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'If that happened, then even Ez would be spared a lot of hardship.'
While Letticia was secretly imagining a scenario where Matthias managed to stay sane even while in a relationship—making her own love life more pleasant—Ariette was staring intently at Seraphina’s every movement: how she lifted her teacup, how she spoke, even the tone of her voice.
Noticing the gaze, Seraphina gently set her cup down and asked Ariette,
“…Did I perhaps offend you in some way, Lady?”
“Oh, no! I’m sorry. I’ve just heard that your manners are impeccable, so I couldn’t help but watch…”
“It seems overly generous praise has reached your ears. I still have much to improve.”
“That’s not true at all! While Lady Sharon is also impressive, Lady Eskis—you’re like the living embodiment of an etiquette textbook. Honestly, I think you’re even more elegant than the etiquette professor we had at the academy. Since I lack both etiquette and refinement, I guess… I just find it all really admirable…”
Letticia gave a wry smile. Though etiquette had become second nature to her, she often cut corners. Compared to Seraphina, she knew she lacked true grace.
But Seraphina lightly furrowed her brows and responded calmly,
“Your way of speaking is certainly quite different from the noble standard. It might be fine among close acquaintances, but it’s not appropriate when hosting guests.”
“Lady Eskis…?”
Letticia quickly tried to warn Seraphina, but it was already too late. The maid who had accompanied Ariette heard the comment and her expression stiffened.
“I-I thought so too. I’m sorry. Since I graduated from the Department of Public Administration, I never really studied this kind of thing…”
“Ah, I failed to consider that. I apologize for the oversight.”
Seraphina offered an elegant apology before adding a gentle piece of advice.
“But since the Duchess isn’t present, the role of hostess falls to you, Lady. So I believe it would be a good idea to learn the basic etiquette needed to receive guests. For the sake of the guests, and the honor of the ducal house as well.”
“I’d like to, but at my age, it feels awkward to hire a governess again…”
Ariette looked troubled, and her maid shot her a sharp glance. But when her eyes met Letticia’s, the maid quickly bowed her head to hide her hostility.
Although Letticia didn’t recognize the maid, it was clear she knew what had happened back at the academy. She must have realized that interfering carelessly could spark another disaster.
Ignoring the maid’s gaze entirely, Seraphina made an unexpected offer to Ariette.
“In that case, may I help you while I’m staying here?”
“Really? Would that be all right with you?”
“Um, ladies… perhaps we should wait until the Duke and the young lords give their approval before continuing this conversation?”
Fearing a repeat of what had happened five years ago, Letticia hastily intervened to stop things from escalating. She had barely managed to prevent a deadly showdown between the original heroine and villainess. If those embers flared up again, everything could be ruined.
“In any case, since this involves a promise between ladies of different houses, we really must get the Duke’s permission first.”
“You’re right. Then should I go and greet the Duke and ask for his permission?”
“Ah, I’ll talk to him. Since Lady Eskis will be staying in the annex anyway, it makes more sense for me to go.”
With an eager expression, Ariette sprang to her feet.
She marched off, saying she’d get permission immediately, leaving Seraphina staring blankly at her retreating figure in bewilderment.
“She’s very enthusiastic… I wonder if she really wanted to learn etiquette that badly?”
“Probably. I remember her saying back in the academy that she wanted to join the March Blossoms.”
“…Are you saying the Duke’s daughter actually wanted to learn etiquette alongside minor nobles?”
Seraphina looked at Letticia as if she had just heard someone claim a fish could walk on land. It was likely something completely unfathomable to her.
“Surely, Lady Averil’s level wasn’t on par with those minor nobles, was it?”
“…Judging by her answers during class, there wasn’t much of a difference.”
“What on earth was the Duke thinking…!”
Seraphina glared at the door Ariette had just exited through, clearly believing that the Duke had failed in properly educating his daughter.
“Sigh… I can’t interfere in another family’s affairs, but if I do get permission, I’ll have to give it my all, even if it’s just for a short time. It may be impossible to bring her up to the level expected of a Duke’s daughter, but she certainly shouldn’t be on par with minor nobles without titles.”
“Please, just remember what I asked. The people of this house are completely… obsessed? No—devoted? Whatever it is, they can’t stand hearing anything negative about Lady Averil.”
“I’ll be more careful. I wouldn’t want to cause trouble for Lady Sharon.”
Seraphina gave a solemn nod. Thanks to that, some of the gloom that had hung over her earlier seemed to have lifted a bit, which was a relief.
If Ariette could learn some etiquette from Seraphina, it might help ease her complex. And if it ended up fostering a good relationship between them, that would be the best possible outcome.
***
The day of Seraphina Eskis’s attempted murder trial arrived.
Count Wallace sat in the gallery with a tense expression. Next to him, the Countess—her pale face concealed under layers of makeup—and Audrey sat with their backs straight, trying to look composed.
‘Damn it. They still haven’t found Seraphina…’
Seraphina's whereabouts remained completely unknown after she vanished on the way to being sent to a villa outside the capital.
It was obvious that the servants who had served the Marchioness since childhood had helped her escape.
Though the family’s retainers were searching for her, progress was slow because they lacked experience—this was usually the kind of work handled by the knights. On top of that, they had to conduct the search in secret, since if it became known that Seraphina had gone missing, it would cause a major scandal. As a result, even by the time the Marquess of Eskis arrived that morning, they had failed to find her.
'I entrusted my daughter to you—how could you serve her tea that I specifically warned you about?' The Marquess had erupted in fury. Bowing his head repeatedly, Count Wallace apologized profusely and excused her absence by saying she had been sent to the villa for convalescence. But it was only a matter of time before the lie was exposed.
The real problem was that even Marquess Wade had come to the capital. With his arrival, it was certain that the western nobility would not side with Wallace.
The old nobility, preoccupied with issues surrounding the inheritance of official positions, were in no position to attack the Count of Sharon's family. Meanwhile, the new nobility and younger nobles constantly invoked her name to protest against what they deemed unfair investigations.
“Lady Giselle Mortimer, please step forward.”
Count Wallace silently watched Giselle walk to the front with a resigned expression.
In the end, as a last resort, he decided to appease Viscount Mortimer and cut ties with Giselle to resolve the matter.
It was Giselle who had physically handed the tea leaves to the maid who carried out the act, and although House Mortimer had a long history, it held no power compared to Wallace. Convincing them hadn't been difficult.
Wallace had already prepared the necessary excuses. He promised the Viscount that even if Giselle were imprisoned, she would be secretly smuggled abroad soon. Frightened and trembling, the Viscount abandoned his daughter—never even considering that such a plan might fail.
‘Ugh. Thanks to that foolish girl, that arrogant little brat Achilles Averil is going to be full of himself for a while.’
Trying not to look at his daughter, the Count reminded himself why: ever since he learned what she had done, murderous rage boiled within him whenever he saw her.
Even if one were to cause trouble, there was a limit. How did she expect to cover up a scheme that targeted the daughter of a great lord?
He had foolishly spoiled her, thinking she might one day become the Crown Princess, and let her have whatever she wanted.
But now, Count Wallace forced himself to calm down. Though he was cornered now, if he could just get through this trial, he could reclaim his former influence with the help of the knights.
Even if he had to resign as Commander of the Knight, his son would succeed him. A few years from now, once the incident was forgotten, the knights would accept the new Count Wallace as their leader.
Repeating this optimistic scenario in his head, Count Wallace tried to suppress his anxiety as he watched a visibly gaunt Giselle struggle to testify from the witness stand.
“…It’s true that I bought the Invidia. But—”
Once called 'Daisy of the Mortimers' for her pure and lovely looks, Giselle had now wilted. Struggling to continue her testimony, she met Count Wallace’s eyes and flinched, shutting hers tightly before taking a deep breath—and shouting.
“It was Lady Audrey Wallace who told me to do it!”
“What nonsense is that?! Stop lying!”
Audrey leapt to her feet at Giselle’s bombshell confession. Both Count Wallace and Viscount Mortimer turned to Giselle in shock, but she didn’t back down.
“The one lying is Lady Wallace! She told me that if Lady Eskis drank this tea, she’d break out in hives. She said we had to make sure she couldn’t appear on stage at the music concert!”
“Ridiculous! How dare you drag me into this?! Shut your mouth right now!”
As Audrey started to lose control, the Countess of Wallace swiftly grabbed her daughter’s shoulder and glared at her to silence her.
But it was already too late—everyone in the courtroom had heard Giselle’s statement.
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