~Chapter 26~
‘Something felt suspicious… was it this?’
‘It’s clear that Rivier is backing the Joubert merchant group. But Valandier is going to fall? Is this… Rivier’s intention?’
Since Helena said her father, Viscount Joubert, said it directly, there must be something behind it.
But there was no reason for Rivier to bother with Valandier, who currently remained neutral.
Did Valandier interfere with her business? Was she trying to expand Joubert’s merchant group? Or was it to block the Marquis family’s power from flowing to Khalid in advance?
‘No, that can’t be. The timing is too sudden.’
For five years they had left things alone. Acting now made no sense without a clear trigger. Yet she saw no cause for such a decisive move.
The most likely reason was simply that Valandier got in the way of one of Rivier’s business plans.
‘It could also just be that Viscount Joubert personally hates Valandier and blurted it out.’
That made more sense. The excessive inferiority complex the children displayed likely mirrored what they saw from their father.
If so, did Rivier know of Viscount Joubert’s intentions to bring down Valandier?
‘No, impossible.’
Rivier never showed mercy to those who acted against her will. Especially not to someone scheming his own plans while carrying out hers.
Therefore, if she knew, she wouldn’t have left him alone this long.
Viscount Joubert was an unexpected variable. Rivier likely hadn’t foreseen his inferiority complex.
‘If that’s really how this is going… approaching the Viscount directly to gain information might be more useful than dealing with her followers.’
With narrowed eyes, she closely observed the three sisters’ flustered reactions.
“Valandier is a family with deep history. It wouldn’t collapse overnight. Why would you say such a thing?”
“I-I don’t know! When did I ever say that?!”
Helena blatantly denied having said it.
Serel looked like she was about to snap again, so I gently placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled faintly.
“Now that I think about it, I’m curious. What lucky connection brought your family from the far east all the way to Rajan? I hear you rule the East… what exactly do you sell?”
“That’s something only Father kno— no, why should I tell someone like you?!”
Meaning she didn’t know.
It was easy to draw honest answers from naive children.
However, their commotion had drawn the attention of many nearby. With so many ears listening now, it was time to wrap things up.
Though disappointed, she had helped Serel get her revenge and gained useful information too.
Just as she was about to end it and leave—
“Seems like you’re having an interesting conversation. I saw an unfamiliar face and came looking… May I join you?”
A voice, so clear and melodious like a pure bell, though heard through someone else’s body.
“M-My goodness! The Lady of Holy Power! O-of course! It’s an honour!”
When Rivier appeared, the three sisters quickly forgot their panic, welcoming her with fawning excitement as they made space.
“I heard Viscount Joubert had three beautiful daughters… so you must be them. Just as he said.”
“T-thank you!”
“It’s an honour!”
Though Rivier passed over them with but a fleeting glance, her eyes showed no kindness.
But since she only briefly looked at them, the sisters simply drowned in joy at her praise.
The look in her eyes as she observed Helena and her sisters wasn’t pleasant, which confirmed the protagonist’s suspicion.
Given Rivier’s many eyes and ears throughout the ballroom, their earlier careless words had likely already reached her.
‘Still, I didn’t expect her to show up in person.’
Her heart raced from the unexpected encounter.
“I don’t believe we’ve met before. Won’t you introduce yourself?”
Her cat-like eyes curved slightly as she scanned me, the beauty mark under her eye adding a touch more allure.
Though I once worried what I would say if I met Rivier, now my mind felt strangely calm. So many people had scanned me today, what was one more? My voice came out clear without a tremble.
“I am Erdia of the Valandier Marquis family. It’s an honour to meet the Lady of Holy Power.”
Rivier accepted her greeting with a gentle smile.
“Ah, so you’re the one the Marquis recently adopted as his daughter. Truly… as I heard, there’s a strange aura about you. Is it because you’re from the Eastern continent?”
Most people with near-colourless skin, hair, and eyes were indeed from the East, though such traits weren’t unheard of within the empire either. Still, singling it out as a ‘strange aura’ could never be taken as a compliment.
Her soft tone feigned curiosity while subtly revealing discrimination and discomfort. It was similar to how Serel had spoken earlier.
‘Truly a woman worthy of being called the queen of social circles.’
“I never imagined I would see the Lady of Holy Power up close. Truly, just as I heard… You radiate such a unique aura that I feel as if I’ve met you before.”
But I was no different.
Though I lacked Rivier’s social prowess, I had spent countless days in places far more tense than this.
Compared to modern society’s raw corporate battles, this elegant mockery felt harmless.
Of course, my feelings were not pure. Seeing her live happily after ruining my life – if I felt no anger, that would be far stranger.
Perhaps because my attitude differed from others, Rivier raised an eyebrow, scanning me again before smiling as if intrigued.
“Unique aura, you say. In what way?”
She tilted her head slightly, as if challenging her to answer. What might seem arrogant on anyone else felt captivating on Rivier.
Even knowing who she truly was, I couldn’t deny her beauty.
“Seeing how deeply God loves you… I almost went blind from your radiance. It feels so familiar, as if I’ve seen you somewhere before.”
Contact with Rivier Arfin had not been part of the plan, but an opportunity now presented itself. If she could grow close to this woman… perhaps she could gain more information than from any follower.
Though she felt reluctant and knew it was dangerous, if she succeeded, she could achieve her goals much faster.
‘Stay calm. I handled myself before Khalid too. Just… remain calm and appear friendly enough.’
She repeated it to herself again and again.
But rage threatened to blind her as she recalled Rivier’s cruelty to Khalid.
Suppressing that fury, she forced a smile. Rivier looked at her intently and said:
“What a coincidence.”
“Pardon?”
“I too feel as if… we’ve met before.”
“……”
“Why is that?”
“……”
“You feel strangely familiar. Have we met somewhere before?”
Her mind urged her to seize the chance, to approach with warmth and draw out information. This was her opportunity. But her mouth would not open.
“No, this is my first time meeting you.”
“Is that so? I was sure it was the first time too.”
“……”
“Erdia, was it? Erdia… even your name feels unfamiliar.”
A fear of being discovered sealed her lips shut.
Suppressing his wildly beating heart, Khalid headed back into the ballroom.
He still disliked approaching women out of necessity, especially in a place where she was present.
His steps felt unbearably heavy.
He comforted himself with the thought that at least he wasn’t like that woman, who toyed with others’ hearts.
As he entered, Zerman approached.
The gazes that followed him were suffocating. Familiar yet detestable.
Khalid spoke.
“I made contact with the target woman.”
“Already?”
“It was by chance.”
Though he didn’t like the encounter, it was true they’d met, and that was enough.
“If you’ve established contact, things will go smoothly. She’s currently in trouble over there, go rescue her.”
“What?”
Khalid slowly turned his head in the direction Zerman pointed.
And there she was.
The one woman he least wished to see in the entire world.
‘Of all people… her. Again.’
