Chapter 104
Anna was on her way back from Monterion Jewelers, where she had gone to commission the creation of a piece of jewelry Charlotte had specially requested. Monterion’s jewels had once been famous enough to dominate high society, but now they had been pushed aside by Baron Potry’s diamonds. Even so, Monterion Jewelers didn’t seem bothered by the decline in visitors. More than profit, they valued prestige.
That was why, even though most people now ordered Baron Potry’s diamonds, there were still a few who consistently entrusted their commissions to Monterion. Charlotte was one of them. She knew very well that Baron Potry’s diamonds were currently setting the trends in high society, yet she deliberately chose Monterion instead of following the crowd.
She trusted them enough to know they would do a good job without needing repeated reminders, but since it was such an important item, Charlotte had still asked Anna to pass along one message:
“Please tell them that this is extremely important and to take special care.”
And Anna had conveyed Charlotte’s words with great diligence.
[As I mentioned earlier, please proceed according to this design. The piece must be completed two days before the investiture ceremony—without exception.]
If Charlotte had emphasized it once, Anna had emphasized it more than ten times. Having safely completed her task, Anna was waiting for a carriage to return to the Marquisate of Blanche when she happened to overhear a conversation between two young ladies who had just entered Monterion Jewelers.
[Did you hear about that?]
[Yes, I heard too. But is it really true?]
[Wouldn’t we find out at the investiture ceremony?]
The investiture ceremony? Anna pricked up her ears.
[But if the rumor is true, what should we call her?]
[Wouldn’t it be “Madam”?]
[But she’s not married yet!]
[That’s true, but even if there’s no blood relation, she has a daughter now. Isn’t it strange to keep calling her “Young Lady”?]
Other than Baroness Verbel, there was no one who regularly informed Charlotte about the latest trends in high society. Since Charlotte didn’t have close friends her age, she tended to hear news later than most. Anna had intended to listen carefully and relay the information to Charlotte—but an ominous feeling crept over her.
The person they were talking about… sounded like Charlotte.
Could they possibly be talking about milady?
Anna murmured to herself. Then she heard a name she recognized.
[Her name was Aria, wasn’t it? I’m so curious what she looks like. They say the two of them look exactly alike.]
Anna gasped.
They just said “Aria,” didn’t they? How do they even know about her?
Charlotte had never revealed Aria’s existence to the outside world. Even when meeting Baroness Verbel, she had invited her to the Blanche estate. Aside from staying indoors, the only time Charlotte had gone out with Aria was a single outing after receiving an invitation from Theodore.
Had the fact that the Emperor acknowledged their mother-daughter relationship during the joint conference somehow spread? But if that were the case, the timing was far too late.
[Are we sure the child isn’t actually related by blood? You know how it is with high-ranking nobles!]
[Oh my, how scandalous! Is that really the case? Lady Blanche doesn’t look like that kind of person…]
Anna clenched her fists. She wanted nothing more than to grab the two young ladies by the collars and shout, “Milady is not that kind of person!” But more important than anything else was informing Charlotte as quickly as possible.
Anna stood up abruptly. The two young ladies, who had been sitting with their backs to her, startled and turned around.
[Is there a dog barking somewhere? Why is it so noisy? Tsk!]
Anna shot them a murderous glare, clicked her tongue once, and left Monterion Jewelers, climbing into the carriage that had just arrived. She didn’t know which families they belonged to, but she had memorized their faces perfectly.
Next time we meet, I’ll make you pay for wagging your tongues so carelessly.
* * *
Upon hearing that Aria’s existence had become known in high society, Charlotte took slow, measured breaths, trying to calm herself. She hadn’t expected the rumors to spread so suddenly, and the shock left her deeply unsettled.
In truth, ever since the joint conference ended, Charlotte had lived in a constant state of tension. The matters discussed at the conference were supposed to be confidential, shared only among those involved—but she had always wondered whether Aria’s existence would truly be treated as such.
Yet nowhere in high society had she heard the story, “Charlotte Blanche adopted a child who isn’t related by blood.” She had considered that a relief. She planned to wait for the right time to reveal Aria’s existence—and she had chosen the investiture ceremony as Aria’s debut.
So who had spread the rumors?
With her carefully laid plans completely derailed, Charlotte found it impossible to remain calm.
Who was it?
She reviewed the list of people who knew about Aria.
Grandfather and Ash were not possibilities. Neither were Theodore nor the search party from the snowfields. The Verbel couple were the same. None of them were the sort to reveal Aria’s existence carelessly.
Then—could it have been Lady Sylvidro, whom she had met earlier that day? Charlotte considered it, then shook her head. They had been together the entire time and only parted near sunset. No matter how fast rumors spread, the timing didn’t fit.
Then… was it the high-ranking nobles who had attended the joint conference?
“Calm yourself,” the Marquis of Blanche said. “Weren’t you planning to reveal Aria’s existence anyway?”
“I was—but I should have been the one to do it.”
Charlotte replied in a heavily subdued voice. Ash stood up, holding Aria in his arms.
“I’ll excuse myself. I’ll take Aria with me.”
As soon as Ash left the dining room with Anna and Aria, the Marquis of Blanche spoke firmly.
“Charlotte. Do nothing.”
Charlotte bit her lip.
“The only thing you need to do right now is decline every invitation that comes your way—without exception. Do not respond in any other manner.”
“What?”
“When you write your replies, give any reason you like for declining. If you receive two invitations from different people on the same date, give different excuses. Say you’re unwell for one, and that you already have another engagement for the other.”
“You mean… write them so the lies are obvious on purpose?”
“Yes.”
The Marquis spoke as though he had dealt with such situations before, smoothly laying out the strategy.
“After that, attend only official events, exclusive gatherings of high-ranking nobles, or parties hosted by those you’re personally close to—and bring Aria with you.”
“!”
“You must not allow just anyone to see Aria. Let people hear rumors more often than they see her. At least until the investiture ceremony.”
Clicking his tongue briefly, the Marquis continued.
“That way, everyone will understand how precious Aria is—and they won’t dare treat her carelessly.”
“What about the rumors themselves?”
“Leave them be. Rumors spread quickly, but they die out just as fast. Once it becomes known that Aria has been formally accepted into the Blanche family and that you are raising her with exceptional affection, the sparks will extinguish themselves.”
Charlotte, who had been listening silently, asked in a quiet voice,
“But that could make the rumors about Aria grow out of control. If any of it reaches her ears…”
“That’s true. But it doesn’t matter. If that happens, we’ll track down the source of the rumors and formally lodge complaints against everyone involved.”
The Marquis methodically addressed her concerns.
“Do you think this is the first time something like this has happened? This is exactly how I completely suppressed the rumors about you when you were young—and silenced those who spoke recklessly.”
“…What?”
“You didn’t leave the Blanche estate until you were three years old. Even then, the only places you went were the Holy Knight training grounds or the temple. The first time you ever appeared before society was at Ronan’s retirement ceremony.”
It suddenly made sense. No wonder he seemed so experienced—but Charlotte hadn’t realized this was her father’s own past. She blinked in surprise.
“Ronan hid your existence thoroughly, then attended his retirement ceremony with you. At the time, rumors were rampant. That day, Ronan received an honorary brooch as a hero who had greatly contributed to the Empire—and the moment he stepped down from the podium, he fastened it onto you. What do you think people thought when they saw that?”
Charlotte didn’t know—but many had believed that Ronan was hiding her because he didn’t know what to do with a child born from a cursed wife.
However, when stories spread that Ronan only brought Charlotte to select gatherings—parties and banquets attended by the most prominent nobles—the rumors began to shift. And when people saw him place the honorary brooch on Charlotte at the retirement ceremony, cherishing her openly, the rumors that he intended to dispose of her vanished entirely.
The families who had spoken thoughtlessly were socially buried by Ronan, and even now, long after, they still received invitations nowhere.
The Marquis of Blanche approached Charlotte and gently patted her shoulder. Charlotte, who had planned to introduce Aria to society slowly and carefully, looked as though she blamed herself for everything going wrong.
But regardless of her feelings, she had to turn the situation to Aria’s advantage.
With the same firmness Ronan once had when holding a young Charlotte, the Marquis said,
“If you intend to protect Aria, you must keep a clear head. Do you understand?”
* * *
The one who had actually spread the rumors was the daughter of Baron Potry—but the one who had orchestrated it was Lietta.
After hearing through Lea how the story had spread through high society, Lietta let out a clear, delighted laugh.
The rumors about Aria have spread everywhere. The Baron Potry girl is quite useful. I can keep her around a little longer.
Now that the rumors had spread exactly as planned, it was time to move on to the next stage. But for that, she needed someone who could approach Aria directly.
“Who could approach Aria on my behalf?”
Lietta pondered deeply.
Someone not affiliated with the temple, but willing to grant my request. Someone not close to Charlotte, but at least able to exchange greetings. And since she’s a daughter of the Blanche family… a high-ranking noble of similar standing…
Then, thinking of a suitable candidate, she immediately sat down at her desk. Placing a sheet of luxurious stationery before her, Lietta lifted a pristine white quill and began to write.
This time, she pressed her determination into every word—to utterly destroy Charlotte’s reputation and tear her away from Theodore.
“Dear Duke Wonterail.”
A dark smile spread across Lietta’s face.
Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye.
And thus, the day of the investiture ceremony arrived.
