Chapter 16

Entering the ballroom, the first thing that surprised me was its size.

I’ve attended many balls and tea parties, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a large venue. As the daughter of a poor earl, I was never invited to balls held in such grand halls.

It’s really impressive, I feel overwhelmed just by this.

Rebecca will have to attend such grand balls from now on... I wonder if she’ll be okay?

For her debut in society, a smaller venue would have been better... or maybe it’s better to get used to large venues from the start?

I absolutely want to make Rebecca’s debut in society as cute and beautiful as possible; she will definitely be the cutest person in the world.

...Phew, thinking about Rebecca has eased the tension I felt from what Alan said earlier.

Alan probably said it to ease my tension, yeah, there’s no deeper meaning.

As I walk around the venue with my hand on his arm, I’m greeted by many people.

After all, we are the Bernhard Duke family, so there are many people who want to talk to him.

When I was from a poor earl’s family, no one greeted me, and I had to go and greet them, so it feels a bit strange.

From now on, this will be the norm, so I need to get used to it.

Even though I’m not with Alan now, many people still come to greet me.

“Duchess Bernhard, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Duke Chirtaris. I hope we can get to know each other.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duke Chirtaris. I am Sophie Bernhard.”

The Chirtaris Duke family is one of the highest-ranking noble families.

The Duke Chirtaris, the head of the family, looks like an elderly man with a beard.

A noble I couldn’t even greet when I was from an earl’s family.

Now, the head of the family greets me with a smile, which is quite impressive.

“Duchess Bernhard, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Earl Anaeinif. This is my daughter, Natasha.”

“Natasha, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Duchess Bernhard.”

Next, the head of the Anaeinif Earl family and his daughter, Natasha, came.

I greet them with a smile, but there’s something I want to say.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Earl Anaeinif. But I have met Miss Natasha before.”

“Huh?”

“...”

Earl Anaeinif really didn’t know, but Natasha’s smile faltered.

“Miss Natasha and I were in the same class at the Magic Academy.”

“Oh, really?”

Earl Anaeinif, looking uncomfortable, glares at his daughter, Natasha, as if asking why she didn’t mention it.

“Did you forget? That’s sad.”

I speak to Natasha with a smile.

She didn’t forget; she just didn’t want to say it.

Natasha was one of the young ladies who looked down on me the most.

We were both from earl’s families, but my family was poor, while hers was wealthy.

Even before I entered the Magic Academy, she looked down on me, but when I entered, I had more magical power than she did, so at first, she glared at me with disdain.

But when it became clear that I couldn’t use magic, I was looked down on even more.

Since then, I’ve been laughed at behind my back in both the Magic Academy and society.

That’s why I remember Natasha, and she probably remembers me too.

“Umm, well...”

Natasha looks very troubled.

Her father, Earl Anaeinif, also looks uncomfortable.

Hmm, this atmosphere might spread to the surroundings, so maybe I should gloss over it.

“I graduated from the Magic Academy in one year, so it’s understandable if you don’t remember me.”

“Oh, that’s right! My daughter Natasha attended for about three years and isn’t very good with her memory. I apologize, Duchess Bernhard.”

Earl Anaeinif, with a nervous smile, said this in a hurry.

He’s speaking poorly of his own daughter, but he doesn’t seem to care.

Well, if the daughter is the daughter, then the father is the father.

“I would be happy if you could remember me in the future.”

“I, I am grateful for your magnanimity, Duchess Bernhard.”

I speak to Natasha with a smile, and she thanks me with a faltering smile.

Hehe, I feel a sense of relief.

I feel like I want to say something more, but it wouldn’t be appropriate in this setting.

“Well, then, we will take our leave. Excuse us, Duchess Bernhard.”

“Excuse us.”

“Yes, let’s both enjoy the party.”

Because the atmosphere became awkward, Earl Anaeinif quickly took Natasha away from me.

As they left, I felt Natasha glare at me strongly for a moment.

By the way, Natasha said she liked a duke’s son, but I forget who it was.

Could it have been Alan?

I’m a bit curious about her, but now is not the time to focus on such things.

I still have to greet many more people.