The kind, fair, and beautiful Nelrysion. Among the great noble families, there was already a woman who matched Nelrysion’s age.
Natasha, beautiful as a rose, from the Grunehals ducal family, one of the three great ducal houses.
Fortunately, Natasha was dating the crown prince Abelus. However, it was uncertain whether the two would marry. The Elandria ducal family was the foremost among the ducal houses, so couldn’t they push Valentine Elandria as the crown princess?
If the crown prince were to get engaged to Valentine, the Elandria family might engage their son to Natasha, who was of similar age, family status, and beauty. Idalia found that possibility already too horrifying.
But even if he didn’t get engaged to Natasha, would people leave Nelrysion alone?
Perhaps the next turn would go to Megara?
Lord Sheridan’s voice woke Idalia from her anxious thoughts. He pointed to a pavilion by the lake.
“As we studied last time, form groups of four and take turns entertaining guests one by one. If you’re unsure how to do it, call me.”
Idalia naturally became part of Megara’s group, and two quick-footed boys quickly approached to fill the remaining spots. Rhiannon, who was a bit slow, made a sad face.
“What should I do?”
“Sorry, Rhini.”
“Look, Angarad Nine is alone over there. Why don’t you join her group?”
Idalia and one of the boys spoke in turn. Rhiannon was horrified at the mention of Angarad’s name.
“No way!”
Idalia made a troubled face. In her view, the children’s attitude towards Angarad was too severe.
Of course, who would want to be friends with someone who constantly steals, but there’s no need to say “No way!” so loudly.
Although Rhiannon was a count’s granddaughter, since her father was the second son, it was hard to consider her as having a high status herself.
‘It would be nice if she learned to speak more carefully.’
Idalia felt sorry for Angarad, who seemed to have heard their voices and was hanging her head low, but she didn’t add anything as it would be strange for her to step in and help.
“Rhiannon, haven’t you formed a group yet?”
Lord Sheridan, noticing the commotion among the students, approached and asked. Rhiannon, extremely embarrassed at having caught attention in a negative way, answered.
“It’s okay. With Alecto… Oh, Alecto has already formed a group…”
“Sorry.”
Alecto, who was relatively friendly with Rhiannon among the nearby students, apologized in surprise. Lord Sheridan looked around at the children and pointed to a group a little distance away.
“Neris, Diane, is your group full?”
The children who had tried to be friendly with Neris had already formed their own groups these days, so Neris and Diane were almost living their school life without interference―from Diane’s perspective.
Diane liked that fact, so she spoke in a not at all timid voice.
“No, it’s just the two of us.”
“Then Rhiannon can join your group. Is there anyone else without a group?”
Angarad quietly raised her hand.
Of course, the teachers were also aware that Angarad’s interpersonal relationships were not good. Lord Sheridan inwardly sighed, but as someone well-versed in social circles, he spoke in a bright voice as if nothing was wrong.
“Alright, you four can form a group together. Is there anyone left without a group now?”
There wasn’t. The students chatted happily with their group members as they headed towards the pavilion.
The white pavilion, built to overlook the lake, was a beautiful space with slender carved pillars stretching elegantly under a circular roof. The white railing surrounding the lower part of the pavilion was in a net-like pattern with lily motifs, and rose vines lushly wrapped around its body.
The several round tables placed inside the pavilion were covered with white linen cloths, like at a lady’s tea party, and were decorated with centerpieces and elegant tea ware, giving them a dignified appearance. In Megara’s group, the more casual of the two boys quickly extended his arm to escort Megara.
“Which table do you like?”
“That one looks nice.”
When Megara said she liked the table with the best view of the lake, no one approached that table. Idalia thought Megara was really amazing and was grateful to get such a good seat along with her.
Meanwhile, Rhiannon inwardly grumbled as they ended up with a seat with a relatively poor view because Diane took time climbing the raised pavilion.
She disliked Diane and disliked Neris even more. But the biggest problem was Angarad Nine.
Rhiannon had reasons to dislike Angarad even before the bracelet incident. Despite being merely the daughter of a baron who ruled a small and historically short land, Angarad tried to be friendly with the children and kept approaching Rhiannon as well.
She seemed to be trying to form a group of lower nobility and include Rhiannon in it, which Rhiannon found ridiculous.
Rhiannon was clearly the granddaughter of the head of an old count family. Even if her father was the second son, the family’s status was different―or so she thought―.
According to imperial law, the title goes to the eldest son, so Rhiannon’s father couldn’t become a count. But is the title everything for a member of an old prestigious family? No!
Could a rural lord like Baron Nine raise his voice in front of the second son of Count Berta? That too, was not the case!
She had sneered “I knew she was presumptuous” countless times when seeing Angarad cause trouble.
‘I want to finish quickly and get away.’
Of course, the other three in the group also saw Rhiannon’s glance that seemed to mock Angarad. Angarad kept her eyes down and her mouth tightly shut, while Diane, who didn’t care about Rhiannon’s attitude, just got to the point.
“Who wants to go first?”
“How about Neris going first?”
Rhiannon said coldly.
“Neris always gets praised by Lord Sheridan. I don’t know how to do it well, so show us an example.”
By the way, the reason Rhiannon disliked Neris was also related to her background.
In Rhiannon’s opinion, the most important virtue in social circles was ‘naturalness’.
Natural dignity stemming from one’s origin, natural reputation arising from dignity.
If one’s origin is humble, they should only aspire to a reputation fitting that origin, but Neris Trude was too arrogant. She’ll probably end up marrying into a poor house anyway due to poverty, so what’s the use of speaking several languages fluently?
She might as well join the theology department.
Neris smiled despite Rhiannon’s tone being quite sharp. Somehow feeling more annoyed by this attitude but having no excuse to pick a fight, Rhiannon just glared at Neris’s movements with hostile eyes.
“Then I’ll start. Since you asked for an example, shall I treat you as the first guest? Rhiannon, thank you for coming to my party. I hope you have a pleasant time. That’s your seat over there, please sit down.”
There was nothing to find fault with in Neris’s kind voice and elegant hand gestures.
Rhiannon felt even worse. Fortunately, there was something to point out other than her voice and hand gestures, so this time she didn’t hold back and said,
“You get praised all the time, but it’s not much. Don’t you even know where the seat of honor is? The first guest to be entertained should be seated in the most honorable position.”
The chair Neris had pointed to was close to the pavilion’s entrance. The seat of honor is obviously the furthest from the entrance. Even Rhiannon, who wasn’t originally well-versed in etiquette, knew that much.
“That is the seat of honor.”
Neris, who Rhiannon expected to be flustered by the correction, replied calmly. Rhiannon snorted.
“It’s close to the door.”
“In an enclosed indoor space, the furthest spot from the door is the seat of honor. That’s right. But in a place with a view, the seat with the best view is the seat of honor. At a lakeside tea party, the best seat is the one with the view of the lake.”
Indeed, the seat Neris had pointed to was likely to have the best view of the lake from that table. Diane nodded arrogantly in agreement.
“Neris is right. Even when we have parties in our garden, we seat the highest-ranking guest where they can best see the flowers in bloom at that time.”
“That’s just your family…”
“Shall we ask the teacher if you’re not sure?”
The McKinnon family wasn’t as good as the Nine family, but it wasn’t an old family. Rhiannon had heard adults calling the McKinnon family nouveau riche and was about to sneer, but she hesitated at Neris’s last words.
Neris didn’t wait for Rhiannon’s answer and raised her hand.
“Lord Sheridan, do you have a moment?”
“Neris, my little lady, what’s the matter? Do you need my help too?”
Lord Sheridan approached Neris’s group’s table with a broad smile. Rhiannon quickly shook her head.
“It’s nothing, sir. We were just joking around.”
“Is that so?”
Lord Sheridan looked at Neris as if to confirm. And when Neris just gave a quiet smile, he soon left.
“You’re ridiculous. You were actually going to tell on me to the teacher?”
Public humiliation was what Rhiannon feared most. Because it wasn’t ‘natural’. As Rhiannon spat out these words, grinding her teeth, Diane snorted.
As familiar to Diane as people approaching her for money was the feeling of contempt. Some people tried to look down on and trample the McKinnon family, and Diane, for all sorts of trivial reasons.
Although Rhiannon was known for having smooth interpersonal relationships, the children she associated with were obvious to Diane. So Diane retorted sarcastically.
“You’re the ridiculous one. What, you don’t want to admit you’re wrong but you’re not confident enough to ask the teacher?”
Rhiannon disliked Diane and Neris even more than before.
Diane was originally a kid who relied only on money and acted without manners, and Neris, though seemingly polite and quiet on the outside, must have a bad personality.
Well, since a popular child like Megara disliked Neris from the first day, there must be a reason for it.
When Rhiannon quieted down, Neris offered a chair to Diane without further comment.
“Diane, thank you for coming to my party. Your brooch is as red and beautiful as those roses blooming over there.”
“Thank you, Neris. How kind of you to offer such a good seat.”
Diane sat down in the seat Neris offered, responding sweetly. Seeing how well they got along, Rhiannon raised one eyebrow. Finally, Neris offered a seat to Angarad as well.
“Angarad, I see you here. Diane and Rhiannon are already here. I’m so grateful that you’re gracing us with your presence.”
Angarad raised her head just a little to look at Neris. Even seeing those eyes trembling darkly, Neris didn’t waver.
After standing still for a moment, Angarad sat in the seat Neris offered. And as Neris passed by her to sit in the last remaining seat, she asked in a small voice.
“…It was you, wasn’t it?”
“What was?”
Neris asked indifferently as she sat down with a beautifully straight posture. Angarad’s eyes sparked with resentment.
“You put the bracelet in my bag, didn’t you?”
“What?”
Regardless of her feelings towards Neris, to Rhiannon’s ears, this sounded like complete nonsense.
Rhiannon snorted. The emerald bracelet was still dangling on her arm today.
“How ridiculous, why would she steal my bracelet and put it in your bag?”
“Exactly.”
Neris’s voice agreeing was as light as chiffon. Angarad looked at Rhiannon resentfully.
“I… I get my clothes and school supplies from my father. But Neris is poor, isn’t she? She always wears similar clothes and has no servants. If someone were to steal things, wouldn’t it naturally be Neris?”
Diane looked at Neris’s expression. Neris was still wearing the same smile as before.
Rhiannon lit up with anger and retorted. Was it because of the humiliation she suffered today? The words flowed smoothly.
“But the bracelet was found in your bag, you fool. You should have said such things before getting caught. How can you deny it when there’s evidence? Don’t be ridiculous. If you don’t want to be embarrassed here, keep your mouth shut.”
Rhiannon wasn’t particularly good at speaking, but her eyes were deep and dark, so people who were confronted by her often felt strangely overwhelmed. Neris inwardly smiled a little deeper as she saw Angarad flinch and close her mouth.
Rhiannon was truly, even in her childhood appearance, exactly as Neris remembered her.
__________
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.