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"It's really a relief, isn't it? Now that His Grace will be staying in the duchy, the secretaries and chefs won't have to suffer unnecessarily anymore."
"…I do feel bad for Father, but honestly, you're right. Every time he acted like that, I felt sorry for the secretaries and the chefs."
When Ariette mentioned the secretaries and chefs, the guilt on her face seemed to ease.
Realizing that not only she, but those around her had also been freed from her father's overbearing control, she looked visibly relieved.
If the Duke had heard that himself, he probably would've been so shocked he couldn't even speak, but it was a pity he couldn't.
After hearing Ariette's words, Letticia looked at the three and said.
"The Duke tried to force happiness on her by giving her what he wanted to give. But I'll help her find happiness on her own, naturally. It's like that saying—'Becoming happy yourself is the best revenge.'"
"…When you put it that way, I suppose you're right."
Seraphina rubbed her temples, as if she had a headache.
Even if it was called revenge, since Ariette's happiness itself would be the revenge against the Duke, it wasn't something she could just tell her to stop, it was a tricky judgment to make.
On the other hand, Dayna sat there, her expression mixed with shock, confusion, and daze, mulling over what Letticia had just said.
It was a way of thinking so unexpected to her that she needed time to process it.
"Of course, if the Lady had insisted that she did nothing wrong, I would've been angry too. But she's truly remorseful, so let's not keep pushing the blame on her. No matter who shares a bit of the fault, the one who actually raised the sword against my brother was the Duke. And in the end, when my brother almost got stabbed, the Lady even jumped in front of the Duke to stop him."
"…Sometimes it's really hard to keep up with you. You think so differently from me, and you sort out your feelings so fast that it's hard to understand you. At least give me some kind of explanation beforehand."
"Sorry about that. You're always so good at understanding that I forget to explain things sometimes."
"I only try to understand because it's you. So don't forget to tell me what's going on, okay? This isn't the first time."
When Dayna complained honestly, Ariette flinched slightly and looked nervous. But since her tone had softened compared to before, Seraphina relaxed a little and smiled as she asked.
"Still, since we've confirmed that Lady Sharon hasn't just forgiven everything unconditionally, you feel a bit more at ease now, right?"
"…A little, yes.Honestly, I was upset as a friend because Letticia seemed to forgive and let things go too easily. But if that's not the case, then I don't have anything else to say. And…"
Dayna, who now looked completely calm, closed her eyes briefly before opening them again. Looking at Ariette, she lowered her head slightly in apology. The hostility in her gaze was gone, replaced instead by a hint of pity.
"I was too worked up earlier and spoke too harshly. I apologize, Lady Averil. Even if I didn't know all of your circumstances, I was too biased toward my friend."
"Oh, no, Lady Hailey! You weren't wrong at all, your words made me reflect on myself, truly."
After pressing her lips together in determination for a moment, Ariette clenched her fists and said firmly,
"From now on, I'll be more careful not to cause any trouble for the people who kindly help me, just like you said, my lady. And I'll make sure to tell my brothers that they are never to act rudely toward the people around me again."
Seeing Ariette speak with such resolve, Letticia asked playfully.
"Still, if you ever become independent or get married, please let me be the one to deliver the news to the Duke. That much should be fine, right?"
"Yes, of course. You may do that, Lady Letticia."
Ariette nodded without hesitation, smiling softly. Watching that, Dayna went silent for a while, looking thoughtful, before speaking up again.
"Then… shall we move on to talk about the business? Since it seems possible to produce it technically, I'd like to hear your ideas about the scent combinations. I heard Lady Averil came up with the concept, could you tell us more about it?"
"Ah, yes! So, my idea was to combine the existing floral or honey fragrances with a unique theme—like gemstones or constellations—and create scents that match each image…"
When Dayna, having set aside her hostility, steered the conversation toward business, Ariette perked up and began eagerly sharing her ideas.
As the atmosphere instantly brightened, Letticia and Seraphina exchanged looks of relief. After Ariette finished explaining, Dayna paused for a moment in thought before asking the two others for their opinions.
"For now, we'll need to discuss things further with a perfumer, but from what I've heard so far, this concept seems like it'll be popular among younger women. If we highlight the Lady's concept properly, I think debutantes would make an excellent primary market. What do you two think?"
"I'd like you to keep one thing in mind. The fruit-based perfume we're creating must remain a luxury item, sold only to nobles who are eligible to attend social gatherings. That's one of the conditions my father set."
"Only to nobles who can attend social gatherings? Why is that? The Clarence Mountain honey perfume is available even to commoners."
Ariette asked in surprise. Setting down her teacup, Seraphina explained in an even tone.
"The honey perfume is just a regional specialty. But this new perfume project will bear my family's name, the House of Eskis, and even use cutting-edge techniques from the Magic Tower. So it can't just be something anyone can buy as long as they have money."
"Lady Eskis is right. She's known as the 'Embodiment of Etiquette,' even called the 'Swan' of the social scene. With her involvement, the perfume will naturally carry that image. So rather than a common product, it's more fitting to market it as a high-end, exclusive luxury item."
Dayna added. Letticia nodded and chimed in.
"My brother once said that once something becomes known as a luxury among nobles, word spreads quickly to the semi-nobility and wealthy commoners who haven't entered society yet. So if we first sell to nobles of sufficient wealth and standing to attend social events, and establish the perfume's value as a luxury brand, that would be the most successful strategy."
"I see… Then we'll need to research their preferences. Both in terms of design and scent combinations."
As Ariette nodded in understanding, Dayna spoke again, her expression tinged with mild concern.
"But if we aim to launch it in autumn, there's a risk that all the attention will shift to the new debutantes of the season. Our own debut season has already passed, and Letticia is on the verge of engagement—so public interest will likely focus on the autumn diamonds instead."
"That might not be as big of a concern as you think, Lady Hailey. Considering the presence Lady Sharon established during the spring season and the trends she set in fashion, people's attention won't fade so easily. Besides, now that she's received invitations from both His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress, she's the only debutante with access to the imperial palace. If anything, the autumn diamonds should be worrying about being outshone by her."
"And among the nobles who haven't debuted yet, none of them have higher standing than we do. There's even talk that foreign princesses might be considered as candidates for the Crown Princess position."
"Then I suppose it's safe to say that your influence is still holding strong."
As Letticia recalled what she had heard from the Emperor, the Empress, and Kenneth, she explained it, and Dayna's expression softened into a relieved smile.
In the end, they decided that the fruit-based perfume would be marketed primarily toward unmarried debutantes and newly married noble ladies. After discussing a few more topics, the meeting finally came to an end.
"Dayna, do you have a moment? I'd like to talk with you privately, if that's alright."
"Lady Averil, if you don't mind, would you accompany me to the carriage?"
Letticia proposed that she speak separately with Dayna, Seraphina, and Ariette. While Dayna took her seat again, Ariette followed Seraphina out into the garden.
When they had walked far enough that no voices from the garden could reach them, Seraphina turned to Ariette and asked in a low voice.
"You seemed quite shaken after hearing Lady Hailey's words earlier. Are you feeling alright now?"
"Ah… I was a little shocked, yes, but what she said was perfectly reasonable, so I can't really complain…"
Ariette's tone grew slightly dejected as she recalled Dayna's sharp reprimand.
Seeing that, Seraphina deliberately hardened her expression and spoke in a firm voice.
"Then keep this in mind. What Lady Hailey said was exceptionally mild compared to the kind of criticism others might throw at you."
"……"
Ariette bit her lip, at a loss for words.
Even she had to admit that while Dayna's remarks had been sharp, they weren't laced with any harsh insults or malicious mockery. In that sense, yes, they had been relatively mild.
"Lady Sharon and I chose to involve ourselves because we understand your situation and are willing to take on the risks that come with it. But Lady Hailey isn't the same. And in this world, there will always be more people who don't understand you than those who do."
"I… suppose that's true…"
"Of course, I know you're doing your best in your current circumstances. But the best you can do and the best that others expect from you aren't always the same thing. So, from now on, you'll need to work harder to meet the standards that others demand of you."
"…Yes. I'll make sure to do that."
Ariette nodded firmly once again, determination shining in her eyes. Seeing that, Seraphina finally relaxed her expression and smiled gently, reassured.
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