The carriage of the Mifidian family entered the imperial city at the forefront, breaking through hundreds of other carriages.

As it was a banquet attended by numerous nobles, strict security checks and inspections were carried out.

The security knight sighed at the line of carriages, then startled upon seeing the figure inside one carriage and quickly let them through.

Phew, Edmond pulled back the curtain to show his face, then let it fall with a flutter.

Edmond folded his arms and glanced sideways at the back where only the inner wall was visible. Lilien and Etricia were riding in the carriage following behind.

Soon, he felt shame at the memories that resurfaced again.

Damn it. Edmond closed his eyes and tilted his head back.

“It’s not because of you that I tidied up,” he had said.

He didn’t know why he said such words that sounded like an excuse.

There was no particular reason Edmond had tidied himself up.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had been working towards this day for the past 9 years to restore the duchy’s honor.

What did his appearance have to do with anything? As long as his sister’s face wasn’t damaged.

He didn’t care what kind of looks he received today, as long as he could reclaim his title and Lilien could be happy.

It just so happened that he got his hair trimmed today because the hairdresser he called was enthusiastic, his long hair had been uncomfortable, and summer was approaching…

The hairdresser’s suggestion to cut it did briefly bring Etricia’s face to mind.

Anyway, it was cut due to a convergence of minor coincidences, not for any clear reason.

But for that woman to say such a thing… Didn’t he end up looking foolish, as if admitting guilt like someone who’d been caught?

Thankfully they rode in separate carriages. If he had ridden with Etricia, he wouldn’t have been able to control his expression.

Then his sister would have said outrageous things about bust sizes and whatnot, making him uncomfortable again.

“Haah.”

He rubbed his eyes with a troubled look. Looking at him with eyes that seemed devoid of any personal feelings, she was like a snake, making only him uncomfortable.

Edmond, thinking it fortunate in many ways that they traveled separately, rubbed his oddly empty-feeling nape and let out a deep sigh.

After sending Lilien in first, I showed my invitation and entered alone.

As soon as I entered with the announcement of my name, the bright chandelier light invaded my vision.

The interior of the banquet hall, filled with splendid ceiling paintings and works of art, was dazzling and magnificent.

Servants moving with trays, round tables piled with desserts, and… a bustling crowd like a marketplace.

The vast hall was packed with people enjoying the banquet, engaging in pre-ball conversations.

It was no exaggeration to say that practically all the nobles were in attendance, and as a result, the inns and noble residences in the capital had been crowded with guests from the provinces for days.

All banquets begin with the appearance of the host or a member of the imperial family announcing the opening. Until then, it was a time to enjoy the atmosphere while waiting.

As I looked around the banquet hall enjoying the ambiance, I made eye contact with Antra, who was conversing with some ladies across the room.

Antra smiled as if she had been waiting, then approached swaying her dress like a cat swishing its tail. She looked me up and down and snorted.

“You’ve dressed quite elegantly.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“…”

When I responded dryly to her sarcastic remark, Antra pressed her lips tightly together. Quickly recovering from the damage, she opened her annoying mouth.

“An apricot-colored dress for an evening event, what terrible taste.”

“I couldn’t wear a black dress, could I? It’s not your son’s funeral.”

“You…!”

Antra bristled and was about to burst out angrily, but became conscious of the gazes around and bit her lip. She glared at me while huffing.

“Your uncouth way of speaking hasn’t changed. Where did you learn it?”

“If anyone asks, I’ll say I learned it from Lady Dien.”

“Hah!” Antra laughed incredulously, covering her chest with her fan. She looked me over with contemptuous eyes.

“To think one could be this vulgar.”

In response to her continued remarks, I blinked indifferently and whispered to a young lady passing by.

“Lady Dien is calling me vulgar. Is it alright for you to hear such things?”

“Pardon…? Are you talking to me?”

Caught off guard by the sudden insult, a young lady looked back at Antra in confusion. As soon as she made eye contact with the young lady, Antra hastily shouted at me.

“I’m talking about you! I’m talking to you!”

“Ah, it was me? Then you should have said so.”

I gave a sweet smile to Antra, who was trembling and muttering “You insufferable girl.”

“Come to think of it, you’re not wearing that fox shawl you always had. I guess you took my advice about it looking tacky.”

At those words, Antra’s face turned bright red as she quickly closed the distance between us.

“We’ll see how long you can keep running that arrogant mouth of yours.”

Just then, a noblewoman I was acquainted with passed by, and Antra covered her face with her fan and let out a light laugh.

While exchanging formal greetings with the noblewoman, Antra linked arms with me in an instant, as if to show off.

“What are you doing?”

When I tried to pull my arm away from Antra’s creepy behavior, she held on tenaciously and introduced me to the noblewoman.

“My lady, even a brief encounter can become a connection if we seize it, right? This is my child’s first time attending a ball, please be kind to her if you meet.”

“Oh my, Lady Dien. Then this person is…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Antra looked up at me as if with affection and patted my arm.

I pressed my lips together and glared at her with a look of disgust, and Antra smirked and patted my back.

“Child, the lady is waiting. Don’t be like that, you should greet her. Have you forgotten how to greet people after living in seclusion for the past 4 years?”

Sensing the underlying sarcasm, the noblewoman standing nearby tried to stop Antra.

“It’s alright. She seems flustered because of the crowd. Just leave her be.”

“Oh my, this is how our Etricia is, you see.”

Antra wrinkled her nose as she smiled and stroked my hair.

“My lovely child, are you nervous? Why are you so quiet?”

Watching Antra’s detestable attitude made my blood boil. Her behavior of acting like we were a loving mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pair was utterly repulsive.

Lady Vuel? That woman is Lady Vuel? Whispers began to spread sporadically throughout the banquet hall.

The attention of ladies sipping fruit wine and chatting, gentlemen resting on sofas, and young nobles focused on us.

“Lady Dien and Lady Vuel together, could the news about their bad relationship be false?”

“Well, whenever Lady Dien attends gatherings, she praises Lady Vuel endlessly.”

“It seems the rumors of conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law that have been circulating recently were unfounded. Lady Dien must be upset too. Tsk tsk, because of her son and daughter-in-law’s scandal…”

See? Antra smirked and gave me a triumphant look. As if she was one step ahead.

This had been Antra’s consistent method since the beginning of the marriage. Using her reputation and acquaintances for what could be called “Putting Etricia in her place.”

She often called her acquaintances to put Etricia at the center, showing off her social standing and applying psychological pressure. She would praise Etricia in front of an audience, acting out an affectionate mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship. To prevent any gossip.

Then occasionally, when Etricia became the center of attention, she would burn with jealousy and grab her by the hair, hurling verbal abuse. Parasite, vermin, vulgar family trading on God’s grace—she didn’t hesitate to make unfilial remarks too shameful to repeat.

‘Who’s really the vulgar and uncouth one here?’

All this time she had been living luxuriously thanks to the Vuel family and was able to enter the weekly gatherings, yet when did she ever show gratitude instead of contempt?

At times like this, I wanted to expose everything to everyone.

I would sometimes go to my room alone, stomping my feet, feeling terribly wronged and upset, but in the end, I could only press my lips shut and swallow my anger. I lacked the ability to cope due to my limited experience in dealing with people.

Later on, I didn’t even get angry anymore. I would just nod my head submissively, surrounded by people, saying “Yes, yes.”

Recalling the past made my insides boil like water coming to a roll.

I thought I had paid her back quite a bit for what I’d endured, but it still wasn’t enough. The humiliation I suffered as Etricia had not yet been compensated.

I smiled with a hint of anger while trying to steady my uneven breathing.

‘I should be grateful if she provokes me first.’

I pulled Antra, who had her arm linked with mine, even closer. As our bodies collided from the momentum, Antra glanced at me with an expression that said, ‘What’s wrong with this girl? Has she gone mad?’

“I’m sorry, Mother. I was so nervous that I couldn’t speak.”

I flashed a sweet smile and bowed my head politely to the noblewoman. Then I looked around with an innocent expression, blinking my eyes.

“But where is Lady Artu? You always said she was that damned woman with a hippopotamus bottom. I don’t see anyone with such a figure…”

In an instant, the atmosphere in the hall turned as cold as if a north wind had blown through.

Antra’s face drained of all color as she looked shocked. I inwardly sneered. Of course she would. The noblewoman standing in front of us was Lady Artu.

Lady Artu’s face was filled with a humiliated expression. She glared at Antra, her brow twitching.

“What is the meaning of this, my lady?”