Irene, who received her first salary and had a regular holiday, decided to visit her hometown for one night and two days. It was because her daughter, who attended a boarding school, was planning to stop by briefly.

“There aren’t many places that give holidays like this, but thanks to it, I’m very happy to be able to see my daughter’s face.”

“Hoho. I hope you have a pleasant time.”

Nodding at Deborah’s words, Irene turned to Dia and said,

“Young lady. Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yes. Mrs. Brown. Please travel safely.”

Although she sent Irene off, Dia couldn’t enjoy the holiday.

“Lord Yard…”

Sitting in front of a warm fireplace, Dia was sweating profusely while memorizing the noble directory.

The noble directory was like a kind of dictionary containing the addresses of titled individuals, current family heads and immediate family members, and businesses. It was produced by the royal family, so not just anyone could obtain it.

‘I heard the royal family produces noble directories periodically according to the number of nobles who make regular donations, and the one the young lady is holding now is the most recently issued noble directory.’

Even Madam Heather couldn’t get the latest noble directory and had to buy the previous one for a large sum of money.

So how did Zen manage to obtain this?

‘Anyway, it’s impressive.’

There was a book that ladies in this country would read as if reciting by heart. It was a book called “Ladies’ Conversation Methods”.

According to this book written by a renowned professor of noble origin, a person who only answers was considered unattractive. A lady who prioritized listening but continued the conversation with appropriate questions was praised.

So Dia had to become someone who could ask appropriate questions to whoever was in front of her.

She naturally had to grasp the rough history of the other person’s family and whether the current wife was a second wife or not. This was to avoid the mistake of asking rude questions during conversation.

‘Because of this culture, entering the Gracian social circle inevitably requires memorizing the noble directory.’

If Dia had been an ordinary noble, she would have naturally become familiar with the faces of nobles from a young age. But Dia had no choice but to cram like this.

‘Having to memorize this vast amount is very burdensome and difficult.’

Deborah decided to think of ways to lessen Dia’s study load.

‘It would have been good if I could remember the novel’s content perfectly.’

Deborah couldn’t exactly remember what kind of people Dia met at parties. That was regrettable, but it’s not like she couldn’t remember anything at all.

‘First, Baroness Rose. I can’t guarantee we’ll meet her because the future has changed a lot, but still, the probability is higher than with other people.’

The reason Baroness Rose approached Dia first was because she saw herself in Dia.

The nobles looked down on her for entering as a second wife to an older husband, and Baroness Rose couldn’t help but feel a lot of humiliation.

Although she built her own power with her unique confident personality and eloquence, the wounds from that time had not completely healed.

‘Of course, because she’s human.’

Baroness Rose had a strong pride and didn’t just let people who looked down on her go, but she was a good person who sincerely helped her own people.

‘There’s nothing bad about becoming close to her.’

Suddenly, Deborah was surprised by her own thoughts. Nothing bad about becoming close? This kind of thinking was uncharacteristically calculating for her.

‘But… if the kind and gentle young lady is not to get hurt in high society, I should think at least this much.’

Deborah slowly blinked her eyes, deliberately ignoring the uneasiness. And she tried to recall who was in Baroness Rose’s inner circle.

‘In the book I read, it only said that Baroness Rose informed the surrounding nobles about the young lady’s rudeness, but the names of those people weren’t described.’

Deborah carefully speculated about Baroness Rose.

First, Baron Rose. A former naval officer, he was currently running a rather unexpected book business.

His eldest son had a good business sense and was expanding into retail stores, while Baroness Rose often held reading sessions to find talented novelists and poets.

‘I heard that recently, young noble ladies are avoiding reading sessions.’

Since Madam Saint said so, it must be true. Then, it was highly likely that Baroness Rose associated more with people of the baron’s age rather than her own peers.

‘And if it’s people who like reading sessions…’

After organizing the list in her head like that, Deborah called out to Dia, who was still struggling and studying.

“Young lady.”

“Yes?”

Dia’s head shot up. Deborah, with a faint smile, said,

“I’m sorry for interrupting your study, but there’s something I’d like to ask.”

“It’s okay. What is it?”

“May I ask how far you’ve looked through?”

“Ah. Well…”

Dia, her face reddening, carefully continued.

“I’ve read a lot, but I haven’t properly memorized it.”

“Hoho. That’s natural! There’s so much content.”

Dia didn’t answer and just smiled weakly. Deborah asked in a careful tone.

“Young lady. Do you know about the Rose Baron family?”

“No…”

Dia answered quietly, lowering her head. It’s not wrong not to know, yet she looked so lacking in confidence. Deborah spoke in a kind voice, as if comforting her.

“From what I’ve heard before, Baroness Rose is said to be a very sociable person.”

Dia’s head lifted slightly. Deborah thought while looking at her clear eyes. How should she continue? After brief consideration, Deborah decided to just speak honestly.

“You might meet her.”

“Me and Baroness Rose?”

Dia asked, blinking slowly. At her expression that seemed to ask why she thought so, Deborah smiled again.

“Well, since she’s said to be sociable, I thought the chances of meeting might be high.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Yes. So, how about trying to memorize focusing on Baroness Rose and the people she’s close with?”

The reason Dia was memorizing the noble directory by heart was because she didn’t know which nobles she would meet at which party. Irene had also said it would be good to memorize all the nobles currently staying in Dover.

So she had recklessly set out to memorize, but honestly, she had no idea how to memorize this vast amount. But when Deborah set this priority like this, somehow she felt relieved.

‘The fact that I have to memorize everything hasn’t changed, but still…’

Dia answered with a shy smile.

“Yes. I will.”

Seeing her appearance as beautiful as a single flower, Deborah unknowingly smiled with satisfaction.

“May I help you a little?”

Dia’s expression, which had brightened in an instant, quickly became gloomy again.

“I’d like that, but aren’t you having a hard time because of me?”

“Hoho. Being in such a warm room with such a kind person can’t be a hardship.”

Answering like that, Deborah immediately began to gently tell the story about the Rose Baron family.

“They say Baroness Rose holds reading sessions regularly. I hear that although reading sessions have decreased a lot recently, there are still many people who love them.”

Deborah naturally introduced other ladies who also liked reading sessions.

“I can’t be certain, but these people might be acquainted with Baroness Rose.”

“Because they like reading sessions?”

Dia asked carefully, watching Deborah’s expression. Deborah answered with a bright smile.

“Yes. After all, people who like the same things tend to become friends easily.”

Nodding her head, Dia wrote down the names of the nobles Deborah had pointed out in the notebook beside her.

“Baroness Rose and Viscountess Soleto…”

To Deborah’s eyes, Dia’s earnest efforts looked nothing but lovable.

‘What on earth were Anna Franklin and the previous dressing maid thinking when they pressured the young lady who studies so hard like this?’

Deborah couldn’t understand.

‘I probably won’t be able to understand even after more time passes.’

Reassured by this fact, Deborah then recalled the people Dia would meet in the future. And immediately, that person came to mind.

‘Duke Buin.’

The first party that Zen and Dia attended together was the one where Duke Buin was present.

‘Of course, the situation then and now is different.’

The reason Zen, who had no title, could be invited to a party Duke Buin attended was because his wife was Dia.

‘Although Zen hasn’t inherited the Blaise Count title yet, they treated him thinking he would inherit it someday.’

But now the two aren’t married. So an invitation might not come like before.

‘But considering Mr. Baker’s purpose…’

Zen approached Dia to take revenge on Duke Buin. So wouldn’t he somehow create an opportunity? In this era, it’s unthinkable for a bourgeois to attend the same party as a duke.

‘But Mr. Baker will make it happen.’

After organizing her thoughts, Deborah asked with a faint smile.

“Young lady. Do you know about the Duke Buin family?”

“Yes. I’ve heard of them. The only…”

Dia, who was speaking while watching Deborah’s reaction, soon continued, reassured by Deborah’s kind smile.

“Ducal family in this country, right?”

“Yes. That’s right. Given the title, he’s not someone you can easily meet, but you might end up meeting him.”

Deborah said with a grin.

“You must never make eye contact with Duke Buin. You can’t look at his face until permission is given. Also, if he passes by while you’re conversing with others, you must stop talking and quietly bow your head.”

Despite Deborah’s gentle voice, the content was heavy.

Feeling burdened, Dia fidgeted with her fingers for a while before slowly opening her lips.