Chapter 71
“Ah, you’ve arrived!”
The moment I knocked on the reception room of the east wing, the door opened at once.
Lady Larien looked down at me with an expression full of anticipation.
“At last, today’s the day. The day I pass on my invaluable, practical secrets for surviving high society.”
I followed Lady Larien inside and nodded.
The moment I sat down in front of the table, she got straight to the point.
“There’s only one thing you need to focus on, Miss Countess.”
“What is it?”
“First: don’t be looked down on.
Second: don’t be looked down on.
Third: don’t be looked down on!”
Lady Larien raised her index finger emphatically.
“You’re far too gentle. With that level of innocence, you’ll end up nothing more than a pitiful prey in the ruthless world of high society.”
She wasn’t wrong.
I was still young, from an orphanage, and it had been barely over a month since I’d become a count’s daughter.
“You’re brilliant when it comes to thinking, but absolutely hopeless when it comes to using your body.”
I nodded again at her continued remarks.
After several lessons, I had come to understand this painfully well.
At first, I’d taken the approach of memorizing an entire etiquette book word for word.
I was at the level where I could rewrite one from memory right here.
But the problem was that my body simply wouldn’t follow the rules I knew.
I should have known back when I couldn’t even draw properly—I had zero talent for physical coordination.
I was seriously, catastrophically clumsy!
“No, just tilt your head slightly, and when you shake hands, spread your thumb and index finger only this much. I honestly don’t understand why you can’t do something this simple…”
Lady Larien shook her head in deep regret—then suddenly widened her eyes.
“That’s why I say this: you should just become shameless.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ll get nitpicked no matter what you do anyway. And with a face as lovely as yours, there’ll surely be young lords throwing themselves at you.”
“……”
“And of course the young ladies will be bursting with jealousy. Trust me—I was terrifying at that age.”
After talking to herself and nodding in agreement, Lady Larien finally tossed out her conclusion.
“If an ugly young lord approaches you rudely, just scratch him.”
I thought I’d misheard.
“E–Excuse me… scratch him?”
“If you’re slightly annoyed, scratch the back of his hand.
If you’re really annoyed, scratch his face.”
“But—how could I possibly do something like that…!”
“Why not? Afterward, just toss him a bottle of the healing potion you made. He won’t dare say a word. Do you know how valuable that potion is these days?”
Lady Larien smiled in a way that was anything but normal.
It was deeply, deeply ominous.
“Those types are all the same inside. They see your background and think you’re easy prey. After getting clawed, they’ll realize—ah, even if she looks like an innocent little rabbit, an Avner is still an Avner.”
I was completely at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, Lady Larien kept going.
“And there will definitely be young ladies who smile sweetly while trying to humiliate you. In that case, just throw your drink on them.”
“Is it… really okay to do that?”
“Of course it is! If they start making a fuss, quietly call them out to the garden. After that, His Grace will take care of it.”
I spoke up awkwardly.
“But I’m only five years old…”
Lady Larien grinned.
“That’s exactly why all of this is possible. Children aren’t meant to endure things quietly.”
* * *
Inside the carriage, which was racing nonstop down the road.
“If I’m a little annoyed, the back of the hand… if I’m really annoyed, the face…”
As I replayed Lady Larien’s lessons in my head, I felt Sharon Avner’s gaze on me.
“What are you muttering to yourself about?”
I answered quickly.
“I’m reviewing!”
“Reviewing?”
“Yes. How not to get looked down on at banquets.”
Sharon Avner looked curious, so I explained.
“Lady Larien said if some unfamiliar young lord is rude, I should scratch his face.”
Sharon Avner paused briefly, then nodded as if she agreed.
“I see.”
My eyes widened at her reaction.
‘Wait—she’s not stopping me?’
With even Sharon Avner reacting like this, I began to trust Lady Larien’s teachings more and more.
‘Maybe scratching nobles isn’t as serious as I thought…’
Otherwise, why would both of them react this way?
‘Hmm. If that’s the case, maybe this is actually a good thing?’
Until recently, I’d been desperate to get along with everyone at the Avner estate.
I thought that was the only way to survive in this harsh world.
‘But that’s just the people of the Avner household.’
The people I’d meet at the banquet were a different story.
Of course, there would be people worth befriending.
Foreign royalty, for instance, or famous scholars.
Suddenly curious, I looked at Sharon Avner.
“Duchess, um… are there important people coming to this banquet?”
She gave me a puzzled look, so I quickly added,
“I mean, if someone important comes, I want to make a good impression. I’m already close with Tian and the Empress Dowager Grandma, so that’s fine…”
At that moment, Sharon Avner’s brow creased slightly.
“…Empress Dowager. Grandma?”
Her low, questioning tone made my eyes go round.
Sharon Avner stared at me with a distinctly sulky expression, then replied dismissively.
“You don’t need to worry about things like that.”
“Huh?”
“I mean you don’t need to try to impress anyone there. You’re only five years old.”
I nodded obediently.
But then I narrowed my eyes and secretly observed her expression.
‘What’s going on?’
Sharon Avner’s mood had suddenly sunk.
‘Is she tired today?’
That made sense.
Lately, Sharon Avner had been busy with all kinds of political matters.
She had to select young scholars to bring into the Avner Academy.
According to Wendel, there were days she couldn’t even sleep until late at night.
‘Ah, I see. She must be tired and in a bad mood. I should stay quiet.’
Feeling quite mature about my conclusion, I leaned back against the seat with satisfaction.
Outside the window, the scenery rushed past at incredible speed.
The carriage, equipped with acceleration magic tools, was racing nonstop toward the capital.
‘…I’ll do my best once we get there.’
This was the first official event I’d attend since becoming the Countess of Avner.
For no reason at all, I dug my nails into my palm beneath the blanket—once, twice.
* * *
The capital was already crowded starting from the northeastern gate.
The main road was so packed with people that the carriage could barely move forward.
Then, as we passed the base of the city walls, an unbelievable sight unfolded.
“Woah…!”
Red flower petals drifted slowly through the air alongside multicolored paper streamers.
From atop the walls, palace workers were scattering flowers by hand.
‘It’s already pretty chilly these days—where did they even get this many petals?’
As I marveled at the sight, the smell of grilled meat wafted in from somewhere.
Whenever I turned my head, children selling newspapers and flowers passed by the carriage every few seconds.
“This really is the capital… a festival…”
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the view outside.
People dressed in splendid outfits danced in the streets, and festival booths were bustling with business.
“Fig bread! Come test your luck for today!”
“Beautiful lady over there! A flower crown made from His Majesty’s birth flower! Perfect for the festival, eh?”
At the handsome commoner’s sales pitch, noble ladies laughed softly and exchanged glances.
“Fresh fruit juice! Strawberry, banana, blueberry—we’ve got them all!”
A fruit juice machine cobbled together with crude magic tools also caught my eye.
Then a voice spoke beside me.
“Pick one.”
Sharon Avner—who had been sulking and silent all this time—stepped up behind me and gazed out the window as well.
“Really?”
“Would I go back on my word at my age?”
I broke into a wide grin and nodded.
“I’ll have strawberry, and you can have blueberry, Duchess!”
Sharon Avner’s violet eyes turned toward me.
“Me too?”
“Yes! We can share.”
“……”
The truth was, I wanted to try both flavors.
I worried she’d see right through me, but to my surprise, Sharon Avner nodded almost immediately.
She then extended her arm out the carriage window and called to Wendel.
“You called for me?”
“Go buy fruit juice. Two kinds—strawberry and blueberry.”
Wendel glanced at me and smiled faintly.
“Understood.”
As I watched Wendel walk away, a friendly-looking face suddenly popped into my view.
“Oh my, little miss! How about some sweet sugar bread?”
“Over here too! Our roasted sparrows are absolutely amazing!”
Seeing us buy juice, the street vendors swarmed toward the carriage all at once.
