Chapter 9

Well, now that I have some spare time, I need to start paying attention to social affairs. Perhaps I should attend a tea party I've been invited to... At least for a tea party, I don't need Avan to accompany me.

Even if I make such considerations, Avan and Alice are enjoying nightly gatherings every day...

The royal-sponsored evening party to be held two months from now, which will invite dignitaries from neighboring and friendly countries, is an official event, and high-ranking nobles are obligated to attend if they don't have urgent business...

Neither Avan nor Alice would consider public appearances or appearances, and while it might be fine for me to attend alone without an escort, I need to make sure I don't isolate myself and have some acquaintances who can support me by then.

...Then, I need to prepare a dress for the evening party. I should contact my mother... Oh?

I decided to write a letter to my mother so I wouldn't forget, but I couldn't find any stationery on the desk.

I got up from my chair, thinking I knew where it was stored and didn't need to call a maid, and walked to the chest where the stationery was kept.

"Blinding..."

When I stood up, the sunlight streaming in from the window filled the room, and the beam of light reflecting off the polished floor caught my eye.

Looking at the distance the light reached, I realized the season was changing from spring to early summer.

I smiled wryly, realizing I had been so engrossed in the house that I hadn't noticed the changing seasons. In my hometown, I used to go outside every day even if I got scolded for getting sunburned.

With the stationery in hand, I headed to the bright window.

A refreshing breeze blew through the trees, and the sunlight, which had grown stronger, seemed to be giving life to everything on the ground.

I opened the window to let in the fresh air while looking at the shadows cast by the trees, which had grown darker than before.

Feeling the gentle breeze on my cheeks and hair, I began to write a letter to my mother.

I thought of my mother's face while considering the appropriate seasonal greeting.

The last time, I couldn't see my beloved parents again, but now that I've met Kail, I'm sure we'll meet again.

I wrote to have the owner of the tailor shop, which has been a family friend since my grandmother's time in the prosperous port city of Roswell, contact me, folded it neatly, wrote the address and signed it, and placed it in an envelope with the family crest of the marquis.

I put it on the document case for Andel to send to my family.

...The previous memories are completely useless for social affairs... Hmm... Should I ask Kail about the factions and power dynamics among the nobles in the capital?

...That would be too much of a favor. I can't ask for something I can find out on my own.

I sighed, looking at the stack of invitations from various nobles on the desk.

Knowing that putting it off because I'm not good at it is meaningless, I steeled myself and pulled them in front of me.

...Since the marquis family is part of the current royalist faction, there shouldn't be any problems with invitations from the same faction. I can build up from the smaller ones...

"Madam...!"

While I was reading through the invitations on the table, a maid burst in with one in hand.

"What is it? Why are you in such a hurry? What's wrong?"

I held out my hand, thinking the envelope she was holding was for me.

The maid, who hesitated a little before handing it over, finally handed it to me with a determined look.

I tilted my head slightly and took it, turning it over to check the address. The sender was... Alice Tiede.

...Eh... Alice... Alice...?

...Ah, it's like the bulky trash I want to get rid of comes uninvited...

I was stunned and at a loss when I saw the unexpected sender of the invitation, and Maria and Andel, who had been informed by other maids that an invitation to a tea party from Alice had arrived for me, rushed into the room.

"...First, I should check the details, right? ...Date and place..."

"...The courtyard of the Lottevalt Marquis residence, the time is probably one hour from now today," Maria answered, out of breath.

"Wow, that's right."

I opened the card inside the envelope, and the words were as Maria had said.

"...The kitchen chef and the maids and footmen on the floor where the master's room is located reported that they were assigned unexpected tasks by the master, and it was discovered through investigation that an unusually large amount of money was moving..."

"At first, I didn't think much of it and didn't report it to the madam because it was common for the master to invite his friends to drink tea and wine..."

Yes, he really doesn't get tired of playing around... I nodded involuntarily as I listened to Maria's report.

"...But it quickly grew to a large scale... I thought it was impossible... Before the madam had even finished hosting, a mere guest... no, a former noble lady who was now a lodger, was hosting a social gathering and inviting noble ladies and matrons... It's... impossible..."

A normal person wouldn't even imagine such a thing. Yes, I understand...

"...There was no prior notice or even a consultation. ...I'm hearing about this for the first time now, but what about you?"

The direct servants were informed, but the communication was delayed. Maria, Andel, and the maids standing by all shook their heads, indicating they hadn't heard about it either.

"Given the timing, this is probably where the money the master recently asked the madam for went. It's infuriating, isn't it? Should we add interest?"

"Please, the maximum legal amount."

"...You're so kind."

Andel muttered that even a small amount wouldn't be blamed, but demanding an unpayable amount would just cause trouble.

◇◇◇

We all looked at the invitation from Alice, trying to decide what to do.

The initial shock had passed, but as I repeatedly looked at the envelope in my hand, I felt a sense of being pulled back to the past. I remembered.

That I had received this invitation from Alice before.

Alice basically used sweet words and her body to incite Avan and make me the villain.

She cultivated Avan's hatred towards me and used his hands to punish me whenever something happened, gradually driving me into a corner.

I had only spoken to Alice a few times, but I remembered.

The despair I felt when I received it.

My fingertips trembled as I reread the back of the envelope, remembering the despair.

Her name, the color of the envelope, the decorations, everything was the same as before... but.

"...Oh?"

The seal pressed into the wax was a cute rose pattern, which was different.

"...It's not the marquis family's seal."

The seal used by the marquis lady alone was pressed on the envelope the last time.

Maria's voice sounded as if she was saying, "What's so obvious about that?"

The last time, I was just sad.

I was called a fake, a temporary marquis lady, and Alice, dressed in luxurious dresses and enveloped in Avan's love, was shown to be the real one.

The young ladies surrounding Alice, and even Avan, who was supposed to be my husband, affirmed everything about her and denied and belittled me.

...Just remembering it makes my body shake and a chilling fear wells up from the depths of my heart, but now I'm in a different flow of the future where I didn't make a foolish choice.

This small change is proof that I have won a future where I can live as myself.

Smiling at Maria and the others who support me, I told them I would attend the tea party.

It's the way of noble young ladies to accept a fight sold by a mistress.

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