And she nailed it perfectly in the subtly flowing atmosphere.

“Your Majesty, didn’t you consider my situation pitifully and designate me to the last seat? If you thought of me as a lady, then why…”

An expression of not understanding English faced the empress. It was a sarcastic remark toward the empress, who was considered more noble and imperial than anyone else.

The empress glanced at Olivia for a moment. Then, gently raising the corners of her lips, she met eyes with Olivia.

Quite clever to hide the claws. But even so, those claws will hurt themselves.

The empress immediately changed her expression. And as if feeling sorry, she circled around and said with her tongue in her cheek.

“Oh, I see. No wonder. The duke’s face seems to have darkened a lot. It seems that my beloved beautiful daughter has grown quite rebellious and caused a lot of wounds.”
Olivia smiled with a slight crinkle. Although the back of the hand clutching the dress trembled slightly, fortunately, the empress only stared as if piercing through her face.

Beloved beautiful daughter. Esella’s face darkened.

There was no need for that. He was a person without a father.

Now, even thinking of the duke didn’t make her heart ache to the point of numbness. She could casually overlook the three syllables ‘father’ coming from someone’s mouth.

“If you’re a father who cherishes his beautiful daughter, it seems you briefly saw what happened last night when Viscountess Etel spoke to the Empress.”

“…I thought you were noble, but you seem to have a quite audacious side, Lady.”

In a strangely uncomfortable atmosphere, the empress narrowed her eyes. Her scrutinizing gaze flashed as she glared at Olivia.

Olivia chuckled.

“I didn’t know about that audacious side, so thank you for letting me know. I’ll firmly engrave it and cultivate it more.”

The fragrance of tea filled the air, and the ladies began the conversation, receiving admiring glances from the ladies-in-waiting.

“Viscountess Etel knelt in front of the Empress’s palace last night and was confined to her mansion, right?”

“Was Etel also there? As far as I know, she was at the prince’s palace…”

“Hush. That story is a secret for now.”

The ladies-in-waiting looked startled and glanced at the empress. Fortunately or unfortunately, the empress had a face that didn’t hear.

While the ladies-in-waiting quickly moved on to another topic, Olivia thought of Maria Etel. And she smiled quietly.

Why did she look at me with such a collapsing face? She hasn’t lost the prince’s favor yet.

Indeed, it was a touching and pathetic love.

When the story had matured to some extent, the empress smiled gracefully and tapped the teacup with her fingernails.

When the clear sound of the glamorous and sharp fingernails tapping the cup was heard, Lady Offtem, a close aide to the empress, threw a word.

“If you couldn’t manage the ladies properly, there won’t be any sympathy.”

“There seem to be quite a few people who will become like Viscountess. Well, how do you manage the ladies?”

The mocking voice became a little louder. Olivia, realizing that she was the target of the sniper, looked into the distance.

The empress, seated at the highest position, raised her teacup as if it had nothing to do with the atmosphere. The ladies-in-waiting chattered, matching their mouths like they were acting.

“That’s right. In that sense, how smart and virtuous is the Princess? Even if everyone follows half of her example, it would be great. Just looking at Princess Etel is enough. Maybe that’s why she dared to complain so recklessly.”

“I’m putting in effort to set an example. I’m still lacking.”

The princess lowered her head. Now it was the turn for the ladies-in-waiting to go into a frenzy. Lady Rebeorn raised her voice, seemingly surprised and exaggerated.
“Your Majesty, it’s not proper. Viscountess Etel will surely reflect on her actions and restrain herself now.”

“Well, looking at it now, it doesn’t seem like it’s just Viscountess Etel. I heard an interesting rumor. Do you happen to know?”

The subtly triumphant princess looked around.

At the same time, everyone sitting at the table turned their ears to the princess’s words.

“…It’s said that there’s also an heiress who exchanged inappropriate letters with the knights under the pretext of the Hepherti War.”

The Hepherti War. Letters with knights.

Olivia’s eyes widened for a moment. All signs pointed to her.

How did the princess know things Olivia hadn’t told Edwin?

Inappropriate letters. Even those who didn’t know the contents of the letters were diligently trying to tarnish her reputation.

The real reason Olivia shuddered was different.

Could the princess know who the unnamed knight was?

There was a clear story between me and that knight. I wanted to meet him once, but to catch a clue like this…

Could the unnamed knight be on the princess’s side? The joyous feeling quickly plummeted. Before Olivia could organize her complex thoughts, the ladies started talking continuously.