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Just a few days before the Foundation Festival, Seraphina's future guardian was finally decided. After a thorough discussion among Marquess Eskis, Marquess Wade, Patrick, and Camilla, it was agreed that Camilla would serve as Seraphina's chaperone for the remaining half-year.
This was the best possible outcome for Seraphina, who still had many responsibilities in the capital. However, it was also a matter entangled with the complicated affairs of the old nobility.
With Audrey, along with her close aides Evelyn and Giselle, who had formed a powerful faction among the old noble families, being swept away all at once, the remaining old noble class found themselves in need of a new central figure to rally around.
Unlike the new noble families, who were smaller in number but had a strong unifying force in Letticia, the old nobles had looser relationships and needed a socially influential leader to bring them together.
However, among Audrey’s peers, no one had the strength to challenge her. Back during their academy days, Audrey had already kept any threats firmly in check.
As a result, a considerable number of old noble families sent letters to Seraphina, expressing concern about her future social activities. Some even subtly suggested that she might need a chaperone, citing old friendships with the late Marchioness.
Yet Marquess Eskis politely declined all such proposals from the capital’s nobility.
His trust in the capital nobles had completely collapsed due to recent events.
"Honestly, the Count of Sharon is far more trustworthy."
After learning that Seraphina had been subtly ostracized by her cousin and her cousin’s friends, the Marquess came to hold Letticia in even higher regard, for she had helped Seraphina when she was at her most vulnerable. Moreover, Letticia was the niece of Marquess Wade, making her a more reliable option than most.
"The late Countess Dowager Hartnell, who was the great-aunt of the Countess, was my grandfather’s aunt by marriage, so I suppose we're not complete strangers, after all."
Seraphina cheerfully shared this almost impossibly convoluted piece of genealogical trivia. Letticia, on the other hand, held back from pointing out that such distant connections were typically still considered unrelated.
After all, among the old noble families, most were already interlinked through marriage or distant bloodlines. Seraphina’s comment was clearly meant as a gesture of goodwill, to grow closer.
However, since Seraphina had now decided to stay in the capital, there was someone they needed to speak with about the future.
"…So that means, come autumn, you’ll be accompanying Lady Eskis everywhere?"
Invited to the Sharon estate, Dayna couldn’t hide her agitation as she stared at Letticia. All the effort Letticia had made, preparing Dayna’s favorite tea and the latest dessert from Faymont, had seemingly been for nothing.
Seraphina, who was seated with them, remained silent, perhaps out of consideration for the atmosphere. Letticia, sensing the tension, softened her voice more than usual as she tried to soothe Dayna.
"That’s actually why I called you here, to talk it over. The rest of the March Blossoms Society is set to debut in the fall, and we can’t just leave them unattended. Especially since this season was such a whirlwind with my relationship and the whole Lady Wallace issue, I didn’t get to support Stella or the others properly."
"Everyone understands that, so don’t worry. Still, we were thinking of organizing a picnic in the fall with the remaining members who haven’t debuted yet, and you have to participate in that. You’ve got Sir Bright, so there’s no need to stress about finding a marriage partner."
"Actually, starting this fall, I’ll be hosting tea parties and other events myself. Of course, you’ll all be invited, so don’t worry about that."
Once a debutante finds a marriage partner, whether married or engaged, she shifts from being a guest to becoming a hostess. It’s a natural transition in society: from attending events to organizing them.
Although Letticia wasn’t yet officially engaged to Ezkhiel, if she wanted to someday be recognized as the queen of the social scene, like Camilla, it was wise for her to start building that image now.
"And I was thinking maybe we should start discussing that etiquette mentoring group Lady Eskis mentioned. Remember? You said we’d talk after the music concert."
"…Lady Eskis, this might be unpleasant to hear, but may I speak candidly, even if it’s a little rude?"
"Yes, I don’t mind."
As Seraphina nodded calmly, Dayna took a deep breath and met her gaze.
"To be honest, after everything that’s happened, I’ve become deeply disillusioned with the idea of associating with the old nobility."
Letticia flinched at Dayna’s bluntness, but Seraphina accepted it with an air of understanding.
"This event was a major opportunity for us. And up until the actual day, everything was going smoothly. But in the end, they tried to harm you, Lady Eskis, just because they wanted to seize control. And then they tried to frame you, Letticia!"
Dayna trembled with rage at the motives revealed during the trial, unable to contain her anger toward the three perpetrators who were not present.
It wasn’t just that they had ruined the entire event, it was the fact that they tried to paint her friend Letticia as the culprit that infuriated her most.
"It’s understandable you feel that way, Lady Hailey. What Lady Wallace, Lady Norton, and Lady Mortimer did was unforgivable. But… not all the old nobles are like them. I hope you can believe that."
"Yes, maybe they’re not all so vile as to go so far as hurting someone. But that’s not what I’m worried about."
Dayna glared at Seraphina and clenched her fists tightly.
"Among the capital's old noble families, many may not express it as openly as the western nobles do, but they still look down on us from new noble lines. Especially in the liberal arts department and in the social circles, it’s even worse there."
"…There are people out of touch with reality in every society."*
In the world of aristocratic social circles, a family’s history and honor often carry just as much weight as wealth.
Even if a debutante from an old noble family has little wealth while her new noble counterpart brings a hefty dowry, society still tends to regard the former as superior.
There are even repeated rumors of men marrying for money, only to call their wives uncultured gold-diggers, while openly having affairs with women from old noble houses. Some among the old nobles go so far as to see the new nobles as vulgar thieves who snatch away their rightful matches with wealth alone.
And Dayna had encountered more than a few of these old nobles firsthand.
"Even if, as you say, we form this etiquette group to give the old nobles an opportunity to learn, I’m not convinced they’d actually be grateful. As it stands, I can’t shake the feeling that they’ll just dismiss or try to drive a wedge between me and Letticia based solely on your words, Lady Eskis."
"…Do you feel the same, Lady Sharon?"
Seraphina asked gently, and Letticia simply shrugged her shoulders.
"Honestly, if all the other old nobles are just like those three, then maybe we should just let them fall on their own. If they can’t grasp reality and only ever act in self-interest, helping them is meaningless, and probably bad for the Empire."
"Letticia!"
Dayna was startled by the bluntness of Letticia’s words and glanced nervously at Seraphina. But while Seraphina did furrow her brows slightly, she didn’t seem angry.
Letticia had likely anticipated this reaction, which is why she spoke so plainly. She continued without any change in her expression.
"Of course, there may be some among the old nobles who are realistic and have decent character, but I’m not so sure they'd welcome a connection with us. If they associate with the new nobles, they might have to give up ties with the old nobility. Who knows what their families would say?"
"…That really is the biggest issue, isn’t it."
Seraphina, having quietly listened, nodded with a gloomy expression. Dayna pushed her hair back behind her ear and agreed.
"There are very few new noble families who are comfortable engaging equally with old noble families. The Count of Sharon’s house is one of them, but if Letticia offers old nobles a chance for etiquette education now, there’s bound to be backlash from the new nobles instead. The hostility between factions has only grown."
"Even so, don’t blame Lady Eskis for any of it. She was a victim in this incident."
Letticia stepped in to defend Seraphina, but Dayna responded with a conflicted look.
"I told people that too… but you know how emotions don’t always listen to reason, Letticia."
"What, are you going to say it would've been better if Lady Eskis hadn’t hosted the concert? Is that what you're implying? Do you want to blame someone who nearly died? Why not just say all the misfortunes in the world are her fault!"
"Letticia!"
Dayna raised her voice and snapped at Letticia, but Seraphina, eyes closed, said nothing. Her expression was pained, yet she remained silent.
Letticia, who had only spoken out of frustration, stopped speaking when Dayna scolded her, but that didn’t mean she was happy with how things were going.
'It’s not like we can completely ignore faction politics... but still, we should only blame those who actually did wrong.'
It might not be possible to erase all the old grudges or hostility between factions, but even so, someone like Seraphina, who had done nothing wrong, shouldn’t be lumped in with the actual fools and scoundrels just because of where she came from.
🍓; *In every group, culture, or country, there are always some individuals who don’t understand, accept, or acknowledge how the real world works.
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1 Comments
Thanks for the translation, I was really looking forward to reading more of this novel ❤️
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