~CHAPTER 32~
“Aaaah!”
A furious howl echoed through the Hoffman Marquis residence.
The voice belonged to Sylvia Hoffman, the marquis house’s eldest daughter.
She didn’t stop at shouting; she threw cushions and pillows and made a scene.
The reason for her rage and irritation was Jenna Kreutz.
A few days earlier, Sylvia had been swept up by Jenna and impulsively bought perfume, tea leaves, and candles.
After that, Jenna touted the candles as Sylvia’s chosen new product, and many people began asking Sylvia about them.
Even though Sylvia had thrown the items away the day she bought them.
“How dare she link me with that pathetic trash…?”
A vicious sound of teeth grit slipped through her thick lips.
Jenna had tried to use rumors about a poor, incompetent in-law to put Sylvia down.
But Jenna had come off shamelessly, and it was Sylvia’s pride that ended up wounded.
“I don’t like you, Jenna Kreutz.”
Sylvia bit her lower lip hard.
The Hoffman family was counted among the three most influential houses in the north, often considered next in rank after the dukes.
Raised in comfort, Sylvia could not tolerate even small annoyances.
Whether person or object, she demanded it be removed from her sight immediately.
“You think you can offend me in northern society and get away with it?”
Not a chance.
“I’ll make you regret it.”
Her red lips curled into a crooked line.
***
The Marchioness Wagner’s genteel salon had become a regular meeting.
I had officially joined the circle and tried to make friends and get closer to the Marchioness, studying etiquette and making an effort.
Everything failed.
Aside from Lady Fischer, the members continued to treat me coldly, and the Marchioness herself kept her distance.
At the previous meeting I’d even offered a special candle to the Marchioness and been refused.
“This kind of gift is uncomfortable, Countess. No need to take care of me specially.”
“Being in the same circle doesn’t mean you must become friends. Don’t worry about me; act naturally.”
I wasn’t naive; I could tell she disliked me from the moment we met again.
Still, I wondered why she permitted me into the circle at all. She could have refused as the hostess.
Maybe it’ll be hard to make friends this time too…
If the Marchioness refused to get close, I wouldn’t force it.
But I did want to know why she viewed me unfavorably.
Today, she ignored me again, sitting at the far end all meeting long, and I stared at her.
“Madam, I’ve brought a new tea.”
“Yes, fill everyone’s cups.”
As the maid carrying the teapot passed near her, something fell from the Marchioness’s dress.
It rolled under the table and tapped another lady’s foot.
The maid quickly picked up what turned out to be a vial — the same kind the Marchioness had dropped in the lounge earlier.
“Oh my, what medicine is this? It just rolled to my feet.”
All eyes turned to the vial in the lady’s hand. The Marchioness’s face paled faintly.
Someone recognized the bottle.
“Isn’t that the fertility medicine? I’ve heard barren noblewomen secretly take it.”
“Really? I’ve only heard of it; I’ve never seen it. So some rely on medicine because they can’t have children?”
“How sad. How desperate to depend on medicine like that.”
“No — it’s foolish. It’s proof they won’t accept their own flaw.”
Sylvia Hoffman clicked her tongue and crossed her legs, a blatant sneer in her voice.
As the Marchioness’s expression hardened, the woman who first found the vial muttered,
“But why is fertility medicine here…?”
The room turned icy in an instant.
Everyone fell silent and watched each other, searching for the vial’s owner.
The Marchioness clenched her fist tightly, and I raised my hand.
“It’s mine.”
A few people gaped at my smile.
“…This belongs to Countess Kreutz?”
“Yes, it’s mine. I must have missed it falling from my bag. Could you return it?”
I reached out, and the lady handed the vial over in a daze.
As I put the bottle back in my bag, Sylvia spoke loudly.
“That’s possible. I was interested and bought it for research, so don’t misunderstand.”
“Is that a shameful excuse?”
“What’s shameful about it? It’s like taking medicine when you have a fever.”
In modern times infertility was common and not shameful, but this world was rooted in a medieval mindset, and such things were judged differently.
“Let’s wrap up for today.”
Silence settled, and the Marchioness closed the meeting.
Sylvia clicked her lips as if wanting to say more, then left the parlor whispering with another lady.
As people stood to leave, the Marchioness approached me and said in a low voice,
“May I speak with you for a moment?”
“Oh, yes.”
We sat facing each other in the now-empty parlor. After a long pause, she blurted out,
“Why did you do that?”
It was a loaded question, but I understood and produced the vial.
“I thought you’d be troubled if the owner was revealed.”
“What does that have to do with Countess Kreutz?”
Her cold reply made me offer a sheepish smile.
“Well, nothing directly, but I wanted to help.”
“…….”
The Marchioness’s face grew enigmatic. She slipped the vial into her sleeve and spoke in a chilly voice.
“Keep this secret.”
“But— is that made from the silver Actea Rasemosa? Were you sick at the ball because of it?”
The silver Actea Rasemosa was a flower famed for women’s health, thriving in climates opposite the north and glittering faintly silver. I’d recognized it at the banquet and worried about its side effects.
“Countess, spare me the pointless questions and tell me your price.”
The Marchioness set a boundary again, more severe than before.
Worried about Rasemosa’s side effects, I shook my head quickly.
“I want nothing in return. I won’t blab about the medicine.”
“How can I trust you? You could use this against me.”
I scratched my head at her sharp tone.
“I don’t use others’ pain as leverage.”
“…….”
“But if you’re uneasy, I’ll swear to the heavens.”
She watched me silently, then lowered her eyes and asked,
“Write a non-disclosure pledge.”
***
Nelle stared silently at the note in her hands. Jenna had written it out briskly before leaving.
I can’t believe I’ll actually sign this…
She’d been married seven years. The stress of being childless weighed on her, but she hid it well.
Not bearing children was a fatal flaw for a noblewoman, so she’d kept her treatment secret even from her brother, Ralph.
But Jenna had found out.
After an initial panic, Jenna had wrapped her in a genial embrace, and Nelle felt confused by her unexpected kindness.
That feeling had pervaded the whole meeting.
If Nelle hadn’t heard Jenna was an amnesiac agent, she would have called her bright and kind.
She’d been cheerful despite harsh looks, friendly to the Wagner servants, always smiling — likeable.
Following Aizen’s order to put Jenna in a difficult position had made Nelle feel more like the villain.
In fact, the negative rumors about the Kreutz family and Jenna circulating in society had all been spread by Nelle.
She’d formed a new social circle specifically to control and pressure Jenna, using Lady Fischer to draw her in.
Inviting the difficult Sylvia was deliberate, hoping Sylvia would harass Jenna at the banquet.
She thought she could then fulfill Aizen’s command and drive Jenna out.
But I ended up relying on the Countess for help…
Nelle disliked owing others, so she’d promised Jenna she’d keep the secret in exchange for the favor.
She hadn’t yet fulfilled that promise.
This is so awkward for me.
Having been exposed to Jenna, she now had to figure out how to handle the fallout.
Sylvia detonated a bombshell at the next meeting.
“I will no longer tolerate Countess Kreutz sullying society. I propose a wager. The loser will withdraw from society forever.”
People murmured in surprise at the sudden proclamation, while Jenna merely blinked with bright, curious eyes.
