'She's thanking me!'
She deliberately didn't step forward herself. It felt like she would become a national hero if she saved her.
However, while the degree may differ, the conclusion was the same.
How did things end up like this again?
Mary approached Erencia with a flushed face, looking as if she were about to confess her feelings; it was distinctly different from the blush she gets when angry.
Erencia racked her brains to get out of this crisis.
It would be a disaster if I received a thank you. It would be troublesome if helping her became a fait accompli!
I have to do something that makes her lose the desire to thank me before she actually says thank you.
Erencia's heart raced. Her eyes busily scanned Mary.
Come to think of it, Mary's attire was a mess.
She had large ribbons dangling from both shoulders, her waist, and the hem of her skirt, as if she were wrapped in a gift.
On top of that, her ridiculously puffed-up hair, earrings, and necklace—her accessories were large and flashy. That's it!
As Mary took another step closer, Erencia raised her hand to block her movement.
"Who told you to wear such a tacky dress?"
"Yes, yes?"
"Tie all those ribbons off! You're not a 13-year-old girl, so why are you wearing such tacky things? And the necklace and earrings. I told you to pick just one. It's too much, way too much. No matter how wealthy the Count of Herodt is, wealth isn't something you show off with jewelry."
After pouring it all out, she felt a little sorry. Mary probably spent a fortune and a lot of time decorating it... But a mess is a mess.
I went this far, so your pride must have been hurt, and you must have been a bit upset, right?
So, the look in her eyes needs to completely change, but...
"Would you give me a knife, Lady Victorina?"
Instead, Mary straightened her shoulders and made a request to Victorina, who had returned from dancing.
Victorina ordered a passing servant to bring her a knife.
The servant quickly brought a knife and held it out to Mary.
Mary picked up the knife.
No way, are you trying to stab me with that? Th-that's a bit much.
Erencia unconsciously grabbed Euclid's forearm tightly.
Still, since I'm your partner, you should be able to block at least some clumsy attacks, right?
Whenever Erencia heard the mention of a handkerchief, she thought of Euclid and decided to trust him.
"And the same goes for your hair. That overly voluminous hair only makes you look smaller. Your maid is terrible!"
As she drove in the final wedge, instead of the expected crying, she heard the rustling sound of a knife cutting through the fabric.
"Mary!"
Victorina and Erencia shouted at the same time.
Thump, thump, thump.
A large ribbon fell to the floor. It was the ridiculous ribbon that had been hanging from the shoulders and waist.
Mary did not stop and bent down to try to remove the ribbon attached to the hem of her skirt as well.
"Stop!"
Erencia grabbed Mary's hand.
“Stop it.”
"You said it wasn't very good..."
Mary asked back innocently, with a sincere look in her eyes as if she would believe anything Erencia said from now on, even if it was dog poop.
"It looks cheap if you tear off the ribbon from the skirt as well."
I meant it. The ribbon was a bit excessive, but if you took it all off, the clothes would look shabby.
“Is that so?”
Mary put the knife down on the table without hesitation. Mary smiled at Erencia, and Erencia let out a deep sigh with a bewildered expression.
“Oh. That’s awesome!”
It was Victorina who broke the strange atmosphere.
"It's much better than before! Actually, I thought something was off when I saw Mary earlier. It was the ribbon! As expected, Lady Erencia's eyes are accurate!"
‘It’s much better in my opinion.’
Erencia smiled bitterly as she looked at Mary's dress—which was suddenly much better—though it could not be called a wonderful dress, not even as a compliment.
"As for me, how about me?"
Victorina spun around in front of Erencia.
Victorina's outfit wasn't bad. If she had to nitpick, it was that the quality of the fabric wasn't good.
Did you buy a cheap one?
"Yes, if Mary doesn't work out, then Victorina," Erencia cleared her throat.
"Victorina, didn't you invest too little in the dress?"
This time, I'll use money to hold you back.
"With such a cheap dress..."
“I was tricked!”
Victorina shouted.
"I bought this for 400 silver coins, Lady Erencia."
Judging solely by the quality of the fabric, it would be a waste even to pay half the price.
She heard there is a shop that inflates prices to take advantage of naive young ladies, and it looks like Victorina fell for it.
It has long been said that she is naive.
"I'm going to go confront them right now! Thank you, Lady Erencia!"
The banquet wasn't over yet, but Victorina left, saying she couldn't stay in the hall any longer wearing such an embarrassing dress.
Mary bowed her head toward the dazed Erencia.
"I'll come visit to thank you next time. Have a great time."
Mary also drifted away. People's interest faded as the commotion subsided.
Only Euclid remained by Erencia's side now. Erencia still had a dazed look on her face.
“Just now.”
Erencia spoke to Euclid. It seems everyone is deceiving her.
Could it be that they are pretending not to be hurt even though they are, just to curry favor with the Novelita family?
In that case, Euclid, who has no need to impress her, will tell her honestly.
"Just now. Didn't I look really mean?"
"Not at all."
Euclid's answer came out without a moment's hesitation.
"Nothing?"
“You were very friendly.”
There wasn't a single lie in his words. Erencia felt like grabbing him and begging him to tell her she was like a villain, even if it was a lie.
“I ruined it.”
Erencia muttered softly.
Euclid's eyes deepened as he looked at Erencia.
***
After the commotion subsided, Erencia danced with Euclid for a while and leaned against one wall.
Erencia harshly refused those who asked her to dance.
She chose to be alone. She wiped the smile from her lips and straightened her back.
It seemed she would have to give up on talking to anyone today.
After going through the incident with Victorina and Mary, Erencia lost her motivation.
A foreboding feeling struck her that she wouldn't be able to fight with anyone, no matter what she said.
She decided that instead, it would be better to build an image of being cold and aloof, the kind of person who would get a talking-to if you spoke to them.
Fortunately, perhaps her intentions worked, as no one approached her.
"It's your debutante, shouldn't you at least greet everyone?"
"Aren't you the one who needs to work?"
Euclid stood beside Erencia, sipping champagne, without moving an inch while the dance music changed three times.
Euclid shrugged his shoulders.
Euclid felt comfortable next to Erencia.
Perhaps because the partner was Novellita's daughter, who is known for being unforgiving once she sets her sights on someone, the sly old men who usually approached with bloodshot eyes, trying to pair up daughters from various families they knew, did not even come near.
"It's nice. Being a partner. Thank you for coming with me today."
Erencia was surprised.
She never expected to hear the word "thank you" come out of Euclid's mouth.
Didn't you get indigestion from the food you ate earlier?
"Ah... Well... Um..."
"Euclid!"
As Erencia stammered, searching for a word to reply, Barlos looked for Euclid.
Euclid gave Erencia a picturesque smile.
"Let's come together again next time."
Euclid walked away. Erencia ruminated on Euclid's words over and over again.
“Together again?”
It's absurd.
But she doesn't think it would be bad.
As Erencia gazed at Euclid's broad back receding into the distance, she thought of him who had stayed by her side throughout the banquet.
Even though he was not pleased with her, he came to pick her up himself and took her side even in front of Empress Lillie.
He did not leave her even after sharing a meal that violated banquet etiquette and completing his partner's final duty of dancing.
And hands...
She recalled the warm sensation of his hand hovering near her back.
It seems his big, hot hand is still near her back.
Erencia's solar plexus felt ticklish.
***
"Lia! Didn't I tell you many times that's not the case? I told you not to use just any rag when cleaning the windowsill here, but to use a special cloth for dust removal, didn't I? How many times do I have to tell you that if you do that, you can clean it in one go without having to wipe it three or four times?"
Erencia was diligent from dawn. She even demonstrated by holding a mop in her hand and wiping the windowsill herself.
And Lia irritably dropped the rag onto the windowsill, making the maid feel embarrassed.
She saw Lia flinch and tremble.
'Phew. I finally did something for the first time in a while.'
Erencia felt a sense of pride as she watched Lia's eyes widen.
"Don't use that trashy rag anymore. Understand?"
“Yes, Miss.”
Lia bowed her head deeply. Seeing the tears in the corners of Lia's eyes, Erencia smiled inwardly.
'It's a refreshing morning.'
As Erencia returned to her room with a big smile, the maids approached Lia.
“Lia, are you okay?”
Unlike the usual soft-spoken ladies, Erencia's voice was very loud.
It was only natural that the maids approached at the loud noise. The maids put their arms around Lia's shoulders.
"Of course it's fine."
“Are you scolded?”
"No way! The young lady taught me a way to do the work more easily and quickly."
"Really?"
“Yeah, look at this!”
Lia wiped the window sill with the special dust-removing cloths that Erencia had tossed around for her to use.
The dust on the window frame disappeared after wiping it just once.
"Wow! You brought this, Miss?"
"Yeah. I'm telling you, she gave it to me personally. She pretended to scold me, perhaps because she felt embarrassed, but I completely understand her feelings."
Lia's face turned red as she clutched the mop.
"Our young lady will become a wonderful head of the household."
The maids nodded at Lia's words.
"I just had a good idea!"
Lia's eyes sparkled.
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