“Isn’t that Madame de Parr’s dress?”

A young lady near Arianna muttered in a small voice.

‘That’ was Amelia Vermerian.

Next to Flora Alois, the Duchess, in a spot that was not too conspicuous, Arianna Valois watched Amelia talking to Adela Gilloyt.

Wearing a dress from Madame de Parr that was difficult to obtain even with the Valois name, the most powerful family in the empire, and glamorously adorned from head to toe.

Yet making it all fit seamlessly without any excess or lack.

Her smile and considerate tone, her eyes that focused on the other person, and her occasionally nodding head seemed to make the other person feel that they were important to her.

That was probably the reason she still remained at the center of high society even after her marriage.

Not to mention her superior access to information compared to others.

Arianna carefully observed Amelia, who was sitting a little distance away, while gently fluttering the fan covering her mouth.

“Hmm.”

Today, she had come out to explore.

Because Lloyd kept nagging that Amelia should not be underestimated.

And because her father had asked Lloyd again whose side Amelia would ultimately take, she was curious and came out.

She had seen Amelia Vermerian at every social gathering to the point of being sick of it, but had never received any other impression than her being the flower of high society.

That she was smart, had more sense than expected, and that was about it?

Also that she knew how to handle people well and had excellent conversation skills.

But those were things that she herself could do sufficiently as well.

Arianna Valois was someone born with brilliance, wit, and intelligence.

With that innate excellence, she could do anything she set her mind to.

Anything, if not for the damn limits of her gender.

Arianna Valois had ambition.

The ambition to do the things men do, despite being born a woman.

The ambition to receive all the education that could be received as a person, not a woman, in other countries even if it was impossible in the empire, and to fully pursue her own will.

And to realize that ambition, she had to make sure this job was a success.

Leaving the territory was a bit troublesome, but she was willing to gladly endure this level of inconvenience.

After enduring even that inconvenience, something else popped up this time.

Amelia Vermerian.

How different were she and Amelia Vermerian that those two men were paying so much attention to her?

“Oh my. Then the young lady must have also read Dennis Fallen’s book? Fallen did a good job organizing things related to speaking and conversation techniques.”

“Ah. I am still lacking in learning and have not yet read Fallen’s book. I am currently reading Ben David’s book. After I finish reading it, I plan to read Fallen then.”

“I see. Fallen’s book will probably be hard to find on the market as few people look for it. If you need it, let me know. I have a couple of copies, so I’ll send you one.”

The two were discussing things like rhetoric, conversation techniques, oratory, etc. that an ordinary young lady of the empire could not even dare to learn.

Amelia’s eyes were even sparkling with enjoyment at this topic.

Judging from the looks, there were a few people watching the two like her, but they seemed unable to easily intervene as the topic was what it was.

Among them, a few were timidly hovering around the vicinity.

After all, how much would they want to make an impression on the new crown princess who had arrived?

But for someone in the position of being the mother of all to not even pay attention to such a thing…

Arianna clicked her tongue softly behind the fan.

Why on earth did her father and Lloyd tell her to pay attention to this person?

She seemed too engrossed in her own conversation to properly look around.

Arianna tilted her head and rose from her seat.

Since Her Highness the Crown Princess seemed too absorbed in conversation to pay attention to anything else, shall I rescue the anxious little lambs?

Arianna was about to take a step with that thought.

“Oh my. Isn’t that Luivel? It’s been so long. How have you been?”

If you’ve come, say something! Why are you just standing there?

Along with a small laugh, Amelia, who had apparently turned her head at some point, was making eye contact with the young ladies who had been lingering near her.

As if she had known from the beginning that they were there, she naturally engaged in conversation with them, even including Gilloyt, with whom she had been talking earlier.

‘…I thought she wasn’t paying attention, but I guess not?’

Arianna stopped mid-step and stood still, quietly observing what Amelia was doing.

At first one, then two, then three, the number of people talking to her gradually increased.

Most of those invited here were noblewomen and those close to the Duchess Alois.

But that crown princess sitting there and greeting people seemed more like the protagonist of the party than the Duchess who was still busy welcoming guests at the entrance.

Through the crowd of people that had gathered, Arianna thought as she caught glimpses of Amelia Vermerian.

Amelia Vermerian had the power to attract people.

She had the charm to naturally blend in with people from her position and make them her allies.

She knew how to make all topics revolve around her and draw all eyes to herself.

Her social skills, eloquence, eye contact, and voice tone were all flawless.

To the point where she could be called the perfect etiquette textbook.

Was that why her father and Lloyd had told her to be wary of that woman?

Others might not know, but Arianna, who had learned from a very young age how to make people her allies, knew.

There were only two kinds of such people.

Either born with it, or practicing to death.

Whichever one Amelia Vermerian was, what mattered now was that the two men were right.

That woman had to be dealt with carefully.

She should never be taken lightly.

Arianna turned around, coming up with ways in her head one by one on how to deal with that woman.

She had achieved her purpose for coming to the party, so it was time to go back.

Maybe she would tease Lloyd a little on the way.

Arianna moved her steps further into the Alois estate, humming a small tune.

Somehow, she had a feeling this job was going to be fun.

“Duke, Duke. Do you know who I saw today?”

Lloyd was holding his throbbing head due to his mother, who had instantly used up three months’ worth of budget under the pretext of preparing for the party.

A clear voice was heard immediately after a small knock.

Did she say that woman was also coming today?

“Why does it matter who you saw? And I didn’t tell you to come in.”

Lloyd leaned back in his chair, not hiding his very unpleasant expression.

He didn’t want to talk to anyone right now.

Not only was it a headache to make up for the budget that had vanished into thin air, but it was also quite troublesome to come up with the business plan that Duke Valois had requested.

But regardless of whether Lloyd was in a bad mood or not, Arianna Valois, who had entered without permission, only rambled on about what she wanted to say.

“I finally met Amelia Vermerian today!”

Arianna laughed and prattled on as she pleased.

“I didn’t know why you and Father kept telling me to be careful of that woman, but I found out the reason today. I also understand now why you’re so obsessed with her.”

He had told her to be careful, but he hadn’t told her to prattle on as she pleased like that.

Lloyd closed his eyes, pressing his temples.

“Young lady, you couldn’t even tell the difference and kept babbling, so I told you to be careful, but it seems you didn’t understand.”

“Oh my. No. I understood what you meant. It’s just that I was amazed that there was another person like that in the world.”

“What do you mean by ‘another’? Are you saying you’re that kind of person?”

Lloyd was starting to feel more dumbfounded than having a headache.

Was she really saying that based on the assumption that she was similar to Amelia?

Arianna Valois couldn’t even stand on the same level as Amelia.

It was just that among those he knew, she was the most witty and also the daughter of Duke Valois, so he had joined hands with her.

If Amelia was someone who could see two moves ahead, Arianna was at least someone who could see about one and a half moves ahead.

If it weren’t for that, why would he bother to use someone so self-absorbed and living in her own thoughts?

Lloyd looked at her, who seemed to be deeply mistaken about something, and let out a long sigh.

“Arianna Valois. Amelia is someone who has been educated as the successor of a family.”

“I know that. I was just amazed at how good her social skills are. Her eloquence is also unique. There aren’t many people like that.”

Isn’t it natural for someone educated as a family successor to have good social skills?

What is she talking about now?

Lloyd looked at her for a moment as she was about to ramble on with more nonsense, then waved his hand with a sigh.

“Enough, let’s finish this first. It needs to be submitted by today.”

Instead of listening to more useless talk, he chose to hurry with what needed to be done.

There was a lot of work to do and his head hurt.

And the person to work with was right in front of his eyes.

He handed the business plan he had been writing to Arianna.

“I’ve drafted it roughly, but it seems to be lacking in many parts. I’d appreciate it if you could supplement it.”

“You said it needs to be submitted today? Have you decided on the topic?”

Fortunately, she also seemed to realize that work was more important, and took the documents quickly without adding anything else.

Then she sat down on the sofa and looked through the documents for a while before opening her mouth with a “hmm”.

“Who do you think will be the strongest rival in this contest?”

“Rival?”

“Yes. The person who will be the biggest hindrance to us being selected in the contest.”

The person who would be the biggest hindrance.

Lloyd stopped for a moment and recalled the events before the regression.

At that time, the plan submitted by Amelia and the Jenit Company was so perfect that there was no one who could be called a rival.

But this time, with Amelia out of the picture?

“If Amelia participates in this project, it would probably be Amelia.”

“Then do you know what topic they will submit the business plan on?”

“I think it will probably be the communication network rental business. But why?”

Lloyd looked at Arianna, who kept asking questions, feeling a bit annoyed.

There must be a reason she kept asking, but the more he thought about the past, the more he disliked the empty spot by his side without Amelia.

But Arianna smiled brightly, regardless of his gaze.

“Then how about we try to write a business plan as similar as possible to theirs? If you don’t have anything else in mind!”

That way, the judges will pit us against each other, won’t they?