Episode 24. Why? What's Wrong with Me?!
After the meal, the people moved to the study. As Viscount Muller stepped out the door, he said to Claude.
"Duke of Valois, the meal today was magnificent."
Claude replied.
"Because of the chicken?"
"Because of the chicken."
They exchanged a brief glance. Claude said.
"She wasn't always like this."
Viscount Muller watched Martha walk away and said.
"She looks better now."
Claude remained silent. Viscount Muller added.
"To be honest, I had some reservations before coming here today. It was a bit overwhelming since both the House of Valois and the House of Ashford were contacting me at the same time."
Claude looked at Viscount Muller. Viscount Muller said.
"But seeing the chicken being butchered, my worries disappeared."
"...Why?"
"Someone who acts so unhesitatingly isn't someone who hides something inside."
Claude glanced at Martha's retreating figure for a moment and spoke in a low voice.
"You're right."
Everyone gathered in the study. Claude, Isabella, Edward, Martha. Leon, the Duke of Ashford. Viscount Muller and Lily. Lily sat quietly beside her father. Her face showed she understood the significance of the occasion. Martha recounted the details she had gathered so far, one by one. That the Golden Lion Merchant Guild was operated by the Duke of Kreuz. That income from the estates of various noble families was flowing into that guild. That estate managers like Felix Holm were systematically planted within. And that Imperial Swordsmen were moving to conceal the mastermind behind it all.
Viscount Muller's expression changed as he listened. When the story ended, Viscount Muller said.
"So that is how the Golden Lion Merchant Guild has been operating."
Martha replied.
"Your guild could be the same target. After all, it is the Empire's fifth-largest guild. The larger the scale, the greater the possibility of becoming a target."
Viscount Muller thought for a moment and said.
"The reason I have remained neutral is that I could not make a judgment on either side."
"And now?"
Viscount Muller looked at Martha. Then he looked at the Duke of Ashford. He looked at Claude. And then he looked at Martha again.
"I think I have made a judgment."
Martha nodded. Viscount Muller continued.
"May I ask just one thing?"
"Go ahead."
"How do you plan to respond to high society? If the Golden Lion Merchant Guild is shaking the finances of the noble families, then public opinion in high society is another front. If the Kreuz side extends its reach into high society as well..."
The study fell silent for a moment. The Duke of Ashford spoke.
"That is the part I was thinking about as well."
Claude said.
"To move high society, you need a family with influence there."
As she listened, Martha thought. Bianca. The Marquisate of Drua. The Queen of High Society. With the intelligence network and influence Bianca possessed, she could play a pivotal role in grasping the flow of high society and responding to it. And even now, she is fully fulfilling that role and acting as a central figure in high society. But at the same time. The Empress's faction must know that, too.
The moment that thought crossed her mind, Martha's brow furrowed. Leon said.
"If the Empress's side aims to seize control of high society, there is a possibility they will target the Marquisate of Drua."
The study fell silent again. Martha asked,
"Bianca?"
Leon looked at her.
"The Marquisate of Drua holds an unrivaled position in society. They will attempt one of the two: either draw that family to the Kreuz side or isolate them."
As she listened, Martha thought to herself. To think of Bianca. The moment that thought occurred to her, Martha realized she cared about Bianca much more than she had thought.
At first, she had just thought of her as a young lady. Now, she had become a bit of a concern. Martha looked around the study as she sorted out her thoughts. Duke Ashford said.
"In that case, they would need someone in high society to support the Marquisate of Drois. Someone who can stand against the influence of the Kreuz side."
Claude said.
"You mean they need a flower of high society."
The Duke of Ashford nodded. Then he looked at Martha. Claude looked at Martha. Viscount Muller looked at Martha. Receiving those gazes, Martha thought. Are they looking at me? As expected, everyone was thinking of me.
Claude said.
"If Serena establishes herself properly in society, couldn't she support the Marquisate of Drua from the sidelines?"
The Duke of Ashford said.
"It is entirely possible if the House of Valois regains its former standing."
Viscount Muller said.
"A Princess of Valois would certainly have enough influence in society."
Listening to this, Martha thought to herself. Serena as the flower of society. Is it finally time for me to step forward?
Just then, Edward suddenly coughed. Everyone looked at Edward. Edward said
"Excuse me, may I ask you one thing?"
Claude said.
"Go ahead."
Edward looked at Martha and said.
"For Serena to become the flower of society, she needs to have a good image in society."
"That is true."
"Considering everything that has happened so far."
Edward said, folding his fingers.
"When you got drunk and screamed in public during the broken engagement with Prince Leon."
Leon looked at Edward.
"When you flirted with two young noblemen at the same time during the Imperial Palace event."
Martha looked at Edward.
"The rumors that you were too pushy with the Crown Prince."
Claude rubbed his forehead.
"Because she has been ostracized from society by Bianca of the Marquis de Drua."
Isabella lowered her gaze.
"Because she accumulated huge debt buying luxury goods after the broken engagement."
Edward said, folding all his fingers.
"Her reputation in society isn't exactly good right now. Honestly."
The study was silent. Claude remained silent. The Duke of Ashford remained silent. Viscount Muller slightly averted his gaze. Martha looked at Edward, then looked back at the elders.
"What is with this silence? Why?? What??? What is wrong with me?! Those are all past mistakes. I've become a new person now."
The adults each wore thoughtful expressions, and those thoughts were all pointing in the same direction. They are conceding a point.
Martha thought to herself. Claude said.
"... That will take a little more time."
The Duke of Ashford said.
"There is no need to rush."
Viscount Muller said.
"We can recover step by step."
Hearing this, Martha said.
"Will I recover by the time I'm an old woman?"
Everyone looked at Martha. Martha said.
"I don't have such a dream either, so for now. May I talk about Miss Bianca first?"
Claude said.
"Go ahead."
Martha thought for a moment and then spoke.
"If the Empress's side targets the Marquisate of Drua, there would be two methods. Draw them in, or isolate them."
"Do you know the surest way to win them over?"
Leon asked.
"A Crown Princess."
Martha nodded.
"If they take the eldest daughter of the Marquis de Drua as the Crown Princess, the Drua family will naturally become part of the Kreuz side. Their influence in high society will come over with it, too."
The study fell silent. Isabella spoke.
"Are you saying Bianca could become the Crown Princess?"
"There is a possibility."
"As the eldest daughter of a Marquis, she qualifies to be the Crown Princess, and with her social influence as well, it is understandable that the Kreuz side would covet her."
Claude said.
"Then that means we have to prevent Miss Bianca from going over to them."
Martha said.
"Before that, there is one thing we need to confirm."
"Something."
Martha said.
"Whether Miss Bianca wants to become the Crown Princess."
The study paused briefly. The Duke of Ashford said.
"How can we verify that?"
Martha said.
"We can just ask her directly."
Everyone looked at Martha. Receiving their gazes, Martha said.
"I will ask her."
"To Bianca."
Claude looked at Martha for a moment before speaking.
"Do you think that young lady will answer honestly?"
"I think she will."
"Why?"
Martha thought about Bianca for a moment. She was a girl who was sharp-tongued, picked fights, and seemed to value her reputation, yet would correct herself if pointed out how to hold a teacup. She avoided eye contact when her hair was patted, but she didn't say she disliked it. She was a girl who revealed herself confidently rather than hiding or putting on a facade. Regardless of how things were between them in the past, they had grown closer than before...
"That young lady is the type who pretends to speak indirectly but eventually turns out to be honest."
Claude looked at Martha for a moment and nodded.
"Then go ahead and meet her."
Martha nodded. Then Viscount Muller spoke.
"Your approach is interesting, Princess."
"Asking directly..."
Martha looked at Viscount Muller.
"It is faster to ask directly and confirm than to try to find out indirectly and risk things going wrong."
Viscount Muller thought for a moment as he heard this, then nodded.
"You are right."
The meeting ended. As people left the study, they each spoke to one another. Claude and the Duke of Ashford walked ahead, speaking in hushed tones. Viscount Muller spoke to Martha.
"My Princess."
Martha looked at Viscount Muller. Viscount Muller said.
"I am glad I came today."
Martha said.
"I also think it was a very good decision to see you today, Viscount."
Viscount Muller said.
"May I see you again?"
"Anytime."
Viscount Muller nodded and walked ahead. Lily remained beside Martha and spoke.
"My Princess."
"What is it?"
"I think my Dad liked it today."
Martha looked at Lily.
"The Viscount?"
"Yes."
"When Dad likes people, he speaks like that. Asking if he can see them again."
Hearing this, Martha thought to herself.
'He's a good person.'
Lily said.
"Do you like my Dad too, Princess?"
Martha looked at Lily.
"Yes."
"That's a relief."
Lily smiled brightly. Viscount Muller and his daughter left. As Lily boarded the carriage, she told Martha.
"I'll come back after eating meat. Then I should prepare a dessert, full of nutrients."
Lily looked at Martha one more time before getting into the carriage. The carriage door closed, and the carriage began to move. Watching the carriage, Martha thought.
'That's good.'
Edward spoke beside Martha.
"What was the chicken butchering today?"
"Chicken butchering is chicken butchering."
"In front of the nobles."
"You have to do it quickly so the meat stays fresh."
Edward looked at Martha, chuckled, and went inside the mansion. Leon looked at Martha as he boarded the carriage. Martha looked at Leon. Leon said.
"It was a chicken neck."
"Did you eat it?"
"I ate it all."
"Was it delicious?"
Leon looked at Martha.
"It was just okay."
Martha said.
"Next time, I'll give you a leg."
Leon looked at Martha. Something passed through his eyes. Leon boarded the carriage without a word. The carriage door closed. Martha watched all the carriages leave, then entered the mansion. Lucy followed and said.
"My Lady."
"What is it?"
"Did you do that on purpose, giving the chicken neck to Young Master Leon today?"
Martha looked at Lucy.
"What's wrong with a chicken neck?"
"There isn't much to gnaw on."
"It's not that there isn't anything to gnaw on. There is just a little."
"Isn't that the same thing?"
Martha said as she climbed the stairs.
"It feels satisfying to eat everything attached to the neck. It makes my heart feel good."
Lucy thought for a moment and said.
"So you really did give it to him on purpose."
Martha did not answer. Lucy took out her notebook and jotted things down. Martha walked to her chambers, thinking to herself.
Viscount Muller said he had made up his mind. She could just ask Bianca directly.
Done. That's enough for today. A lot for one chicken.
[Lucy's Secret Shock Journal - Episode 24]
There was a meeting in the study today.
Shock No. 1: Talk came up that the Empress's side might target Miss Bianca. Either bring her in as the Crown Princess or isolate her. My hands grew cold at the mention of that. Miss Bianca becoming the Crown Princess?
Shock No. 2: The elders suggested grooming the Princess to be the flower of high society. The moment those words came out, Young Master Edward coughed.
Shock No. 3: The Young Master listed the Princess's past mishaps, folding them with his fingers. Shouting during the broken engagement, flirting with two young men at a palace event, hitting on the Crown Prince, and buying luxury goods while in debt. The elders fell silent as each one was mentioned.
Shock No. 4: In the end, the elders gave in. They said, "It seems you will need some time."
Shock No. 5: At that, the Princess flared up in anger. "What is wrong with me?" The study froze.
Shock No. 6: As Viscount Muller was leaving, he told the Princess, "I am glad you came today."
A chicken engaged in diplomacy. I asked if it was intentional that the chicken neck went to Prince Leon today, but she didn't answer. It seems intentional.
She said she would give him a leg next time. Princess, what does that mean?
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