Chapter 007
It was at that moment, as questions began to billow like smoke among the guests.
Elody cast a fleeting glance toward Isabel, who stood amidst the crowd.
Isabel’s lips were pressed firmly together, her complex gaze fixed intently on Elody.
‘Ha, she really is the female lead.’
Peering at Isabel’s refreshing appearance out of the corner of her eye, Elody let out a mental smirk.
The deep green dress, reminiscent of lush summer foliage, suited Isabel perfectly.
Furthermore, the accessories she wore harmonized beautifully with the gown.
She had an innate sense of fashion, so to speak.
‘Come to think of it, Isabel has quite a talent for costume design, doesn’t she?’
Elody suddenly recalled the contents of the original novel.
The original story was a “cider” revenge plot where the female lead succeeded in everything from start to finish.
After various hardships, Isabel finally succeeded in her divorce.
If memory served correctly, she then opened a dress shop that became a massive hit…….
‘Wait, a dress shop?’
Elody made sure to remember that flickering thought.
For now, she had a job to do.
And that was precisely this.
“Mother.”
Elody came to a halt in front of a pale-faced Marissa.
She sharpened her gaze, looking up to confront Marissa directly.
“What on earth is the meaning of this?”
“E-Elody?”
“Why is it that everyone except for me and my sister-in-law is dressed according to a dress code?”
At that sharp tone, the guests who had arrived in their yellow attire reflexively stiffened their shoulders.
Elody’s voice rang out clearly once more.
“Don’t tell me, did you send letters to the guests behind my sister-in-law’s back? Were you trying to ostracize us?”
“Wait a moment, dear. I…….”
What on earth was happening?
Marissa could not hide her bewildered expression.
Naturally, this was not the flow she had intended.
Her plan was for everyone to match the dress code while Isabel alone wore a standout outfit, thereby framing Isabel as an insolent and ill-mannered person…….
“Baroness Luco.”
Right on cue, Elody singled out one of the noblewomen.
She was a lady who was known to be close with Marissa.
“Today’s dress code—from whom did you receive word of it?”
“Pardon? That, well…….”
Baroness Luco couldn’t bring herself to answer and instead stole a glance at Marissa.
However, that very action served as proof.
It confirmed that the person who had secretly disseminated the dress code was indeed Marissa.
“What exactly are you doing?”
“I, I just…….”
“My sister-in-law is the host of this garden party. To share a dress code without even obtaining her permission…….”
Elody concluded coldly.
“It is truly disappointing.”
At those words, Marissa felt a cold sweat trickling down her spine.
How did things turn out like this?
When she snapped back to her senses, she realized she was the one being framed as the senseless person!
Furthermore, if things went wrong, Elody’s reputation could be tarnished.
‘This won’t do.’
Marissa swallowed hard.
The purpose of this garden party was to secure a good marriage match for Elody.
The current Duke Labantes took an immense interest in Elody’s marriage.
More accurately, he hoped to profit significantly through her union.
It was for that reason he tolerated the massive expenses incurred by every party.
‘Why of all things did Elody have to get caught up in this!’
Of course, objectively, it was merely a matter of not wearing the right dress.
However, depending on the interpretation, it could look as though Elody was being mistreated within her own home.
No man would want to pay a high price to take a daughter who isn’t even loved by her own family as his wife.
It meant Elody’s value in the marriage market could plummet.
If that happened…….
‘David will be furious.’
And that rage would be directed entirely at Marissa, who had designated the dress code.
If she fell out of favor with the Duke, everything she had enjoyed until now would vanish like bubbles.
The glamorous and extravagant life.
The benefits she had subtly funneled to her biological family.
Even the respect she received as the Dowager Duchess—all of it.
‘That’s the one thing that must never happen.’
Marissa gulped.
‘I have to settle this as smoothly as possible.’
She had to brush this off as a minor commotion at the party so that no problems would arise for Elody.
Only then could she avoid the Duke’s wrath and, by extension, keep her position as the Dowager Duchess safe.
“Listen to me for a moment, won’t you?”
Marissa hurriedly clung to Elody.
“This is all a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Yes. Isabel has never properly hosted a party like this before, has she?”
Marissa tried to coax Elody, who maintained a prim expression.
“I only designated a dress code because I hoped the guests would interact more comfortably; there was no ill intent.”
“Is that true?”
“Of course, naturally. I acted entirely to help Isabel.”
Marissa scrambled to piece together any excuse she could find.
“Of course, I am truly sorry that the contact was missed regarding you two. I clearly told Judy to make sure to inform you, but it seems there was an omission in the middle.”
In that instant, Elody’s eyes glinted sharply.
Judy.
Up until now, she had been waiting for that name to drop.
On the other hand, a clueless Marissa struggled to thaw the frozen atmosphere.
“I should have looked after things better…… I am truly sorry. I will make sure to strictly reprimand Judy. So please, let your heart be at ease.”
Having set that stone, Marissa quickly turned to the surrounding people.
“Still, isn’t it a relief that our daughter-in-law handled it so well? The green dress she’s wearing now suits her perfectly. Look, isn’t she beautiful?”
She was trying her best to soften the sharp atmosphere.
However, the expressions of the people became somewhat subtle.
‘Just a moment ago, she seemed to be badmouthing the Duchess non-stop.’
‘She flips her words like turning over a palm?’
Watching that pathetic sight, Elody curled the corner of her lips upward.
‘You’re trying so hard.’
Still, she had successfully drawn a compliment for Isabel out of Marissa’s mouth, hadn’t she?
It would be good to show Marissa respecting Isabel in front of others this time.
Reaching that conclusion, Elody gave a beaming smile and subtly egged Marissa on.
“Ah, do you think so too, Mother? My sister-in-law really has a sense for clothing.”
“Y-Yes, indeed.”
Marissa’s lips quivered as she forced herself to maintain a smile.
Meanwhile, Isabel watched the flustered Marissa with a dazed expression.
All of this was a first for her.
Hosting a successful party under her own command since entering the Labantes Duchy, and even receiving a compliment from Marissa.
‘It really…… happened exactly as the Young Lady said.’
It was the first time in her life seeing Marissa so flustered.
‘This is all thanks to the Young Lady.’
Isabel gripped the fabric of her dress tightly.
Elody, wearing a confident smile, felt incredibly reliable.
‘If it weren’t for the Young Lady, I surely would have ended up in nothing but shame.’
Even though she knew she shouldn’t feel this way, honestly, she felt as refreshed as if she had just gulped down a glass of ice-cold carbonated water.
At the same time, Isabel’s expression darkened like a sky covered in storm clouds.
‘……And yet, I was just being defensive for no reason.’
