“Do you have any idea how shocked I was?! I went to train like usual, but the mansion was completely empty, and you didn’t even send a reply!”
As Rozetin shouted, Selenea glanced around nervously and held out her palm.
“St-stop. I get it, so let’s talk later. Don’t raise your voice at a party.”
“Par… what?”
Rozetin tilted her head in confusion but slightly softened her expression.
Then, noticing Estellin standing next to Selenea, she flinched and asked,
“…W-who is this?”
Estellin, eyes wide, quickly opened her mouth.
“Oh! Nice to meet you, Lady Rozetin. My name is Estellin, from House Laurent…”
Rozetin gave a small “Ah,” and nodded. Then Selenea nudged Rozetin’s arm.
“What are you doing? You should introduce yourself too.”
Looking startled, Rozetin turned to Selenea and stammered out,
“Uh, uh… M-my name is Rozetin.”
Her face had turned slightly red.
It was Rozetin’s first time attending a proper high-society party.
The marquess couple had never sent her to such events before.
“I… I’ve never been to a place like this before…”
She murmured awkwardly, trying to explain herself when—
“Excuse me, Lady Grimaldi.”
A cold voice came from behind, startling Rozetin.
“What exactly do you think you’re doing at someone else’s party?”
It was Meg Klein, the host of the party, adorned in dazzling accessories and glaring at her furiously.
“Huh?”
Rozetin asked in confusion, and Meg looked her up and down with contempt.
“To pass by the host without even greeting her? I’ve never experienced such rudeness in my life!”
“…Ah.”
Rozetin finally realized the situation, her eyes filled with discomfort. She looked around, embarrassed.
“S-sorry. I just…”
“This is a formal gathering. How could you come here without knowing even the basics of etiquette?”
But Meg didn’t let her speak.
She looked Rozetin up and down with disdain before letting out a sneering laugh.
“Considering your circumstances, I suppose it’s not entirely surprising… But you should at least observe basic manners.”
Rozetin’s face flushed red with embarrassment.
She could hear murmurs around her, but couldn’t find the strength to respond.
“Grimaldi’s Rozetin? Have you heard of her before?”
“No, never. Ah, isn’t she from that family supposedly supported by House Tigris?”
“Supported? But they’re a marquess family. They need a sponsor?”
“You know how it is—Marquess Grimaldi has too many children to raise. Their finances are a bit…”
Rozetin lowered her head further and further. Everything the ladies were whispering was true.
The only reason she’d been able to train at the Tigris estate was because she was receiving the duke’s support.
Her parents had no real ability but spent money like water.
The family had been respectable under her grandfather, but ever since her father inherited the title, it had been in steady decline.
That was precisely why the Grimaldi couple obsessed over their children’s abilities.
They believed that if their children entered government posts or the Imperial Knights, they’d bring in money for the family.
Meanwhile, they pretended to be benevolent people who took in unfortunate orphans.
“To think they didn’t even teach basic etiquette to their only daughter.”
“Exactly. She’s still the daughter of a marquess family…”
“How old is Lady Rozetin? Isn’t she the same age as Lady Estellin? Eighteen?”
“Yes. It’s a little… unpolished for a debut.”
Pathetic.
Rozetin heard them clearly and bowed her head further.
They were right. She was pathetic.
She didn’t know the first thing about how to act or greet people here.
And the little she had learned from watching her mother flew out of her head the moment she saw Selenea.
She had only come because an invitation had arrived at her house and Selenea asked her to come.
She had even revealed her special ability to her parents just to attend this event.
Then, Meg’s disapproving voice came again.
“Well, I suppose this tells us a lot about the Grimaldi family’s standards. I look forward to seeing your performance at the upcoming Gratitude Festival.”
Her voice was full of ridicule and contempt. Rozetin bit her trembling lip as she lowered her eyes.
But then, above her head, a calm and gentle voice rang out.
“Lady Meg, don’t be so harsh.”
Rozetin looked up in surprise. Selenea had stepped between her and Meg, smiling.
“Rozetin’s been incredibly busy lately. I’m sure she simply didn’t have time to learn formal etiquette.”
With a sunny smile, Selenea met Meg Klein’s gaze directly.
A slight wrinkle formed between Meg’s brows.
“…What do you mean by that? Are you saying I should just tolerate this rudeness?”
Selenea widened her eyes innocently and shook her head.
“Of course not. I simply hoped that the host of such a wonderful event might extend a little understanding and grace.”
A quiet sigh escaped Meg’s lips. She didn’t hide her displeasure as she thought,
“How sly.”
Because of Selenea’s words, she couldn’t humiliate Rozetin any further.
If she did, she would look like a host lacking basic courtesy.
Still, Meg clenched her jaw and added sharply,
“Well, I still don’t quite understand.”
She knew she should stop, but the words just kept coming. Selenea’s smiling face was infuriating.
“Honestly, it’s insulting and ridiculous. To ruin someone else’s party without knowing the basics? Especially when this is practically her debut?”
Rozetin flinched. Meg saw it and her gaze turned even colder.
In truth, it wasn’t Rozetin who had really angered Meg—it was Selenea.
But she targeted Rozetin because she was easier to bully.
Selenea, however, wasn’t about to back down.
“As I said, Rozetin has been focused entirely on improving her ability. She hasn’t had time to learn etiquette. Right, Rozetin?”
Rozetin stared blankly at Selenea, then slowly nodded.
Selenea beamed and added brightly,
“See? And thanks to that, she’s recently improved her ability. Isn’t that worth celebrating? She can always learn etiquette from now on.”
The room, which had fallen into awkward silence, erupted into murmurs.
“Did she say she improved her ability?”
“I-I think so! Lady Grimaldi must be truly amazing… To advance her ability at that age?”
“Incredible. I’ve known people who needed ten years to do that!”
“Does anyone know what her ability is?”
Meg’s expression slowly froze. But she swallowed the words rising to her throat.
From now on, saying anything would only make her look ridiculous.
She forced a smile and bit back her frustration.
“…Well, I suppose I have no choice but to understand, then. But please be more careful next time.”
“Oh my! Thank you so much for your kindness,” Selenea said with a crescent-eyed smile.
Meg turned away without responding. But her jaw clenched tightly.
“Why… why do I have to put up with some pauper marquess’s daughter?!”
She was boiling inside.
“And that damned Selenea Tigris!”
Selenea and Rozetin were still standing close to Estellin.
“Because of those leeches, I didn’t even get a chance to talk to Estellin!”
But there was nothing she could do now. Meg took a deep breath to calm her trembling hands.
She erased the expression from her face and naturally joined another group of powerful young ladies.
Fortunately, they greeted her warmly.
It seemed the topic was already about the upcoming Gratitude Festival.
“Lady Meg! We were just discussing the charity exhibition.”
“Yes! What kind of exhibit are you planning to present this year?”
With questions flying in, Meg quickly lifted the corners of her mouth into a smile.
“Well… I’m still thinking.”
The Gratitude Festival was considered the largest and grandest event in Ervia each year.
It lasted for about a month, with numerous events taking place during that time.
Among them, the most anticipated was the charity exhibition, in which all noble ladies participated.
One girl said,
“I’m thinking of exhibiting a piece by a famous sculptor who’s made a name overseas.”
“Oh my, I was planning to bring in a painting.”
Participants could exhibit items in the Second Hall of the Imperial Palace.
Visitors then voted by placing their tickets in front of the most impressive exhibit.
Tickets were sold at high prices in advance, and since it was a charity event, all proceeds were donated.
At the end, the winner was the lady whose exhibit received the most tickets.
However, the voting was usually unremarkable.
Most participants were young noble girls, so the exhibits tended to be similar.
Thus, the winner was often the lady from the most prominent family that year—or simply the one with the most expensive item.
Meg was aiming for the latter this time.
With a smug look, she said,
“I’m planning to exhibit a suit of armor made from ethylite stone.”
Gasps filled the air.
“E-ethylite?!”
“A suit of armor made from that?!”
Meg nodded proudly.
Ethylite was an extremely rare mineral not found anywhere on the continent.
It was so expensive that even a pebble-sized piece could buy multiple houses.
“I put in some effort. I plan to present it to His Majesty after the exhibition.”
“Oh my goodness…”
The girls’ faces filled with awe and shock. Meg smiled smugly.
“My aunt is the Empress. This is nothing for someone like me.”
She glanced behind her. Selenea was still smiling brightly.
Meg ground her teeth in secret.
You dare humiliate me in my own party, defending some pauper? And even steal Estellin from me?
Just wait until the Gratitude Festival begins.
She, the one known as the only princess of Ervia, would make sure Selenea bitterly regretted ever challenging her.
A sinister smile crept onto Meg’s lips.
