Dumblin Cricket & Tennis Club.

That haughty and arrogant place was one that even the Queen was not allowed to enter.

It was a place where the King once sought refuge after causing a great incident. For women, it was a place with such a high threshold and exclusivity.

Yet, for a mere illegitimate child to be the first woman…

It was an outrage that could make Queen Margherita rise from her coffin.

The color drained from Princess Anblyn’s face as she calmly read through the subsequent article. Her pale complexion soon turned red.

Shaking her head slightly, Princess Anblyn blinked a couple of times before staring intently at the page again.

She had not misread it.

“The first female player officially sponsored by House Lancelot”

More than the fact that someone like Olivia Blanchet was playing tennis, it was the fact that she was receiving support from House Lancelot that was more shocking.

Edgar, how could you.
How could you do this to me.

When Anblyn first showed interest in tennis. When she started learning tennis. And when she first entered a competition. He showed no interest at all.

Anblyn could not understand Edgar.

Not only Lancelot’s sponsorship but also approval to enter the Dumblin Club.

Why only for that woman…

Her anger, having reached its peak, soon transformed into sadness, washing over her like a wave. Her eyes grew hot.

She thought she knew Edgar well.

“…I don’t understand.”

The current Edgar seemed like a man Anblyn didn’t know. He felt too unfamiliar.

“As expected, that’s just like Ed.”

Alex said, snatching the newspaper from Anblyn.

“…”

Anblyn’s easily reddened eyes turned towards Alex. He continued speaking while neatly folding the newspaper and setting it aside.

“Tomorrow, the official announcement of Johan and Grand Duchess Kranz’s engagement will be published. At this timing, to have such an article with this kind of picture.”

The folded newspaper showed the wedding photo of Duke Leopold and Olivia filling the page.

“…Are you saying Edgar did this on purpose?”

“That’s the kind of guy he is.”

“…”

“I didn’t say it because he’s my brother, but Anblyn, what’s the fun in watching a game where the winner is already decided?”

“What are you saying? I won with my skills.”

Anblyn glared at her elder brother with reddened ears.

Louise inwardly sneered at that detestable sight. Skills, she says. Knowing everything.

Alex didn’t want his sister to be hurt. Though she wouldn’t admit it, she probably knew too, so he refrained from saying more.

His sister wasn’t foolish enough to not notice that the women’s tennis matches were an unpopular event, and that ticket sales were only being propped up by the royal family to save face.

“Alright. Then do well this time too.”

Alex smiled, looking at Anblyn.

As someone who strongly opposed her relationship with Edgar, he always felt sorry for his sister who had returned after failing to marry Prince Ajent. He also felt a kind of responsibility.

“I can assure you it’s not the kind of relationship you’re thinking of.”

“What kind of relationship?”

“Yes. It’s not like that. Those two, I mean.”

Alex said soothingly, looking at his sister who sat limply with an expression of betrayal by a former lover.

“It’s probably more of a relationship of using and being used.”

“…”

The carriage was passing through the Golden Bridge on the lower reaches of the Vichen River. Red national flags were fluttering in the wind beneath the golden streetlights lined up in a row.

Use value.

To Edgar, Olivia Blanchet was nothing more and nothing less than that.

Just a ticket seller for the tournament, realizing that cold truth, Anblyn’s mind cleared. As if a lie, her anger melted away.

She felt she could even sympathize with that woman.

Perhaps Olivia Blanchet wasn’t a temptress, but just an unfortunate woman. Pitiful and miserable.

By now, the carriage had arrived at the Royal Academy of Arts. As soon as the door opened, camera flashes began to burst incessantly from all directions.

After the Crown Prince and Princess alighted first, Anblyn gracefully stepped down from the carriage and could genuinely smile in front of them.

“Did you see this morning’s article, Princess?”

Reporters swarmed in all at once.

“Please give us a word about the newly emerged player Blanchet!”

“Do you consider her a rival?”

Though her ears were deafened by the shouted questions from here and there, Anblyn maintained her composed expression.

“How do you feel about the Dumblin tournament following the necklace incident, Your Highness?”

As Anblyn looked down at the jostling reporters for a moment, her lips parted slightly, and a momentary silence fell. Anblyn showed an elegant smile befitting a princess of the nation.

“I look forward to it.”

Her clear voice was filled with confidence.

“I hope she makes it to the finals.”

Amidst the silver flashes pouring down once again, Anblyn’s diamond tiara sparkled brilliantly.

Anblyn turned away, escorted by her attendants. The thrilling sound of people desperately calling out “Princess, Princess” came from all around.

“Olivia Blanchet Issues Challenge to Princess Anblyn”

“It’s unbelievable, miss. A challenge, you say.”

Anne was angered by the absurdly sensational article. Olivia was silently gazing down at the shadows created by the swaying silk curtains.

The carriage carrying Olivia and Anne passed through the main gate of the Dumblin Club. The reporters who had been waiting in formation for Olivia didn’t even glance at the carriage bearing the McDowellcrest.

It was a good decision to take the carriage Henry had sent, as he suggested. Where could the plan to use the facility secretly for a month have leaked from?

For the club, too, a woman’s entry was something that would break down their long-standing tradition and honor. They wouldn’t have deliberately spread rumors.

Moreover, a wedding photo with Johan.

No matter how she thought about it, it was clearly malicious.

Olivia and Anne, having alighted from the carriage, entered the building guided by an employee. Pointing to a detailed club map set up in one corner of the lobby, the employee explained.

“You may use Court 12. The time is from 9 AM to noon. And we would appreciate it if you refrained from entering other areas so as not to disturb our members.”

“Of course.”

Olivia replied with a smile.

After the businesslike employee left, Olivia memorized the guide map once more before heading outside with Anne. The scent of grass mixed with the sea breeze was refreshing.

The court assigned to Olivia was at the very end, with a better view of the sea. With each step, the salty smell unique to the sea grew stronger.

Calming her lightly racing heart, they arrived at the court to find a match already in progress.

Confused about whether they had come to the wrong court, Olivia checked the number on the fence. It clearly said 12. Thinking the time might be too early, she took out her pocket watch, which showed five minutes to nine.

Five minutes, huh.

Olivia waited quietly. But even when the appointed time came, their game did not end. Looking around, Olivia approached the employee recording the score and asked.

“I’m supposed to use this court from 9 o’clock, but…”

The scorekeeper frowned as he looked down at her.

“You must wait until the game of the member currently using it ends.”

“You mean I have to wait until the game is over?”

“Yes.”

Olivia turned her gaze to the scoreboard. It was only the second set. Looking back at the court, she saw men exchanging the ball. After watching idly for about ten minutes, a rally without scoring continued tediously.

‘They don’t intend to give it up.’

In short, they seemed to have no intention of ending the game. At least not until twelve o’clock.

Olivia let out a small sigh.

Standing under the increasingly harsh sunlight, Olivia and Anne wasted the entire day. The next day too. And the day after that.

On the third day, Olivia still hadn’t set foot on the grass of the Dumblin Club.

‘If there’s no path, we’ll have to make one.’

It was on the fourth day when a man’s gentle voice suddenly awakened her.

Through the blue ivy leaves on the red brick wall, two men were gazing at something far away through the white window frame. The sky was clear without a single cloud, and the June sun was warm.

Pathetic bastards.

Edgar clicked his tongue. They occupied the court and all they did was kill time.

Just so Olivia couldn’t use it. For that childish purpose alone, those energetic fools had been at it for three hours. Next to them, Olivia stood motionless with perfect posture alongside her maid.

Today too, she was all white like a windflower, except for her dark brown hair.

“Why don’t you just let her have it,” Edgar said in a low voice, his gaze still fixed on Olivia.

“I told them to give it up.”

Henry turned away and walked towards the sofa, smiling faintly.

“Whether they give it up or not is up to them. It’s beyond my control. They are customers, after all.”

Henry McDowellspoke indifferently.

The members’ opposition was stronger than expected. Another name for the Dumblin Cricket & Tennis Club was the Millionaire’s Club.

Did the top 1% bigwigs who ruled the political and business world come here just to hit some balls?

The Dumblin Club was a space for secretly discussing important state affairs.

“It’s up to her to persuade them.”

Henry raised his teacup as he sank into the soft sofa.

“Aren’t you curious?”

The wrinkles around Henry’s eyes curved mischievously as he savored the tea’s aroma.

“Whether she can find her piece of the pie among the high-nosed noble men.”

An undisguised expectation settled in the old man’s eyes.

As expected, his perverted tendency to be obsessed with competition was extraordinary.

Although watching a fragile woman being bullied as if enjoying an interesting play wasn’t normal, Edgar couldn’t object. He was of the same ilk.

With his arms crossed, Edgar stood by the window, gazing at the woman standing like a still life in a corner of the vast lawn.

It was then that the woman who caught the eye in many ways suddenly began to move. Where she was heading, a faint smile crossed Edgar’s expressionless face at those bold steps.