As the baroness led Charlotte to the center of the hall, people’s gazes became even more focused.
Women whispered words mixed with jealousy and envy behind their fans—”How can her skin be so flawless?” or “She must have applied plenty of pearl powder”—while men crowded around like ants drawn to honey, grinning like fools.
“Baroness Lirald, why didn’t you tell us you were inviting such a beautiful lady today?”
“Goodness, Lord Pricard. Where has your usual etiquette gone? Your intentions are far too obvious.”
Baroness Lirald laughed loudly once again.
Charlotte gently grasped the hand of a man offering a handshake and smiled brightly.
It was the smile of ‘Charlotte, the kind pharmacy owner’ beloved by all her neighbors.
“I don’t mind if my intentions are obvious. Rather than twisting my words cunningly before such a lady, I’d prefer to lay my heart bare.”
The man lightly kissed the back of Charlotte’s gloved hand.
His eyes traveled from Charlotte’s face to her delicate neck, shoulders, and then to her chest…
“I’m pleased to meet you. Please call me Sheri.”
“Sheri. What a lovely name. Might you be from the Cobrit family?”
The Cobrit family was the most famous ducal family in the eastern social circles of the kingdom, and their direct bloodline was evidenced by silver-blonde hair similar to Charlotte’s.
Charlotte gently shook her head and softly withdrew her hand from the man.
Baroness Lirald interjected.
“Sheri has her circumstances. Circumstances that are difficult to discuss in front of others. If Lord Pricard is a true gentleman, he wouldn’t put her in an awkward position, would he?”
“Ah, of course. I only hope that I haven’t offended the lady’s feelings.”
Charlotte suppressed a laugh and slightly opened her fan, lowering her gaze obliquely to hide her expression.
She always, always enjoyed this moment the most.
The moment when she inserted herself among the nobles, packaging herself as ‘the daughter of a mysterious family who had experienced an unspeakable tragic event’!
‘Fools.’
Charlotte often evaluated the nobles, who were keen-eared, sensitive to rumors, loved to gossip, and searched for stories to chew and swallow along with wine or cheese, as ‘hungry dogs’.
The method of handling them was easier than drinking thin soup.
After dropping a few baseless words as clues and then moistening her eyes saying, ‘It’s too painful to speak further’?
That was it. She would become a tragic heroine who had experienced painful events at a young age and receive sympathy.
This method worked especially well with people like Baroness Lirald, who were meddlesome and nosy.
Or it was the same for the man who had just kissed her hand, Lord Pri-whatever.
Charlotte skillfully avoided the annoying courtship of men swarming like bees by hiding slightly behind Baroness Lirald.
Yet, no one openly expressed displeasure towards her or persisted stubbornly.
Rather, after exchanging brief greetings with Charlotte and turning away, it was as if all memory of her was cleanly erased from their minds, showing no further interest.
This was due to Charlotte’s ability.
An ability that no one knew about, that she had never told anyone about, and would never need to tell.
‘Blending in anywhere without a sense of discomfort’, and ‘impressions fading after parting’. Only when she wanted it to happen.
While everyone in the neighborhood around the pharmacy knew Charlotte, it was for this reason that nobles and merchants who had encountered her multiple times felt a contradictory sense of ‘meeting after a long time but being very glad’ every time they met Charlotte.
“Oh, Sheri.”
As Baroness Lirald suddenly turned around, Charlotte, lost in thought, unintentionally flinched.
However, she quickly recovered, smiling brightly and tilting her head slightly with a nonchalant attitude.
“What is it, Baroness?”
“I forgot to tell you that a very special guest will be coming today. Oh, my forgetfulness!”
“A special guest?”
“Yes. All the men here are rather dark-hearted, but that man, well? Even if he’s dark-hearted too, it would be good to have a conversation with him at least once. Because he’s really a big shot!”
A big shot, huh. Charlotte stared blankly at the visibly excited Baroness, lost in thought.
She had come to this bustling place disguised as ‘Sheri’ after a long time to investigate the Baroness, who had reportedly ‘changed’ recently, but now her mind was suddenly anxious about this big shot who was causing such a fuss from the Baroness.
‘I was hoping to find a chance to be alone with the Baroness… It’ll be difficult after the party starts. What should I do? Even if it takes a bit longer, should I trust Taemi with the merchant’s daughter’s side?’
Make decisions quickly, wait for the best but don’t miss the optimal moment.
Charlotte muttered inwardly. It was the one phrase she never forgot.
Charlotte smiled brightly with the perfectly beautiful face of ‘Sheri’, cheerful but with a hidden shade somewhere.
“I’m looking forward to seeing who it might be, Baroness. I hope the party starts soon.”
[This is the timeline separator]While Charlotte, disguised as Sheri, was being dragged around by Baroness Lirald, receiving attention and envy from various people, the Duke of Elinak, Matiel, sat in a luxurious four-horse carriage heading towards the Lirald Baron’s residence, wearing a disinterested expression.
“Lighten up, Mati. Someone might think you’re going to catch your parents’ killer rather than attend a party.”
The man sitting opposite Matiel spoke in a calm but playful voice.
He was Ellit Persbon, the eldest son of a baronial family, but he had no interest in titles and had dedicated his life solely to being a singer and actor.
With his friendly personality, wide connections, and wit, he was the only friend that the fastidious Matiel kept close and associated with.
“But it’s surprising that you’re attending a party like Baroness Lirald’s. You don’t even have any connection with her, right?”
Ellit tilted his head and asked.
The Gujowon, which investigated and handled various incidents and accidents in the kingdom under the king’s orders, was a highly confidential secret that needed to be maintained.
Therefore, Matiel had to come up with a reason for attending the Baroness’s flamboyant party, with whom he had no connection and even less interest, as Ellit pointed out.
“There might be pretty women there.”
Ellit wrinkled his nose at Matiel’s indifferent response.
“Ha, ha, ha. That’s a funny joke. It’s a big improvement that you can even say such things now, but…”
“Why do you think it’s a joke? Did you think I’d live alone without a wife forever?”
“It’s not that. It’s not that, but the idea that the noble Duke of Elinak would go around sticking his nose in everywhere to look for a bride, even a stray cat passing by wouldn’t believe that.”
It was fortunate that there was no need for the unnecessary rebuttal that a ‘pretty woman’ doesn’t necessarily lead to a ‘bride’.
The gradually slowing carriage came to a complete stop.
The brilliant lights spilling out from the garden to the street, along with loud music and laughter, captured the attention of the two men.
As they were getting out of the carriage, Ellit patted Matiel’s shoulder.
“Well, alright. As you say, looking for a ‘pretty woman’ is good too. That’s also part of the fun of a party. I thought you were a wooden block with a well-sharpened ice pick, but it turns out you’re not. As a friend, I’m really glad. I’m looking forward to seeing who the lady will be that’ll melt you in her skirts.”
“I told you to distinguish between wit and vulgar jokes, Ellit.”
Ellit shrugged with a mischievous expression.
“Behind the stage, it’s all the same.”
As soon as the two entered the mansion, just as Baroness Lirald had expected—or as she had told Charlotte about the ‘big shot’—there was an enormous commotion right from the entrance.
“Oh my, that person…! It’s the Duke of Elinak!”
“What should we do, how is he in a place like this?”
“Goodness, look at Ellit. He seems to have become even more handsome!”
“I saw his performance last time, and it was so excellent! The standing ovation lasted for 10 minutes, can you believe it? 10 minutes!”
Ellit, the most famous singer and actor in the kingdom, was always the center of attention and reigned as the darling of social gatherings wherever he went, but Matiel’s case was a bit different.
He was famous for rarely showing his face at private gatherings unless it was an official meeting hosted by the royal family, and he hardly maintained any personal relationships.
There was even a joke mixed with lament about him that went, “It would be easier to make a bouquet by plucking flowers blooming in the middle of a cliff than to exchange words with the Duke of Elinak.”
While Baroness Lirald had some influence in social circles, she was certainly not at a level to have a close relationship with someone like him.
So when Matiel suddenly appeared at such a private gathering, which wasn’t even a birthday or formal banquet, the impact was enormous.
“Duke of Elinak, it’s a pleasure to meet you. You may not know me well, but…”
“Hello, Your Grace. I’ve always admired your character…”
“…My mother has always praised you…”
“We must invite you sometime…”
People crowded around, almost blocking Matiel’s path as they tried to get in a word.
However, Matiel had no time to waste leisurely shaking hands.
What was the reason he came here today? It was to find Lord Rogers’ diamond necklace.
Mistakes were not acceptable.
“I have business to attend to, so we’ll talk later. Excuse me.”
At Matiel’s words, the people surrounding him split in half like an apple being cut, instantly making way.
He didn’t even raise his voice. His low voice carried that much power.
“I have some business with Baron Lirald, so enjoy the party on your own. I’ll see you later.”
After whispering these words, Matiel swiftly left his spot, but Ellit merely nodded while taking a sip of wine.
Though he didn’t know the exact reason, he knew all too well that Matiel wasn’t the type of person to come to a place like this without any purpose.
Ellit was staring blankly at Matiel’s back as he disappeared among the people when… he spotted silver hair shimmering under the cascading chandelier light.
A slender white neck, straight and delicate like that of a doe, and a glimpse of a deep green dress were enchanting.
He was about to approach the woman he had seen, holding his glass.
Just then, with the sound of a bell, Baroness Lirald, the host of the party, stepped onto a small, prepared platform.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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