‘Upon second thought, our family doesn’t have the extra funds…’

These were the noblewomen who had just been chatting with me positively about the investment.
I returned to the party, bewildered by the sudden change in attitude. Only after directly witnessing the situation in the party could I understand what had happened.

‘Be careful with your actions toward my daughter! How dare you behave like this in front of anyone!’

Countess Javel was a prominent figure in the central social circle. Despite being a countess, her widespread connections were due to her good reputation and popularity.

If someone fell out of her favor, it was clear they would become insignificant, whether in investments or anything else.

Moreover,

‘Let’s forget about the investment.’

Duke Krustel drew a clear line and stated. It was truly the worst-case scenario.

As evidence of that, not a single noblewoman who had been following me eagerly, trying to gain a bit of favor, remained. The only one left trailing behind me was Asilwood Jajak.

“H-Hwangbi-nim, please, please! I’m truly unjustly accused!”

“What’s unfair? That Jajak was born incompetent? Or that he tried to deceive everyone, and on top of that, tried to deceive me, a member of the Hwang family?”

“That’s not it! Hwangbi-nim! Please take a look at this!”

Jajak pulled a tracking device from his pocket. Seeing it, Hwangbi’s expression turned incredulous.

“Jajak, what is that right now? Don’t you know that possessing an unauthorized tracking device is prohibited?”

“Oh, yes! I know everything! But, Hwangbi-nim, please take a look at this first!”

Desperately, Asilwood Jajak activated the tracking device. Hwangbi’s eyes widened in disbelief at the scene that appeared inside the device.

“Did you see that? Hwangbi-nim saw it too, right?! The one who took my magic stone is Lady! I’m sure I brought the magic stone!”

“No, give it to me.”

“If I was ever unjust… well, um?”

“Hand over the tracking device right now!”

Amelia Hwangbi forcefully took the tracking device from Asilwood Jajak’s hand.

She replayed the scene in detail that appeared inside the tracking device.

“Could it be that Lady…”

“Why, why are you doing this?”

Asilwood Jajak turned his head, following Amelia Hwangbi’s gaze. As soon as he saw it, Jajak’s expression froze.

I stared intently at the boy standing in front of me. Holding up a fist, he responded lightly.

“But?”

Responding lightly seemed to surprise the boy a bit. Nevertheless, he continued speaking without any concern.

“Where’s Duke Krustel?”

“I guess my dad would be in the party.”

“Do you know when he’ll come out from the party?”

“I don’t know. He’ll come out when the party ends.”

Thinking it was quite strange to ask such questions, the boy narrowed his eyes.

“You’re a Lady, but it seems you haven’t learned any etiquette.”

“Etiquette?”

“Yeah, conversation etiquette. Or have you not learned it yet?”

“I know etiquette. I just don’t intend to observe it for someone who doesn’t observe it themselves.”

Upon hearing my words, the boy furrowed his brow. It was an expression of not understanding something.

“Are you saying I didn’t observe etiquette…”
The boy fell silent instead of continuing to speak, showing a contemplative expression.

‘Why did he stop talking?’

Anyway, when it came to etiquette in the conversation, I had more to say. In the first place, it was necessary to avoid speaking lightly between strangers.

Basic conversation etiquette varied according to the family’s position. Naturally, as the only lady of the Duke’s family, it meant that the boy couldn’t speak first.

‘Unless he’s a noble.’

However, the Hwangs were not on the invitation list for today’s party. Amelia Hwangbi, not being a noble, had not been invited but attended as she pleased.

It seemed that the boy realized his mistake.

“…Well, that’s that.”

Nevertheless, judging from his unchanged tone, it seemed he had no intention of changing his manner of speaking. I inwardly clicked my tongue.

‘If he values etiquette so much, he shouldn’t just overlook it.’

In reality, etiquette wasn’t a big concern for me. I only intended to learn and observe it for the sake of the family.

Now that I had become the only lady of the family, every action I took represented the family.

The boy, after glancing at my expression, spoke again.

“I got lost while looking for the party…”

“You’ll find it if you go that way. If you don’t know, ask someone passing by.”

“Why do I have to do that? You’re going to the party too, aren’t you?”

I shook my head subtly.

“I’ll go later.”

“Are you trying to take revenge for what just happened?”

“No, do I look like someone who would do that?”

“Then why aren’t you going to the party and staying here?”

The boy asked with narrowed eyes. I rolled my eyes in response to his suspicion.

‘Are all city nobles like this?’

Filen said so. Arrogant, without manners, and lacking consideration. Somehow, Filen’s words resurfaced in my mind.

‘Useless high-nosed city folks.’

This time, for some reason, I could sympathize a bit. The boy wasn’t easily backing down. I checked my condition for a moment.

‘Can’t I just take him to the main hall and come back?’

There were many people around the main hall, so I could instruct a maid to guide him to the party.

‘Yes, let’s send him quickly.’

It might be more troublesome if he stayed while the payment arrived.

With that thought, as I was about to stand up, I suddenly felt a strong pressure in my head.

I felt as if I couldn’t breathe, and I slumped to the ground, gasping for air.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?”

The surprised boy fixed his gaze on me. Seized by a sudden reaction, he quickly spoke.

“Just wait a moment; I’ll call someone right away.”

“No!”

Desperately, I grabbed the hem of the boy’s sleeve. I pleaded earnestly.

“Don’t do that, please.”

It was a distant pain, like a flash of light in front of my eyes. Unable to overcome the pain, my consciousness chose to dive deeply below the surface.

“What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?”