~Chapter 14~
Fifth: Making a Scene in High Society
Before meeting Mabel’s senior, I was dressing Mabel.
“Ta-da! White!”
At thirteen years old, Mabel was just about to finish elementary school, and the poofy-line dress suited her perfectly.
“So pretty!”
She looked like a complete angel—just without wings!
Even outfits that didn’t exist in the game or were rare all looked good on her.
“And… Sonnet, your outfit?”
“Oh, just the one I wore earlier.”
My outfit? I had bought a trendy one earlier, nothing fancy. But right now, look at my little angel.
“Give me everything she’s tried on so far!”
“Ah… is that okay? That’s a lot…”
“It’s fine. The young marquis said he’d pay for everything.”
It’s not my money! No problem!
“Ah, alright then. Everything suits her so well, it’s hard to choose. Take it all!”
Before I knew it, the shop owner had come over and enthusiastically supported my choice.
As expected from a business owner—he knew where the money would come from.
While handing various items to a blushing Mabel, someone entered.
“Excuse me, customer! There are other clients inside—!”
“That’s fine.”
She had long curly hair in a light brown shade, and a striking aura.
Her red eyes reminded me of Ruby, and they locked on mine. I knew this woman.
“A senior?”
“Hmm? You… were at the club the lady ran?”
“Yes. I’m Mabel Eduque.”
Damia Cartier.
Daughter of the Cartier marquis house, one of the main rivals in the high-society noble route.
“I see. I’ve heard rumors recently that the young lady of the Eduque family became the young marquis’s lover. Is that you?”
“No, that’s me.”
Her eyes returned to mine.
“So… you’re the one? Hmph…”
She looked me over as if judging me, then snapped her fan shut.
“You’re more plain-looking than I expected. I thought you’d be a peerless beauty.”
“Well, the young marquis prefers plain women like me.”
Was she trying to pick a fight?
“Is that so? Don’t misunderstand. I’m merely curious. Everyone says you made the young marquis fall, so naturally they assume you must be stunning, well-proportioned, and all that.”
“…Made him fall… not really.”
I could understand where Mabel had picked up such coarse language.
I silently hoped this woman would stay away from Mabel.
“Understand, will you? You know the reputation of the Edenrosa family, don’t you?”
“You mean the rumor that they devote everything to their loved one?”
“Exactly. So naturally, people are interested in the young marquis’s lover. A few years from now, you’ll basically be able to wield influence over the marquis’s household.”
She chuckled, explaining how powerful figures always draw attention.
“And I want to be friendly with a prospective power-holder. That is, if you truly are the young marquis’s lover.”
“I am. We’re attending Count Blueua’s salon together soon.”
“So, you’re coming out in the spring social season. Then come to our family’s ball as well. I’ll send an invitation.”
An invitation from the Cartier marquis house—one of the three most prominent noble families.
If this had happened right after I was possessed, I might have been amazed, but now, it wasn’t entirely welcome.
After all, the Cartier house supported the 2nd prince, while I was aligned with the 1st prince faction.
“Please do come. You can even attend alone; this invitation is for you, not the young marquis.”
The 2nd prince would eventually be exposed as not being of royal blood. The consort who bore him was from a marquis house, making suspicions of dark magic inevitable.
“Yes, thank you.”
Still, for the sake of reputation, I needed to investigate possible connections to dark magic.
If we became friendly, maybe I could gather some clues. I made a mental note about the marquis house’s ball.
“There’s nothing I like here. I’ll need it custom-made.”
After our brief conversation, she left the dress shop quickly.
The stormy energy she brought left us all slightly dazed as we finished shopping.
“Unnie, there are so many clothes…”
“It’s fine. They all look great on you.”
The last dress Mabel tried on was a green dress with many ribbons. My angel—it suited her perfectly.
About a week later.
At the Eduque count house.
The young marquis who had come to escort me looked slightly bewildered.
“…Sonnet, who is the child beside you?”
“She’s my younger sister. She’s submitting embroidery at this salon. It’s for her social club activities.”
“She attends Count Blueua’s social club? For someone that young… she must be talented.”
“Of course. She’s a genius.”
Confidently saying this, Mabel tugged at my dress.
“Unnie… it’s embarrassing…”
What’s embarrassing about calling a genius a genius? When I looked at Mabel, she just blushed even more.
“So… you really like your sister, huh?”
“Yes. She’s an angel.”
“Unnie…”
I merely called my sister an angel.
The young marquis watched us with a subtle expression, then suggested:
“Shall we go? It’s good to spend time with family, but don’t forget the role you have today.”
“Yes.”
As soon as we arrived at Count Blueua’s house by carriage, Mabel ran off somewhere else.
“I’ll be entering with Countess Blueua! See you later! You two enjoy your time!”
She must have felt like she was interfering with us as a couple.
“…You’re not going to stop her?”
“Huh? Why?”
“Nothing. Let’s go in.”
The young marquis extended his arm.
“…Should I hold it?”
“Were you thinking of walking separately from your lover?”
His gaze said, what kind of obvious question is that?
Damn it. I grabbed his arm.
“Also, we should change how we address each other. ‘Young marquis’ feels too distant.”
“Then… what should we call each other?”
“Pierre. Other nicknames are fine too.”
I nodded silently.
Satisfied, he left one final instruction:
“Remember. You are my lover.”
“I know.”
“Entering as Pierre Edenrosa, Young Marquis, and Sonnet Eduque, daughter of Count Eduque!”
The grand doors silently opened, revealing the luxurious interior.
All eyes turned to us.
Curiosity, jealousy, admiration… a mix of emotions fell upon us as we strode confidently into the salon.
“Welcome, Young Marquis Edenrosa!”
“Long time no see, Count Blueua.”
“An honor that you accepted our invitation.”
Pierre spoke with the count with practiced ease. Seeing others approach him, I quietly stepped back.
Since we were going to dance after completing our duties, I thought I’d just kill time for now.
As I edged toward the corner food table, someone stopped me.
“Are you Sonnet Eduque?”
“Yes. And you are…?”
“I’m Dia Lafayette.”
A gentle, puppy-like woman.
“Daughter of Baron Lafayette.”
“Ah, I see.”
Then I recalled—main rival in the romance route.
The main rival for the marquis’s contract relationship.
“I’ve heard rumors, but this is my first time meeting you. I wanted to talk.”
Smiling shyly, she called over her friends.
“My friends are curious too. Everyone wanted to know about the person in the rumors.”
“Hello, Miss Eduque.”
“Nice to meet you!”
In no time, the introductions were done, and all the girls’ eyes were shining as they looked at me.
“When did you become the young marquis’s lover?”
“Oh… recently. We’ve known each other for a while, but only officially became a couple not long ago.”
“Is that true? I heard you were proposed to in the marquis’s garden with a bouquet of roses!”
“I’ve also heard he filled a room with gold and jewels to confess.”
“Haha… yes, well…”
“Romantic!”
When did such ridiculous rumors start? Pierre must have spread them on purpose.
Most were curious or envious, though not everyone.
“People said you were a rake or adulterer because of the young marquis, and suddenly you’re his lover? What a change of heart!”
“Indeed. Seems like romance novels are real!”
“Normal people like us could never dream of meeting someone like you. Lucky in life!”
“They said you joined the knights to meet him. Very bold!”
And so on…
Roughly, the gist was:
‘Can’t eat that fruit, huh? How did you? Lucky to catch the young marquis’s eye.’
‘The young marquis falls for someone like you? Unusual.’
‘You tricked your way into the knights to seduce him? Shamelessly clever.’
Just look at how they talk.
“I should’ve become a marquis’s knight too. Had I known such romance would happen!”
Especially this rival, Dia, kept mocking me for being a knight, subtly.
She must have been twisted inside, seething.
I glanced at Pierre for a moment, who was subtly worried, and made my decision.
Better to have a rumor about being fierce than being weak or kind—it avoids unnecessary trouble.
“Miss Dia.”
Yes. Fine. I’ll be the villainess she wants me to be.
“Have you said everything you wanted?”
I’d gladly play the part.
