CH 41

*******

The opera banquet was different from other banquets because of the outfits of the people attending.

Thanks to the more relaxed atmosphere, colorful and bold outfits were shown off; usually they were hard to see in other places. It was a place to relax and enjoy for a while.

Therefore, it was also a banquet in which many nobles voluntarily participated.

However, Heinricion had never attended such a banquet.

‘Hehe. Of course, if you go, you have to go with the coolest look.’

Eristella turned her eyes on Heinricion.

“It’s not an official banquet, so if you just dress appropriately…”

‘Hey. No way. Not that.’

Conflicts of opinion frequently occurred between Heinricion and Eristella during the preparation process.

And the result… Of course, it was Eristella’s victory.

Thanks to this, Heinricion’s outfit was brighter and more colorful than usual.

“Why the hell are you doing this?”

Heinricion murmured discontentedly.

[It’s my first time watching Charlotte’s performance properly. I want to show sincerity even through clothes.]

Eristella stared at Heinricion, and she said with a smirk.

[And it looks good on you.]

Heinricion thought that Eristella would definitely make fun of him and joke around.

However, he could not complain about Eristella’s sincerity, which came out naturally.

Rather, he adjusted his shirt once and opened his mouth.

“Then let’s get going.”

*******

All of the nobility and members of the imperial family, even those low-ranking, were gathered together with celebrities who always carried rumors.

However, the opera banquet was a place for everyone to enjoy singing and performing together. As a result, singers and actors received more attention than nobles here.

Among them, Charlotte was shining exceptionally, boasting her unrivaled presence.

“Grand Duke. Thank you for coming.”

Charlotte, who had been contacted in advance, came to the banquet hall, and approached as soon as she found Heinrichion and Eristella entering.

It was a deliberate act to show people.

“Since you invited me, of course I should. I am very much looking forward to today’s stage.”

“I hope you enjoy today.”

As Charlotte and Heinricion elegantly conversed in a friendly atmosphere, everyone glanced at them.

Because of this, Charlotte got everyone’s attention at the banquet.

When Charlotte, the center of the topic of conversation, seemed close to even the Grand Duke, the young ladies, who could not contain their curiosity, spoke up first.

Charlotte was already hanging out with them and pulling out a lot of stories.

“The princess was unlucky.” 

Not only that, she joined the conversation with a ferocious intent to bring out gossip about Eristella.

‘I think she’s serious.’

It was when Eristella’s eyes narrowed watching Charlotte.

“By the way, the princess had so many precious treasures. Where did all that go?”

Charlotte subtly lowered her voice and brought up the topic that was her original purpose.

“That’s right. There were a lot of great things. She has a lot of greed too.”

“How can I get one?”

Charlotte pretended to covet Eristella’s stuff.

“I heard that the princess’s items are on the market these days. Do you know?”

Then, a young lady who was secretly wondering about the friendship between Charlotte and Heinricion throughout the conversation took the bait.

She seemed to be trying to give Charlotte her desired information to get the information she wanted. She whispered furtively as if it was something only a few knew.

Oh. Charlotte’s eyes twinkled.

“There’s a good source. But it’s too expensive…”

“Are you greedy for that?”

Charlotte asked for information.

She hadn’t thought so, and she couldn’t believe the princess’s things were really circulating outside. Charlotte showed interest and she asked a little further.

“Could you please introduce the route? I think it would be worth having at least one…”

“I-It’s probably a sensitive thing.”

“I’m sure I’ll pay the right price.”

“Well then…”

The young lady whispered so softly that only Charlotte could hear it. The corners of Charlotte’s lips twitched as she listened to her words.

*******

The esteemed marquis’s daughter, Greta Lateran, who was Eristella’s maid, stood out especially at the banquet.

‘I saw her at the last Imperial Palace banquet.’

Eristella was staring at Greta, and before she knew it, Charlotte had approached her.

Heinrichion exchanged gazes with Charlotte before reaching out to Eristella.

The fox used Heinricion’s palm as a stepping stone, jumping up. Leaping onto the table and moving to Charlotte’s side in an instant.

Charlotte looked at the fox with interest and said,

“I invited Lady Lateran over there on purpose. There is no one else who will hate you as much as her.”

‘You’re very active?’

“I decided to help, so I have to do my part.”

Charlotte, who understood Eristella’s gaze at once, smirked and whistled lightly. It was when Eristella let out an absurd yet sullen laugh.

A bright, well-loved girl approached Greta with a clear smile.

“You know right? That is Leila Lateran, the younger sister of Lady Greta Lateran.”

Charlotte glanced at Leila as she put her arms around Greta tenderly, and she continued speaking in a voice so low that no one else could hear her.

“The relationship between the two of them is a bit strange.”

Eristella knew why Charlotte said that.

“Leila is cleverly kind to her older sister only when necessary, but Greta Lateran is very fond of her sister. Normally, it should be the other way around.”

Leila was Greta Lateran’s half-sister.

The mother of Greta Lateran did not live long after giving birth to her. Leila Lateran was born to the present marquis’s wife, whom the marquis immediately remarried.

But everyone in society knew: because Greta and Leila were the same age, except for the month they were born.

“Aren’t you surprised?”

This question from Charlotte suddenly brought up a long-forgotten memory of Eristella.

In the past, Leila visited the Imperial Palace several times under the pretext of coming to see her sister and tried to impress Eristella.

‘But Greta’s reaction was a little different from what it is now.’

Charlotte added as Eristella kept a close eye on the sisters.

“That’s why I purposely invited Lady Leila.”

A mischievous smile bloomed on Charlotte’s face, and then calmly disappeared.

“The person who leaked the news that the princess’s stolen goods were being circulated was also Lady Leila.”

‘Uh…?’

“Yes, Lady Leila made a slip of the tongue by drinking too much wine at a midday tea party.”

‘Not only did she make a fool out of herself by drinking too much, but she also spread secrets.’

Eristella had heard of Leila frequently behaving immaturely and Greta having a hard time fixing it, but she didn’t expect it to be that much.

“Even the imperial princess, who is famous for her recklessness in the empire, does not make such a mistake. Don’t you think so?”

At Charlotte’s joke, Eristella rolled her eyes. Then the silver-haired lady smiled lightly and said,

“The secret deals became an open secret after the incident.”

It also meant that most people who were sensitive to information in the social world knew it, and were not openly talking about it.

Charlotte’s voice sank even lower.

“But how could Lady Leila know such information? She must be close to the source. Everyone was just unsure, but they were making similar guesses.”

‘I guess so. It’s too obvious.’

Eristella’s eyes turned toward the crowd gathered with Greta Lateran in the center. Leila, who was by her side for a long time, left to dance.

Those who remained by Greta’s side were Eristella’s maids.

It was when Eristella’s face was about to contort, as her doubts had become more certain, and she could not stand it any longer.

“Just in time, there’s someone who knows the imperial palace well. Right?”

Charlotte sarcastically said in a cold voice, as if she was thinking the same way.

But then she spoke with her usual playfulness,

“I’ll go over there and check it out by talking behind your back.”

‘…….’

“Don’t worry. I’m confident in cursing you.”

In particular, externally, Charlotte was known to have a strong resentment towards Princess Eristella. Charlotte was truly the perfect person when it came to gossip about Eristella.

When Charlotte was about to move on with her well-founded confidence…

The fox’s and the singer’s eyes met. It was a meaningful gaze.

‘Charlotte. Are you just having a lot of fun bad-mouthing me?’

Eristella raised the question she had been suppressing throughout the banquet.

Charlotte’s head tilted as Eristella asked with sharp eyes.