Delma called another servant nearby and instructed her to go to the lord who managed the cart and tell him that Isabel, who tried to steal Valentin’s jewelry and was caught, should be reported immediately.

Valentin was satisfied with that instruction as well. And she drank the tea that Delma had skillfully brought, saying that the precious Miss must have been surprised.

Valentin’s lips, which had briefly smiled, twisted again with anger rising.

Sitting next to the girl, Delma asked affectionately, “What should we do, Miss? About the invitation…”

“I’ve already sent it, but since it was fake, I can’t tell Neris not to come, and if I say that, Nell will get angry again.”

“But you don’t want such a lowly thing to come to your party, right?”
“I don’t like it, but I have no choice. It’s the only way to handle the current situation.”

To others, Valentin might seem lacking in manners, but she was not foolish. Delma was pleased with her rational judgment. If Valentin continued to make wise decisions like this, she would hear fewer scoldings from Nellusian.

Valentin frowned as she looked in the direction of Nellusian’s room. Huh, for whom?

All the talk from men was nothing more than looking into the dirty inside. They pretended to be interested in the pitiful and humble things while making seemingly rational and meaningful statements.

But the expression Valentin saw on her brother’s face earlier was firm. No matter how lenient he was usually, he wouldn’t let it go if she kept pushing. ‘Don’t look at me like that.’

Well, there was no other way. Valentin decided to accept that fact with suppressed anger.

Time quickly passed, and it was the day of Valentin’s ‘famous party.’

The entrance to the dormitory where the Elandria siblings stayed was decorated as splendidly as a nobleman’s mansion would be in a low-ranking aristocrat’s main house.

Vivid sculptures, seeming alive, by a famous sculptor were placed everywhere in the yard. Glass bottles with candles inside, hanging on the white branches of a dogwood tree just starting to turn red, flickered one by one, lighting up the early autumn evening.

The white mansion with a turquoise roof had all its windows and doors open, welcoming guests. A handsome footman, dressed in sophisticated clothes adorned with yellow and blue, was guarding the door.

Seeing the invitations of Diane and Neris, he bowed his head. “Welcome to the Elandria family, ladies. Our miss is waiting for you.”

Neris knew that footman well. In fact, it wasn’t just him.

She knew everything owned by the Elandria family—the sculptures decorating the mansion, the way glass bottles were tied to the dogwood branches, even the face of a servant girl occasionally peeking out from inside the mansion.

Familiar but never missed things.

Everything owned by the Elandria family.

Things that had never welcomed ‘Neris Elandria.’

Crossing the garden to be guided to the party venue, Diane simply admired the dreamlike scenery.

“It’s really awesome.”

Last year, Diane’s party was great, but it couldn’t compare to Valentin’s party today.

Diane’s party was aimed at entertaining the children, but Valentin’s party aimed to display her status.

A feast for adult aristocrats.

A ritual creating an intangible barrier between those invited and those not invited.

As the two girls set foot inside the mansion, a string quartet played a majestic melody. Just as Valentin was coming down from the second floor.

Thanks to the diamond buckle adorned with the pointed tips of the sharp shoes and the sky-blue cape filled with pearl seams, Valentin seemed to emit light even before coming all the way down.
When Valentin met eyes with Neris, there was a brief uncomfortable expression, but she quickly concealed it. Then, with an innocent demeanor, she greeted her.

“Neris unni, come on in. Did you come early?”

“Valentin suggested welcoming guests together, so how could I be late? By the way, Diane came with me. I know it’s considered impolite for guests to arrive before the invited time, but since I’m a ‘family member,’ it’s okay, right? Valentin, the kind one, will forgive me, I believe.”

Valentin ground her teeth inwardly. Who said she was a family member? People should hear that arrogant tone!

The proposal to “welcome guests together” was added to further raise the ante when Neris thought that she couldn’t force her way into this party. However, who would have known that she would end up experiencing the unfortunate event of greeting noble guests together with this little rascal at this important party.

Nevertheless, there was no other answer she could give now.

“If unni says so, then that’s how it is. Well then, Diane senior is the first guest at today’s party. She’s resting in the drawing room. Since unni and I have to welcome guests together, we’ll go.”

Diane soon followed the Elandria family maid to the drawing-room. After exchanging eye contact with Diane, Neris followed Valentin into the mansion.

As Valentin’s gaze disappeared, her attitude became noticeably indifferent.

“If unni has never greeted higher-ranking guests, it’s not a big deal. Just stand quietly behind me. Since no one is interested in unni, if you keep your mouth shut, it’ll be over. When I tell you to go, you can go inside with Diane senior.”

It meant pretending not to exist and disappearing quickly.

After all, Valentin invited only very distinguished guests to her party, with a clear ambition.

Upper-class nobles usually referred to the direct line of a family with a rank of viscount or higher, but for Valentin, the children of earls were only considered if they came from very prestigious families.

As a result, families with relatively weak influence, like the Islani family, could not attend. In that regard, Neris and Diane’s presence would not be pleasing. Knowing that, Neris pretended not to understand Valentin’s words and smiled brightly.

“Yes, thank you for explaining so kindly.”

Thanks to her, Valentin, who pretended to punch the air alone and quickly disappeared, felt like her world had been turned upside down.