The Duchess of Leicester held a small social party to celebrate the founding day. Mostly noble women who followed her filled the seats.

Among them were the White Marchioness and her daughter.

The two families, whose relationship had become somewhat distant after the public confession incident, recently resolved their conflict dramatically.

The one who mediated between them was none other than the Marquis Grant family.

In fact, Nora was quite reluctant, but she came out to the Duchess of Leicester’s gathering, unable to resist her mother’s nagging and her father’s pressure.

There was only one thing she had to do here.

To establish a foothold to recover her reputation that had fallen for coveting a married man.

The family and the Marquis Grant’s side even went so far as to decide what words she should say for this.

Nora just had to speak and move like an actor performing a script.

“I liked Lord Vandermir for a long time. I fell in love at first sight and had a one-sided crush for nearly 5 years.”

The first step was to acknowledge her feelings for Demian in front of people.

People who were already flustered from the moment the mother and daughter attended the party were greatly stirred by Nora’s frank statement.

“After Lord Vandermir got married, I tried to give up my feelings, but it didn’t work well. To my eyes, Lady Vandermir didn’t seem particularly devoted to her married life.”

Nora calmly continued her words. Perhaps because they weren’t words she wanted to utter herself, her voice flowed smoothly regardless of people’s reactions.

After subtly attacking Arasila, she showed a repentant appearance with tears in her eyes.

“I must have seen it distorted like that because I was blinded by jealousy. I was foolish. I made a wrong choice due to my inferiority complex. Now I only feel truly sorry to everyone.”

Then, as if she had been waiting, the Duchess of Leicester stepped forward.

When she had coldly rejected her before, now she patted Nora’s shoulder and spoke kindly.

“You can do that with a young heart, Lady White. Where in this world is there someone who lives without ever making a mistake? Don’t you all agree?”

Of course, those who followed the Duchess of Leicester chimed in.

“The Duchess’s words are right. When we’re young, we all overflow with vigor and make wrong choices now and then.”

“It’s enough that you’ve realized your mistake and repented now. Isn’t it fine as long as you don’t repeat the same mistake again?”

“Yes, yes. Seeing Lady White’s depressed appearance makes me feel sorry. Is there really a need for this when she didn’t actually commit adultery?”

A few sharp people who grasped what the Duchess wanted set the mood.

The Duchess of Leicester wanted them to show a favorable response to Nora.

Therefore, everyone showed an appearance of accepting and embracing Nora’s earnest repentance with an open mind.

“Anyone who has desperately liked someone will somewhat understand the appearance Lady White showed then.”

“Even I, when I was young, cried day and night with jealousy because the young lord I liked was fond of another lady.”

“In fact, wasn’t Lord Vandermir’s marriage quite sudden? If we had known about the relationship in advance it might have been different, but the time was too short to give up after hearing the marriage news. It’s not like human emotions can be controlled at will.”

These reactions from people were what Nora had desperately dreamed of during her seclusion.

So her plan was to return to social circles smoothly and live her life normally.

That’s why she was not happy with the current situation that was taking place under the leadership of the Marquis Grant family. She had never wanted to be accepted like this.

As Nora, who was at a loss for words, failed to show an appropriate response, the Marchioness stepped in.

“Thank you all for understanding my daughter like this. I thought our Nora had committed a wicked act because her nature was twisted, but now that you all empathize like this, as a mother, I feel relieved…”

The Marchioness bowed her head deeply as if she was choked up and couldn’t continue speaking. People patted her shoulder or the back of her hand to comfort her.

There was no one bold enough in this place to speak ill of the mother and daughter who seemed to have suffered greatly in their hearts.

Everyone looked at the two with faint sympathy.

This was exactly what the Duchess of Leicester and the White Marchioness had aimed for.

There’s no emotion that makes people as generous as pitying someone.

Nora, who had turned people’s hearts in this way throughout the founding festival, was able to naturally return to social circles by the end of the festival.

As rumors spread that she was sincerely repenting, public opinion also softened dramatically.

It was clearly something to be happy about, but Nora’s expression was not as bright as expected.

It was because she felt uncomfortable moving as others told her to, and once again pouring out subtle remarks towards Arasila.

“Mother, do we really have to do this?”

Unable to overcome the discomfort that stuck like a thorn, Nora quietly asked while grabbing her mother’s sleeve.

“We don’t have to take revenge on Lady Vandermir, do we? It’s true that I made a mistake, and there’s no need to get involved again unnecessarily…”

Then the White Marchioness lit up her eyes and struck Nora’s shoulder.

“What stupid thing are you saying now? Our family’s image was greatly damaged because of Lady Vandermir! Don’t you have any anger or guilt about that?”

“No, I feel sorry too, but…”

“Then shut your mouth and just do what you’re told well! Ugh, I raised you with effort, but you can’t do anything properly. How could I have given birth to such an inadequate child as my eldest daughter.”

The White Marchioness clicked her tongue loudly with a displeased face.

She was displeased with her eldest daughter who always failed to meet her expectations.

Nora’s face quickly became crestfallen and she closed her mouth. The Marchioness continued to pour out reproaches to her, paying no heed.

“I didn’t give birth to you because I was bored, Nora White. I gave birth to you to contribute and be helpful to the family! If you’re useless, please at least listen well. Is it so difficult to do as you’re told?”

“…I’m sorry. I’ll do well.”

“Of course you should! You just don’t talk back and do as I say from now on. We and Marquis Grant will take care of everything.”

“Yes.”

Nora nodded her head obediently, but one corner of her heart was anxious.

Will following her parents and Marquis Grant really help her future? She couldn’t shake off the strange feeling of being used.

On the last day of the founding festival, Arasila received a message from Frederick. It was a letter proposing to hang out together with friends after a long time.

Arasila wrote a brief reply to that letter and sent it.

“Sorry, I’ve already enjoyed this year’s founding festival with my husband. I’m done, so play with Paula.”

And with that, the founding festival came to an end.

The magic lamps that brightly lit up everywhere throughout the festival sold like hot cakes. The number of people looking for magic airships also increased more than before.

There were many merchants from foreign countries who showed interest and tried to make contact.

Accordingly, Demian, who was in charge of foreign affairs, became extremely busy without time to catch his breath. Arasila was also busy making lamps without a moment to rest.

When she finally finished making the mountain of lamp orders and was taking a breather, Paula came to visit her home.

“I’m not disturbing you when you’re busy, am I?”

“No, I was just about to take a break too.”

Audrey brought tea for the two of them.

Paula rolled her eyes while taking a sip of tea.

Knowing that this was her habit when she had something she wanted to say but was hesitating, Arasila deliberately asked a light question to ease the atmosphere.

“Did you enjoy the founding festival?”

“Yeah, how about you?”

“I had fun playing with Demian too. Oh, what did you do with Frederick?”

Arasila asked naturally. Since she had received such a message from Frederick, she expected that he must have played with Paula.

However, Paula tilted her head with a puzzled face and asked back.

“What would I do with Frederick?”

“Didn’t you play together during the founding festival?”

“No, I didn’t. I played with my fiancé and other friends.”

Slightly surprised by the different answer than expected, Arasila put down her teacup and said.

“I thought Frederick asked to play together but I refused, so he must have played with you.”

“He didn’t even mention such a thing to me.”

“Really…?”

Since they had been grouped as the three musketeers since the academy days, she had assumed that what was said to her would naturally have been said to Paula as well.

But when that was directly refuted, she was so embarrassed that she couldn’t speak.

Paula looked at such an Arasila and shrugged her shoulders, saying as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“Well, Frederick has always been a bit more comfortable with and fond of you since the old days.”

“Was he? I thought the three of us were equally close.”

Then Paula said with a face that seemed to have a lot to say but was holding back.

“Arasila, there’s no fairness in people’s hearts. Even among my friends, I like you the most.”

Even with numerous friends around, Arasila was still the most comfortable and closest in the end.

That’s why Paula came all the way to the Vandermir mansion to meet Arasila now.

“Actually, the reason I came to see you today is because there’s news I want to tell you.”

Finally making up her mind, Paula opened her mouth solemnly.

“What news?”

“Lady White has returned to social circles.”

Paula had said it with resolve, but Arasila wasn’t particularly surprised or uncomfortable upon hearing those words.

From the beginning, she hadn’t set out to completely bury Nora last time.

She did it to warn her to come to her senses and never bother her again.

Since she thought Nora could return to social circles anytime, she didn’t feel much about it. She just hoped she had learned her lesson.

“It seems the Duchess of Leicester helped a lot. She arranged a place for Lady White to explain about the public confession in front of people.”

“Really? What did Lady White say to explain?”

“Well…”

Paula hesitated slightly before telling her. That Nora had honestly admitted her feelings for Demian and the inferiority she felt towards Arasila.

While listening to her words, Arasila had only one thought.

‘It’s a good strategy. If it’s an undeniable fact, it’s better to face it head-on.’

Moreover, if Nora’s repentance was real, it wasn’t bad from Arasila’s standpoint either.

‘Of course, it’s unlikely to be real.’

If it were truly so, Nora would have come to apologize to her first.

But seeing that she attempted to return to social circles first, it was clear she was doing it to gain people’s sympathy.

‘As long as she doesn’t bother us again, whatever she does with her life…’

Then Arasila had no intention of making a big issue of Nora’s return.

She didn’t expect sincere repentance in the first place anyway.

She just hoped she had learned the fact that she shouldn’t mess with her.

“Be careful, Arasila. I don’t think Lady White would pick a fight with you again, but the word ‘perhaps’ exists in this world.”

Paula advised worriedly. This was also the reason why she came to tell the news about Nora, even while worrying if it might be unnecessary trouble.

To be prepared, just in case.

“Alright, I’ll be cautious. Thanks for worrying, Paula. I like you the best too.”

Arasila smiled brightly, feeling her friend’s thoughtfulness.

After chatting for a while longer, Paula was surprised to find that dinner time was approaching and stood up from her seat.

Arasila went out to the door to see her off.

They hugged lightly and as Paula was about to get on the carriage after separating, she hesitated and came back to her.

She looked like she had something she wanted to say at the last moment.

“Arasila, do you remember what I said earlier? That there’s no fairness in people’s hearts.”

“Yes.”

“Be careful about that too. Favoritism doesn’t always bring good results.”

Paula advised seriously.

Arasila tilted her head, unable to understand exactly why her friend was saying such things.

There weren’t many people who would have unfair feelings towards her, and among them, was there someone she needed to be careful of?

A detailed explanation was needed, but Paula finished her words there and left.

Only Arasila, who was left behind, furrowed her brow with an uneasy feeling.