommend to me?"
"I heard that the Countess of Winslet is well-educated and well-versed in social circles.'
"Countess Winslet is not allowed."
Kreisel, who had never shown any objection to Betty's words, said firmly. Betty looked a little tired of her cover.
"Why can't Countess Winslet?"
"It is good to have a friendship with the Countess of Winslet. As Betty said, she knows a lot and is well-versed in the social world. However, you should keep in mind that she is always at the center of the story."
I thought I knew what she was worried about.
"If so, you might be able to talk about what happened while you were in charge of my education."
"That's why Malcolm and I wanted to help you ourselves."
Kreisel was right. I thanked Kreisel, saying that I would do as Kreisel wanted. I was worried that my words would leak out as she said, and I thought that the help they gave me, who had been in charge of Duchess Albrenovic before, was what I really needed.
But Betty seemed to have a different idea.
"It's my mistake to talk about Madam Winslet, but I'm worried about the chief maid and the butler educating you."
"Why? Do you think they will use the excuse that they have become my teacher?"
I asked with a soft smile. Betty nodded in surprise, as if she had hit the nail on the head.
"Have you already considered all of that and agreed?"
"Madame Kreisel and Malcolm are more than mere hired servants; they are vassals of the nobles. It may be difficult to handle, but it is not impossible at my discretion. But the Countess's tongue is something I can't do."
I added so that Betty wouldn't be discouraged.
"Thank you so much for thinking of me. This time, I just thought Kreisel's idea was a little better."
"I'm fine. I just didn't expect you to think so much. I'm ashamed that I was worried for nothing."
Kreisel and Malcolm were formidable employees, but they were important figures who could not be avoided. If there was an opportunity, I was in a position to be happy.
At that time, the maids came into the Duchess's room where we were with a beautiful white flower. When about 10 maids put down a beautiful flower each, my room quickly became a flower garden. The strong fragrance spread enchantingly.
"This is the apodilla that the Duke sent to the lady."
"His Excellency?"
I was puzzled by the maid's words. The necklace I received the day after the wedding was also amazing, but these flowers were really raw. The maids brought vases and other items, filled the room with white flowers called apodillas, and then withdrew.
"He sent flowers! It's so romantic. I didn't know that there was such a side to the Duke. He always gets flowers if he gets them, but he's not the one who sends them."
A raw fat is a raw fat, and a flower is a flower. Betty's fuss put a stiffness in her shoulders.
I tried to lower my shoulders and plucked a flower from the vase, and smelled the fragrance.
But this flower, with rounded overlapping leaves and only the flower tassels, looks like I've seen it a lot somewhere...
"Ma'am, do you know the legend of Apodilla?"
Just in time, Betty asked.
"Legend? Let me see. I don't know."
"Oh my God! Don't you know? There was a beautiful boy named Apodilla, who was also favored by the god of selflessness. But one day, this boy fell in love with his reflection in the pond. Apodilla was so beautiful that he died looking at the pond without eating anything. Isn't that stupid? The flower that bloomed at the place where the boy died is this apodilla, which is the same as the boy's name. Hohoho."
The corners of my eyes pricked up as I heard Betty's innocent laughter
'I think this is similar to the legend of Narcissus... right?'
It is the story of a beautiful boy who died of narcissism. Come to think of it, the flower called apodilla also looks very similar to daffodils. This is unbelievable...
'Did you send me to make fun of me that I am now in a state of self-indulgence?'
When I suddenly realized Brandt's Intention to send a flower gift, I felt heat coming out of my ears. The strong floral scent, which had been fragrant until now, felt shallow.
"Ma'am, your face turned red. Are you so happy?"
Betty, who couldn't figure out what was going on, asked with a laugh.
"Ah, ha, ha, I'm so happy. I received all these flowers. I'm so excited that I want to win one."
"Yes?"
"Oh, no. But is the Duke good at playing pranks in the first place?"
"No way! How serious he is."
It's a serious prank, so this is it.
I promised that if the relationship improved enough to give him a bean in the future, he would pay it back as well.
'The reasons to get along with Brandt are increasing one by one.'
As I gritted my teeth and looked at the flowers, I was suddenly surprised that such a loose prank was going on between us, who were stiff.
"Ma'am, a letter has arrived from the Imperial palace."
Just as I was contemplating ordering the maids to put away the apodilla, one of the servants politely brought me a letter envelope with a gold rim. Unlike other letters, the letter from the imperial palace was sent to me immediately by the butler. Malcolm, who checked whether it was forged and safe.
"Did His Majesty send it?"
However, the envelope had the sender written on it for the first time.
"Countess of Serie?"
"I think Madame Janet is back, right?"
Betty said in a hoarse voice. This lady seemed to be someone Edita should know, so I nodded weakly.
"That's right. I think she has already returned."
"Not already."
Betty was stunned by my foot acting.
"She has been in a monastery in Cherchire for several years. But why did Madame write to you?"
It was a letter from the Countess from the Imperial Palace. I was curious, so I quickly opened the envelope. What came out of the letter was an Invitation form used in the imperial palace. However, it was simpler than what the imperial family used.
The content was that the Countess of Serie was holding a ball at the imperial palace and asked me to attend.
Finally, I was invited to a proper party!
I looked at Betty with excitement. However, her complexion was not good.
"As soon as she returns to the palace, she will start with a ball. No matter how His Majesty's government is, it is too debauched."
"What?"
"That's right. In fact, there are rumors that His Majesty sent her to recuperation not because of her health, but because of the luxury. How bad was it to send a message to the government that had been going around for several years? But she still can't come to my senses and come back and start a party again."
Betty's disgruntled accusations were no longer on my ears.
I remembered the warm yet cool face of the Emperor, who was smiling brightly with his faded blonde beard fluttering.
For him, Edita's mother was the love of his life. And he was so nervous that he had already let another woman in behind him? How many years has it taken?
I looked at the invitation once again in disbelief and shook my head slightly.
There is no one in the world to trust!
***
05. Masquerade
The information about Madame Janet obtained by the newspaper from Betty was quite embarrassing.
Coming from a fallen aristocracy, she first appeared at the imperial palace, holding the hand of young Edita, who had lost her mother. It is not known why Madame Janet entered the palace with Edita at that time, but it is said that she won the Emperor's favor and became his mistress after that.
In other words, I had to pretend to know, and I had to pretend to know a lot.
It would be nice to have Madame Marie by my side at times like this, but Madame Marie didn't know that Madame Janet, who had left for a monastery to recuperate many years ago, would already return. She didn't tell me anything about her.
There were rumors that the reason she went to the monastery, as Betty said, was not actually because of recuperation, but because of the Emperor's dismissal. However, as soon as she returned, she held a ball in her name at the imperial palace, so such rumors would be dispelled to some extent.
Her husband, the Count of Serie, died five years ago and had no children. Instead, he had adopted sons, and he was right...
"The Count of Serie!"
It was a mountain over a mountain. The Count of Serie was a man who complained that I did not recognize him at the wedding reception. To put it nicely, It was a fight, but it was almost a fight.
'I thought he was simply an old friend of Orleans, but he is even Janet's adopted son.'
While I was in trouble, I heard the sound of the door opening.
"Ma'am, this is the 'aristocratic handbook' you requested."
Malcolm said as he entered the drawing room with five or six thick books.
"Thank you. Thank you for your hard work..."
Before I could finish speaking, the servants came in with a similar number of books as Malcolm had brought.
"...That's it."
Madam Janet's Imperial Ball was my debut in the social world. Since I didn't have enough connections or knowledge, I thought that I would rather memorize all the nobles and related information in the aristocratic handbook.
I didn't expect that it would bring such a huge result.
How many times did Malcolm ask, 'Ma'am, are you serious?' I should have noticed the intention.
"This is... Are they all aristocratic manuals?"
"The one I brought is the latest version, and the other servants have brought the old version, but there is a lot of good information in the old version, so I have been struggling to obtain it. Nobles are bound to dwell on past glory."
Malcolm wrinkled his eyes in a tone of 'Did a good job?'
"Thank you so much, Malcolm. And thank you, Grid, Parcell, and Rael, for your hard work in bringing it together."
"Thank you, Ma'am."
The three servants, who didn't know I knew their names, bowed their heads in surprise. Malcolm nodded proudly and left the parlor with them.
Betty, who had placed the latest edition of the aristocratic handbook on the table, shook her head.
"Ma'am. You don't even need to know the names of those low-level employees."
"Even if you are a low-level employee, it is definitely a part of the mansion. As far as within the mansion, there is no need to know who is more important and who is less important."
"Still. This aristocratic handbook also only needs to memorize the main figures. As I said, you just need to interact with people who match your status."
"I don't really know what that is."
Betty's eyes widened at my feet.
"What do you mean by that, ma'am?"
"Isn't it good to know people who lack dignity or who think they are less important? I don't want to share a topic I don't know anything about."
Betty's expression as she listened to me was a bit strange. I was so sorry that I gently held the back of her rough hand.
"Of course, I know you're saying this because you're worried about me. But I really don't know anything, so it's not too late to find out and then make a decision."
"Yes, ma'am, you're right. I was short-sighted."
Betty, who nodded in agreement, put down a copy of the aristocratic manual.
"I'll keep an eye on how well you memorize it."
"Even though I've been like this, my memorization skills are excellent."
I clenched my fist in response to her mischievous eyes. The cramming skills accumulated over the years have not yet rusted.
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