Chapter 98

“…Sylvia?”

When she called her name inadvertently, Sylvia, who was looking through the catalog, raised her head. Seeing Azela, her gaze narrowed in irritation. Roughly closed the catalog she was looking at, Sylvia stood up and stepped in front of her.

“Why is Madam… No, why are you here?”

Unintentionally, Sylvia, who was about to call Azela ‘madam,’ suddenly remembered that she and Azela were now on equal footing and uttered with scorn. Azela frowned at that sight and glanced at Sylvia up and down.

The dress and the accessories she was wearing were all quite expensive. Clearly, the Todd family could not afford such luxury.

‘Even if I hadn’t robbed Todd’s family’s property, she would have ruined it anyway.’

As Azela clicked her tongue inside, Sylvia asked with an astonished look.

“Don’t tell me… That you were also invited to His Majesty’s party.”

“That is right.”

Sylvia’s presence here meant that she, too, had received an invitation.

‘If Sylvia had received an invitation, Daniel would have received one, too.’

Would she see him again when she went to the party?

As Azela recalled what had happened at the Crown Prince’s party the last time, she felt rather aloof. However, unlike Azela, Sylvia’s face was white. This time, she wondered if she would make a social debut at a grand party at the Imperial Palace, but everything went awry with Azela.

People would compare her and Azela, and Daniel, her husband, who should be by her side, might want to go by Azela’s side again like last time.

…If so, this time, it would be a massive disgrace. Sylvia’s face was shocked.

“By the way.”

“….?”

“Did you know how much this boutique shop dress costs?”

Sylvia’s face was stained with shame by Azela’s disregard. It was her first socialite debut, so she just asked to be taken to the best, most famous boutique, of course. It didn’t cost anything to look at and try on dresses, so if the price were outrageous, she would just look at it and come out.

“Of course. This is nothing.”

However, now that she saw Azela here, she couldn’t do that and had her pride crushed. Sylvia straightened her shoulders and pushed her chest forward. Seeing that, Azela let out a gasp of laughter.

“Well. As far as I know, the Todd family doesn’t have that kind of money.”

“….!”

With Azela’s words, she hurriedly looked around, blushing. The noble ladies, lords, and wives were all listening towards this place.

Sylvia clenched her fists tightly.

“It’s none of your business. Now, you are an outcast, not a member of the Todd family! Now that I’ve become the Countess, this is nothing… Can you afford the dress here as a mere escort knight? Aren’t escort knight’s salaries low?”

“….”

“Ah, are you getting separate compensation from Duke Ferial? Like sharing a bed with each other at night?!”

Yes, this was the truth. Sylvia deliberately shouted out loud for everyone to hear. It was Azela who should be laughed at, not her… Azela was abandoned by a man, and her life was left in ruined in the end!

Sylvia cried out loud inside as she gazed at Azela with a venom-filled gaze. Now, it was Azela’s time to be ashamed. It was time for her to feel the feelings she had felt!

A triumphant smile of joy was drawn on Sylvia’s face.

“It’s not like I get compensated separately.”

However, contrary to her thoughts, Azela remained unconcerned. There was not the slightest hint of anger on her face as she shrugged lightly. Instead, it was Sylvia who was angered by her calm and relaxed appearance.

Sylvia clenched her fists tightly and was about to retort, but Azela spoke before she did.

“Here, this is the shop run by Duke Ferial, whom you just mentioned.”

“….!”

Sylvia nearly bit her tongue as she closed her lips to stop what she was about to say. She had heard a glimpse of him running a business through Daniel… But, ‘this’ was where he did his business? Sylvia glanced around the store with a dumbfounded face.

Suddenly, she remembered what the handmaid of the villa had said, who brought her to this place.

“Noble with wealth attending a big party will definitely get their dresses tailored here. There are so many great dresses that even Her Highness, the First Princess, loves this place. In fact, if you don’t match your dress here, you’re often ignored at big parties.”

Sylvia’s face flushed red with anger. Among the young ladies who were waiting in the waiting room, she could hear the sound ridiculing her.

“I guess she didn’t know.”

“…Those are not fundamental things.”

“To come into Duke Ferial’s shop and gossip about Duke Ferial… She has a lot of courage.”

“If it were me, I would have already gone back in embarrassment.”

In her heart, she wanted to say something to them, but Sylvia couldn’t. Unlike her, they were ‘real’ nobles. While she said nothing in contempt and as she stood still, Azela continued on.

“So, I can wear any dress I want regardless of my salary. Sylvia, unlike you.”

“…Azela.”

“And, you said it was none of my business… it is none of my business.”

“….”

“You seem to be mistaken, but I’m not worried about the Todd family.”

Saying so, Azela took a step closer to her.

Sylvia smelled of tobacco, thicker than the last time. Judging by the gradual sharpening of the scent, it seemed that she had not yet stopped but rather increased the amount.

“You say you’re worried about me buying a dress and won’t be able to pay the price…”

Sylvia’s fists trembled.

Even though she thought she won, she didn’t. Azela should have been weeping and grieving now that their position had changed though Azela did not. She was really climbing higher… She was climbing up without end towards a brighter spot.

Beside the shining Azela, she was always in darkness…

Sylvia bit her lower lip hard.

“…Madam, would you please leave?”

As she was thinking of what to say, Findar approached and uttered in a cold voice. Her tall stature, looking down on Sylvia, was overwhelming. Covering her mouth with a fan, Findar glanced down at Sylvia’s startled face indifferently and went on.

“There is no dress to make or sell for the person who insulted the owner of the store.”

“I-I am a guest!”

“Yes, and I am the manager of this store. We don’t accept guests like Madam, so please leave. I will not give you these dresses, no matter what price you pay.”

All the customers in the boutique shop peered at Sylvia and sneered.

They seemed pretty happy to have found something interesting. It didn’t matter to them whether the victim in this story was Azela or Sylvia. The most important thing was the fun in this story, and the victims had nothing to do with them.

“….”

With her uneasy gaze, Sylvia could see the nobles smiling at her. Her eyes quivered unsteadily. Suddenly, something from the past came to mind. The disdainful gaze of nobles stared down on her and her mother without any emotion.

Sylvia’s body trembled as if she had a seizure.

It was just like the previous time when she was in Todd’s mansion, and she threw a vase and cut her palm when Azela said something to her.

“If you were that scared, you shouldn’t have become a noble’s mistress.”

Azela frowned.

She did not sympathize with Sylvia. Even when she heard the story of her past, she didn’t even think of her as pitiful. After all, it was Sylvia herself who made her life like her mother’s.

“Sylvia.”

Azela called her name urgently. Sylvia’s uneasy gaze turned to her. The person in front of her wasn’t smiling. There was only one person, who was not smiling….

…Azela.

“…If you want to laugh, laugh.”

“Yes. Though it’s not funny now.”