Chapter 46
“…It’s all my fault.”
Helene’s voice trembled with guilt.
Not once had Lilliana asked her why she hadn’t held a debutante ball for her. She never questioned it, never accused her.
Not that Helene would’ve had a proper answer back then anyway.
Whenever she faced the sins she had committed before regaining the memories of her past life, Helene was overwhelmed with remorse.
“At the end of this month, Lady Angelina’s debutante ball will be held. If Countess Emeldia and Lady Lilliana are amenable… what would you think of having Lady Lilliana make her debut then as well?”
Despite the good news, the Grand Duchess’s tone was incredibly calm.
Helene doubted her ears.
“…Would that really be alright?”
Understanding, the Grand Duchess gave her a firm nod.
“All social events within the Imperial family are under my jurisdiction. Caring for the Empire’s youth is also my duty. Lady Lilliana is pious, well-mannered, and cultured. Her debut would be a joyful addition to the social world.”
It was only when the Grand Duchess reaffirmed it that Helene fully grasped what was happening.
Had she let herself get any more carried away with joy, she might have embraced the Grand Duchess on the spot.
“And since Lady Lilliana will be quite busy helping prepare for Lady Angelina’s debut, might I ask Countess Emeldia to act as Lady Lilliana’s chaperone?”
In the Grand Duchess’s mind, no one was more suited to executing Lilliana’s last-minute debut flawlessly than Helene.
“It would be my honor! I’ve been bored lately with nothing to do anyway. Thank you so much!”
“No need to thank me. I always thought you were perfect for the role. As Lilliana’s debutante schedule will align with her duties as the chief lady-in-waiting, you’ll likely have to come to the palace daily.”
Now Helene understood why the Grand Duchess had shown her the royal access permit earlier.
A memory surfaced—one not long ago, when she was nearly killed by the Emperor’s blade for trying to figure out the relationship between Jayna and the Crown Prince.
Such things would never happen again.
Just then, one of the Grand Duchess’s attendants approached and whispered something in her ear.
The Grand Duchess simply gave a small nod in response.
“…Then I’ll take my leave.”
It seemed she had another engagement.
She rose from the sofa, and behind her stood her ready attendants and maids.
“Oh, and it seems the next Solar Ladies’ Gathering will be held at the residence of the Marchioness of Laussen.”
“…Pardon?”
The unexpected remark made Helene blink.
The Grand Duchess had always felt sorry for the Marchioness of Laussen, who, being from a foreign land, had struggled to adapt to life in the Hersen Empire.
That was why she had even granted her membership into the Solar Ladies’ Gathering. Yet, the Marchioness remained on the fringes, unable to truly mingle with the other noblewomen.
And now, the Marchioness had asked to bring a friend to the gathering.
The friend being none other than Helene.
The Grand Duchess had known the Marchioness for over a decade, but it was the first time she had seen her laugh out loud.
Though she had founded the Solar Ladies’ Gathering to foster friendship and loyalty among noblewomen, the Grand Duchess had always harbored doubts—did any of them actually share real bonds?
Being at the heart of high society, where schemes and politics ran rampant, had made her jaded.
Then one day, the Marchioness—who normally fled at the mere sight of her—approached her directly.
She asked the Grand Duchess if she could reconsider her opinion of Countess Emeldia.
Most ladies came to her to whisper scandals or expose others’ weaknesses. Never before had someone approached her with such sincerity.
The Marchioness had listed off all of Helene’s virtues before concluding, “Countess Emeldia is my dear friend.”
A dear friend.
How many people could she call that?
The Grand Duchess was quietly envious of their friendship.
“I hope Countess Emeldia continues attending the Solar Ladies’ Gatherings.”
Not just the Marchioness, but even Duchess Dravis and her circle had been talking about Helene lately.
To those bored women, Helene was a fascinating, fresh presence—someone who had lived a very different life from theirs.
They wanted to hear more of her story.
Helene was different.
Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, the Grand Duchess finally asked,
“Is it true that you helped the Marchioness of Laussen with her divorce?”
It had been the hottest gossip in the capital of Rephia.
The Marquess and Marchioness of Laussen had finally divorced.
Until now, noblewomen had always suffered more in divorces.
But the Marchioness of Laussen had presented flawless evidence of her husband’s infidelity, and of her own significant contributions to the marquisate’s fortune.
In the end, the Marquess lost not only his wealth, but even his title—both passed to the Marchioness.
The man was cast out with nothing but the clothes on his back.
Her case became the first precedent proving a woman could win in divorce.
Now, the courthouse in the capital was flooded with noblewomen seeking their own divorces.
To those who asked how she’d managed to win both property and title, the Marchioness whispered only to ladies in similar situations:
‘…Countess Emeldia helped me.’
Helene had learned of the Marchioness’s miserable marriage and guided her through a winning strategy.
She advised gathering solid evidence of infidelity, abuse, and gambling—then even persuaded her to turn the children and the retainers to her side.
She’d gone so far as to summon the Marquess’s lovers to court and cause a scene.
It had been a thoroughly prepared, well-fought battle.
“T-that’s only because the Marquess was such a garbage husband!”
Helene blurted out without thinking.
Just as she regretted her unladylike outburst, the Grand Duchess gave her a gentle smile.
“You’re right. He was a garbage husband. I was overjoyed when the Marchioness won her case. Countess Emeldia, you’ve given hope and courage to many women trapped in miserable marriages.”
When Helene first heard the Marchioness had won, she’d breathed a sigh of relief.
Though she had originally approached her with ulterior motives, she had come to realize the Marchioness was a genuinely kind and delicate soul.
It had weighed on her that she hadn’t been able to help more, especially with the ongoing mess involving the three sisters.
But now that she’d heard of the victory, it truly was something to celebrate.
“Then, I’ll see you at the next Solar Ladies’ Gathering.”
“Yes, of course!”
“…Everyone is waiting for you, Countess Helene.”
That “everyone” included the Grand Duchess herself.
She was already thinking she would clear her schedule next time so she could properly enjoy tea with Helene.
With a tinge of regret, the Grand Duchess stepped into her carriage.
Helene stood and watched until the carriage completely disappeared from view.
✦
Meanwhile, in the Rephia Palace…
‘I wonder if April made it safely to the Magic Tower…’
Lilliana’s gaze drifted toward the window.
Though the highest place in the Empire was the Rephia Palace, no matter how far she looked, there was no sign of anything like a magic tower.
It still felt unreal—April staying in a place she had always thought existed only in ancient legends or fictional tales.
She wanted to rush to the estate and check on her immediately, but she knew April wouldn’t like that.
Just as Helene and April had told her—it was time to focus on herself now.
Once, she had longed to be free from her sisters so she could concentrate on her own goals, yet now here she was, worrying about them.
Lilliana shook her head at her own fickleness.
She stepped away from the window.
And then, a different kind of anxiety took hold.
Starting today, Lilliana would officially serve as the chief lady-in-waiting to Lady Angelina.
After greeting Angelina formally, they were supposed to begin a meeting to prepare for the debutante ball.
But the appointed time had long since passed, and Angelina still hadn’t returned.
Lilliana’s anxiety was reaching its peak.
Creeeak—
Finally, the door opened. Startled, Lilliana and the two maids bent their knees in greeting to the approaching Lady Angelina.
Angelina had just returned from greeting the Emperor and taking a walk in the garden.
Exhausted from the unexpectedly long walk, she sat down in a wing chair.
The two waiting maids stepped forward and formally introduced themselves to Lady Angelina.
