~Chapter 84~
Charlotte covered her slapped cheek and glared at Lady Lethene—only to get hit on the other side too. She clenched her teeth.
“You think you’ll get away with thi—ah!”
“Her Highness the Grand Duchess hates you. So the harsher I treat you, the more pleased she’ll be.”
“Do you think Bella doesn’t know? She must already realize you approached me just to pull some tricks—”
“Of course she knows.”
A person who rose alone to become Grand Duchess couldn’t possibly be stupid.
“But you see…” Lady Lethene smiled.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“!”
“If what you said was true, then I’ll be seen as the one who showed kindness to Her Highness’s blood relative. If not, then I was simply deceived by your lies. Either way, I lose nothing.”
Lady Lethene had learned about Charlotte’s lies only after sending the invitation to Bella. But even knowing, she had gone ahead with the tea party—because she wanted Bella to remember her, in any way.
The best result would be receiving Bella’s gratitude. But even if she had to apologize, that was fine too.
“Unlike you, I didn’t commit outrageous rudeness. On the surface, I’m nothing more than a victim who believed your words.”
“……”
“So when I bow my head first, there’s no way the Grand Duchess—still new to society—will dare humiliate me. Whatever her true feelings, the one who shows generosity will appear greater.”
And if the Grand Duchess couldn’t manage even that level of calculation? Then she wouldn’t last long anyway—so there was even less reason to worry.
Lady Lethene had recognized it the very first day she saw Bella. They were the same kind of people.
‘She smiles with her lips, but her eyes are sharp, always observing and keeping distance. Someone like that trusts no one.’
Earning such a person’s trust was very difficult. Becoming her friend was nearly impossible.
That was why Lady Lethene decided to show her ability. People who trusted no one tended to value competence even more.
‘In a way, it’s fair. Whatever their personality, they still acknowledge skill.’
Lady Lethene wanted to become Bella’s closest aide.
‘His Majesty has no heir. That means the Grand Duchess will become Empress. And when she does, I’ll be her right hand.’
And now, after displaying a “sacrificial” side in front of the other young ladies, she had also secured her reputation. She had prepared herself to be the perfect companion for Bella.
“You’re crazy…”
“My personality is already ruined, so no need to worry about that. You should worry about your future.”
“My future? I can’t fall any lower! I’m already—”
“What are you talking about? You’ll have to pay compensation.”
“What?”
Charlotte’s jaw dropped.
“Didn’t your parents teach you anything? Lies bring punishment. You’re a commoner now, and you dared to exploit Her Highness. That makes you guilty of fraud—and of insulting the royal family. And on top of that—”
Lady Lethene pointed to Charlotte’s dress.
She was still wearing the clothes from the tea party, because the angry young ladies had stopped her from leaving afterward.
“You deceived me to gain goods. That makes it even worse.”
“What? No, you bought this yourself—”
“‘No’? Watch your tongue. Don’t you know it’s a crime for a commoner to speak rudely to a noble?”
She almost slapped her again. But this time Charlotte didn’t dare glare back. Her lips trembled as she swallowed her fear.
“I’ll send the bill to the head maid. Pay it off during your lifetime.”
Lady Lethene opened the door, signaling her to leave. But Charlotte only stared blankly down the empty hallway.
“Oh, and just in case you get ideas—if you don’t pay, or if you run away, I’ll use another method.”
“What… other method?”
“There are slave markets in the East, you know. Why would the capital be any different?”
Charlotte’s body froze stiff.
Lady Lethene placed a hand on her shoulder and shoved her out into the corridor.
Slumped on the floor, Charlotte listened to her last words.
“Let’s try to see each other often, hmm? You wouldn’t want to vanish without a trace, would you?”
After visiting Count Lethene’s mansion, I stopped all social activities and only went to work at the palace.
I realized I had carelessly thrown myself into the capital’s society.
‘Mrs. Wellington was right. Because I acted unlike a Grand Duchess, Lady Lethene tested me.’
But authority couldn’t suddenly appear out of thin air.
So I called Mrs. Wellington and asked what I should do next.
“You’ve already shown authority by displaying anger. Now it’s time to show generosity. When the young ladies come to you, forgive them—but make it clear that if the same thing happens again, you will not overlook it.”
“Would it… have been better if I hadn’t gotten angry in the first place?”
“No, Your Highness. Your anger was appropriate. You firmly showed you won’t be dragged around by others.”
“Mm.”
“I said ‘generosity,’ not ‘forgiveness.’ Never forget that. It wasn’t something to just overlook, but as the higher person, you are choosing to accept them with grace.”
Her words were confusing, but I didn’t think they would harm me. So I agreed.
For the next few days, young ladies came to visit.
The one who visited the most was Lady Lethene, though others appeared once or twice as well. Their slightly bitter expressions showed they were pressured by their parents.
I didn’t reject them, listening to all they said. After about a month, the visits decreased drastically.
Even when I strolled in the garden, there were no more guilty young ladies standing outside the walls like criminals.
‘It’s peaceful.’
While I sat on the swing outside, watching drifting clouds, Marina came to me.
“My lady, a guest has arrived.”
I tilted my head.
Since Lady Lethene had already visited earlier today, I wasn’t expecting anyone.
“At least bring them insi—”
Before the words finished, a head popped up over the wall.
“Let’s talk.”
It was Charlotte.
“…I have nothing to say.”
“Just talk with me!”
Sensing the strange tension, Marina glanced around nervously.
“D-do you know this person?”
“She’s the one who claims we grew up like sisters.”
“Shall I drive her away?”
But I noticed Charlotte’s swollen eyes and the worn-out clothes she wore. I changed my mind.
“Let her in.”
At the tea party, she had been dressed as finely as the other young ladies. But now, less than a month later, she appeared like this. I was curious.
“You won’t get much time.”
Dark clouds were gathering overhead. It wasn’t weather to stay outside for long.
Charlotte glared at me but reluctantly nodded.
“…Fine.”
Marina looked uneasy, but when I urged her, she brought Charlotte in.
Shuffling nervously behind Marina, Charlotte entered the garden.
“I… I want to talk with you alone.”
I didn’t like it, but part of me was also curious about what she wanted to say.
‘If she tries something strange, I’ll just use magic first.’
“Send the others away.”
“But, my lady—”
“Now.”
With a face full of discontent, Marina stepped back. The knights followed, and soon all sound vanished.
“Speak.”
I jerked my chin at Charlotte.
“…Help me.”
“What?”
“I need money.”
“Do I look like someone who owes you?”
Charlotte clenched her fists as usual. But unlike before, she couldn’t hit me—only gritted her teeth.
“…Because I have no one else to ask.”
“What about Lady Lethene?”
“Can’t you see? She even took away all the clothes I had.”
Charlotte explained what had happened to her after the tea party.
“That’s unfortunate.”
“You have to help me! If you hadn’t humiliated me there, none of this would have happened!”
“I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting, Charlotte.”
I laughed, because it was ridiculous.
“You’re like this because of yourself. It’s all your fault.”
“No!”
Charlotte screamed like she was having a fit.
“I—I know everything! That painter! You deliberately pushed me into Mrs. Hilton’s hands!”
“!”
“And that’s not all! I also know you were the one who freed the Grand Duke from the basement!”
When I didn’t deny it, Charlotte’s face twisted like a demon.
“You haven’t changed at all! You’re still a cunning, wicked woman. I should have known your true nature back then and killed you—”
But before she could pounce on me, Charlotte collapsed to the ground.
“Always so eager to die.”
Armians walked out slowly, forcing Charlotte up by the arm.
“Didn’t I tell you? I didn’t spare you because I liked you.”
Charlotte gasped and struggled, but he didn’t even look at her.
I looked at Armians.
Crash!
Lightning flashed, illuminating his expressionless face.
He said nothing, but I knew.
‘He found out. He knows I still have my memory.’
