As with most noble families, the Tuffer family’s inheritance was passed down solely to the eldest son.

The second and third sons, who could not inherit the title, usually married a wealthy family’s daughter and lived a comfortable life, or they voluntarily enlisted in military school to obtain a military position and carry on the nobility’s honor. However, the sons of the Tuffer family were unable to do so.

The second son expressed a deep disgust for the empire’s inheritance system where the eldest son monopolized everything, and he left home. The third son had a weak body and could not enlist in the military.

That third son was Layla’s father. After his elder brother inherited the title, all that remained for him was a mansion in the western region. Selling the mansion could have solved his clothing and food needs to some extent until his death, but the important fact was that he had a chronic illness.

If he had at least married a noble family’s daughter, would the situation have been a bit better? However, no noble wanted to marry off their daughter to a man without a title and with a weak body.

In the end, he fell in love with a nurse who occasionally visited the mansion to take care of him, and they got married. The fruit of that love was Layla.

Her father had no power, and her mother was even a commoner. There was no way Layla had the strength to go up against Count Tecla’s daughter.

A very beautiful woman with nothing to her name often easily becomes a target for jealous elder sisters from wealthy families who have a lot and are even more jealous. Just like now.

Tecla, who had stood there with a red face, unable to say anything to my words, finally seemed to realize the 10 noble ladies watching her and moved her lips as if trying to say something.

“Jealousy, you say. Count, your choice of words is strange.”

“Then what is it if not jealousy? Grabbing someone like this and picking a fight.”

“Picking a fight, you say? How dare you attribute such indecent and vulgar emotions to me. Shouldn’t someone who works serving the imperial elders at least dress properly? That’s why I was just trying to teach her.”

“So by what right is Lady Tecla trying to teach her?”

I asked out of genuine curiosity. Even if we assume Layla violated etiquette, who is she to scold her for it?

“Do you know that my aunt is General Tecla of the Imperial Army, the Primos?”

Who is General Tecla? Hannah quickly whispered in my ear. She said she’s a general in the Imperial Army. Right below the three major generals, so she’s like number two. But among the several generals below the three major generals, she’s not someone with much power or anything.

“What I’m saying is that my aunt governs the Imperial Knights and enforces discipline. Since our family has traditionally been in charge of teaching etiquette to those working in the Imperial Palace, I believe I have the authority to admonish Lady Tuffer to this extent.”

What does that have to do with anything? It just seemed like she was attaching random reasons because she wanted to bully a pretty girl she didn’t like.

“Since it came up, I misspoke.”

What? Tecla suddenly admitted her mistake. She’s not the type to easily acknowledge it and apologize like this. Watching Tecla lightly fanning herself with a folding fan while offering words of apology made me suspicious instead.

“How could you point out and teach someone’s manners, Count? You’re not qualified to do so.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I was foolish to ask about imperial etiquette from someone who gave birth to a child out of wedlock.”

Aha. Tecla seemed to have changed her target from Layla to me. She was going to seriously start the fight she had been holding back on. What a tiresome remark about unwed mothers.

“You really speak without thinking, Lady Tecla.”

You messed with the wrong person. Celeste is also someone with a formidable personality, but when it comes to having a nasty personality, I’m second to none.

“It seems you can’t stand it when you see someone who appears better than you. No, to be exact, a woman who looks prettier than you, so you get jealous, Lady Tecla.”

“Wh-what did you say?”

“Just trying to find fault with anything to bring them down… it’s really unpleasant to see.”

If she can’t even properly counter after provoking, why did she start a fight in the first place?

“Why would I be jealous of an impure woman who gave birth to a child out of wedlock, and on top of that, a child whose father is unknown?”

“Did you just say impure?”

Look at her. She’s really making me angry. Wasn’t Tecla originally the one who stuck close to Celeste like a tail? I think I heard she followed her around, wagging her nonexistent tail, trying to gain something. I couldn’t understand why she was baring her teeth and charging at me like her life depended on it.

“Y-Your Highness, the Grand Duke!”

At that moment, a noble lady who had been watching the rare fight between the daughter of Count Louisette and the daughter of Count Tecla’s family let out a sharp scream.

Your Highness, the Grand Duke? Following her gaze, I turned my head and saw a large man appear from around the corner of the corridor.

It was Carl. I was quite flustered to see an unexpected person in an unexpected place. I thought he had left long ago, so what was he doing here?

As expected of the male lead. Appearing at the right moment to save the female lead when she’s being bullied. His timing was truly impeccable.

“G-Greetings to Your Highness, the Grand Duke.”

Tecla quickly covered the front of her dress with her hands and bowed her waist. Following her lead, all the ladies bowed to greet Carl. I had no choice but to nod my head as well.

“At this time, in this place, you’re all gathered like this.”

Carl, whom I thought would pass by with a light nod, approached and stopped nearby. It was uncomfortable that he happened to stand right next to me.

“I offer my condolences for how deeply saddened Your Highness must be.”

“But why are you all gathered here like this?”

“Ah, we thought Lady Pulcheria must be greatly saddened, so we were asking Lady Tuffer about her well-being.”

Look at that. Lying without even wetting her lips. Is the first virtue a villainess must possess the ability to improvise and lie? Such girls are really quick-witted and easily come up with lies to get out of situations.

“You asked about my aunt’s well-being, you say.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“From what I heard, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“I heard you insulting my child and my fiancée, and I couldn’t let it pass.”

“…Pardon?”

Silence fell. Everyone seemed to be trying to understand the meaning of Carl’s words, and I was one of them.

What does this mean? My child and my fiancée? Could he be referring to Layla as his fiancée? Then what does he mean by child? My mind was in chaos.

“What… do you mean by that, Your Highness?”

“I couldn’t just pass by while you were disgracing my fiancée.”

“When you say fiancée…”

“I’m telling you not to speak recklessly to Countess Louisette.”

His Highness the Grand Duke, known for his virtuous character of not treating even subordinates rudely, threw out a cold warning. At the Grand Duke’s unprecedented words, not only Tecla but all the noble ladies turned pale.

And naturally, I, who was standing next to Carl, also turned pale. I didn’t need to look to know. My face must be as white as paper right now.

What is this man thinking, doing this? While I was too confused to say anything, Carl stepped closer to me.

“Originally, we were planning to hold the wedding sooner, but…”

Someone let out a gasp of astonishment. They had noticed the bomb the Grand Duke, who had suddenly appeared, was about to drop.

“Since no ceremonies can be held during the period of national mourning, we are waiting.”

“Y-Your Highness, the Grand Duke. You don’t mean to say you’re marrying… Countess Louisette, do you?”

Tecla’s voice trembled as much as her hands. And my body, too, began to tremble. What is even happening right now?

“It’s something that should be announced at an official occasion, but if I let it be, I thought reckless people like you would spout nonsense.”

“Oh my goodness.”

“As soon as the national mourning ends, my wedding with Countess Louisette will take place. I will certainly hold you accountable for your misconduct today, so refrain from recklessly spreading rumors and quietly reflect on your actions.”

“Yes, yes! Your Highness!”

“Forgive us, Your Highness. Please pardon us.”

Tecla collapsed to the floor as if she had fallen. She had essentially slandered the imperial bloodline by calling the Grand Duke’s child an impure child.

Defaming the imperial lineage was a grave crime amounting to treason. Realizing this, Tecla’s entire body trembled like a leaf.