“Do you want to attend the royal banquet?”

Antara, lying leisurely on the sofa while Berita tended to her nails, raised her gray eyebrows.

Seizing the opportunity, Berita adjusted her kneeling position to a sitting one and nodded.

“I had a quarrel with my sister recently and now I can’t attend the royal banquet.”

“Hmph, even driving out your own sister. What a temper. I can’t fathom what changed her so.”

Berita cast her eyes down gloomily and nodded.

“She doesn’t seem like the sister I knew…”

Antara hummed and eyed Berita with interest, who was trying to please her. A bit dim-witted, perhaps, but quick in her actions and good at sweet-talking.

Although she had discouraged her once, considering her son’s affair with Berita, there was nothing Antara could do to stop it. She had been quietly observing, knowing it would end soon… but Berita ended up being chased away by Etrisha too.

Learning that Berita had caught the eye of her beloved adopted brother, Antara was probably shocked.

‘Her jaw must have dropped.’

Antara felt a bit of satisfaction.

‘It would certainly annoy her if I show up at the banquet with the sister she discarded.’

The banquet was approaching, and Devon was expected to return Etrisha to the estate. Currently, in Devon’s absence, she was probably acting arrogantly.

It was time to turn the tables on her for the humiliation she caused in front of the servants. Just thinking about Etrisha still made her blood boil.

Antara propped her chin on her hand, eyeing Berita, who was diligently doing her nails.

Of course, all these plans required Berita to understand her role.

“Berita, you surely don’t think Devon will actually commit to you, do you?”

Caught off guard by the cool tone, Berita looked up, meeting Antara’s stern smile. Even the naive Berita realized she shouldn’t speak the truth under that disdainful gaze.

Berita, sweating, looked down.

“Of course not, Countess Antara.”

“Good, then I’ll speak to the Duchess of Weekly.”

“Really?”

The Duchess of Weekly, currently away for health reasons, was the late Empress’s sister and a former diamond of the social scene. She was the head of a ladies’ group discussing politics, diplomacy, and economics. Antara had recently joined this group, broadening her influence.

With the Duchess of Weekly’s help, even a commoner like Berita could secure an invitation to the royal banquet.

“Thank you, Countess Antara.”

Berita beamed with joy, earnestly attending to Antara.

In the morning, after dining with Lirien, I received the Emperor’s letter from Rail.

It was delayed for procedural reasons – a ridiculous excuse, clearly meaning it had been screened before reaching me.

The Emperor’s letter contained no casual greetings, only a direct request to send the will tomorrow.

‘He’s not completely reassured yet.’

Still, requesting confirmation of the will indicated his inclination to support me, not Devon.

‘A credible piece of evidence will soon be ready.’

I looked through other letters with satisfaction.

They were the agreed-upon divorce papers requested from Rainburton and the original evidence of infidelity from the detective agency. The copies I had were burnt by Antara’s misdeeds, but obtaining the originals was satisfying.

I examined each glossy paper. Devon was captured in unfaithful scenes, wrapping his arms around women or kissing them. The evidence, magically preserved and certified by the Mage Tower, had legal validity.
I sent a reply to Rainburton, enclosing a little extra for his trouble, using the money I got from selling some household items.

In the afternoon, after seeing off Lirien who was off to a baking class, I headed to the secret vault of the estate.

After retrieving the will as planned, I witnessed an odd scene on my way back.

“What’s this combination now?”

Berita and Antara were entering the dress shop, arm in arm, looking like a friendly mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

I quickly disembarked from my carriage and followed them into the shop.

Seeing them enter a reserved room, I twisted my lips in annoyance.

I waved off an approaching employee and followed them in.

Seeing me, their faces drained of color as they enjoyed their lavish tea set and examined the dresses on the hangers.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it, you two?”

“You…”

“Oh, sister…”

Aware of the employees’ glances, Antara hurriedly whispered to me.

“How did you come here?”

“How else? I walked on two legs.”

“Not that. How did you get here?”

“Oh, should I be asking you that? Why are you two here? It’s an interesting combination, but a bit surprising.”

Especially Berita. I smiled and narrowed my eyes at her.

Antara looked down on Etrisha and was driven by vanity, not shying away from acquiring followers.

But I never thought Berita would so easily ignore my warning.

“Sister…”

Berita blinked her innocent eyes, trembling slightly. Almost pitying, I almost stroked her head.

“Berita, I didn’t expect you to take my warning so lightly.”

“Oh, sister, it’s not what you think. It’s not like that.”