Chapter 64
Eeek!”
The two attendants let out a high-pitched shriek when they saw me approaching. I gave them a small, knowing smile as they tried to step back hesitantly. Their faces turned even paler.
“Oh my, how delightful. You must be the attendants who warned me earlier about the crime of insulting a noble.”
“Y-yes….”
Awkwardly smiling, they glanced at Axion in my arms.
“Thank you for earlier. Bishin, Michi.”
“Haha….”
“N-no problem.”
Bishin and Michi rolled their eyes and avoided my gaze. Then, they looked at each other briefly, whispering something small. From their expressions, it seemed like they were exchanging, You don’t think she heard that, do you?
But what can I do? My ears happen to be rather sharp.
“Oh, right. There’s something you two have misunderstood.”
“Y-yes…?”
They widened their eyes at me, still smiling faintly, as if feeling a bit relieved. Just then, Kal approached me, flanked by the guards.
“This child is neither the maid’s child nor my steward’s.”
“…!”
“She’s my child.”
“Th-that is…”
Finally realizing I had heard all their conversation, Bishin and Michi trembled violently.
At that moment, Kal, who had just reached me, slightly bowed his head.
“As you instructed, I filed a report for the crime of insulting a noble against the attendants Bishin and Michi.”
“…!”
“Ah, n-no—”
The two attendants tried to stammer some desperate excuse, but I clapped my hands casually and smiled.
“Oh my. Well done, Kal. Thanks to these two, I remembered what punishment awaits those who commit the crime of insulting a noble.”
“Ah, I see.”
Kal nodded in agreement. I turned to the guards who had been standing by and smiled brightly.
“Please keep a careful watch on these two.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“N-no—!”
Bishin and Michi screamed as they were grabbed by the guards, but there was no one to help them.
“Then I shall check on how things proceed from here.”
Kal, looking like a firm and resolute steward, disappeared along with them. Thanks to that, I was left alone again with Axion.
“What just happened?”
“Lady Evanroir… you really do cause incidents wherever you go.”
After re-entering the banquet hall, I had called the guards from my corner and handled the attendants myself, leaving the nobles bewildered. They stared at me, mouths slightly open. Everyone, that is—except for Dazar.
What’s going on?
He silently mouthed the question from afar. I shook my head casually, as if it was nothing. But he didn’t look satisfied. He frowned and began stepping toward me just as—
“Lady Evanroir, hello.”
A woman’s voice came from behind. The idea that someone dared speak to me, who had just caused a storm in the banquet hall, was bold. Curious, I turned around.
“Yes, hello.”
“It’s an honor to meet the famous Lady Evanroir in person.”
She was a woman I had never seen before, greeting elegantly. She smiled while lightly fanning herself, though her smile was more of a sneer.
What is this now?
A “traffic light” version two, perhaps? Surprisingly, this woman had red hair, wore a blue dress, and held a yellow fan. Was the original author holding some grudge against traffic lights?
“I am honored as well. I… don’t know your name.”
“…You don’t know me?”
She frowned, apparently thinking my lack of recognition was intentional disrespect. From behind her, her ladies-in-waiting whispered “Oh my.” They stood slightly back, less bold than their leader.
Then a voice from what seemed to be her closest ally rang out.
“This is Countess Karlin! How could you not know her, the most beautiful lady of the Empire?”
Not only was she informing me who Karlin was, but also flattering her while trying to belittle me.
She’s quite the speaker.
I inwardly applauded and nodded slightly. Oh, so she was a countess—much higher rank than a minor baroness like Evanroir.
Then she’s probably similar to that Mia from before.
I merely nodded without saying much. Traffic light version two bit her lip in response. I had no interest in getting along with her; I just greeted her. Yet, she seemed to interpret my stance wrongly, speaking even more sharply.
“This child is said to be Lady Evanroir’s son, is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
She looked directly at Axion, who sat quietly in my arms, and hesitated slightly. I could guess what was on her mind. Oh no… he’s much cuter than I expected. Her lips twitched slightly—proof she thought just that. She quickly tore her gaze away from Axion and, with a shaky voice, tried to speak harshly.
“T-this child is your son? When did you marry? Lady Evanroir rarely participates in society; we had no idea.”
Ah, now I understood. Traffic light version two harbored some grudge against me. She had certainly come to cause me trouble. Or, judging by my memory, perhaps not grudge—maybe she simply wanted attention in the social sphere.
She wants to mock me for attention, perhaps.
Although the nobles pretended not to notice, I could tell they were sneaking glances, most likely gossiping about me. I lifted my nose slightly in response.
“I haven’t married.”
“Oh my.”
Traffic light version two grinned as if caught, fanning her orange fan.
“Does Count Silvestain know this?”
Hmm. My elder brother was currently immersed in mystery and adventure and would have no idea. So she’s planning to turn me into the notorious noblewoman who secretly had a child and caused a scandal in the Hall of Rest, without my father’s permission. I could see her intention clearly—but I had no plans to run or fabricate a lie.
“He doesn’t. My brother was away briefly before Axion officially became part of the Evanroir family.”
“Oh my, oh my.”
Traffic light version two narrowed her eyes and stepped slightly back. It was clearly a deliberate gesture, her forced smile failing to hide her disdain. I thought she was quite skilled at the game.
“Cecilia!”
Huh?
Who called me by name here? And it was a woman’s voice. My only female friend, Letty, should be busy preparing for the entrance. Confused, I turned and found an unexpected figure.
“There you are!”
It was Mia, the same girl who had argued with me earlier and ended up crying. She elegantly brushed her green hair and approached, linking arms with me.
What? Such intense physical contact… I usually don’t have female friends, so this was a bit…
“Uh, uh… Lady Mia?”
My heart raced.
“We agreed to speak informally, remember? Oh, I see, there are others around, that’s why.”
Mia covered her mouth in a flustered manner, winking at me, then whispered quickly so I could hear. She too had brought a fan.
“Lady Karlin is a hyena. She’s always looking for her next victims in the social scene. Those with her are her followers.”
“Uh… yes.”
Her rapid-fire whispering reminded me of a Korean hip-hop variety show—perfect pronunciation, fast rhythm, and somehow still smiling.
If she went to Korea, she’d win hands down.
While I was thinking this nonsense, Mia continued.
“Many had to withdraw from society after being targeted by Lady Karlin. Be careful.”
“Ah… I see.”
I didn’t know why Mia appeared to help me, but seeing her earnestness, I had to nod in agreement. The traffic light version two posed no real threat, anyway.
I quietly watched the two countesses start hissing at each other, blinking.
“Isn’t that Lady Karlin? You were greeting her, Cecilia. Surprised, I’m sure. Everyone would assume you knew her, but you didn’t.”
“Oh my… I didn’t know you two were friends. Ah, a commonality—you’ve both been left by a man?”
“Left? We abandoned him.”
Hoho.
As Mia fanned herself and responded, Karlin merely raised an eyebrow. She seemed surprised that Mia’s biggest talking point—her former fiancé—elicited little reaction.
“Lady Katrin seems to blame women when relationships end. That shouldn’t happen—it undermines a woman’s self-esteem.”
The girl who had cried while fighting me earlier had vanished. Mia now spoke quite sensibly.
“I’ve made that mistake myself in the past, but Cecilia made me realize it.”
Well… that “past” was about an hour ago, perhaps. Her wistful gaze made me feel awkward for some reason.
