At the frivolous voice, Rosetta Toulon reflexively raised her head.

Good heavens. To think there’d come a day when Anna felt so welcome. Rosetta raised her arm high. Just in case Anna might miss her amidst the throng of maids and pass by.

“Anna! Here, here!”

“There you are!”

Anna swiftly squeezed through the crowd of maids. Lately, she seemed to be regarded as something of a trusted confidante of the Imperial Princess. Thanks to that, she caught the head maid’s eye, learning all sorts of tasks to properly serve the princess, keeping her busier than ever.

Even amidst such relentless busyness, her knack for picking up marketplace gossip in just half a day was, if anything, a talent.

With both cheeks flushed red as if she’d run from afar, Anna panted as she spoke.

“Have you, have you heard the news?”

“What? What’s going on?”

Anna making a fuss over trivial matters was a daily occurrence, but to escape the maids’ clutches, Rosetta was ready to join in. As if Anna had brought some long-awaited secret, Rosetta gestured the maids away.

With a grave expression, Anna brought her face close to Rosetta’s ear and unleashed a rapid-fire whisper.

“The summer ball at the Lenuak residence, the first big event of this social season, is next week. Many are arriving, but only a handful of prominent families’ heirs are attending, including our princess, Benzli, Bedford, Ilenov, and Marquis Conchester… something like that? Anyway, before the season truly kicks off, even during the social season, most delay their arrival in the capital until the very last moment, and especially Little Duke Montrosa hasn’t shown himself much in social circles for the past four years, but according to Lenette, who works for the Montrosa household…”

“Just get to the point, the point.”

Rosetta nearly grabbed Anna by the collar and shook her. Anna yelped, clutching both cheeks.

“They say Little Duke Montrosa is on his way here right now!”

“Flowers! Are the flowers all ready?”

“What about the tea leaves? Or maybe some light fruit wine!”

“Where should we place the porcelain brought from the Eastern Continent?”

At Anna’s news that Little Duke Montrosa was coming, the Valdemore ducal household went into full-blown chaos.

Except for Rosetta and the couch she sat on, every piece of furniture in the reception room began to be replaced. As she sat there with a dazed expression, Anna, passing by, handed her a glass of lemon juice and vanished. Too busy to entertain, she’d said.

Rosetta glared at Anna’s frantic figure with narrowed eyes but chose to sip her juice quietly. She was, after all, quite clearly “idling,” so getting mad at Anna’s cheeky remark about “playing” felt unwarranted.

What in the world was all this commotion about…

Unbeknownst to Rosetta, the secret waltz lessons held in the Valdemore duchy had become a hot topic among the servants. Lady Lea’s refined beauty was already well-known… and as for Young Master Cardier, he was undeniably, perfectly dashing.

Just imagining them standing side by side conjured an epic tale, and according to the servants who’d witnessed the waltz lessons, the atmosphere was electric. Moreover, Little Duke Montrosa, one of the parties in question, was a man unmoved by the advances of noble ladies, married women, and even a few young lords.

Despite old rumors of impotence, apathy, or other personal flaws, his exceptional abilities, impressive background, and overwhelmingly striking appearance made him the social season’s coveted diamond cake.

Sparkling brilliantly, yet unattainable.

Amidst this, the rumor of a connection with the Valdemore princess had the entire capital’s social scene utterly captivated. Thanks to everyone’s fervent efforts, the reception room was transformed beyond recognition in just two hours.

A pale ivory carpet adorned with gold thread and blue weaving, tables and side tables made of white birch, and an ivory sofa embroidered with beautiful rose patterns in vibrant fabrics. Chiffon curtains fluttered at the four windows reaching up to the ceiling.

The trolleys and window ledges were laden with an immense quantity of fresh flowers from the florist. Thanks to all these efforts, by the time they were ready to welcome Cardier, Rosetta couldn’t help but wonder if this was a ducal mansion or a flower shop.

Then, a servant announced the arrival of Little Duke Valdemore, and Cardier stepped into the reception room. Fresh from the Admiralty, his bright blond hair was slicked back with pomade, and he wore a pristine white uniform.

The sound of swallowing echoed around, as the already striking man looked even more dashing in uniform. To Rosetta, though, it was just the uniform of the detestable navy. She scanned Cardier up and down with a disapproving look.

Taking off his cap, Cardier approached her swiftly with long, elegant strides.

“Princess Valdemore.”

“Little Duke Montrosa. Welcome.”

When Rosetta extended her hand, Cardier took it and gracefully kissed it. Having received so many noble greetings, she could now handle this with her eyes closed. Mimicking a duchess awkwardly, she spoke.

“What brings you here…?”

“I came to pay my respects, as we’ll likely see each other often. The gift I prepared… seems a bit inadequate.”

In Cardier’s hand was a modest bouquet. Glancing at the overwhelming array of flowers decorating the room, he seemed momentarily at a loss for words.

“Well, that’s true… Would you like to sit?”

When a young lord visits, you receive a kiss of respect on the hand and offer a seat. It was almost habitual, so she asked reflexively. Regretting the unnecessary offer, she saw Cardier shake his head.

“Today, I’m truly just stopping by.”

“…Just stopping by?”

Rosetta had a keen sense of direction and had grasped the capital’s layout just by observing from her carriage. The Valdemore mansion, perched at the end of Valencia Boulevard on a hill, was definitely not a place one just “stopped by.”

Narrowing her eyes suspiciously, she shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

“Alright, then. You’ve seen me, so you’ll leave now, right?”

“Yes. But first, there’s something I’d like to confirm.”

Cardier took a step closer to her. With an almost tender, reluctant expression, he asked anxiously.

“Are you really not going to the ball with me?”

A clean rag slipped from the hand of a maid who was wiping an already spotless window for the hundred and twenty-second time.

Rosetta’s feelings mirrored that moment. Keeping their distance back in the estate, and now acting all affectionate? Suddenly? What’s wrong with this guy? Did he eat something bad? With a displeased expression, she replied.

“As I said before, I already have a lord I’m attending with.”

“I heard you haven’t given a definitive answer to the Benzli marquis’s heir yet.”

“….”

…How did he know? Inwardly startled, Rosetta put on a brazen face and replied even more shamelessly.

“I’ve been so busy since arriving in the capital. I was just about to write a letter accepting the request.”

“…I see.”

Cardier put his cap back on, and for a moment, Rosetta forgot the situation and genuinely admired him. Navy uniform aside, he had grown up rather splendidly.

“I look forward to seeing you again.”

“…Pardon?”

See her again? Why? The lessons were over, weren’t they? Was he planning to acknowledge her at the ball? Really? Her mind spun with complex thoughts. As if seeing right through her, Cardier let out a faint smile. It looked terribly mischievous.

“Nothing is surprising in the capital’s social scene.”

He placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly with elegance. Rosetta stared blankly at Cardier’s retreating figure as he left the reception room. No matter how she mulled it over, his words sounded awfully suspicious.

Somehow, it felt like he was saying, “Whatever happens next, you brought it on yourself.” Was that just her imagination…?

Rosetta read the letter from the Benzli marquis’s house with a dumbfounded expression.

What? He fell into dramatic love with someone else in the meantime? And he absolutely had to attend the ball with them?

When did he ever pine for her so desperately…? With a sour expression, she handed the letter to Anna. She had no hobby of clinging to someone who said no. If it was difficult, she’d just find someone else.

It was a bit of a hassle, but with so many people requesting her as a partner, she could find another quickly. As for the letter, the scribe assigned by the duchess would write it elegantly, so it wasn’t much trouble.

But when the rejection letters piled up past five, then reached ten within a week, even Rosetta began to grow anxious.

At this point, something was definitely up.

Something very, very fishy.