Chapter 40…………………………………….
Something felt off.
Trisha sensed it the moment she returned to the banquet hall with Hestia.
The oddly sharp gazes of the noble ladies.
Trisha’s eyes immediately searched for Lizaina.
“Oh my, Your Highness!”
The instant their eyes met, Lizaina greeted her brightly, and Trisha could already picture the situation.
The princess is plotting something again.
“What kind of scheme is this now?” Hestia whispered quietly, just loud enough for Trisha to hear.
Trisha pretended not to notice, maintaining a blank expression as she approached Lizaina.
But then—
“Your Highness, I believe an explanation is needed.”
“An explanation?”
At the words of Nepheli, the Sinclair Marchioness, Hestia frowned.
Nepheli bowed politely toward Hestia and added,
“We’ve heard a story involving Countess Adeline.”
“…Something related to Judith?”
Hestia’s expression changed.
Judith Adeline was a loyal attendant who served the Empress—Hestia’s mother—more closely than anyone.
Naturally, Hestia also shared a special bond with Countess Adeline.
“What happened?”
Hestia’s voice came out sharper than expected. The gathered ladies hesitated, but soon one by one, they spoke.
“Someone mentioned Miss Lyria Dane.”
“Do you mean that ridiculous rumor that Miss Lyria Dane’s disappearance was connected to Countess Adeline?”
Hestia was already familiar with it.
Since the person involved had vanished and the rumor itself was so absurd, it had quickly been buried, so no one felt the need to address it.
“But why bring it up now?”
“The Duchess Mason told the princess about it…”
“Before that.”
Trisha, who had been watching quietly, cut Nepheli off.
“Could you tell me exactly what was said?”
“…Exactly what was said?”
“Yes.”
Trisha nodded.
“If it was only something like ‘Miss Lyria Dane disappeared because of Countess Adeline,’ then anyone could have said that—not just me.”
“…That’s true.”
For once, Nepheli couldn’t argue.
Meanwhile, Lizaina replayed what she had heard from Edwin in her mind.
Good thing I asked beforehand.
She had asked Edwin whether he knew any famous gossip circulating in high society.
She said she didn’t want to be left out or make mistakes.
“Can you tell us, Princess?” Nepheli asked.
“Of course.”
Lizaina nodded confidently.
“What I heard was that Miss Lyria Dane was Count Adeline’s lover before his marriage.”
That part matched the rumor everyone had heard, so they all held their breath, waiting for more.
Lizaina hesitated, as if unsure whether she should even say it aloud, then continued.
“They say Countess Adeline hired someone to drive Miss Lyria Dane out of the capital. That’s why she disappeared without a trace…”
“That’s absurd.”
Hestia cut her off.
Her face was filled with anger, and everyone fell silent.
“Where did you hear such nonsense?”
Hestia snapped her fan shut and pointed it toward Lizaina like a drawn blade.
The sharpness of her presence made Lizaina flinch, but she quickly regained confidence.
“I’m only repeating what I heard, Your Highness.”
She bowed as though apologetic.
“Oh, and there was another story as well. That Countess Adeline even ordered Miss Lyria Dane’s death.”
In truth, Edwin had told her more than one rumor.
But she had deliberately chosen this one because of Hestia.
How dare she ignore me in front of His Majesty.
Because of Hestia, Lizaina hadn’t gained the Emperor’s favor—instead, she’d been forced to retreat to the Seventh Consort’s palace.
I can’t attack Princess Hestia directly yet.
That would be too dangerous.
So instead, she would destroy Judith Adeline first.
And while she was at it, she would drag Trisha Mason’s reputation down as well.
But things didn’t go the way Lizaina expected.
When Lizaina finished speaking and lifted her head, someone began to clap.
“How very entertaining.”
Trisha stepped forward, lightly applauding.
“How interesting.”
A heavy silence fell.
Some wore expressions so cold that Lizaina flinched.
Naturally, she assumed they were disappointed in Trisha because of what she had said—
But then—
“You’re speaking complete nonsense, Princess.”
“Who ordered whose death?”
“Honestly, I’m ashamed I ever associated with someone like that.”
Even Nepheli’s group, once Lizaina’s allies, began to criticize her.
What?
Lizaina froze, unable to understand what was happening.
Trisha spoke again, her tone almost gentle.
“First of all, Miss Lyria Dane was never Count Adeline’s lover before marriage.”
“T-Then what?”
“More importantly…”
Trisha calmly drove the nail in.
“Miss Lyria Dane is not dead.”
“She didn’t even disappear from the capital.”
“…What?”
Lizaina’s eyes trembled.
Then Miss Lyria Dane was still in the capital?
Then all those rumors were…
No—wait.
Lizaina quickly steadied herself.
Truth didn’t matter. Only perception did.
“Oh, I see. I didn’t know. I was only repeating what Your Highness told me.”
If she insisted Trisha had said it, who could prove otherwise?
“Princess.”
Nepheli sighed.
“You just made the worst possible choice.”
“…W-What?”
“I apologize, Your Highness.”
Nepheli bowed deeply.
For a moment she clenched her teeth in frustration, then regained her composure.
“I should have verified things properly. I was rude.”
“I’m truly sorry, Your Highness.”
“…My apologies, Your Highness.”
Even those who disliked Trisha offered apologies.
Not because they were truly sorry—but because they wanted to distance themselves from Lizaina.
What is happening?
Lizaina’s eyes shook as she realized things had gone wrong.
Nepheli turned away, then looked back at Lizaina with disdain.
“Miss Lyria Dane never disappeared. The Dane family simply fell into ruin, and she left high society.”
“That’s right. I heard she’s been moving between noble households, working as a maid.”
“Any lady in society would know that. Gentlemen may not, but…”
“So it’s hard to believe you heard that from Her Highness.”
Everyone seemed to guess Lizaina had heard the rumor from Edwin.
Lizaina panicked.
If Edwin found out she was the one who embarrassed herself instead of Trisha, he wouldn’t stay silent.
“It’s all slander! I definitely heard it from Her Highness!”
She pointed at Trisha.
“Maybe the Duchess was using me because I didn’t know the truth!”
“The Duchess Mason has no reason to do that,” Hestia scoffed, opening her fan again.
Lizaina immediately shot back,
“Because she hates me!”
She made a face as though she might burst into tears, then covered her face with both hands.
Some wavered at her pitiful display.
“Well, no noblewoman likes her husband’s mistress…”
“But still… she can’t say anything to her husband, so she takes it out on the weaker mistress instead, right?”
Hestia frowned deeply.
Spineless fools.
If their own husbands openly paraded mistresses around, they’d raise hell.
Some didn’t truly pity Lizaina—they simply wanted to reject Trisha as an outsider.
“Um… I have something to say.”
At that moment, a lady who had been quietly watching stepped forward.
“My goodness… that lady is…”
“Isn’t that Miss Lyria Dane?”
At those words, Lizaina lifted her head sharply.
Lyria Dane?
No—this is perfect.
If the person herself had appeared, Lizaina could use her to corner Trisha even further.
Lizaina’s mind raced.
But the moment she faced Lyria Dane, Lizaina froze completely.
“…Why is she here? Don’t tell me—”
A lady dressed as a maid stepped forward, head bowed, standing before the noblewomen.
“Hello. I am Lyria Dane.”
Lyria Dane.
She was the very maid who had once offered Lizaina a necklace.
