The edges of her voluminous red dress were embroidered with gold threads, and the shoulder parts were finished with thread made by sprinkling diamond powder.

A necklace and earrings that shone brilliantly in the sunlight. Dozens of gem hairpins in her hair, rolled up and pinned.

Jilette, as if claiming ‘If there is a sun in the sky, I am the sun of this earth!’, was beautiful.

She originally had a pretty face, but she was even more beautiful with makeup that matched the dress.

If this had been a regular noble party, her outfit would not have been a problem.

Because most would have dressed up as brightly as Jilette.

However, this was a party for the common people.

Once the host set the theme as ‘for the common people’, it was customary for the nobles attending to dress appropriately.

The nobles present were dressed in highquality materials but looked modest, so they did not feel out of place even when mixed with common people.

The same went for Jilette’s parents, the Viscount and Viscountess of Merdi.

Viscount and Viscountess Merdi, who had arrived at the party earlier than Jilette, were looking at their daughter with a pale face.

Jilette, seemingly pleased that everyone was focusing on her, bowed slightly with a smile.

Then she raised her head high and walked toward Lisi.

Lisi watched Jilette come, her hands neatly gathered in front of her.

Everyone held their breath and looked at Lisi and Jilette.

Jilette quickly scanned Lisi’s outfit with her eyes, then smiled a smile of victory as if she had won.

“Countess. Thank you for inviting me to the party today.”

“I don’t remember inviting you specifically.”

“Eh?”

“It’s a party anyone can attend, so there’s no need to thank me, Miss Jilette.”

“Yes, well, anyway.”

Jilette huffed and turned sharply to walk towards the gathered nobles.

Jilette, who found her acquaintances, blended into their crowd with a bright smile.

Lisi watched her, then looked around at the people and smiled.

“Thank you for attending the party today. Please enjoy yourselves.”

“Countess, do you know the rumors surrounding you these days?”

As soon as Lisi finished speaking, a sharp question rang out.

At this rude behavior, everyone swallowed and looked towards the sound.

A man with sharp eyes was staring straight at Lisi.

Lisi felt the grip on her hand from Kevrant tighten.

After tapping his hand back with her thumb to signal him to stay calm, she spoke to the man.

“That’s rude.”

“I know. I’m sorry. But isn’t this party to clarify the truth about that rumor?”

Half of the gathered people nodded as if they agreed, and half had a ‘was that so?’ expression.

Lisi stared at him and spoke calmly.

“Why should I clarify that rumor?”

“Eh?”

As if he didn’t expect Lisi to behave like this, the man’s sharp gaze faltered for a moment.

“Even if I clarify, they will only believe what they want to believe. It’s my personal issue, so isn’t it enough that only my husband and family know that the rumor is just a malicious lie?”

Lisi looked up at Kevrant as she spoke.

Kevrant also met Lisi’s gaze, smiling as if he was incredibly happy.

Holding hands since alighting the carriage and staring at each other as if they were the only ones in the world, Lisi and Kevrant.

Anyone could see that they were a newlywed couple deeply in love with no issues.

“But since the Holy Kingdom has sent someone to learn the truth about the rumor, isn’t it a problem that can’t be passed over with such words?”

The man wouldn’t back down.

Lisi was grateful for the man’s stubbornness. It was exactly this situation she wanted.

She turned her gaze to stare at him. Lisi knew who he was.

She also had a hunch that he, who would rush to wherever there was an incident, would be at this place.

Just as Lisi anticipated, he had come to this place and acted as Lisi expected.

“Who is he?”

Pretending to not know, he answered confidently.

“I’m Wittingk from Ellerbo.”

Ellerbo, the largest and most credible newspaper company with branches in most countries on the Elerond continent.

Though Wittingk, a journalist from the newspaper, was criticised for his rude reporting, he was known for writing unbiased articles.

And in his previous life, after Kevrant was killed because he was a beastman, he wrote an article about how much of a loss and a cruel act it was to kill Kevrant, and was executed after incurring the emperor’s wrath.

Until the moment he was hanged, he had shouted, “The world is mad! Everyone is mad!” Lisi had seen this in the darkness of death.

Lisi slowly looked around at the people.

Even the people who had been in the pub had discreetly come out to listen and find out the truth behind the rumours that had been entertaining them.

Most of them had curious looks in their eyes, but a few had a gleeful look on their faces.

Lisi was certain that they, with their youthful appearances, were the noble young ladies who usually admired Kevrant.

“Okay.”

Lisi’s soft voice echoed loud enough to quiet the square.

“Since you all show affection towards me to the extent of wanting to dig into my private life, I should respond.”

Lisi’s gaze briefly lingered on Jilette, then turned to Wittingk.

“Shall we find out what the truth is now?”