***
“It’s an honor, your highness!”
The Viscountess clasped her hands together and bowed her head.
‘No, is she going to cry?’
Even more bewildered, Amarion followed the Viscountess inside.
“I am very glad that you have come. We have prepared a room for her highness to stay in. The dress you’re going to wear to dinner…”
“A dress?”
The Viscountess explained it to Amarion with wide eyes.
“The news came with such short notice, but I thought there shouldn’t be an instance where her highness couldn’t wear a beautiful dress. I selected it thinking it would suit you, but if you don’t like it…”
“Oh, no. Thank you.”
Amarion simply shook her head and followed the Viscountess to her room.
Her room was a guest room, obviously prepared for a distinguished guest. Fresh flowers and sparkling crystal sculptures were displayed, neither with any flaws. There was also a dress hung to one side…
“…A chiffon dress. It’s popular in the Capital.”
“As expected, your highness recognised it!”
The Viscountess spoke in a fervent tone.
“It was painstakingly crafted by the best seamstresses in the North. I acquired it by sending the fastest horse off with the news that your highness, the Duchess was coming. It was originally ordered by the Countess of Oxburg, but she was willing to give it to the Lady of the land.”
“Ah, okay…”
“Of course, it wasn’t tailored for your highness, so it won’t fit you perfectly, but… It would be an honor to be able to accentuate the beauty of her highness, even a little.”
“Thank you.”
Amarion closed her mouth and just nodded.
She honestly didn’t know how to react. The rude ladies of the Capital embarrassed her, but she felt equally embarrassed when someone gave her compliments.
‘No, don’t the vassals hate Victor?’
‘Isn’t this too warm of a welcome? Does Morte usually greet guests like this?’
“Then, I’ll see you at dinner.”
The Viscountess, smiling contentedly, said her goodbyes, and left the room.
Once Amarion put down her luggage, she washed her body. After applying perfume oil, Amarion put on the dress. The white, fluffy chiffon dress was decorated with intricate lace and ruffles, making it difficult to move in.
She had never seen such a colorful outfit in the Capital.
The maids quickly picked out shiny silk shoes and a tiara fit for a wedding. It felt like she was a living decoration. She walked to the banquet hall, losing her mind on the way.
As expected, they were served a lavish dinner. Pork, lamb, beef dripping with oil, vegetables wrapped in thinly sliced beef and baked in the oven, and cool pudding. It was more of a feast than a dinner.
The knights seemed no less bewildered than her. Normally, this kind of food would never be served during a subjugation.
She sat awkwardly in an empty seat. It was between the Viscount and the Viscountess, where the Lord of the castle usually sat.
When she looked around in embarrassment, Mary, who was sitting at a table in front of her, gave her a thumbs up.
She knew what to do, but… It was something she had never done before.
She was forced to get up. As soon as she stood, all eyes were on her. Her voice trembled.
“I… Before the banquet begins, thank you for the grand welcome, Lord Norvant. Thanks for the food and, um, beds… Our subjugation forces will do their best, and Morte… We will do our best to make Morte safe again.”
It was a really bad speech.
To the extent that she felt fortunate that there were only knights present. Nevertheless, the Viscount and the Viscountess applauded enthusiastically. She raised her glass, hiding her reddened face. After gulping down the wine so quickly that she did not know what it tasted like, the banquet began.
She ate with the feeling of being bloated. The food looked good, but honestly, she had no idea what it tasted like. That was because the Viscount couple were constantly talking.
“You don’t know how happy I was to hear that her highness was coming.”
Before she could ask why, the Viscountess said with excitement.
“I heard that her highness prevented an execution and saved vassals. I always wanted to visit and say thank you, but there were rumors that you’re reluctant to see anyone…”
The Viscount threw a pointed glance at his wife.
So, it seemed that their hospitality was because of that.
Amarion felt even more strange.
She herself did not save any lives, so why did the Viscount kneel before her?
So she spoke frankly.
“It’s not something to be thankful for. In the end, the order was given by the Grand Duke.”
“But if it were not for her highness, his highness would not have changed his mind! His highness has no mercy…”
The Viscount bit his lip with a regretful expression. Amarion pretended not to hear and turned her gaze to the roast beef on her plate.
It would be nice if she could just eat without thinking.
Without thinking about Victor.
As she chewed blankly, the Viscount interrupted.
“Madame, the dress suits you really well! I think the whole castle is shining more brightly because of your beauty.”
“Ah… thank you.”
“Your highness took part in the Capital’s social season, didn’t you? What kind of banquets are popular in the Capital these days?”
Amarion blinked.
Whenever she went to banquets, she stood alone.
But she couldn’t tell them that. If a lady who participated in the socializing season didn’t know about the trends in the Capital, it would be rather disgraceful.
So she talked while distancing herself from the bad memories.
She explained the Imperial Palace’s colorful masquerade, the rose-filled garden party, and how these days, it was popular to set up a large salon in the garden and wear Eastern Kingdom styles.
The Viscount’s wife was truly amazed.
“Oh, my my. I can’t even imagine a salon made of glass. It must have been really beautiful!”
“…Yes, it was.”
“There are not many noblewomen here who are wealthy enough to go to and from the Capital, so we always hear about trends much too late. But everything will be different because you’re here, right?”
“What do you mean it’s going to change?
“Your highness will be the talk of all the salons in the North!”
The Viscountess said excitedly.
“The Northern social community has been desolate since the death of the late Grand Duke. Banquets couldn’t be funded, and salons fell into disrepair. But wouldn’t all the women from the North gather if the Grand Duchess had a banquet? It’s an honor to be the first to present a dress to your highness!”
The Viscountess shook her head and smiled broadly at Amarion.
Suddenly, Amarion’s mind became complicated.
Naturally, in the vast Empire, there were separate social communities depending on the region. In particular, social gatherings in the rich Southern region were active enough to flow into the Capital.
But she had never been taught anything about Northern socialites. She wondered if it was because Morte focused only on nurturing knights because there was no one to lead the social world for a long time.
And these ladies seemed to expect that role from her.
‘Me? You’re saying I’ll lead Morte’s society?’
She suddenly got a headache.
She forced a smile and cleaned her plate as quickly as possible. She hoped that the dinner party would be over as soon as possible.
＊ ＊ ＊
Fortunately, the dinner ended early. Considering that it was the first day of the expedition, the knights finished their meals without drinking.
Actually, it didn’t make sense to hold a banquet like this during the urgent subjugation schedule.
While Viscounts were distracted, Amarion quickly ran out into the hallway. Mary, Sir Leonard, and Sir Raoul followed, without needing to be called. Mary quickly led them to a small drawing room.
As the door closed, Amarion took a deep breath. Leonard gave her a compliment as she sighed.
“You look beautiful, Madame.”
Amarion was startled and surprised, then looked at herself in the mirror on the wall. She had an overly glamorous figure that didn’t match the modestly dressed knights.
Mary tilted her head and murmured.
“Yes, you’re pretty. This is…”
“Isn’t it too much?”
At Raoul’s reckless remark, Mary’s eyes opened wide. But she couldn’t deny it.
Amarion loosened the hair clip that had been pressing into the back of her head all night.
Long hair cascaded down her shoulders.
Leonard asked, sighing.
“Did you talk to the Viscounts? Why did they throw such a grand dinner party?”
“It’s a long story.”
Amarion relayed, in detail, the conversation she had with the Viscounts.
That the Viscount thanked her for preventing the last execution, what the Viscountess said about Countess Oxburg presenting her a dress, and that she was looking forward to a social gathering.
Leonard unexpectedly turned serious.
“That’s unexpected. Countess Oxburg is a big shot that controls the Northern social world along with Countess Helvant. I didn’t know that Viscountess Norvant would have any exchanges with her.”
“Baroness Marianne of Julesburg has become very close to the Countess of Helvant. Viscountess Norvant has a bad relationship with Baroness Julesburg, so she must have been very upset. Maybe she’s trying to make more connections?”
Mary intervened. Leonard furrowed his brow.
“…Wait, Marianne? Marianne Rimfeld? Isn’t she married to Baron Julesburg?”
“Yes. Baron Julesburg is a womanizer, but he has a lot of money, right? He would have been the best match for a high standing young girl.”
“But the Baron was engaged to Karola Arnburg. He even duelled her younger brother, Ion.”
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“Well, didn’t he openly drag a woman into his bedroom? But then again, that woman, Karola, was Count Elbart’s lover! The Count was so angry that—”
“Hey, how can he be so shameless…?”
Amarion stood next to Raoul, their mouths wide open, with confused looks on their faces. They had no idea what the others were talking about and just wanted to go to bed.