Chapter 18

After being at the social party for about two hours, I once left the venue and came to the balcony.

The reason I came here is one... I was tired.

I didn't expect that I would have to keep talking to people without a break at a party...

The Duchess of Bernhard is really someone who gets a lot of attention.

When I was the daughter of a poor count, I didn't have many people to talk to at parties, so I would chat briefly and then drink my drink in a corner.

But as a duchess, I didn't even have time to drink my drink.

I was so tired that I came to the balcony alone.

There are chairs here where I can sit and rest, and I can look up at the night sky.

Sigh, I'm so tired... mainly my facial muscles.

I was smiling politely the whole time, but maintaining that smile is really hard.

Alan always has his usual expressionless face, so his facial muscles don't get tired.

Maybe I should have been expressionless too? But there are people who know me from when I was the daughter of a poor count, so it would be impossible to suddenly act like an expressionless lady.

Speaking of people who know me...

"Sophia, you've come a long way."

"...Natalia"

This girl, who I've known since the magic academy.

Even in the dim light of the night, her long red hair is clearly visible.

She was smiling politely just like me earlier, but now that we're alone, she's frowning and glaring at me.

The expression I usually see on her face is more like this one.

Or the face that mocks and ridicules me.

"Miss Anaenif, do you have something to say to me?"

"Hmph, what's with that tone? It's as if you think you're better than me."

Ah, she hasn't changed at all.

I knew this from the expression she had when we parted ways earlier.

"It's not just a matter of seeming better; I am better now. I'm no longer just a countess."

"Hah, what do you mean 'just a countess'? You were from a poor count's family and had no magical talent, a defective product."

Natalia said this with a sneer.

It's true that I was poor and had no magical talent, so I can't deny it, but calling me a defective product is harsh.

Does she even know what position I'm in now?

"Miss Anaenif, I am now the Duchess of Bernhard. Why don't you know your place?"

"..."

If I were to take issue with those words, I could easily cause damage to the Anaenif family's business.

The power of the Bernhard duchy is something she should be aware of.

"Hmph, you can only wield borrowed power. You're pitiful because you have no power of your own."

Natalia, still defiant despite being a bit scared.

She seems to have some courage. Or maybe it's just recklessness.

She might think I won't really take issue with it.

Perhaps she's still in love with Alan, which is why she's been so persistent. I've been letting it slide a bit, but if I let her continue, it will damage the duchy's reputation.

I want her to stop, but she won't.

"I can't understand why a poor countess like you was chosen by His Grace the Duke of Bernhard. I'm of a higher rank and more suitable...!"

Before I married Alan, it was well-known that he was looking for a wife.

So Natalia must have applied, and she must be resentful that I was chosen.

Well, I'm also puzzled about why I was chosen.

I know the reason, but it's just because "I resemble Rebecca."

Maybe if she had blonde hair instead of red, Alan would have chosen her.

Thinking about it, I'm just lucky.

"You're only loved by His Grace because of some mistake. He'll get tired of you eventually."

"..."

No, I'm not loved.

Because this is a contract marriage, and the contract even states that "I must not love Alan."

Of course, I can't say that, so I have to keep quiet.

"Hmph, maybe you seduced him with your body? You have a pretty face, and even though you were poor, you got a lot of offers from men in society, didn't you?"

"...You...!"

I didn't expect such an insult.

I glare at Natalia, but she flinches and then puts on a brave smile.

"Oh, did I hit a nerve? Seducing someone with your body is shameful for a lady."

"Natalia, that's enough...!"

I'm finally losing my temper and about to raise my voice.

"Sophia"

I hear my name and turn in surprise.

I recognized the voice, and there stands Alan.

I don't know when he came to the balcony.

No, the more important thing is... did he hear our conversation?

It's a conversation I didn't want him to hear, especially not Alan.

"Alan..."

"You were here. I was wondering where you had gone."

"I'm sorry, I was just resting because I was tired."

"I see, did you get enough rest?"

"Yes, thank you."

It's a normal conversation, but his expression seems scarier than usual.

Though his face is expressionless, his eyes are sharp, and the atmosphere is tense.

"Y-Your Grace..."

Natalia, who has been ignored by Alan, whispers softly.

Hearing her voice, Alan finally looks at her, but his gaze is very cold.

Natalia flinches and is already on the verge of tears just from being glared at.

"You are Natalia, the daughter of the Count of Anaenif, correct?"

"Y-Yes, that's right."

Perhaps because he remembered her name, Natalia seems to relax a bit and smiles.

However...

"I see. The Count of Anaenif must be very disappointed. His family line will be erased from this country because of his daughter."

Alan's words shock not only Natalia but also me.

"To insult the Duchess of Bernhard with such vulgar language. I hope you will regret your actions."

"Ah...!"

Alan's cold and sharp words make Natalia step back and scream.

I didn't expect Alan to be so angry.

"A-Alan?"

"Sophia, let's go."

Alan tries to take me back to the venue, but I stop him before he can.

"Alan, wait. Isn't what you're doing to Natalia a bit too much?"

"...Is it?"

Alan stops and meets my gaze.

He seems to have calmed down a bit, and the angry atmosphere has eased.

"Her words were indeed unacceptable, but I don't think it warrants erasing the Anaenif family."

"...Aren't you angry, Sophia?"

"I am angry, but not to the point of wanting to erase the Anaenif family..."

By asking this, does it mean Alan was so angry that he wanted to erase the family?

The insults to the Duchess of Bernhard are indeed unacceptable, but they were just words from a countess's daughter.

I don't think it warrants erasing the family.

"...I see, I understand. If you say so, I will change my approach."

"Thank you, Alan."

"But I won't erase the Anaenif family. I will, however, destroy half of their business as a punishment."

Well, that's... a severe blow to the family, but it's better than being erased.

I hope they will accept this punishment for not being able to control their daughter, Natalia.

"Y-Your Grace, I'm very sorry... I deeply regret my actions, please have mercy...!"

Natalia is crying and begging, but Alan's aura becomes scary again.

His expression doesn't change much, but it's impressive.

To calm him down, I grip his hand tightly.

The atmosphere seems to ease a bit.

"Natalia Anaenif, you continue to irritate me until the end. You should be apologizing to someone else, not me."

"...Well, I..."

"Seeking mercy from me before apologizing to Sophia shows that you are truly beyond redemption. I have nothing more to say to you."

"Ah..."

Alan takes my hand and tries to leave the balcony.

But before we do, he says, "By the way,"

"When I was looking for a wife, I received love letters from several young ladies. They wrote things like 'choose me' and 'I'll do anything.'"

"...That's...!"

"I had my butler read and discard them, so I only received reports on the senders."

This... From Natalia's reaction, it seems she was one of those young ladies?

But Alan didn't seek love in a wife.

He even made me sign a contract stating that "I must not love Alan."

So love letters from young ladies were just a nuisance to him.

"You were saying that you were more suitable to be the Duchess of Bernhard than Sophia and that I don't love her..."

Alan turns and glares down at Natalia.

"The idea of choosing you is as impossible as the heavens and earth being reversed. Know your place."

"..."

Alan's cold words make Natalia collapse on the spot.

Alan seems to have lost interest in her and takes my hand to return to the venue.

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