“My lady, a catalog has arrived from the Robelia dress shop.”

Rusa hesitantly entered Riona’s bedroom and reported.

Riona asked back with an irritated expression.

“Any news on Hans’s whereabouts?”

“They say it’s still not determined.”

“Hmm…”

Riona frowned between her fine brows.

After reviewing the investment contract for Tuchen, there were no legal issues.

She had suspected Esika knew about the internal finances of the duke’s family.

Then was it not Hans who helped Esika?

But Hans had been unreachable for two weeks.

“If you’re uncomfortable today, should I turn away the shop people?”

To Rusa’s question watching her reaction, Riona opened her mouth.

“No. The duke’s family business is the duke’s family business, and dresses are a separate matter.”

There haven’t been any interesting things lately.

To be honest, forget interesting things, there are only terrible things.

After several incidents, Riona’s reputation in society has fallen to rock bottom, and Esika is more arrogant than ever.

There is no musician to comfort her heart, and all the beautiful flower Parmanas have been uprooted.

Only after the announcement of Tuchen’s selection as the western base will people try to please Riona again, even if just for money…

Until then, she just has to get through boring and terrible days.

“But… my lady. I’m sorry to say this, but…”

Rusa spoke with hunched shoulders.

Annie took sick leave today.

In the end, Rusa is the only maid to say such things.

“From the Robelia shop… they said the payment amount is insufficient… They requested prepayment this time. Saying the previous payment hasn’t come in.”

“What?”

As expected, Riona’s eyebrows immediately shot up.

Riona threw the silver cup on the table at Rusa.

“These damn things!”

“Ah!”

As the silver cup hit her squarely on the forehead, Rusa felt dizzy.

It wasn’t a glass cup so her skin wasn’t cut, but the blunt sensation almost made her lose consciousness for a moment.

“Ugh…”

When the lady was in a good mood, these things rarely happened.

But lately, as her mood has been unpleasant, the lady’s violent tendencies have been getting so bad that she wanted to run away from the Klaus ducal family.

“…How dare those lowlifes tell me to pay or not?!”

“Ma… madam… please calm down…”

“Do I look like I can calm down right now?!”

Riona was furious to the top of her head.

If she could have her way, she wanted to line up the Robelia shop staff and slap them all she wanted.

Make the shop owner kneel at her feet and tremble.

But it was a society where capital had become as important as title and status.

‘Tuchen… Tuchen must be selected as the western base soon.’

The western base announcement, less than a week away, became even more urgent.

Once announced, she would gain dozens of times the profit from the investment.

‘When that happens, I’ll ruin the Robelia shop.’

Riona thought with blazing eyes.

Those Robelia shop bastards who dared to mention dress payment to the duke’s lady.

The families of those who were rude to her among the imperial investigation team.

The petty ladies gossiping about Callian’s affair.

Above all, Esika and the Brigitte family who are the root cause of this damn situation…

She would not let any of them off the hook, she thought.

“…My lady. Wh… what should we do…”

Rusa staggered and asked the lady what to do.

“Bring the military supply loan.”

“Ye… yes? But that is…”

Rusa’s eyes widened at the lady’s unexpected order.

The military supply loan. It was money lent in advance by the imperial family to the Klaus ducal family in exchange for supporting soldiers and weapons for the conquest war.

As the word loan suggests, unlike being bestowed by the imperial family to become Klaus’s property, the loan had to be returned when the imperial army did not need the duke’s private soldiers and weapons depending on the situation.

So touching that money was clearly embezzlement of imperial military funds.

Even an ignorant maid like Rusa knew that money should never be touched.

“Then should I be embarrassed by not being able to buy a few dresses after hearing such words?”

But to Riona, embezzlement and such were not important.

Her sharp voice rang out loudly.

If she sent away the Robelia shop staff empty-handed, rumors would spread in society.

Riona’s already fallen reputation would hit rock bottom.

So today was a day to buy dresses even if it meant pushing things.

Trampling on them later when she recovers the Tuchen investment could wait.

“…Then we need to… get permission from the duke.”

“Why are you so slow-witted?!”

Rusa trembled as Riona yelled loudly.

“Damn it, even that bitch Emilia I beat to death would be better than you.”

“Ah, I understand. My lady, I will bring it.”

Sensing she was about to throw a sharp object at her face next, Rusa quickly bowed.

Her hands were dripping with sweat.

**

Gaven Pelope, he was the head of the Pelope marquis family and an old friend of Callian Klaus.

He had always hung around with Callian since their academy days and still did so now.

Sitting across from Esika, he picked up his teacup with some tension.

“…”

He only came to see Callian today.

Though he knew the atmosphere at Klaus was not good, he came to relay news from outside and comfort his friend.

But Esika, who appeared in front of Gaven as he got out of the carriage before the duke, invited him for tea time.

So he followed Esika, but…

‘What is she thinking?’

He couldn’t read the mind of Esika sitting across from him with a seemingly cold smile.

When he took a sip of tea and put it down, Esika opened her mouth.

“I’ve heard the Pelope mansion is truly splendid, and full of joyful laughter.”

Gaven responded to Esika’s words with an awkward smile.

“Ah, yes…”

“I hear the Second Prince often visits Pelope as well.”

“Well, that’s right.”

Gaven relaxed a little at the mention of the Second Prince.

In any case, the Klaus ducal family, the empress’s natal family, had connections with the Second Prince. Just like Pelope.

The Esika Klaus before him was the duke’s wife after all.

“I’ve heard the marquis has wide connections not just in society, but in the underworld as well, is that true?”

Gaven flinched for a moment at Esika’s sudden question.

But there was no malice visible in her blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

‘A beautiful… and curious woman.’

He had seen Esika several times while coming and going to the Klaus ducal residence.

But Callian had never formally introduced her, and he had only seen her from afar, so he didn’t know she was this beautiful.

Since Callian showed such dislike, he thought she was an unattractive and unrefined woman…

“Well, that’s right. Ahem.”

Gaven shrugged and answered.

“Pelope’s shadow reaches everywhere.”

Noble ladies’ yearning for the unknown world was not unusual.

Living lives always bound by formalities, when he told them stories of the villains he met, they would scream exaggeratedly and enjoy it.

There were even ladies who looked at Gaven with admiring gazes.

“I heard about the Friday party recently. They say it’s extremely enjoyable.”

But Gaven’s eyes, which had been set confidently, shook violently at Esika’s next words.

The Friday party…!

“If it’s alright, could you invite me next time?”

“Ah, my lady.”

Esika did not miss Gaven’s very flustered expression.

“Wh… where did you hear about the Friday party? It’s a party held in utmost secrecy.”

“From some gentleman I met by chance.”

Gaven screamed inwardly.

‘What madman is going around blabbing about the Friday party!’

And he took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

“It would be an honor to invite you to our mansion, but the Friday party would be difficult.”

Esika’s eyes wavered quite innocently.

She raised her eyebrows slightly pitifully and asked.

“I see… would I be a hindrance if I joined in among people who are already close?”

“No. It’s not that… it’s a party solely for men.”

“A party only for men?”

Gaven nodded.

“But I’ve heard stories from a young lady who said she went.”

“What’s that young lady’s name?”

“That… I don’t remember.”

Gaven said with a smirk.

“It’s probably a lie. Since the Friday party began, I have never once invited a noble family’s daughter. Only gentlemen can participate in that party.”

“Only gentlemen like the duke…?”

“That’s right. The Klaus duke doesn’t participate often, but he graces us with his presence once or twice a month.”

“I see…”

Esika lifted her cup and took a sip of tea.

“Since it’s a place where political talk happens among men, it would be best if you forgot about the Friday party, my lady…”

“Prostitution and orgies aren’t really political matters, are they?”