‘……What?’

Cracks appeared on Fritten’s calm face. The news brought by Remy caused a tremendous shock.

After receiving the item from Remy, Selene held it up in front of Fritten’s face and asked for confirmation.

“Is this correct, young lady?”

A ring with a purple jewel embedded in the center – it was undoubtedly the item they had been searching for. Realizing her plan had gone awry, the color drained from Fritten’s face.

Fritten received the ring with trembling hands.

Why, why!

Unable to control her emotions any longer, Fritten glared at Remy with vicious eyes.

She had thought she’d successfully bribed the maid. She believed there would be no variables, yet this lowly worm had ruined everything.

‘How could you betray me!’

“Young lady?”

Fritten clenched her fist holding the ring, swallowing the boiling anger rising within her. She stood up and lowered her head.

“Ah, y-yes. It is… mine.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Fortunate. That word once again reminded her of the failed reality. It was already overwhelming enough to endure the bitter taste of defeat, but to make matters worse, the Grand Duchess spoke again.

“But it’s strange. You’ve finally found your precious item, yet you don’t look happy. Your complexion isn’t good either.”

She must not show any weakness. If she shows a gap, that would truly be the end. Reminded of this, Fritten forced a smile, straining the corners of her mouth.

“I’m just too happy. May I ask where it was found?”

Selene looked at Remy and gestured for her to answer. Remy bowed her head and once again humiliated Fritten with her calm statement.

“I found it under the bed in Lady Lenoir’s room.”

Murmurs arose from those around at Remy’s answer. All eyes were now completely focused on one person. Her face turning bright red with shame, Fritten vehemently waved her hands in denial.

“That’s impossible. I searched everywhere earlier, including under the bed, and it wasn’t there! The maid must be mistaken.”

As she fiercely denied it, Selene looked at Remy again and ordered a detailed explanation.

“Continue speaking.”

“I… was cleaning Lady Lenoir’s room. Then I saw that ring right under the bed. Having heard the commotion, I rushed here just in case.”

“No! It definitely wasn’t there earlier!”

“Then perhaps the young lady’s ring has grown legs.”

Mocking laughter erupted from the onlookers at the sarcastic retort. Selene glanced down at Fritten’s bony hands and concluded the matter.

“It seems you mistook where you placed the ring, young lady. It’s fortunate that it’s been found. Do you have anything else to say?”

“Th-that’s…!”

Feeling the gazes upon her, Fritten started to speak but hesitated. The current atmosphere was certainly not flowing in her favor.

It felt like her world was crumbling, but retreating was the only option that came to mind. Finally tasting humiliation, Fritten gritted her teeth and gave the only answer appropriate for this moment.

“No. I apologize… for causing unnecessary trouble.”

Originally, it should have been the Grand Duchess apologizing, and herself graciously accepting the apology with a smile. That would have been right. That should have been the only right thing.

But how could this be.

Fritten clenched her fist so tightly that her nails dug into her skin. However, it seemed the ordeal wasn’t over yet.

Cupping one cheek with her hand, Selene sighed and spoke in a regretful tone.

“I’m fine, but this incident caused by your mismanagement has disrupted several schedules. You even made such a rude demand without hesitation. I fear the name of the Grand Duke’s family might become a laughing stock if I overlook your brazen attitude.”

Reading the warning in those words, Fritten raised her bloodshot eyes and asked accusingly.

“Are you saying you’ll lodge an official complaint to the Lenoir Baron’s family?!”

“That could be possible, but since I’ve also made a mistake towards you before, I intend to understand and let this incident pass. Let’s settle past transgressions with this much.”

It meant to consider ‘the incident where the Grand Duchess spilled tea on Lady Lenoir’s head at the banquet’ as if it never happened.

Sensing an opportunity, that cunning intent to tie up past events and prevent any mention of the past ever again made Fritten tremble.

Though infuriated by the obvious scheme, there was nothing more she could do here. Feeling utterly miserable, Fritten slowly bowed her head.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“I hope there will be more mutual respect in the future.”

Selene smiled benevolently, just as she had done to Remy a few days ago.

* * *

“Remy, Her Highness is looking for you. Hurry to the annex.”

A few days ago, Remy, upon being summoned, went to find Selene. Bowing her head towards Selene, who was alone in the empty room, Remy closed the door and stood nearby. It was when the silence was starting to feel strange that Selene, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke.

“Be more careful from now on.”

“…Pardon?”

To suddenly be told to be careful.

Remy, not understanding, responded with a blank expression.

“I made up a good excuse for the maids in charge of clothing. I told them I accidentally lost one earring. Those pearl earrings are quite rare, so their disappearance would be noticed quickly.”

The color gradually drained from Remy’s face. While the shocked Remy’s lips quivered, Selene, who had been rummaging through her jewelry box, pulled out a shiny ruby ring.

“Here. Take this next time.”

Next, Selene took out a diamond pendant from the jewelry box and held it out to the pale-faced Remy.

“Take this today.”

“I-I-I have committed a mortal sin!”

Finally fully realizing the situation, Remy cried out loudly, banging her forehead on the floor. Feeling like she might die, Remy began pleading desperately with a face turned ashen.

“I truly did wrong, I, Your Highness, I’m so sorry!”

“Hey, what are you doing? I told you to take this.”

“I, really, I must have lost my mind. I’m so sorry, truly.”

‘I was going to be a bit harsher.’

Softly sighing, Selene put the jewelry back in the box.

What wouldn’t a person do when desperate? Gazing at Remy with sunken eyes, Selene spoke in a much gentler tone.

“Is your mother feeling better now?”

“Huh…? How did you…?”

Remy raised her head in shock. Contrary to expectations, the Grand Duchess wasn’t glaring at her. She merely spoke indirectly with an expressionless face, neither angry nor smiling.

“You’ve acted like such a filial daughter.”

Only then did Remy realize that Selene was turning a blind eye to her crime. With gratitude and guilt mixed together, Remy lowered her head, losing even the courage to face her.

“Still, you shouldn’t have resorted to theft. What child wouldn’t be distraught when their parent is on the brink of death? I understand that feeling, but the method was wrong. If you told your parents you sold stolen goods to contribute to medical expenses, do you think they would be pleased and say you did well?”

“I was… wrong.”

“Sometimes when you’re struggling, it’s good to open up and ask for help from those around you. If you had been honest, I would have helped you.”

It was a warm tone, as if patting her on the back. Remy’s eyes grew hot, and she pressed them tightly.

“I’m, I’m sorry, sob, I really have nothing to say but sorry.”

“How many times did you steal?”

“Th-three times.”

Seeing that she wasn’t lying, it seemed she was sincerely regretting her actions. Being a smart girl, she should understand well with just one lesson. Selene stopped scolding, wearing a benevolent smile.

“Anyone can make mistakes. What’s important is how you think about those mistakes. In that regard, your sincere remorse is commendable. Now, stand up.”

Selene reached out her hand and helped Remy up. Remy rubbed her eyes vigorously with her palms and repeatedly bowed her head.

“I’m sorry, sniff, I must have lost my mind for a moment, I will never do it again.”

“Good. Don’t do it again. Be honest about everything from now on. Understand?”

After helping Remy to her feet, Selene gestured for her to leave. However, Remy hesitated and opened her lips to continue what seemed to be a finished conversation.

“Um…”

“?”

After a moment of hesitation, Remy wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Her eyes, now visible again, filled with determination.

“Your Highness, I have something to tell you.”

Recently, while out, I met someone who had their entire body wrapped up. That person said if I didn’t want to be caught stealing Your Highness’s belongings, I should follow their instructions, and that they would soon visit the Grand Duke’s residence, so we should meet then.

Remy quickly summarized the key points of her explanation. After listening to her words and pondering for a moment, Selene gave Remy a somewhat puzzling order.

“Do as they say.”

“…Pardon?”

“Beg for your life, tremble in fear. Make them feel at ease.”

“What do you mean?”

Resting her elbows on her knees, Selene propped her chin and smiled brightly.

“I mean, become a double agent.”

“…Why?”

“You know, the end is always the most exciting part of a brawl.”

Feeling somewhat entranced, Remy blankly stared at Selene.

The smile spread across her face was pure and innocent. Perhaps because of the white dress she wore, her face even looked angelic.

* * *

Returning to her room, Fritten was overwhelmed with uncontrollable anger.

Aaargh! Fritten pounded the blanket with her fists and gritted her teeth.

‘In the end, I couldn’t even break even!’

Selene Adrian, that damned Selene Adrian!

She viciously chewed on that name in her mouth, which had never failed to irritate her throughout her life.

‘I’m sick of it!’

Selene Adrian, previously Selene Athensia. At the academy, she was everyone’s idol and goddess. To Fritten, who came from a humble family without a solid background, Selene Athensia was someone who lived in a different world under the same sky.

She thought she could never reach her. So she didn’t even feel envy.

That was until ‘that person’ reached out their hand.

“Aren’t you jealous?”

Suddenly appearing before her one day, that person quickly wormed their way into her heart. Like a snake, they swiftly and forcefully touched the emotions she had tried so hard to ignore.

“Don’t you think it’s pathetic how she acts like a queen just because her family is well-off?”

The greater jealousy beyond envy. That person had precisely pierced Fritten’s sore spot.

“Being so pretty, isn’t it frustrating to always fall behind?”

They were skilled at manipulating people to their liking with their cunning tongue.

“I’ll take everything from that woman and give it to you.”

The unexpected proposal became the fuse that ignited the jealousy she had been suppressing, and that’s how she came this far with that person’s support. The condition they demanded in return for their sponsorship was to drive a wedge between the Grand Duke and Duchess, which was why she kept approaching the Grand Duke.

That person clearly said the Grand Duchess’s madness would be difficult to cure, so why does she seem completely recovered?

Anyway, she couldn’t leave empty-handed like this. That person doesn’t value their life much. After the Grand Duke’s maid personally revealed her weakness, if she returned with nothing…

‘This won’t do.’

Stamping her feet, Fritten hastily pulled something out of her bag. It was a glass vial filled with white powder.

‘I didn’t really intend to use this, but… Well, Grand Duchess, if you had stayed mad, I wouldn’t have had to do this.’

Her face, twisted even more viciously, reflected in the glass surface. This is all the Grand Duchess’s fault. Fritten muttered repeatedly.