At her words, I involuntarily frowned. Seeing my reaction, the Countess chuckled.
"I'm sorry if I offended you. However, I didn't mean any harm, so I hope you weren't offended."
"I wasn't offended. I just had a question."
"Livianca... No, the First Consort also had a tendency to tenaciously cling to things she couldn't accept, just like the Young Lady. Do you know that the First Consort was a candidate for Crown Princess?"
"This is the first time I’ve heard of it."
A calmer voice than expected came out. However, unlike the calm voice, my mind was incredibly chaotic.
"I suppose so. After all, not many people want to recall what happened back then."
She picked up the teacup as if thirsty and drank it.
"My younger brother loved her so much that he was bedridden with lovesickness. So when she chose him, I blessed them more than anyone else. After all, she was my best friend."
"...!"
She smirked again as she saw me in surprise.
"It seems unbelievable."
“Honestly, yes.”
Although Countess Rustin never confronted the First Consort head-on, no one was unaware that she and the First Consort stood at opposite ends of the symmetry.
How many people know that she and the First Consort were friends?
"Oh dear, reminiscing about old memories after such a long time, I guess I got a bit too sentimental. Please bear with me and consider it the foolishness of an old man."
"No, Madam."
"Hehe, Young Lady is quite a strange person. Sometimes you have eyes like an old man who has seen it all. Perhaps that is why I find myself pouring out everything on my mind without even realizing it."
She put down the teacup and gazed at me intently.
"As you may have guessed, there will soon be a generational shift in high society."
"..."
"I hope the young lady takes over high society."
I gazed at her intently without saying a word.
"Up until now, high society has relied on the First Consort for everything. Now that the First Consort is gone, there is no focal point, so High society will get noisy. I do not want high society to get noisy."
"There is also a way for Madam to become the focal point."
"That may be true. However, I am not capable of uniting a social circle that has already begun to split."
"Do you think that is possible with my capabilities?"
"I told you. The Young Lady resembles the First Consort."
The corners of her eyes curved slightly as she looked at me.
"I believe it is entirely possible for you, Young Lady."
"I have no intention of uniting the social circles."
Countess Rustin put the teacup she was about to lift back down. She looked at me with a bewildered expression.
"A power maintained by the strength of a single person collapses before anyone can do anything once that person is gone. Just like today's high society."
"That is why I am asking the young lady to take on that position."
I shook my head slightly toward her.
"That is just a vicious cycle. Besides, I don't really want to do such a hassle."
"Young Lady, do you have no intention of becoming Empress?"
"There is no rule that says being the Empress must dominate high society, Madam."
"Do you not know what kind of fate awaits an Empress who fails to control high society?"
The Countess, who was always impeccable in her manners, raised her voice slightly.
"I am well aware. After all, the current Empress is like that."
'Just as I used to be.'
"Are you saying you will just sit still despite that?"
"I didn't say I would stay put either."
"Are you trying to play word games with me?"
She scanned me as if searching. I lifted my teacup and finished drinking the remaining tea. She waited quietly until I put down the teacup.
"If one side is more powerful than the other, the overall balance is bound to be disrupted. To achieve balance, it is best to have multiple forces of similar strength."
"No way..."
"I have no intention of stepping forward, Madam."
"...!"
A hollow laugh escaped her lips.
"It seems I was mistaken. I should correct what I just said."
She straightened her slouching posture and looked at me.
"Now that I look at it, the Young Lady seems to resemble His Majesty the Emperor more than the First Consort."
"My father is Marquis Elliot."
"Hehe, I am aware of it. I am simply saying this because your political leanings seem similar to Your Majesty's."
"Considering that, there is some truth to your words."
“Is that so?”
She simply smiled quietly. However, whenever the Emperor was mentioned, a slight hint of displeasure appeared in her.
"It will certainly not be easy, Young Lady."
“I know.”
"Are you aware that the recent movements of the aristocracy are alarming?"
"I know that, too."
"So you're saying you'll do it even though you know better."
I smiled at her without answering. The Countess let out a soft sigh.
"Whether you want it or not, high society is bound to split in two sooner or later. You surely know who will be at the center of that split, don't you?"
"Are you referring to Lady Deisha?"
"That is true. Once Lady Deisha makes her debut in society, many people will flock to her, regardless of her personality. And the Lady will find herself standing on the opposite side."
"So you want me to take over high society before that happens."
"I see. But it seems the Young Lady is not pleased."
As the Countess said, I was not pleased with confronting her. No, I hated the very situation that was driving me into that situation.
'What on earth would I gain from confronting her like that?'
I had absolutely no intention of confronting her. Unlike then, the Sis now is my person. If she tries to take what is mine, I will crush her thoroughly and will not let her stand against me on equal footing.
I twisted my lips upward as I thought of her.
"I have no intention of suppressing with force like the First Consort. Because the more force I use to suppress, the greater the resistance will be. You are the very living witness to that, aren't you, Madam?"
“Of course.”
"I just intend to let it flow naturally."
"It won't go the way you want, Young Lady."
"I suppose so. That is why I need your help, Madam."
"Are you telling me to become a key figure in the forces you have envisioned?"
Countess Rustin, like someone who has survived in high society for a long time, immediately understood what I was trying to say.
I had no intention of creating a force where I would be the central figure.
Building my own power base served as a shield to protect me, but at times it also became a snare that ensnared me.
I didn't need a double-edged sword. I didn't want to go out of my way to carry risks. My people who cared for me were enough.
I intended to fragment high society so that no one could run unopposed. My goal was to keep everyone busy keeping one another in check so they would not dare reveal their teeth to me.
"Do you believe I will help, Young Lady?"
"You said you like me."
Her eyes widened slightly. I gave her an innocent smile.
"I trust that you will help."
Her wrinkled eyelids crinkled slightly.
***
"It feels like a dream to be out shopping with Bjornne."
"I'm also a bit nervous since it's my first time shopping with people my age."
“Really?”
Levina clasped her hands together, and her eyes sparkled. I nodded toward her.
"I think I'm really lucky."
Levina smiled brightly. Her voice was very excited.
"My heart is pounding at the thought of visiting Louisha. Bjornne, do you have a dress in mind?"
"Not yet. Does Levina have a dress in mind?"
"I'm not very familiar... with the current trends either."
She blushed as if embarrassed.
"Madame Miela will recommend a dress that suits Levina. After all, she is the Empire's foremost expert when it comes to dresses."
"Is Bjornne also getting help from Madame Miela?"
"Yes. I also get help from her every time."
"Will Madame Miela grant my request?"
“Of course.”
Levina clapped her hands together and smiled broadly once again. Although the Asteia family was the maternal family of the Second Prince, they were merely a small clan located in the North. There were few families who would send a party invitation to someone like her.
The small tea parties hosted by the Marchioness Engraile were the only parties she could attend. For her, this New Year's party was the biggest one since her debut in society. It was only natural that she was excited in advance.
"Levina, who is your ideal type?"
"... Yes?"
She reacted a beat late to my sudden question.
"I was curious about Levina's ideal type."
Her cheeks instantly flushed like peach blossoms. It seemed such a question was provocative to the innocent young lady who had just become an adult.
My memory of that time is so hazy that I wonder if I had ever been as innocent as she was, so I couldn't tell what the appropriate limit was.
'Well, since I've already said it, there's nothing I can do about it.'
I just waited quietly without rushing her so as not to make her feel embarrassed.
"I, I like kind people."
She bowed her head low with a flushed face, as if she were deeply embarrassed even after saying it.
I retold Marquis Lethan. I recalled the knife scar across his face and his rough nature, which earned him the title of the Beast of the West.
No matter how I looked at it, it was a look that could not be considered Levina's ideal type.
'Didn't he say that he couldn't stand Levina, who had been running away from him, any longer and dragged her to the West as if he had kidnapped her?'
Even when I tried to recall memories of them, nothing else came to mind besides that.
That was understandable, as I had absolutely no contact with Levina at the time. All I knew was the rumors I heard from chatty women.
I pondered as I watched her squirming in embarrassment. Unless something unexpected happens, whether she likes it or not, she will be dragged away by Marquis Lethan again, just like before.
Will we just stand by and watch, or...
"What about Bjornne?"
Levina asked me with sparkling eyes, as if she had never been shy. She was a young lady with a bolder side than I had expected. I didn't dislike that aspect of her personality. No, on the contrary, I liked it.
"I like kind people too."
"Is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince as affectionate as the rumors say?"
'Is he affectionate?'
What immediately came to mind was a face swollen and angry like a child.
“Pffft!”
Levina's eyes widened at the sound of laughter that burst out without me realizing it.
"I am sorry. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is very kind to me."
"I'm jealous, Bjornne."
"Levina will be able to meet someone like that soon, too."
“Is that so?”
Levina's eyes turned dreamy, as if she were dreaming of a prince on a white horse. There was no need to shatter her fantasy beforehand.
First off, I felt the need to meet Marquis Lethan to see what kind of person he was.
I had intended to use Levina, who was to become the Marchioness de Lethan, but I changed my mind. If she eventually... Don't like Marquis de Lethan, I intend to help her escape from his grasp.
"Is it enough if he's kind? Is a handsome man not your ideal type?"
Levina's face flushed again at my mischievous question.
"What about B-Bjornne?"
'It's pretty good.'
Covering her flushed cheeks with her hands, Levina answered the question with a question.
"Of course I prefer handsome men. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is very handsome."
"Um, I also have a handsome person..."
Before she could even finish her answer, the moving carriage stopped. Looking out the window, I saw that we had not yet arrived at their destination.
Marie, who had been sitting quietly in a corner of the carriage, quickly went outside.
“What is going on?”
"Well, Marie has gone out, so we should know soon."
I could see people gathered outside the window. It seemed like there had been a problem in the middle of the road. After waiting for a moment, Marie opened the carriage door and came in.
“What’s going on?”
"It looks like there was an accident, Miss."
“Accident?”
"Yes, the noble ladies were fighting."
I frowned at Marie's words.
I was currently on Biveldy Street, a place frequented by many aristocrats. As so many people came and went, slight disturbances often occurred, but they did not last long.
Commoners did not even dare to raise their voices on the streets where nobles came and went, and nobles did not cause a disturbance for long out of respect for their dignity.
Moreover, since they were noble ladies, there was a high probability that the commotion would be quickly resolved.
"I guess I just need to wait a moment."
I closed my eyes and waited for the commotion to pass. Levina also waited silently for the carriage to move again.
While I was pondering what to do with Levina and Marquis Lethan, I heard Levina muttering.
"...It seems like they have no intention of ending this easily."
"..."
The commotion, which was expected to die down quickly, grew louder as time went on. Before anyone realized it, Marie leaned her head out the window and tilted it.
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