Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Bang―!

As the door closed with a loud bang, only a heavy silence fell in the salon where Duchess Minase Persen had left. The noble wives, who had been spouting excitedly until just a few minutes ago, looked enraptured. Meanwhile, Vivian bit her lips roughly as they were full of slight wounds.

Lastly, Grand Duchess Blaine, who led the mood of this place, smiled coldly while moistening her throat with a cold tea.

The ladies, except for Vivian, were deeply embarrassed by the appearance of the Grand Duchess.

It was a famous anecdote that Grand Duchess Blaine did not like the Duchess of Persenvery much before. Especially the moment they saw the sentence, “Let’s break the nose of that arrogant female fox,” in the invitation letter sent to them.

Before the arrival of Duchess Persen, it was Grand Duchess Blaine and Vivian who drove the atmosphere, saying, “Let’s pick the arrogant Duchess of Persen who has already fallen off the leash,” so they were only arguing with her according to their will.

However, they did not expect Duchess Persen to leave in anger and say, “I will remember.”

It was a mistake. They should not have made a proper fool of themselves, though it was not easy to stop a person’s backbiting once they start spouting. When the Duchess was mentioned, naturally she was also made the object of harassment.

…If the Duchess were to inform her Duke of this, would she not use the Duke’s prestige to pressure them and their own family?

At that thought, they became afraid of it. So, the ladies glanced back at the only woman who had the power to dispel it, Grand Duchess Blaine, and opened their mouths.

“Grand, Grand Duchess…”

“What is it?”

“Isn’t the Duchess of Persen going to tell the story we had in the salon?”

“…I don’t know.”

“What, what do you mean…? We don’t know what the Duke will do to us if that word was passed on!”

“Maybe.”

“What do you mean, maybe?! The Grand Duchess must stop her!”

“Why should I do that?”

“Why should you do that…? It was the Grand Duchess who sent the invitations for us to tease and make fun of the ‘Duchess of Persen’! In addition, it was the Grand Duchess who drove us to that kind of atmosphere! But, are you going to hand over all the responsibilities to us while you get away with it?”

“Is there anything else I can do?”

However, despite their denunciation, her answer was cold.

Gracefully picking up the cold teacup, Grand Duchess Blaine took a sip and put it back down. The next moment, she sneered coldly at the ladies who rushed towards her. She spoke, staring at them with her cold eyes.

“I never asked you to mock the Duke of Persen. It was the madams who made a fool of themselves so the madams have to endure the aftermath yourselves. Why’re you complaining to me?”

“….!”

“Besides, you’re still talking recklessly. How dare you, to me, the Grand Duchess.”

“Grand, Grand Duchess! That—!”

“And, I never told you to ‘tease’ the Duchess of Persen either. How can I do that? Even though she had fallen, she was known as the ‘old Imperial Family,’ and she’s now the Duchess of Persen.”

“What are you talking about, Grand Duchess! Obviously, the invitation…!”

“Oh, my. When did I do that? Young Lady Vivian, have I ever given you an invitation like that?”

Saying that, she glanced back at Vivian, who was standing next to her, as she replied with a smile, “No. You’ve never been like that before.”

“Oh, my gosh!”

“Grand Duchess…!”

“Oh! How could you!”

In response to Vivian’s answer, the ladies distorted their expressions and shouted loudly.

Somehow, they noticed that it was strange that Vivian took all their tea party invitations back before Duchess Persen arrived. Only now did they know that Grand Duchess Blaine just needed some ‘disposable’ ladies to help harass the Duchess.

As if her business had already been completed, Grand Duchess Blaine stared at them with an attitude 180 degrees different from before the Duchess of Persen came. Her gaze was supremely cold.

Opening her mouth, she looked back at the contemplated women.

“…That’s right. So, can you please leave now? I’ve something to share with Young Lady Vivian alone.”

“Oh, Grand Duchess. You can’t pretend you don’t know us! After all, it was you who was the first to order us to mock and insult the Duchess! Even if there’s no evidence, me and Madam. Dorrison and Madam Gestin are witnesses!”

“Will His Majesty really believe that?”

“Grand Duchess…!”

“…Vivian.”

“Did you not hear her? The Grand Duchess’ asking you to leave.”

“Young Lady!”

“I don’t know if the madams are slow-witted, but she’s uncomfortable. It’s not enough to have Duchess Persen hated, are you going to even buy the Grand Duchess’ hatred?”

“….!”

Even though they begged her for the last time, Grand Duchess Blaine ignored them. Instead, she turned her gaze and glanced at Vivian, who was beside her. Then, as if waiting, Vivian shouted in an angry voice and drove the ladies away.

The ladies rose up from their seats in contemplation.

It was truly a spectacle to see them wobbling as they hurriedly got up without even asking the servants and maids for help. After receiving the support of the servants and maids who approached after seeing the gazes of Grand Duchess and Vivian later, they barely walked out of the salon like an aristocrat.

“….”

After they scrambled out, there were now Grand Duchess Blaine, Vivian, and their attendants in the salon. Speaking to Vivian, the Grand Duchess returned to her usual expressionless face.

“It’s a bit quieter now, Vivian.”

“Yes, Grand Duchess. I don’t hear the loud voices, so I think it’s better now.”

“…That woman, Minase Persen, must have arrived at ‘that place’’ by now, right?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“What if she doesn’t go to where ‘he’ is waiting?”

“Don’t worry. Then, my attendant following her will lure her to where he is, with her excuse to ‘show her her way’.”

“…I see.”

It was going well as planned — ‘Remove the Duchess of Persen from the Duke of Persen and his knights, insult her, who is alone, and drive her to where he is.’ Nevertheless, the Grand Duchess’ expression was not very good.

Vivian peered at the expression on her expression and spoke carefully.

“Don’t worry, Grand Duchess. Everything will be done according to the wishes of me and the Grand Duchess.”

“I don’t know… Is that true?”

“Grand Duchess…”

“The young Lady and I, what we both want is similar but also different.”

“….!”

“To be more precise, getting what I want is more difficult than what the Young Lady wants. All you need to do is maybe drive one woman away, but what I want is…”

Saying so, Grand Duchess Blaine smiled bitterly and muffled her lips.

Vivian looked at the emotions on her face and made a meaningful expression. She had overheard her father, Marquis Loengram, say something about Grand Duchess Blaine.

‘No way, by any chance…?’

In her pensive thought, she frowned slightly and spoke to the Grand Duchess.

“Grand Duchess… I’m just saying this just in case. However, the Grand Duchess…”

“Shut up. If you say more than that, even I won’t let the Young Lady go.”

“….!”

AD

“Even if we’re on the same side right now, we’re only holding hands for a while for ‘the purpose of each other.’ So, don’t you dare dig into my heart or hear about my purpose.”

“…I’m sorry, Grand Duchess.”

“Keep in mind. Even if we’re both ‘illegitimate,’ the situation between you and me is as big as heaven and Earth.”

“…Yes, Grand Duchess. I’ll keep that in mind.”

However, she could not continue her speech as soon as she mentioned it. It was because Grand Duchess Blaine responded coldly, distorting her expression. At that, Vivian bit her lip as if in anger at the Grand Duchess’ cold remarks.

Seeing her with her expression hardened, Grand Duchess Blaine laughed.

“Oh, are you offended by my words?”

“How could I be, Grand Duchess?”

Vivian desperately repressed her raging anger and changed the subject, “The tea’s very cold. Shall I ask for a new one?”

“Yes. It’s still too early to go to bed, so I’ll spend some more time here and then go back.”

“Of course, Grand Duchess. It’d be a pity to send you away like this.”

Grand Duchess Blaine glanced at her, who was suppressing her anger as if having fun. Even though she accepted her words with a gentle smile, Vivian’s face turned cold the moment the Grand Duchess looked away and turned her head to her attendant, who was unloading the tea.

‘Ha, even though we are both ‘illegitimate,’ the difference is as big as heaven and earth…?’

Suppressing the anger, she imagined pouring that hot tea in front of her onto this woman named ‘Grand Duchess.’

At that moment, she made up her mind. Surely, she would dig into this woman’s heart and grasp her weakness. Only then, after she gets what she wants, would she be able to throw this woman under her feet, who subtly despises her.

Vivian smiled coldly, imagining that.

ﾟ･ : * ✧ * :･ ﾟ

‘It was nice to be able to sprint out of the salon door confidently.’

“…Where the hell am I?”

…Where the hell was this place?

After walking around the same corner five times, Min-ha muttered to herself.

When she followed and walked along with the guide earlier, it did not seem too difficult for her so Min-ha thought could easily get out of this place on her own without any guidance, thinking she could easily get to the accommodation where Seth and Noah were staying…

However, what was this labyrinthine path?

Min-ha struggled desperately to remember the painting that was on the wall when she walked with the guide earlier as she tried to find a path with a similar painting. Still, it was blocked and was a dead-end every time.

Patting her stiff knee with her palm, Min-ha grumbled at the blocked wall.

“Oh, really. There’s no one passing, although this is a building near the party hall… Why?”

Literally, if there was anyone passing by, she would grab hold of them and ask for directions. Though her voice was the only thing that could be heard in the dark hallway since the sun had already set.

‘…I cannot go back to the salon and ask for help like this, too.’

Actually, rather than losing her pride, it was mainly because she did not know how to go back to the salon.

Min-ha sighed heavily and walked forward again.

She could not help it. When she did not know the way, going straight was the best — regardless of whether something became juk, porridge, or rice*. Min-ha does not know what other people think, though that was what she thought.

[ T/N: It’s an idiom which means, “No matter what; regardless of whether something will succeed or not.” ]

So, this time, she gave up on finding the way by following the memories of receiving guidance from the head maid and strode blindly forward.