Chapter 5

Sandra hates those who do not fulfill their duties.

When she went to the salon in the courtyard where Serafina always holds her tea parties to voice her opinion, Bernadetta, who was also present, was one of them.

She is the eldest daughter of the current Prime Minister, the Marquis Mericant, yet she always looks down with a lack of confidence and is hesitant towards her surroundings. She has no notable skills and, despite being the daughter of a prestigious marquis family, she lacks both presence and dignity, and does not have her own faction, only participating in Serafina's tea parties.

If she were supporting Serafina, the next queen, it would be her own choice, but there is no sign of such intention. She merely attends because she is invited and continues to stay. This is how Sandra sees Bernadetta's position.

Furthermore, the Mericant family, of which she is a part, claims to be the guardian of the Holy Maiden, and her eldest son, Sauri, behaves in a way that can be called a follower of the Holy Maiden, just like Sandra's fiancé.

Given this situation, and seeing the atmosphere in the school where the Holy Maiden and Serafina are in opposition, she takes no action.

"What is this all about? I have already warned you before, hasn't it been about your failure to supervise, Lady Bernadetta?"

Since Bernadetta is in charge of teaching the Holy Maiden the basics of nobility in the Mericant family, when Sandra scolded her, she only bowed her long lashes in apology. Sandra wanted to see the dignity of a high noble.

"Of course, I am not just blaming Lady Bernadetta. She does seem to be making an effort."

When Serafina, who could not bear to see this, offered a word of support, Sandra said that effort without results is meaningless, and Serafina nodded in agreement.

Serafina is making efforts as the next queen. No one is as perfect a lady as she is, and she possesses dignity.

That is why Sandra cannot accept letting a Holy Maiden trainee do as she pleases. If Serafina were to get serious, it would be a mere trifle.

"Um... Lady Sandra, I am very sorry..."

After the tea party was over, when Bernadetta timidly apologized, Sandra narrowed her eyes.

"I have already heard your apology, and there is no need to apologize to me."

"But because of my lack of education, Lady Sandra's fiancé..."

At Bernadetta's hesitant words, Sandra felt as if she had bitten a bitter bug.

The thought that her fiancé had been taken by that woman, and that she was being apologized for it.

Just the thought of it made her angry, and to be apologized for it made Sandra feel even more pitiful.

"I have already said it's enough! More importantly, promise to re-educate her!"

At Sandra's sharp voice, Bernadetta trembled and, with a troubled look, tried to evade the answer. It must be difficult since she has already transferred to the school and Sauri is with her. Nevertheless, it is Bernadetta's role as the eldest daughter of the Mericant family, the guardian, to correct her behavior.

"To apologize with words alone and ask for forgiveness without even trying to improve, isn't that a bit shameless?"

Bernadetta's long silver lashes were lowered.

Her silver hair with a bluish tint and long lashes. Her strawberry pink eyes are full of brilliance, yet Bernadetta looks down without trying to make use of them.

Her hair, which would suit a noble purple, and her eyes, which would suit a red velvet, are simply loosely tied without a ribbon. If she were to put a gold and red hair accessory in her silver hair, it would surely shine, but she has never seen it.

Bernadetta, being tall for a woman, would look good with a chic outfit and her hair up.

Having so much and yet ruining everything, not even trying to make use of her assets, makes Sandra feel frustrated every time she sees her.

"If that's all, I am busy, so I will take my leave."

Tomorrow is the Tylger Countess's garden party.

There is a mountain of preparations to be made, and if Serafina is not going to move, there is no point in staying in the school.

Sandra bowed and left the scene without looking back at Bernadetta.

⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂

At the garden party, she would first greet the host, the Tylger Countess, and then introduce Olva. She would subtly weave in the specialties of the Maklainen family's territory in conversation... No, she should drill it into Olva on the way in the carriage. If he can't remember it, she will tell him and teach him the timing to chime in...

"Still, he's so late..."

Sandra, dressed in a slightly shorter white and green visiting dress for the garden party, held her sun hat and looked at the clock on the sofa in the parlor.

The garden party is held at noon, so Olva should come to the Aldini mansion in the morning, but he hasn't come yet.

"Could he have forgotten the time while concentrating on sword training..."

It's possible.

In fact, it has happened several times. He has been late for appointments like this before.

If she had thought of this, she could have gone to meet him, even if it wasn't according to etiquette, by giving some reason.

"If I go now... but we might miss each other..."

"Miss, Lord Maklainen has arrived."

At that moment, the maid came to call, and Sandra's face lit up.

"There's no time to keep her in the parlor, so I'll go to the entrance."

She hurried to the entrance, thinking they might have just missed each other. Still, being late is being late, so she thought she should say something when she went down to the entrance hall...

"Lord Gerald..."

"It's been a while, Lady Sandra."

The person there was not Olva.

Unlike the tall Olva, he still had a boyish build. But his fiery red hair was the same, and his brown eyes exuded a gentle color.

Olva's younger brother, Gerald Maklainen, the second son of the Maklainen family.

Of course, he is her fiancé's brother. She knows him and has met him many times.

However, since Gerald is four years younger than Olva and three years younger than Sandra, they rarely meet in the school, so it has been a while.

In fact, why is Gerald here...? But there is only one possible answer.

"My brother had an emergency, so he asked me to escort you. Please allow me to do so."

The boy smiled and extended his hand, and Sandra, somehow suppressing her anger, took it.

(How many times... how many times have I emphasized this...!)

But inside, her anger was raging uncontrollably.

This is not the first time he has stood her up.

Olva, as a knight-in-training, sometimes goes on exercises with the royal knight corps, and when such plans are suddenly decided, he leaves without her.

But this time, there was no prior notice or personal apology.

Besides, it was also meant to be a chance for Olva, who is close to graduation, to show his face. The fact that he is only thinking about joining the knight corps after graduation makes her even angrier.

As the carriage gently swayed, she was thinking about what to say to him at the school tomorrow, when Gerald took out a small box.

"Lady Sandra, would you like this?"

"? What is it... this is!"

The contents of the box she was handed were an emerald brooch.

Sandra was surprised not by the gemstone itself, but by its beautiful cut and decoration.

"Isn't this one of the early works of the brand run by the Tylger Countess!?"

"Yes. Since I was going to visit, I prepared it."

"I have this bracelet, but I couldn't get any old pieces..."

When she asked how he got it, he said he used his mother's connections, which made sense.

The Maklainen family has a long history and many connections among the nobility. Even if the Aldini family, Sandra's family, is wealthy, it cannot match that.

"Well... then I will accept it. Thank you."

"I am giving it to you. I have another one here."

Saying this, Gerald took out a brooch and attached it to his chest. It suited him, given his youthful appearance.

"Matching?"

"Yes. Would you wear it?"

Wearing matching accessories with a man who is not her fiancé is questionable for a lady.

But it would be a waste not to wear one of the Tylger Countess's early works, and she couldn't ask him to take it off after he prepared it for her.

(If it's matching accessories with a party partner... it's not unheard of...)

"Yes... would it suit me?"

When she showed it on her chest, Gerald's face lit up and he nodded.

"Yes! It matches your eyes, and it suits you very well!"

"Oh, thank you."

Not only is it one of the Tylger Countess's early works, but it seems to have been prepared to match Sandra's eye color.

...Which means that Olva's absence was not a sudden decision this morning.

(Then he should have sent a direct apology in advance...)

Yesterday, he seemed to have plenty of time, enjoying a tea party with the Crown Prince and the Holy Maiden.

Even if, by some chance, this brooch was prepared by Olva and it was a real emergency... Sandra was confident that was not the case.

There is no way that Olva, who is so focused on his mind, could prepare something so considerate.

He usually talks about all accessories as if they have no value at all.

"Lord Gerald is well-versed in accessories, I see."

"Of course, it is related to the industry and is a topic in the social world."

This is the difference.

Gerald was weak as a child and was not expected to be a knight, but he is now healthy. Compared to his brainy brother, who has been swinging a sword since he was old enough to understand, he is less skilled and more delicate.

In exchange, he is gentle and kind to women, making him secretly popular in the social world.

"Lord Olva should learn even a little from Lord Gerald..."

Sandra couldn't help but complain.

"Such a thing, I am a weakling, and cannot be compared to my strong brother."

"What one's strengths are depends on the person. In addition, one should strive to fulfill their duties, so wouldn't it be better for Lord Gerald to pursue something other than the path of a knight?"

The Maklainen family has many knights, but that is not all.

They are also landowners with small mines. There are plenty of things to do besides being a knight.

"Thank you, Lady Sandra. Ah, we are almost there."

"Yes, that's right."

Looking out the small window, she saw a familiar mansion.

As she was thinking about how to show off this brooch, she was called again.

"What is it?"

"Could I have a little time after the party?"

"Yes, of course, that's fine."

If necessary, she could even go to the Maklainen family and sink Olva without waiting for tomorrow.

Nodding, Gerald smiled happily.

(They really are very different brothers.)

Sandra's praise for Bernadetta made this part longer.

Sandra's part will conclude next time.

Let's go and give a satisfying scolding!

And surprisingly, it entered the daily overall ranking at 4th place!

Thank you to everyone for your support.

Thank you for all the bookmarks. I will work hard on the continuation.

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