CH 33

Elizabeth Celeste went to the balcony for a moment and pretended to sip wine, hearing the other people’s murmurs.

“Doesn’t it seem like Her Grace had tucked her tail after seeing Lady Celeste?”

“I’ve never seen such an innocent smile before. It probably means she’ll be obedient.”

“Because Duchess Cardiago doesn’t have any experience in high society. The poor thing…”

Everyone who witnessed Duchess Cardiago looking at Lady Celeste with innocent eyes were now gossiping while interpreting the situation as they liked.

Most of them sympathized with Duchess Cardiago. However, some also subtly undermined her because they knew she was of a humble background, meanwhile praising Elizabeth Celeste’s poise and dignity.

Even so, seeing Isabelle’s gaze firsthand, Elizabeth didn’t even think that Isabelle was lowering her tail and was being obedient.

‘What kind of gaze… Her eyes were so clear that it’s frightening.’

As soon as Elizabeth faced Isabelle’s clear blue eyes, the count’s daughter felt as though she was flung into the sky.

It was this feeling—that if she was caught telling a lie or being hypocritical, there was a sense of dread from plummeting back to the ground without any hope of salvation.

‘Why was she looking at me like that? Did… Did she think I was being impudent?’

Right now, Elizabeth’s complexion was ashen as she bit her nails.

Until just now, she was exuding an aura of charisma and pressure at the party, but here, it had long since disappeared.

Truthfully, Elizabeth was afraid of high society.

The splendid appearance she donned here was a kind of shield to protect her soft inner self, who wasn’t suited for socializing at all, from others.

The bystanders chattered about how Lady Celeste had a terrible scowl as she glared at the Duchess, but really, Elizabeth was trying to make the friendliest expression she could.

‘I’m used to this misunderstanding now, but the other person this time is Duchess Cardiago…’

When Duchess Cardiago was smiling at her with innocent eyes, she could see an imaginary specter of the duke standing behind the duchess.

Elizabeth was lightheaded, and so she propped a hand against a wall because she couldn’t stand the dizziness.

Elizabeth’s maid Rena, who had an intimidating impression just like her master, rushed to help the young lady.

“Our poor Lady Lizzie… Are you still scared of Duke Cardiago?”

“I can still clearly remember how His Highness looked that day—when blood gushed through the air like a pillar. I provoked his woman now, so I…”

Unable to overcome this incapacitating fear, Elizabeth began to cry.

Rena placed a small book in the lady’s trembling hand.

The book had an elaborate cover and it looked like a difficult philosophical book. But in fact, its real title was written on the first page and it was called 〈 The Noble Lady Is Not Lonely At Night 〉.

“If you read your favorite book, your heart will calm down.”

“Rena, did you bring this just for me?”

“Don’t worry, Milady. I’ll protect you even if I need to walk through fire. I won’t let Her Grace approach you anymore.”

Rena spoke resolutely and soon took action just as she said.

Elizabeth sniffled and soon clasped her hands together. She couldn’t show her weak side to anyone.

High society was a place where anyone who looked weak would become prey.

To the point where saying malicious things about those prey was thought to be a good skill for socializing.

‘So I shouldn’t look weak. I need to hurry up and go back to the party alone, that’s why… Huh?’

As Elizabeth was about to open her book, she froze on the spot.

Because Duchess Cardiago, who was planning to meet and take back a lady-in-waiting, was standing right there.

‘Since when has she been standing there? Did she hear what Rena and I were talking about?’

Elizabeth’s face turned as white as a sheet.

Whenever other people saw her expression like this, they would usually be afraid and be busy trying to step back and retreat. By that time, it would already be too late for them to think twice.

However, the duchess in front of the young lady now was smiling at her without any signs of discomfort or terror.

“So the nickname for Elizabeth is Lizzie, huh. That’s a pretty nickname.”

“Ah…”

Lizzie looked as though she was sensitive about being approached, so it seemed like she was going to get mad or about to take out a fan to hit someone. But on the other hand, Isabelle was calm.

Rather, she was feeling rather giddy.

‘A baby deer!’

There seemed to be an abundance of baby deer in the Cardiago territory.

First there was Riggs, and now there was this splendidly beautiful young lady.

How could they all look like they’re trembling in fear?

Isabelle was itching to hug her right then.

“Lady Celeste, may I come closer?”

“…You may do as you please.”

“Can I call you Lizzie?”

“…If that is what Your Grace wants.”

Lizzie was so shocked that she unknowingly allowed Isabelle to call her by her nickname.

Isabelle’s bell-like voice was so magical, like it was the voice of a goddess.

Isabelle closed the distance between them, enough that they could reach each other’s dresses. Then, she smiled amiably.

A smile was the best way to lower the walls of a baby deer.

“I didn’t know that Lizzie’s afraid of high society.”

“I am not scared.”

“But I just heard you say that?”

“…Did you hear everything?”

“Everything except Lizzie being afraid of Duke Cardiago.”

She heard it, but she was going to pretend she didn’t hear it. It was strange, but Lizzie felt as though she was saved by those words.

Isabelle was the one who persistently tried to keep the conversation going again.

“Lizzie, would you like to come eat some cake with me?”

“I apologize, but I don’t eat desserts this late at night.”

“Then how about a short walk? The roses have bloomed beautifully.”

“I am allergic to pollen, Your Grace.”

“Then…”

As though she was thinking of any other social activity, the blue, mirror-like eyes looked up.

Lizzie was convinced that her own carefully cultivated reputation with the other young ladies was about to collapse.

‘Lizzie. You can do it. After counting to three, just suddenly ask the duchess why she’s doing this. One, two…’

But her resolution was in vain.

This was because, with clear and innocent eyes, Isabelle explained it straightforwardly.

“I’m doing this because I want to be close friends with you!”

In high society, Lizzie had never, ever experienced anyone else looking at her with such a friendly and favorable gaze.

Wasn’t it that everyone was busy trying to hide their feelings and intentions on this battlefield?

The rumors about the duchess seemed to be true, that she didn’t have good social skills.

However, rather than thinking about establishing her superiority against the other woman, Lizzie felt a sense of duty to protect her.

Was this how people felt when they saw mythical creatures like unicorns and white dragons?

Lizzie took a risk and gave her advice.

“Your Grace is the moon of Cardiago. You must learn how to build walls around you to prevent being vulnerable to anyone.”

“Like not revealing my thoughts to anyone, right?”

“Yes. You mustn’t reveal your weaknesses to anyone.”

Isabelle’s eyes were curved as she chuckled.

Only then did Lizzie realize that this advice should be something that she herself should listen to.

With a divine, sacred expression reminiscent of lilies, Duchess Cardiago was breaking down the walls over Lizzie’s heart.

The unprompted kindness she showed here was strong enough to destroy all misconceptions and malicious comments that she had carefully built up.

Feeling a sense of crisis, Lizzie decided to escape by curtsying and saying her goodbyes.

“It was an honor to speak with you, Your Grace.”

Lizzie hurriedly turned around and tried to flee, but right then, she accidentally dropped the book she was holding to the floor.

Thud—

As it fell to the floor, the book opened wide and revealed its contents so evidently.

Lizzie then hastily closed the book before its peculiar contents would be seen.

‘I picked it up right away, so she probably didn’t recognize anything. Unless she’s also read this story…’

But despite her thoughts, the duchess’ cheeks were oddly bright red.

Somehow, what she wanted to say was evident on her face. Lizzie couldn’t help but ask.

“Y-Your Grace, perhaps you also know this book…?”

“I’ve never seen a mini edition of it though…”

There was an electric current between the two as their eyes met.

* * *

Around the same time, Isis, the benevolent goddess, was leisurely looking around the banquet hall.

No one stopped her from entering because she was wearing a maid’s uniform.

“Hey, can you come with me for a second?”

Until Lizzie’s maid, Rena, beckoned her.

Rena called over not only Isis but also some reapers who were monitoring the goddess under the duke’s orders.

It was an obvious act of mutiny for the maid of a count’s daughter to touch a duchess’ maid.

“W-We’re Her Grace’s maids!”

“So?”

Rena’s rough expression made the reapers flinch. This was the first time the reapers were attending an event in high society, so they were disheartened and soon just followed behind Rena.

The group of maids reached a quiet hallway and stopped there.

Rena stared down at them with all her might, crumpling her forehead.

“I was told that you guys were spinning bad rumors about Lady Celeste. Did your master order you to do that?”

It was clear that she was framing them.

Of course, Rena also didn’t like that she had to act in such an immoral and malicious way.

‘But if this is enough to keep them from approaching Lady Elizabeth…’

Whenever maids were being rebuked like this, most likely, this news would be heard by their master.

Then, the maid who started it would be torn to shreds by Duke Cardiago’s pawns.

There was also a possibility that this would escalate to a family-to-family altercation, but from how the duchess seemed when she was seen earlier, it looked unlikely that she’d ask her husband to punish an entire family for one mere servant swearing at her own maids.

‘Do it lightly. Just enough that they’d be repulsed by me and they’ll tell the duchess about this…’

As she spoke further, Rena was risking her own life.

“For talking and swearing behind Milady’s back, you all deserve to be slapped on the face. If you don’t receive this punishment, the entire world will know that your master was the cause for such hateful rumors.”

“What kind of…”

The reapers couldn’t help but be shocked. Fights in the underworld didn’t usually go like this.

Cutting, stabbing, or shooting. Fighting was all about using your body, not your brain.

“Who will volunteer first to protect your master’s honor?”

Rena rolled up her sleeves and showed off her arms. They were thick, and it seemed like your jawbone could break off just by getting hit by her once.

Actually, what Rena wanted was for the duchess’ maids to run away in fright.

However, one of the maids elegantly took a step forward and faced Rena.

Rather than being scared, there was a jubilant expression on her face.

“I will get hit first.”

“What?”

Frozen in shock, Rena couldn’t move at all.

What was this feeling? It was as if she was entirely immobilized in the presence of a divine being.

In that dark hallway, it was as though warm sunlight had come to grace them.

As the maid, who claimed to get hit first, came even closer, the more dazzlingly the surroundings lit up.

‘The duchess has this kind of person as a maid? Just what on earth…’

With a pleased expression as she looked at the trembling Rena, Isis continued to speak.

“Loyal maid Rena. I acknowledge your willingness to take such risks for your lady. When you endure having to do evil deeds just for the person you serve, it makes me happy. Slap me on the cheek if you want. I’m willing to offer my other cheek as well.”

“W-What the…”

Feeling an encroaching fear at Isis’ display of benevolence, the terrified Rena ran away.