Chapter 97

* * *

Kartia did not hide her hesitation as she clearly conveyed the facts she had discovered.

The longer the story went on, the more Ventus's expression darkened.

"…Is that true?"

"It’s a fact known to everyone in the Shuetsu family."

Kartia lowered her head as if she couldn't continue.

"How… It’s unbelievable. The Shuetsu Duke’s daughter-in-law is her daughter!"

Ventus's face was filled with deep confusion.

Watching this, Kartia's eyes turned cold.

'So, even after my sister’s death, she can still be of help.'

Swallowing a bitter smile, she changed her expression and spoke earnestly.

"Your Majesty, this matter cannot be overlooked. If we let it go, who knows what that cunning Shuetsu Duke might do."

"…The Empress, what should we do?"

"She must be severely punished, in front of everyone."

"But… the other party is the Shuetsu Duke."

"If we create a situation where even that madman can't do anything, we can confront him directly."

In front of everyone.

Her eyes, which had been whispering, suddenly sparkled.

* * *

I sipped my cocoa and narrowed my eyes.

'By now, the signal should have come.'

It had already been a week since I passed on the newly discovered holy stone and the pocket watch.

During that time, we visited the palace once more to prepare for the debutante ball.

But the second prince, who should have been raging, had not given any news.

From what I heard, he was under house arrest, which meant my plan had worked.

'Why is there no response?'

I groaned inwardly.

"Is something troubling you?"

Adelane, sitting opposite me, asked with a worried look.

Right, I was currently talking to Adelane at a coffee house.

I quickly straightened my posture and smiled.

"It’s nothing."

"Th, that’s a relief…."

Adelane smiled faintly.

"I was wondering if you found it uncomfortable to be with me…."

"What are you talking about! Not at all!"

Denying it vehemently, Adelane’s cheeks turned red.

"I’m… glad…. I’ve never had a chance to chat privately with another noble lady here…."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. They say… when I talk… they can’t hear what I’m saying…."

Adelane’s face darkened.

The other noble ladies had mocked her for being clumsy with the imperial language. Because of this memory, she kept lowering her voice and hunching her shoulders.

But Adelane’s pronunciation was perfect, and her voice was incredibly clear.

I laughed playfully and leaned in close.

"I like it. We can talk up close."

"Ah…."

Adelane’s face turned bright red.

'So cute…'

I, who can’t resist teasing when I see something cute, forcibly held back my tickling fingers.

"Let’s talk often. I really like this coffee house."

"Bu, but the Jemyel Salon is always crowded… It’s hard to even get in… Reserving a private room is even harder…."

Adelane whispered cautiously.

That was true.

The personal color and Jerit’s ironing strategy were working well.

The popularity of 'Jemyel Salon' was increasing day by day.

The more people visited the salon, the longer the waiting times became. The first-floor coffee house was always packed.

With such popularity, even nobles with their own tailors couldn’t help but take an interest in Jemyel Salon.

'But noble ladies don’t wait in the crowd.'

Thanks to this, the competition for private rooms in the coffee house became even more intense.

'But that competition doesn’t concern me.'

"Don’t worry about that."

I smiled.

"If I can talk with Lady Adelane, I can reserve a room anytime."

Without revealing that I had a private room reserved just for me.

"I’m… glad…."

Adelane smiled brightly.

To see such a clear smile over such a trivial matter made my heart soften.

"I didn’t think we could get a private room here!"

Just as I was thinking it might get a bit noisy.

Voices from the next room started to drift over.

Even in a private room, the walls weren’t thick to maintain the coffee house’s ambiance. So, when the voices were loud, sometimes the conversation could be heard, and that was the case now.

"Our viscount doesn’t consider such a thing a problem."

The issue was that the voice was too loud.

'It must be Chlora in the next room.'

Adelane’s expression darkened sharply. She seemed to recognize the voice of the person who had long tormented her.

Since Adelane would be uncomfortable and I didn’t want to hear it either, it was probably best to leave.

"Shall we go?"

"I’m fine."

Adelane smiled awkwardly and waved her hand.

"It’s because I’m uncomfortable."

"…Thank you."

Adelane mumbled and hurriedly left the private room.

'I don’t understand why the victim has to leave the seat.'

Sighing lightly, I was about to follow.

"This salon is really hard to reserve…."

"It’s just a place made to make money. If you pay, what can’t they do?"

Chlora’s mocking voice echoed loudly in my ears.

"I heard they even touch your hair with some strange object. They don’t sell that thing, apparently."

"Maybe because you didn’t pay enough? For people like that, it’s obvious what they want."

"But other noble ladies say it’s useless…."

"Then just pay more."

The sound of a fan closing sharply was heard.

"This salon might be popular now, but it won’t last. They probably want to raise their value by pretending to be expensive. That’s just the level of businesspeople."

A small snicker followed.

"Well, that’s something my father, or rather, our viscount, will take care of."

"Chlora, are you going to take over this salon?"

"Take over… Yes, something like that."

Chlora said indifferently.

"I plan to have my dress for the debutante ball made here."

"Wow… It will be so beautiful."

"Our viscount is very interested in such parties."

As she finished speaking, a thud was heard.

"T, this is a violet diamond!"

"You’re right, Lady Runkelt. It’s from the new mine our viscount discovered. I’m thinking of attaching this diamond to my dress."

The voices of the other noble ladies, who had been agreeing, suddenly stopped.

Attaching a diamond to a dress was something even a wealthy magnate couldn’t do, so they seemed stunned by the scale of it.

"With this, even a small salon like this will fall in line, won’t it?"

"Y, you’re really amazing…."

"A violet diamond… At the debutante ball, everyone will only see Chlora."

The noble ladies’ praise continued as if it were scripted.

"With this, that orphan and the princess of a fallen kingdom will know their place. I’m just setting an example for the nobility."

Chlora’s confident voice continued.

Her condescending attitude towards others was vivid in my mind.

Being confident is good. You can speak up wherever you go.

But.

'You have to know when to use it.'

I stored Chlora’s bold plan in my mind and smiled.