Chapter 65

On this day, Mariever came to the tea party with Cynthia and Sophia.

Today’s tea party included children, not just Bella and the others, but even younger children were present.

Although they were invited this time, the tea party was set up with carpets for the younger children to play on, similar to the ones Cynthia often hosted. A little further away, the mothers were engaged in lively conversation.

Mariever started playing with Bella as usual.

"Milady, where’s Sophie?"

"Over there."

Saying this, she pushed Sophia towards another group and, taking Bella’s hand, sat down in an empty seat, saying, "Now, let’s talk slowly."

And as usual, she came today.

Recently, there was a child who had been causing trouble.

Lilith Marka.

In the past, she used to follow Mariever around a lot.

Being the same age and having birthdays close together, they often participated in gatherings, so it was natural that they played together frequently.

When they played with dolls, Lilith would start doing the same. If Mariever chose a red dress for the doll, Lilith would also choose a red dress. She was the kind of child who only imitated.

Mariever didn’t have a good impression of her, but since it was just a matter between children, she didn’t really mind.

Even after growing up and attending the academy, Lilith was often in the same group as Bella.

However, her attitude gradually changed around the time Mariever left the academy.

"Hello, Mariever."

It felt like a condescending greeting.

Mariever glanced at her and replied, "Hello," as a formality.

She had come to the tea party today to discuss her favorite book with Bella. She didn’t want to be disturbed.

But Lilith sat down right in front of her.

"Where did you buy today’s dress?"

"At Shudura’s dress shop."

"—Oh, you’re still using that place? I’ve been buying from Watt Polar lately."

So what?

Mariever frowned.

"Isn’t the current trend the delicate lace from Watt Polar?"

"I wear what I like. —By the way, I have a promise with Bella today."

Lilith didn’t back down.

"Hmm," she murmured, tracing the lace with her fingers and making it flutter.

"Hey, Mariever."

"What?"

"Didn’t you receive a servant from the Sieg family? A commoner?"

"…Yes."

"Why did you choose that child specifically? Isn’t there anyone in Pencilia who can be a servant?"

Lilith deliberately interrupted Mariever before she could speak.

"Oh, right. Sorry."

She lowered her voice deliberately.

"Mariever doesn’t have magic, so she left the academy. It’s hard to get servants, isn’t it?"

"Hey, Lilith!"

Bella called out, unable to stand it, but Lilith’s unpleasant smile didn’t stop.

Mariever thought it wasn’t worth engaging, but she didn’t want to let Arlo be talked about like that.

"My servant is very competent. I recruited him."

"Wow. Given your academic performance at the academy, most people would be competent, wouldn’t they?"

The temperature around them seemed to drop. At least Bella felt a chill down her spine.

"Are you picking a fight?"

Mariever’s voice still sounded calm. Lilith laughed again.

"No way. Don’t say such barbaric things. Just like Pencilia."

Bella tugged at Mariever’s arm.

Bella’s beautiful blue eyes came close to Mariever’s. She whispered in her ear.

"Marie, don’t engage with her. She was proposed to and turned down recently. It was the eldest son of the Gilteck Marquess family, I think."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"The eldest son said he fell in love with you, so she turned him down."

"Would someone really say that as a reason to turn someone down?"

Would they really say something like that as a reason to turn someone down?

"Maybe they were close because their families have a long history together?"

"Maybe she didn’t take it seriously. We’re only 8 years old, after all."

She was exasperated.

Mariever decided to ignore her and return to the conversation with Bella she had been looking forward to.

But Lilith kept talking.

"Hey, are you listening?"

"I’m listening, but I don’t want to talk anymore. Can you go away?"

She opened the book she was going to read with Bella and looked for the part she was interested in.

Lilith didn’t seem to find it amusing that Mariever wasn’t reacting.

"Well… that’s true. Without magic and with poor academic performance… you can only rely on your looks, can’t you?"

Mariever closed the book with a thud.

"Marie…"

Bella looked worried.

"I thought about ignoring her, but when a fly buzzes in front of you, it’s hard to ignore, isn’t it?"

Without giving Lilith a chance to speak, Mariever continued.

"Lilith? Are you envious of me? That’s why you always imitated me, right?"

"I, I didn’t imitate you!"

"Is that because you thought I wasn’t much after I left the academy, and you felt superior to me?"

Mariever spat out, "How ridiculous."

Lilith’s face looked like she had been hit where it hurt.

After Mariever left the academy, there were a certain number of people who talked behind her back. And she knew it wasn’t a small number.

But her family told her not to mind.

She knew she was still cherished at the Pencilia mansion, and that she was loved even without much magic.

So, even when faced with such malice, she wouldn’t be discouraged.

Lilith’s gaze wandered—then she stopped at Sophia.

Sophia seemed to have no one to play with and was playing with dolls alone.

Lilith went to Sophia and took the doll.

"Ah…"

Sophia looked up in surprise.

"Shall I play with you, Sophia?"

Sophia seemed surprised by Lilith’s sudden appearance.

They had hardly spoken before, but Sophia recognized her as someone who was often with Mariever.

"With dolls?"

"Yes… instead of regular dolls, let’s play with magic dolls. I’ll make them move with magic."

Lilith said this deliberately for Mariever to hear.

"Your sister can’t do that, can she? So I’ll do it for you."

She arranged the dolls. Sophia tilted her head in curiosity.

"Do you mean Marie?"

"Yes. Mariever can’t do this, can she?"

Lilith’s magic manipulation was indeed good. She skillfully moved three dolls at once. Sophia watched them intently.

Mariever, who didn’t want to watch, found herself looking anyway.

"How about it, Sophia? You can call me your sister, you know."

"I won’t."

Sophia replied casually, and Mariever couldn’t help but laugh.

"—Why? I’m better than the magic-less Mariever, aren’t I?"

"No."

Lilith couldn’t believe it.

In Lilith’s mind, a magic-less noble had almost no value.

Lilith had an older brother, but because he had little magic, when Lilith’s magic manifested, everything changed. His room became a small corner room, his clothes were outdated, and his seat at the dining table was at the end. Everything was reversed with Lilith. Her parents said it was only natural, and Lilith accepted it.

She was cherished because she had more magic than her brother.

If only she had a brother with more magic, she thought. Maybe that’s how it is, she thought.

—Then, what about Mariever of Pencilia, whom she had envied so much? She had almost no magic and couldn’t even move a magic doll properly.

To have envied such a child. After Mariever left the academy, Lilith felt a sense of relief.

"Really, Sophia? Between the magic-less Mariever and the magic-wielding me, which do you prefer? —Oh, right, you’re still young, so you don’t understand, do you?"

"I understand. I know Marie has little magic. But Onii-sama has a lot."

"That’s right. So Onii-sama is wonderful, and Mariever is embarrassing, isn’t she?"

"Embarrassing…?"

Sophia thought for a moment.

"Marie has bad sleeping habits. That’s embarrassing."

"Hey, Sophia!"

That was something Mariever had talked about with Cynthia a few days ago.

When they discussed whether to have Arlo help with her morning routine, Mariever said she was embarrassed by her bad sleeping habits and didn’t want to see anyone until she was ready.

"Don’t say unnecessary things."

"Unnecessary?"

"Can you stop talking without understanding the meaning?"

"I understand."

"And call me ‘sister.’"

Lilith looked at Sophia, thinking, "Look at this."

Seeing Sophia call Mariever by her name, she thought, "Is she even being mocked by her 4-year-younger sister?"

She made three magic dolls float and dance in the air.

"See, Mariever can’t do this, can she?"

"Hey… don’t do that above her head. It’s dangerous."

Mariever warned her because the dolls were dancing above Sophia’s head.

Lilith laughed even more mockingly.

"Mariever, you might be worried about not having magic, but I can do this level of movement even with my eyes closed. Look—"

Lilith really closed her eyes and made the dolls spin.

Thud—

A dull sound was heard, and the doll fell to the floor.

When she opened her eyes in shock, Mariever’s hand was swatting the doll away.

"What are you doing!"

"That’s what I was going to say. It was about to hit Sophia."

Mariever had pulled Sophia into her arms.

"I wouldn’t have hit her. I had it under control."

No way. It should have been fine. Lilith was furious.

She infused the doll with magic and made it float again.

"See, I have it—"

"Marie… Milady…"

Sophia clung to Mariever, half in tears.

Mariever quickly grabbed the magic doll in the air.

It trembled in her hand, unable to break free. It was like a small insect.

"Sophia is scared. You said it might hit her, but you’re still doing it? Stop it."

Mariever and Sophia, who usually didn’t interact much and weren’t close, suddenly teamed up, which made Lilith even angrier.

Why did they go to the magic-less Mariever? I’m better.

Mariever laughed mockingly.

"Why would Sophia choose you?"

"Why? Such a magic-less sister?"

I would be embarrassed. A magic-less brother would be embarrassing. Everyone says so.

"I have nothing to be ashamed of. You’re in a different league."

"What… If you’re in a different league, show me your magic! You’re a useless person who can’t even heal a mouse."

Sophia tightened her grip on Mariever. Even though she was young, she could tell a fight was happening and that Mariever was being attacked.

Mariever had no intention of putting up with it any longer. She threw the doll on the floor.

"If you want to see my ability so badly, I’ll show you. The power of Pencilia."

Mariever raised her hand and brought it down hard.

The sound was louder than she expected in the hall.

It hurt and tingled because she hit it hard.

Lilith fell to the ground from the shock of being slapped. Mariever spat out, "You’re so weak. Did it hurt that much? If you’re upset, you can hit back. Use your magic if you want."

Lilith clenched her hand. She raised it, then clenched it again.

She had drawn attention. There was no way she, a marquess’s daughter, could hit Mariever of Pencilia.

Mariever smiled.

"Finally got it? No matter what I do to you here, I’ll be forgiven. You can’t even touch me. I could even destroy your family if I wanted to."

Even without magic. There’s no way Lilith could win against Mariever. She said it deliberately to belittle her.

With a flawless face, she stuck out her tongue provocatively.

"—Know your place and never speak to me again."

The adults rushed over.

Lilith’s cheek was more swollen than she expected.

"—Oh, Lilith!?”

Lilith’s mother rushed over. Seeing her, Lilith started crying.

"Mo, mo, mother…"

"What happened? What’s going on?"

"Marie… Mariever!"

Lilith could barely say it.

Destroy the family? Know your place? —Lilith didn’t know if what Mariever said was true or a bluff. But she knew that the only thing she had over Mariever was magic.

Realizing this, the pain in her cheek seemed to drive it home.

Feeling both frustrated and sad, Lilith started crying loudly.

"Marie!?"

Cynthia also rushed over.

"What happened?"

Lilith’s crying and the adults’ voices drowned out everything.

"I’m not at fault."

Mariever said firmly.

"Lilith insulted me—insulted Pencilia."

"Did Marie hit her?"

Mariever didn’t answer. Cynthia took it as a yes from her expression.

"How could you… Marie, apologize."

"I won’t apologize. I’m not at fault!"

Lilith’s crying and Mariever’s shouting made the other children cry too.

Lilith’s mother made a quick decision.

"—Duchess. It seems my daughter was rude."

"Wh-what? No—"

"I’ll apologize properly later. To calm my daughter, I’ll take my leave for today."

She half-carried Lilith away from the tea party.

The chaotic scene, the children playing unconcernedly, the crying children, the confused parents…

It was clear that the situation would only get worse.

Feeling the unspoken plea from the hostess,

Mariever, who had turned away, and Sophia, who was unusually clinging to Mariever, were taken away from the tea party by Cynthia.