***
Countess Oxburg asked kindly.
“It’s been a while, Julianna. Is your fever better?”
“Thanks to the Countess’ concern, I am well. Thank you for the medicine you sent me.”
“Did Sir Leonard propose to you? He hasn’t yet, has he?”
“Helena!”
Countess Oxburg exclaimed sharply. But Julianna only lowered her eyes, embarrassed.
“Not yet. But he said that he would send a letter formally asking for marriage soon.”
“Why is he dragging this out? Leaving a perfect bride like you alone.”
“I’m flattered, Countess.”
Julianna politely rebuffed her.
Amarion looked between the three of them in surprise.
The two ladies, who had been growling like the Chimeras fighting over territory, had calmed down.
Mary explained in a low voice.
“Julianna is one of the few ladies who is close to almost every woman even though she is not part of a faction. She is smart and beautiful, and her manners are impeccable…”
“- Because I have a weak body and a fiancée wandering on the battlefield.”
Julianna, who had just returned, finished her words. They looked at her with astonishment. Countess Oxburg and Count Helvant had returned to their seats amicably.
Julianna picked up her teacup and explained calmly.
“I’ve always been weak, so I’ve been worried about by a lot of ladies. I lost my mother when I was young, so I got help from many ladies to debut. The Countess of Oxburg is my mentor in that sense.”
“…”
“Also, I am not bound by any formality. I have a fiancée that I have loved since childhood. So the young ladies who wish to be admired by men only feel sorry for me, but they are not wary of me.”
Julianna smiled.
“So I was able to maintain a neutral position in the social world.”
Amarion admired Julianna.
Usually such things would be considered weaknesses in the social world, but Julianna used them as a shield to protect herself.
“Madame wants to stabilize the social situation, right?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“I should be able to help you. Use me to your heart’s content.”
“Julianna…”
But Julianna insisted.
“Fidelberg has been helped by you, so I will support you unconditionally. Besides, you’re my fiancée’s master.”
Julianna smiled softly.
“The Grand Duke saved Leonard. So please allow me to help you this time.”
“Julianna…”
“Come on, Madame. Would you like to offer tea?”
Julianna raised her teacup. Catalina also smiled and raised her cup.
Amarion rose from her seat in gratitude and shame. All eyes turned towards her at the same time. After the guests had gathered, no one could begin to drink tea until the hostess made a toast. The ladies looked at her and the people around her, and then they raised their teacups together.
Amarion looked around the room.
“Thank you for being here today. I hope you all have a great time.”
The women nodded favorably. Along with the sound of clinking teacups, friendly laughter spread.
Amarion sighed in relief and sat down.
The atmosphere in the salon flowed peacefully. It was thanks to the fact that Countess Oxburg and Count Helvant were no longer in conflict. While Catalina and Julianna were talking to others, Amarion also chatted casually.
Some of the girls almost fainted just talking to Amarion, but she could tell they were all friendly and enjoying their time here.
She circled the salon and found Catalina again. She was standing in the corner with ladies she had never seen before.
As she approached, she heard a voice.
“…Hmm, I haven’t heard such direct words in a long time.”
It was Catalina.
But her tone was not serious. She was smiling, but it was a rather menacing one.
She asked slowly.
“Why did you ask me, ‘Why do you make money by wandering the continent in such a vulgar way?’”
Amarion opened her mouth wide.
Who the hell dared say such a thing to Catalina Cataleon?
To the continent’s greatest colossus, the owner of the most profitable company in the Empire?
Suddenly, a passage from an etiquette book she had read flashed through her mind.
[In the old days, aristocrats thought it was vulgar to make money by working themselves. There was a perception that nobles should live on only the taxes collected from their territories, but they are disappearing little by little.]
‘No way.’
Catalina was speaking softly.
“People with old-fashioned minds still consider it lowly for nobles to earn their own money.”
“…”
“But your family bought a marquis’ seat.”
“Lady Catalina!”
The lady opposite her exclaimed in shock. She trembled and brought her fan to her lips.
“The title was blessed by the Emperor! Speaking like that…”
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“Is an insult to the Imperial Family?”
The woman trembled severely. She looked like she was about to faint just hearing that it was an insult to the Imperial Family.
But Catalina was still smiling.
“No, Miss. Your family was titled for offering gold to the Imperial Family. Merchants say you bought it.”
“That’s so inappropriate!”
“It’s realistic.”
Catalina snorted at the woman coldly.
“How useless is status? A bankrupt nobleman has to beg for land like a loyal and sincere peasant. On the other hand, commoners can get a title if they are smart or rich enough. And yet nobles think that labor is vulgar and lowly.”
“Miss…!”
“I hope you change your mind. It’s much better to work for yourself and become a marquis than to marry a marquis’ successor and become a marquess, right?”
Catalina smiled brightly and turned away. It was an attitude without any hesitation.
Amarion gripped her fan and watched Catalina’s retreating back.
＊ ＊ ＊
The salon party didn’t end until late afternoon.
Amarion returned to her room, took a quick bath, and let her maids rest.
“Don’t you need time to get ready to go to the ball later?”
At her words, the maids became excited.
“See you later, Madame!”
Amarion smiled, saw the girls out, and sat down on the sofa.
In , she had reached the rather boring process of Dordophin returning to Flamberge’s tower. As she turned the pages, she thought of something else.
It felt like she was seeing the people around her for the first time.
Julianna was a strategist.
Amarion knew she was a brilliant administrator and Leonard’s lover, but she never knew that she could use her own weaknesses as a weapon. She was even fulfilling the role of a knight commander’s wife who had to maintain political neutrality.
Meanwhile, Catalina was a revolutionary.
She wore flashy dresses to avoid being caught off guard, and would not forgive anyone who insulted her family. Although she nearly died of an injury, she did not stop working. She was a person who challenged the prejudices of the world and got what she wanted.
Although their positions were different, they were women who knew exactly what they were doing. They had responsibilities and rights that followed.
Unlike her, who was the heir of a Count and always failed…
The door opened.
“Marion, can I come in?”
She quickly raised her head and smiled.
“Of course.”
Victor entered the room. He was wearing a comfortable shirt. Perhaps he had changed after finishing work for the day.
He kissed her forehead tenderly.
“I missed you.”
His whispered words were sweet.
Amarion shook off her worries and smiled.
“Did you enjoy the boat ride?”
“It wasn’t bad. But Carlz and I don’t really enjoy riding boats.”
Victor shrugged his shoulders.
This was the reality of the Southern War.
The war must’ve been a terrible memory for him. Still, he had gotten over it enough to talk about it now.
‘I wish I could do that too.’
Maybe it was because she was nervous about the banquet, but today, she had persistent negative thoughts. She closed her eyes and pulled Victor closer. She muttered as she buried her face in his shirt.
“You smell like roses.”
“There was rose oil in the bath.”
“I see….”
He casually suggested.
“Next time you bathe, ask for me. I know oils pretty well.”
“What?!”
Amarion quickly raised her head and glared at Victor.
How could he say such a shameful thing without changing his expression?!
Amarion reproached him with a burning face.
“Are you having fun teasing me?”
“Teasing? I am serious.”
He laughed and cupped her cheeks.
“When I decided to keep you by my side, that was my first resolution. By all means…”
“…”
“If I can charm you with my body, why hesitate?”
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He smiled dangerously and caressed her lips.
His fingers were hot.
***
New Kofi shop updated till chapter 90.