Although it was a shame to lose a client, there was no real loss. The mines owned by Count Baggins were gradually running out of resources. In any case, business with the Count's family was bound to decrease over time.
'Moreover, the financial situation was not good either...'
Recalling the regular reports from above, I completely lost interest in Countess Baggins.
"How long do you plan to stay in the capital, Levina?"
"Even the New Year's party."
"Are you staying at the Marquis Engrail's mansion in the meantime?"
"Yes. The Marchioness was considerate."
Levina and the Marchioness Engrail were cousins in private. This was because the Second Prince and the Marchioness Engrail shared the same mother.
"You came to the capital for your social debut, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"That's a shame. If I had met Levina earlier, I would have invited you to my coming-of-age ceremony."
"Ah. No, not at all. I'm actually glad to be getting closer to Bjornne, even now."
The sight of her shaking her head back and forth, her chubby cheeks flushed red because she hadn't lost her baby fat yet, somehow reminded me of a hamster.
'Dogs, cats, and even hamsters. For some reason, it feels like only animals are drawn to me.'
A faint smile escaped my lips as I pictured Landt, with his dark brown eyes sparkling and his tail wagging at me, and Sis, who was like a cat wearing a beast's mask.
It wasn't bad to see Levina's thoughts immediately reflected on her face. Her age-appropriate innocence even looked a little lovely.
'Unlike her, you know.'
Her image overlapped Levina's face. As I recalled her smiling innocently at Sis, I felt my blood run cold in an instant.
"Oh, did you hear the rumor?"
"What is the rumor?"
Someone sitting at another table clapped their hands as if suddenly remembering something, drawing attention. It was an action clearly intended to get them to pay attention to what she was saying. Just as she intended, the women, who had been chatting amongst themselves, stopped their gossip and began to focus on her.
"I heard that Duke Deisha has come up to the capital."
"Oh my, Duke Deisha?"
"Oh my god!"
The women made a fuss as if they were hearing the story for the first time.
It had already been several days since Duke Deisha had arrived in the capital. Unless one lived with their ears completely shut to rumors, everyone knew about them. Still, there was a separate reason for the fuss.
"For what reason did the Duke come up to the capital?"
Someone raised a question as if speaking on behalf of everyone.
Unlike Duke Deisha, who caused a stir throughout the capital merely by revealing himself, inside the palace, he was practically living in seclusion.
Many tried to enter the palace to meet him, but the Duke repeatedly refused their requests. They pricked up their ears to find out even one more thing about Duke Deisha.
"It is a story I heard, too, but..."
The woman who had first brought up the topic lowered her voice as if speaking of something secret.
"I heard it was because of Lady Deisha's debut in high society."
"Good heavens! Duke Deisha had a daughter?"
"When on earth did he get married?"
As I listened to the women's conversation, I recalled the materials regarding Duke Deisha.
There was little information available about the Duke. Even that much could only be gathered because it was the Pison Merchant Guild. Most of the details regarding Duke Deisha were shrouded in mystery. In particular, not even a clue could be found regarding the Duchess.
'So much so that it makes you doubt if the person actually exists.'
It was impossible to know when or with whom the Duke had married, or even whether the Duke's daughter was the Duke's biological daughter.
'I mean, it's so clean that it actually looks unnatural.'
It was even more suspicious because it seemed to blatantly reveal that something was being hidden.
"Come to think of it, Lady Elliot, you have met His Excellency the Duke, haven't you?"
It was already common knowledge among those in the know that Duke Deisha had visited the Elliott family. He did not hide the fact that he had visited, and from my perspective, it was not something I needed to hide either.
"Yes, I have met you."
"What kind of person is Duke Deisha?"
A woman asked me, her eyes sparkling. It wasn't just her; everyone present was watching my mouth.
After looking them over carefully, I slowly opened my mouth.
"How could I possibly evaluate the Duke with my limited insight?"
In reality, he was a man whose intentions were impossible to guess, as if he had swallowed hundreds of sly snakes, but there was no reason to tell the truth.
I held the tea in my mouth to signify that I had nothing more to say. Those who had been waiting for my answer wore disappointed expressions.
"What brings him to the Elliot family?"
Someone who had not given up despite my blatant avoidance of the answer asked impatiently. I placed my teacup on the table and answered calmly.
"He asked me to become a friend to the Lady of Deisha."
“Oh my!”
"Good heavens, Duke Deisha himself?"
"I heard the Duke cherishes his daughter so much, and it seems that was true."
Everyone's eyes turned to Countess Baggins, who had just spoken. She swayed her fan gently, as if pausing for a moment.
"My husband is quite close with Duke Deisha. Hohoho."
"I didn't know Count Baggins had such wide connections."
"I know, right. This is Duke Deisha's first time in the capital, after all."
“Awesome!”
As the women's eyes lit up at her, Countess Baggins looked at me with a triumphant expression.
'Duke Deisha and Count Baggins...'
There was no mention of a meeting between the two in the report. This implies that they were either secretive enough to avoid the eyes of the Pison merchant guild, or that they had been interacting since before coming to the capital.
Countess Baggins seemed unaware of the significance of what she was saying.
'So, I suppose she is running her mouth recklessly merely to satisfy her own pride.'
"It seems Count Baggins is more capable than I thought."
"Isn't that obvious? The Count Baggins family is just as historic as the Marquis of Elliot."
Several women frowned at Countess Baggins' attitude, as she held her chin up and seemed to be looking down at me.
Countess Baggins' words seemed to have irritated them, who were steeped in a sense of superiority as ancient aristocrats to the core.
Even among the same nobility, a hierarchy existed among them. This was distinguished even by titles. Sometimes it was distinguished by the family's history rather than the title.
The Count of Baggins is a family that accumulated wealth from minerals mined from mines.
Until the mine was developed, they were nothing more than a small family located in a remote rural village, so it was only two generations ago that they made their mark and became well-known.
It means there is a world of difference between them and the Elliot family, who belonged to the founding noble families since the Pristin Empire was a kingdom. The only ones who failed to properly realize this fact were those known as the so-called 'newly emerging nobility.'
"Lady Elliot, do you find what I'm saying funny?"
It seemed a sneering laugh had slipped out without me realizing it. Countess Baggins' eyes narrowed fiercely. I softened the corners of my mouth and spoke.
"That could not be. However, it seems that the meaning of 'historically significant' as I understand it differs from the meaning you understand, Countess."
"What is that...!"
"Please stop, Countess Baggins."
A woman stepped forward and interrupted Countess Baggins. She was one of the women whose faces showed displeasure.
"What do you mean by saying I did something, Countess Lesliere?"
"From what I hear, your remarks are really rude."
"Don't you think that someone who butts into other people's conversation is the one who is rude?"
'Has the division begun?'
High society had remained dead silent, suppressed by the power of the First Consort. Although there were minor disturbances, those, too, had taken place with the First Consort's tacit approval. Now that the First Consort was gone, high society, lacking a center, could truly be described as the calm before the storm.
Moreover, most of those attending this tea party were women in the prime of their youth. This meant they were not seasoned, worn-out snakes. As if the act of probing was no longer meaningful, they began to openly reveal their desires.
"Tsk, this is why you shouldn't even bother dealing with families of no standing..."
"What do you mean, a family without roots!"
"Oh dear, seeing you get so worked up, it looks like you have a guilty conscience."
If they remained silent, they too gradually began to side in their favor. The Marchioness de Engrail, the host of the party, wore a troubled expression.
Usually, considering the position of the Marchioness de Engrail, the atmosphere would not have become this hostile. Nevertheless, the fact that they are reacting so heatedly means that they are novices unfamiliar with high society.
'Will it be available? Or not?'
I watched the exchange between Countess Baggins and the Countess of Lesliere with quick thinking. Before I knew it, those known as the nobility were positioned behind Countess Baggins, while those known as prestigious families were positioned behind the Countess of Lesliere, standing in a standoff.
With no one to stop them, their conversation became increasingly explicit. Some, still unsure which side to take, rolled their eyes with anxious expressions.
I drew attention by clapping my hands. I smiled at the eyes that had instantly gathered on me.
Clap clap!
It was nice that things were going according to plan, but the host of this place today was the Marchioness Engraile. I could not cause her any harm. It was best to stop here for today.
"I thought this was a tea party for socializing. Am I mistaken?"
The women, who had been arguing heatedly with veins bulging at my innocent face, turned red. They gaped as if to say something, but the Marchioness Engrail interrupted, as if she had been waiting for this moment.
"Hehe, perhaps because there are only young people here, the enthusiasm is incredible. A heated discussion is good, but how about enjoying some new refreshments?"
True to her nature as someone who frequently hosted various gatherings, the Marchioness changed the atmosphere in an instant. Her skill in turning the women's petty squabble into a heated debate with just a single word was truly admirable.
The fight was forcibly brought to a lull just as it was heating up, but the embers had not been completely extinguished. They glared at each other with wide eyes, but they could not speak carelessly as they had just moments before.
To ruin the atmosphere the Marchioness had worked so hard to change was to disregard her, the host of the party. Among the invited guests, no one could disregard her, as she was the Emperor's daughter and the Marchioness of Engrail.
'It looks like I've roughly achieved my purpose for coming here.'
There is only one reason why those involved in high society form cliques: they cannot survive there alone. This applied to me as well.
Whether I liked it or not, since I had decided to enter high society, I had to keep someone by my side.
Back then, I kept only those who flattered me by my side. I made them blindfold their eyes and cover their ears, and in the end, I tied their own hands and feet.
'I can't let this happen again.'
The time of those who had dominated high society alongside the First Consort came to an end with her downfall. The social scene, now devoid of them, was like an empty basket.
I looked around at the attendees of the tea party. They were still young and inexperienced, but soon they would fill high society.
'Those who will be of help to me, those who will be a hindrance, and those worth using.'
The verification was already complete. Now, all that remained was to wait for the right time.
The maidservant standing by my side filled the empty teacup at my gesture. White steam rose in wisps from the red infusion. I lifted the cup and slowly savored the aroma. A fragrant scent tickled the tip of my nose.
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