At that moment, Wickley, who had just taken a sip of tea, calmly opened her mouth.

“So, what’s the reason you wanted to meet me?”

Well, it’s to gain your favor for Antra and Lilien.

Answering inwardly, I smiled gently.

Of course, to Mrs. Wickley, who is well-versed in psychological battles, I must be nothing more than a small fry.

What I intended to do belonged to fair trade, not a psychological battle. I vaguely, if not clearly, remembered about the supporting character in the original novel. I took a breath and said,

“I want to advise you about the illness the Marchioness is suffering from.”

Startled, Mrs. Wickley’s hand holding the teacup trembled. She raised her arched eyebrows and gave me a cold look.

“How rude. I heard you were getting divorced, but I haven’t heard any rumors about you studying medicine.”

“I haven’t studied medicine, but humans have life wisdom.”

“What do you mean?”

“The disease you’re suffering from is known to be a lung disease of unknown cause, but it’s actually a skin disease, isn’t it?”

Huk, Mrs. Wickley, who had roughly swallowed her breath, blinked her eyelids trembling.

In the original story, Marchioness Wickley was described as a peripheral character who appeared to portray Etricia’s futile death in the course of a villain’s actions without any karmic retribution.

Wickley would later get treatment for her illness, and although it was just briefly mentioned in passing, I remembered it clearly. The disease she was suffering from was an inflammatory dermatitis that made the skin red and blotchy.

I wasn’t sure until I arrived, but I was certain after seeing her requirements and veil.

The strict requirements must have been excuses to refuse. She probably didn’t want to risk exposing her skin disease.

The ladies’ gatherings were held indoors, and brief outings were done using carriages or parasols, so they must have been severely lacking in vitamin D.

Moreover, hiding in a sealed space with poor ventilation to conceal the skin disease not only made her weak but also exposed her to an environment conducive to skin diseases.

Mrs. Wickley lowered her eyes and caught her breath. Her lower face, briefly visible, was dotted with red spots as if fever blossoms had bloomed.

More composed now, she gazed at me intently, as if observing. Her eyes held the charisma of someone who stood at the pinnacle of high society, capable of swaying people.

“What do I need to do to silence the Countess?”

“Treatment.”

“… Treatment?”

“It’s exactly as I said. You don’t need to silence me. My social circle is so small that I couldn’t tell anyone even if I wanted to.”

“…”

“Let me continue. First, consume plenty of fruits and meat, and walk under the sun for at least thirty minutes a day. Don’t be picky with food, but it’s better to avoid foods that raise your body temperature too much. Oh, and also consume a lot of grapes, which are a specialty of the duchy.”

Later, you’ll find that eating those grapes alleviates your symptoms.

“And you need to get enough sleep. The dermatitis probably makes your skin feel hot and prevents you from sleeping well, but you can reduce the heat with mint-”

As I rattled on without pause, Mrs. Wickley, who had been listening with her hands neatly placed on her knees, raised her hand.

“You really came to give advice about a skin disease?”

Oh dear, she must think I heard a rumor somewhere and came to insult her.

“Yes, that’s why I came.”

Marchioness Wickley frowned as if she couldn’t understand.

“Aren’t you worried about contagion, Countess? You know I have a skin disease.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m more afraid of my in-laws.”

“… Your in-laws?”

“Yes, they’re so dirty and petty that I want to avoid them as much as possible.”

“…”

As if it was an unexpected answer, Mrs. Wickley, who had been looking surprised, burst into laughter a beat later. Covering her mouth as she laughed, she bitterly brushed her hair behind her ear.

“You’re a strange person. Most people avoided me even after being diagnosed as non-contagious.”

People who didn’t know much about skin diseases would have been reluctant. Because of this, Marchioness Wickley, who had lived a noble life, must have felt it as a shameful flaw and hid.

Marchioness Wickley straightened her back and fiddled with the handle of her teacup. Although her appearance was veiled, she looked as elegant and pure as a lily.

“Countess Vuel, I don’t trust people easily. Especially those without persistence.”

She was sharply rebuking the part where I had arranged this meeting through Edmond.

Even if that was a minus point, it was the only way for me to meet Marchioness Wickley. I shrugged nonchalantly.

“It’s my principle to use Lilien.”

“Yes, that’s why I’m trying to understand. I like the Countess’s brazen principle.”

Marchioness Wickley, who responded gracefully, wore a subtle smile.

“So what does the Countess want? I doubt you came purely to give advice.”

Seeing the experienced light in her eyes, I thought it would be luxurious to beat around the bush.

I opened my mouth hesitantly, as if about to say something quite difficult.

“Actually, there’s a member who doesn’t fit the purpose of your gathering.”

“Are you planning to use me to get revenge on your in-laws?”

Oh dear, despite my efforts to use cushion words, I was seen through.

Sweat ran down my spine, but I covered my mouth and laughed, “Ho ho.”

“What a frightening thing to say. I’m merely concerned that Viscountess Dien might lower the reputation of the gathering.”

Marchioness Wickley, who looked at me with a determined face, smiled gently. Under her veil, her lips were faintly curved in a smile.

“I’m glad it’s not a stuffy request to be included in the gathering.”

“Thank you for believing me.”

“I’ll grant your request if my condition improves.”

My, how generous. This is why everyone speaks so highly of Mrs. Wickley.

Lady Wickley gracefully intervened so that the person making the request wouldn’t have to say anything embarrassing. After asking for my understanding, she removed her veil as if feeling stifled.

Despite the reddish flush on her skin, Lady Wickley, with her intelligent black eyes shining, was exceptionally beautiful.

I smiled brightly and carefully opened my mouth.

“Thank you, Marchioness Wickley. And I have one more request…”

After chatting over tea, I left the villa only when noon arrived.

Marchioness Wickley saw me off. The maid even shed tears, expressing gratitude that it was thanks to my help that Lady Wickley was seeing sunlight.

Lady Wickley, seemingly displeased, glanced at the maid and then gave me a faint smile while holding down her veil fluttering in the wind.

“Come visit anytime. We can discuss current affairs, or talk about your troublesome in-laws.”

I burst out laughing at Marchioness Wickley’s joke.

The more I got to know her, the more different she was from the image I had imagined.

I thought she would be a strict and fastidious person who valued etiquette as much as she liked organizational culture, but she was neither haughty nor rigid.

“Thank you for being young lady Lilien’s chaperone. I’ll arrange comfortable meetings from time to time.”

“Sounds good. I look forward to meeting young lady Lilien as well.”

Marchioness Wickley, who had been nodding, suddenly closed her eyes tightly, swallowing a groan as if feeling dizzy from the longer than usual outdoor walk.

At my urging to go inside, she bid farewell with her eyes and entered the villa with the maid’s support.

I smiled contentedly as I watched Marchioness Wickley enter the building, satisfied with how the meeting had concluded. However, as I turned to leave, I spotted an unexpected person.

“Count!”

Delighted, I smiled brightly and waved the envelope in my hand, but I stumbled.

“Uh.”

Fortunately, I didn’t fall, but I twisted my ankle as I staggered. As I bent over to rub my throbbing ankle, I heard a sigh from above.

“This is what happens when I take my eyes off you for a moment.”

I looked up to see Edmond looking down at me disapprovingly, backlit.

I pouted as I straightened up.

“You’re being too harsh over a small mistake. When have I ever hurt myself in front of you, Count?”

“You have.”

“When?”

Edmond averted his gaze and rubbed his furrowed brow.

“…If I say you have, then you have.”

“So when exactly-”

‘Ah, when Devon made an unannounced visit.’

The atmosphere became somber for a few seconds.

“That wasn’t my mistake. Anyway, I’m fine, so don’t worry about it.”

“Huh,” Edmond scoffed, removing his hand from his face.

“You’re delusional. Who said I was worried?”

Liar. When you were rubbing your brow, you glanced at my ankle with a subtly concerned look.

It seems that his habit of overprotecting Lilien occasionally manifests elsewhere when she’s not around.

Although I had grown closer to Edmond, this kind of overprotection didn’t suit me and only made me feel awkward. They say only those who’ve experienced something know how to enjoy it, don’t they?

I rubbed my heated face with the back of my hand and held out the envelope in my hand to change the atmosphere.

“Take this.”

Edmond calmly took the envelope and opened it, his eyes widening slightly.

“This is…”

“I can confidently say that young lady Lilien will shine the brightest at the banquet.”

“Did she really agree to do it?”

“Of course.”

I lowered my head, whispered softly, and winked.

“I told her not to worry because she’s not interested in social activities or courtship. What we want is prestige, after all. I did well, didn’t I?”

“…Well, just this once.”

Edmond reluctantly gave a compliment, then examined the document again before carefully folding it and placing it inside his vest.

“Were there any demands?”

“Please send one bunch of grapes from the duchy to Marchioness Wickley every day.”

“It’s not difficult, but that amount will rot and spoil before she can eat it all.”

“She’ll eat them before that happens, so it’s fine.”

What wouldn’t one do to treat a skin disease?