LUW 32

Underground World Lady – Chapter 32

“Your dress is a mess—why don’t you just head back? Oh, wait. Do you even have a carriage to return in? If not, I can lend you mine.”

The two noble ladies exchanged glances and snickered.

They were openly mocking Cecilia’s family.

In the midst of their laughter, Cecilia looked down at her ruined dress.

Strangely, her head was clear.

In the past, she might have poured wine over their heads in return.

Was it the effect of her lessons? Or maybe it was just because the dress wasn’t hers?

Either way, staying calm was a good thing.

It let her respond with composure.

With a gentle smile, Cecilia spoke calmly.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll be fine. His Grace had a spare dress prepared just in case something like this happened.”

At her words, the noble ladies’ faces stiffened.

Cecilia looked regretfully at her dress and lightly clutched its hem.

“It’s unfortunate, though. His Grace personally picked out this dress. I imagine he’ll be quite upset to see it damaged like this.”

“…Are you threatening me?”

“Threatening? That makes it sound like you spilled wine on me on purpose. But it was an accident, wasn’t it?”

The noble lady’s face flushed bright red in an instant. Cecilia no longer looked at her, and instead bowed her head with grace.

“I’ll be sure to tell His Grace that you offered me a noblewoman’s lesson in conduct. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

Leaving the flustered noble ladies behind, Cecilia turned away without hesitation.

The small smirk on her lips revealed her satisfaction.

Watching from a distance, Pierre let out a soft laugh.

“Not bad.”

He had been worried she might cause a scene when the wine spilled, but seeing the expressions on the noblewomen’s faces, it looked like she handled it well.

“You seem quite concerned about Lady Niberius,” Count Burrow said slyly.

Pierre turned from Cecilia to look at Burrow, who stroked his beard and smiled meaningfully.

“I must say, I was surprised to see how much your tastes have changed since I last saw you.”

“For you to know my tastes better than I do—what a keen eye.”

Though his tone was calm, there was a chill of rebuke in his words.

Burrow swirled his glass, continuing like a slippery snake.

“No matter how expensive the jewels, the essence doesn’t change. Her looks may be entertaining, but don’t keep her too close. It might tarnish your image.”

Pierre chuckled and gently swirled his own glass.

“A noble should have refined judgment.”

At the word “merchant,” a twitch passed over Burrow’s lips.

“Judging by appearances or origin—that’s something merchants do.”

Pierre calmly set down his glass. His movements were neither rough nor angry.

Only his eyes grew cold.

“If you want to talk about class, your eyes better be worthy of it.”

His voice was emotionless, but it was enough to make those nearby tense up.

The surrounding nobles shifted uncomfortably and averted their gazes.

Burrow grimaced as if he’d bitten into something sour, then bowed his head.

“…I overstepped. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Good that you’re aware.”

Pierre said no more and turned his head back toward where Cecilia had been.

But she was long gone from sight.

He sighed quietly.

Time to find that reckless young lady.

Cecilia, who had gone out to the terrace, awkwardly slipped past the nobles already there.

She ended up at the edge of the ballroom—a spot far from the center and the entrance. A place known to be where the “wallflowers” gathered.

Looking around, she saw it wasn’t crowded.

Thinking she could finally catch her breath, she carefully sat down.

As she lifted her skirt with a deep sigh, the deep red wine stain was still visible.

“The wine smell… I really do need to change, but if I go to the Duke like this, he’ll think I’m hopeless again.”

The spare dress? That was a lie.

The only reason the noble ladies backed off was because they feared the name of Duke Pierre Cardinand.

But just getting away didn’t solve the real problem.

She couldn’t stay in the ballroom like this, nor could she leave.

“I’ll just rest a bit, then go find Pierre.”

Just as she made up her mind, a worrying thought struck her.

“What if he makes me pay for the dress? I don’t even have money…”

Looking down at the stained dress, her face grew serious.

Running her hand across the fabric, she felt the luxurious softness seep into her palm.

“It has to be expensive… obviously.”

Even the debutante dress her father had bought her with great effort felt like cheap market cloth in comparison.

While she was worrying over what to do, a cautious voice called from above.

“Um, Lady Niberius?”

She looked up to see a young man with neatly combed orange hair standing there.

He had freckles across his nose and greeted her awkwardly with a blush.

“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Adan of House Jarden.”

“Ah, yes. Hello, Lord Jarden.”

‘Now what is this about?’

Cecilia hid her thoughts behind a pleasant smile.

Was this like earlier with Count Burrow—someone trying to test her?

But the man just fidgeted awkwardly.

Unable to watch him struggle, Cecilia asked first.

“Lord Jarden, did you need something from me?”

“N-not really… I just wanted to talk with you.”

“Talk?”

Cecilia widened her eyes and glanced around again.

It was just the two of them in this spot.

An unfamiliar name, a seat at the fringe.

Quickly calculating the situation, Cecilia politely bowed her head.

“If you have something to say to His Grace, I believe it’s best to tell him directly.”

She carefully drew the line.

After all, the only reason to approach her would be to use her as a connection to Pierre.

At her words, Adan flailed his hands in surprise.

“His Grace? N-no! I would never presume…! I just wanted to talk to you, Lady Niberius!”

“To me?”

“Y-yes! I mean, I’m a baronet too, but my title’s been in the family since my great-grandfather… I thought maybe, since we’re in similar positions, we could talk comfortably.”

He suddenly gasped and added, face pale,

“I wasn’t trying to insult House Niberius! I respect your family—a family that’s produced real talent. I really mean that!”

As he stumbled over his words, Cecilia felt a strange sense of familiarity.

That was exactly how the clumsy mercenaries at home acted when talking to village women.

She let out a small laugh.

Adan flinched.

“Oh, I’m sorry for laughing. I was just glad to meet someone similar. I’m not used to these kinds of events either.”

“Ah… thank goodness. I feel the same. I never get used to this sort of thing.”

He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.

Cecilia had thought all nobles would be arrogant and snobbish, but here was someone so awkward.

That eased her mind just a little.

Just as Adan opened his mouth again to resume the conversation, he suddenly froze like a statue.

Cecilia tilted her head at his abrupt expression.

“Lord Jarden?”

At the same moment, a low voice sounded behind her.

“I was wondering where you went.”

Cecilia turned her head at the familiar voice. Pierre was standing right behind her.

She smiled with relief, but Pierre was looking down at her with displeasure.

“Am I interrupting something?”

“N-not at all! I’ll be going now!”

Adan forgot all formality and fled in a panic.

Pierre quickly scanned their surroundings, confirming no one was around, and looked down at Cecilia.

“When you said you were getting some air, I didn’t expect this kind of air.”

With no one around, he dropped his noble facade and returned to his usual cold expression.

Cecilia shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“I went out for some air and ended up like this.”