Chapter 98

Sara Fog bit her lip tightly.

Then, after glaring at me, she furrowed her eyebrows again.

“I don’t know why you have such a misunderstanding, but you don’t need to worry about it. I’m just so happy that you came—”

I quickly cut her off as she tried to act sweet again.

“It’s a relief. I was really worried because I heard you cried at the tea party because of me.”

“...What?”

“I heard you were very disappointed because I didn’t bring the young ladies.”

“...”

Sara paused for a moment.

‘There’s no way that wouldn’t get around.’

The tea party was attended by the brothers and younger brothers of the young ladies.

Of course, siblings at this age are like mortal enemies, so they might take Sara’s side.

But there’s no way they wouldn’t talk about this.

It’s a good topic for attacking each other, isn’t it?

For example, ‘You’re so mean that you isolate the poor young lady because of your bad personality.’

‘Well, no one thinks about the consequences when they talk behind others’ backs.’

It’s common for people to gossip without hesitation, even among adults in the workplace.

Especially in middle and high school, it was very common.

Many people ended up facing consequences later.

At the time, their emotions were more important than thinking about the future.

‘Anyway, I won’t miss this opportunity.’

I looked at Sara with a gloomy expression.

“I didn’t know that Miss Fog wanted me to bring other young ladies.”

“That’s—!”

“It’s because you only said, ‘Elliot, I’ll be waiting for you.’...”

The young nobles murmured.

Really?

You could have thought I didn’t understand that you wanted me to bring them?

—That was the expression on their faces.

As the atmosphere became awkward, Sara was flustered.

“Ah, you didn’t come, right? Even though I asked you!”

“It’s because you didn’t formally invite me... Besides, I was a bit hurt too.”

When I said that, Sara’s face brightened for a moment.

She looked like she had found a point to attack.

“So, you didn’t come to the tea party because you were disappointed with me?”

“That could be...”

Sara, who had found a foothold, put on her usual ‘teary-eyed’ expression.

“I don’t know what I did to disappoint you, but please forgive me...”

I suppressed a laugh inside.

‘She’s taking the bait properly.’

I knew she would, but it’s amusing how quickly she fell for it.

I smiled innocently like Sara and grabbed her hand.

“I’m glad you said that.”

“Huh? ...Yes.”

“I hope we can build a good relationship without misunderstanding each other.”

“Yes, well...”

“Ah, I’ve interrupted your tea time. I’m sorry for taking your time.”

I bowed slightly to the young nobles.

When I smiled, they blushed.

Of course, I made sure this scene was visible to Sara.

Sara’s expression became sharp when she looked at me.

Sara Fog wasn’t a very smart person.

From the moment she made an entire group her enemies, she couldn’t be considered a clever girl.

She might think she’s incredibly smart.

‘If I do this, maybe...’

I chuckled to myself.

“Then.”

I bowed slightly and left the garden.

As I was about to leave, I saw three young ladies.

“Astra Countess?”

“Yes, hello.”

“It’s a good thing we met. We were planning to take a walk in the garden. Would you like to join us?”

The garden?

‘That won’t do.’

I cleverly turned the three of them around.

“How about a walk around the outer walls instead of the garden?”

“Oh, should we?”

“Sure.”

“Me too!”

That’s a relief.

‘Sara needs to be left alone with this group.’

The fish has taken the bait.

Now it’s time to let her struggle and tire herself out.

“Astra Countess, your dress is particularly beautiful today.”

“Wow, if a dress is good enough for a young lady with such excellent taste, I’m delighted. I should reward the maids who picked it out, shouldn’t I?”

“My goodness, how kind you are!”

“Astra, come to my art studio next time. I’d love for you to be my model!”

“Then I’ll invite you too, young lady! I’ll go with Astra Countess!”

We laughed and enjoyed our walk.

***

In the garden where Elliot had left.

Sara frowned. Then, as usual, she looked around at the young nobles and spoke.

“Isn’t Elliot really too much?”

The young nobles, who had been giggling and talking about other things, widened their eyes.

“Huh?”

“She didn’t come to the tea party because she was in a bad mood? I was really hurt...”

Sara sighed and continued.

“In the end, I made a mistake in front of the young nobles. It’s strange that she came all the way here to say this.”

“...”

“...”

“Isn’t it like she came here to blame me...”

Sara, with her shoulders hunched, made eye contact with each of the young nobles.

“Don’t you think so?”

But something was strange.

The expressions of the young nobles became subtle.

“That’s a bit of a leap. It seems like she came to apologize.”

“Huh?”

“Since Astra Countess extended her hand first, it would be good to get along well.”

Sara’s expression crumpled.

She bit her lip and said,

“How can you say that?”

“What did I say...?”

“A leap? I’m so disappointed, young noble.”

“...”

“Weren’t you on my side, young noble? I liked your kindness...”

As tears welled up in Sara’s eyes, the young nobles flinched.

They quickly began to comfort Sara.

“You’re right, calling it a leap was too much.”

“Apologize.”

The young noble who had been attacked looked sour.

‘What’s this?’

Why are you hurt by such words?

It’s not a big deal.

“Young noble, are you apologizing?”

“...Ah, yes.”

“Indeed, you’re so kind!”

Sara clapped her hands in delight.

Then, she smiled shyly and said,

“Apologizing is actually a brave thing to do. I’m happy to be friends with someone who is kind and brave.”

“...”

“Since everyone is so concerned, I’ll forget about Elliot.”

It sounded like, ‘I’m being considerate by forgetting what Elliot said.’

The young noble who had been attacked looked sour.

But Sara just smiled.

And as usual, she started to talk about herself, becoming the center of attention.

“By the way, where were we? Oh, I was talking about the bloodline of the winning horse at the Royal Palace race four years ago. My horse’s name is Tiara—”

“...”

“...”

The young nobles didn’t look happy.

‘Why is it so tiring to be with Miss Fog?’

‘I want to go and swing a wooden sword...’

Once Sara started talking, she wouldn’t stop for hours.

It was incredibly annoying.

***

I headed to the grand hall with the young ladies.

The count seemed ready to start talking about the dedication ceremony.

As I sat down, the young nobles entered.

The atmosphere between the two groups was chilly.

The young ladies turned their heads, and the young nobles frowned when they saw this.

Then, I spoke.

“Oshuron.”

“Yes?”

“You’re going to the swordsmanship competition, right?”

“It’s a match with my brother. Only one person from each family can participate.”

“You seem to like swords.”

“Yes! I love swordsmanship, and collecting swords is my hobby.”

“What kind of sword do you have?”

“The sword of the 12th Central Knight Commander, Ellosword—!”

Oshuron, who loved swords, said with sparkling eyes.

Then, one of the young nobles spoke.

“Ellosword! Do you have it, young lady?”

“...Yes.”

“Wow! Wow—!”

The young noble, excited, approached.

“Can I see it? I really admire the 12th Central Knight Commander!”

“Sure... What kind of weapon do you have, young noble?”

“I don’t have a sword, but I have a lance. A Fluyd!”

“Fluyd?!”

Once the ice was broken, the two, who shared the same interest, talked well.

Next, I looked at Mishaar.

“I heard you play the violin.”

“No, it’s the cello. I don’t like the violin... As I mentioned before, in recent string ensemble performances, the violin is always the main instrument. I don’t like that. The deep sound of the cello is so good—”

“That’s exactly what I was going to say! We really understand each other!”

A young noble who was good at cello playing immediately joined in.

Mishaar cleared her throat.

“...You have a good ear.”

“I wanted to play a duet. If you have time, would you like to join our performance group...!”

That’s done.

‘Indeed, people with the same hobby talk well.’

I matched friends one by one.

Of course, I benefited from the detailed information on underage nobles that Michelan and Conrad had thoroughly investigated.

A young lady and a young noble with an interest in investment.

A young lady and a young noble with similar sensitivities.

A young lady and a young noble who enjoy model building.

The grand hall became warm and friendly.

Then, it happened.

“Young nobles~”

Sara entered the meeting room with a group of young nobles.

She froze when she saw the young nobles talking excitedly with the young ladies.

“Where were you... Young nobles, we’re sitting at that table.”

But the young nobles were already deeply engaged in their conversations.

They had been listening to Sara’s boring stories for days, so this conversation was incredibly enjoyable.

I approached Sara.

“The young nobles seem to be enjoying their conversation, so you sit with me.”

“...No, it’s fine.”

I grabbed Sara’s hand.

“Don’t—”

“It’s fine, I said!”

Sara, who had lost their interest, was upset.

As she shook off my hand,

“Ah!”

I stumbled backward.

I didn’t forget to make a loud noise by leaning on a chair.

Creak, squeak—!

The children’s attention was drawn to me by the noise.

Lumelisa, who was excitedly talking about investments with the young nobles, jumped up.

“What are you doing?!”

“I, I just pulled my hand away! Right, Elliot?!”

“That’s right...”

While saying this, I held my hand and put on a pitiful expression.

Then, I looked around at the people and slumped my shoulders.

Oshuron frowned and said,

“What are you trying to do?”

She was the most aggressive among the young ladies here.

With a father and mother who were both former Knight Commanders, she was sensitive to violence.

“I tolerated the gossip, but this is too much!”

“It’s not true! Elliot, say something!”

“I’m fine, Oshuron...”

No matter how fine you say it, it doesn’t look good with raised eyebrows.

The children glared at Sara with stern faces.

Sara, looking very flustered, fumbled and glared at me.

‘You always do this, but you’re angry when it happens to you?’

I’m sorry, but I’m more experienced in this.

***

Sara was the most famous lady in the area before the Fog family rose to the capital.

Excessive wealth.

Connections with the great nobles based on that wealth.

Although a baron, her family was richer than most great nobles.

A year ago, Sara thought so.

Moreover, she was the most beautiful among the young ladies.

“Miss Fog is so enviable. A distinguished family and outstanding beauty... Even the ladies in the capital can’t match Miss Fog, right?”

“Of course! Where can you find someone like Miss Fog? Not even in the capital.”

“Even Elliot Astra, the Rose of Astra, isn’t as beautiful as Miss Fog.”

“Wise, beautiful, and from a distinguished family! Miss Fog must be a child blessed by the gods.”

Sara was the object of envy in her hometown.

At parties and the largest academy in the area, she was the center.

Everyone envied Sara, and she naturally became the leader of the group.

When the Fog family entered the capital, she was full of confidence.

But...

“Fog baron? What family is that?”

Young ladies who didn’t know the Fog family.

They wore luxurious dresses that she would only receive as gifts on her birthday, every day.

She never saw them wear the same dress twice.

Moreover, there were countless nobles who wouldn’t show their faces even if the Fog baron ran around like crazy.

And...

“Sara, you need to get along with Catherine Trang.”

“I don’t want to! Do you know how annoying Catherine is? She acts like a leader!”

“Well, Catherine Trang has been in the capital for a long time. If the other young ladies knew how kind and cute our Sara is, they would follow you instead of Catherine.”

“But...!”

“Just bear with it until your father enters the Central Tower, okay?”

Her parents said it would only be a short while.

At the latest, this year or next year, they would definitely enter the Central Tower.

Once that happened, they wouldn’t be intimidated by the snobbish great nobles.

Until then, it wouldn’t be difficult.

The nobles in the capital are naive.

Look.

Leading all the young nobles.

‘How much do the young nobles like me?’

But.

“Miss Fog, I’m really fine. Don’t worry about me too much!”

Sara’s expression stiffened completely at Elliot Astra’s words.

‘What’s this? Why are they all looking at me like this?’

This girl is the bad one!

Sara didn’t know.

Whose nose she had tickled.

Elliot Astra.

In her past life, she was the main antagonist.

Since she had tickled the nose of the sleeping main antagonist, Sara didn’t know that it wouldn’t be easy to get away with it.