CH 42

“It’s been a while, Princess.”

At that moment, a woman with red hair who was in the lead with some young ladies approached.

“Ups, I made a mistake… you have become a little Duchess now.”

The woman did it on purpose, but she wrapped her actions as a mistake. At a formal event in front o f many, she addressed Charelize as a princess.

“…”

Charelize didn’t answer. That woman was probably overwhelmed by Charelize, who only watched with a cold expression.

“I trust that… you will forgive me generously with my mistake.”

She soon let her tail down, but seemed unwilling to hide her sneering tone.

The woman’s name was Helene Raj den Porte. She was born as the famous daughter of Duke Porte, with three older brothers. They said she grew up being loved all her life.

She had the same family rank and the same age as Charelize. They had always been compared, but she was inferior in everything, that was why she hated Charelize. Not to mention she followed Charelize in applying for admission for Rosielt Academy, but got rejected. As such, she always picked up fights with her whenever it was at the gatherings or banquets.

“Don’t worry… I’m used to Princess Porte’s mistakes and don’t care about them at all.”

“Yes?”

“Maybe it’s because I’m not interested in you.”

At Charelize’s answer, Helene’s face gradually darkened.

How long had it been since Charelize became the little Duchess? Helene felt pricked as she treated her indifferently as if it was a nuisance to deal with her.

“P-Princess…?”

“…Lady Helen.”

“Therefore…”

Rather, it was the innocent young ladies next to her who noticed Helene. At the same time, the eyes of Lady Neve and Charelize met. Only then she seemed to realize her mistake for not even saying a greeting to Charelize.

“Li-little Duchess…”

Lady Neve, who quickly turned pale, bowed her head.

“Lady Neve.”

“Y-Your Highness remember me…?”

“Didn’t you come with your father to my coming-of-age ceremony? You’re a guest who gave your precious time to come, of course I should remember.”

“I just followed my father to say a greeting to you briefly… I-It’s an honor for the family.”

“Please give my regards to your father.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

At the Lady Neve, who once again greeted her by placing her hand on her chest, Charelize smiled slightly.”

“May Goddess Resina’s blessing reach you.”

“I apologize for the delay in greeting you, Your Highness.”

The other young ladies around them also showed their greetings one by one.

“May you have protection too.”

“To enter alone on a day like today… Really, the Duke is really too much.”

“…”

“How can he never escort Your Highness?”

Helene expressed her displeasure to Lady Neve, who looked at Charelize with a twinkling eye. Then she spread out the fan and covered her mouth.

Lady Cain, who had been examining Helene’s complexion from before, added a sneaky remark. “Instead of coming with the esteemed son, Princess Helene came with Duke Porte, right?”

“That’s right. My father and older brothers had been fighting for it with each other for the past few days…”

“It must be hard for you because of your fiancé, Marquis Lesse, but you look better than I thought… I’m so glad.”

“What… do you mean?”

“I saw him with Lady Sona before.”

“H-He just helped the lady who couldn’t adapt to society.”

Charelize, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, could barely hold back her laughter.

“Princess Porte, I think you will be very happy later.”

“…pardon?”

“Being able to spend the rest of your life with someone who is kind enough to help other ladies privately.”

As matter of fact, it was a sarcastic remark for Helene. Her fiancé, Marquis Lesse, was a well-known playboy in society. He flirted with anyone who he saw for the first time, including lady Sona, who had just made her debut.

“Father, I hate this engagement. Do you know what happened today?”

“I already heard about the matter from Leon. This father will scold him later.”

“You wouldn’t have known if you had heard it from second older brother. Today, he is with Lady Erin—!”

“Helene, it hadn’t been a while since you annulled your engagement with Count Raden, so if you did the same with Marquis Lesse, you would be a laughingstock in the society. Are you sure you can overcome it?”

“But… I don’t think I can live with Marquis Lesse…”

“Father already said no, but I already knew it since the moment you made a fuss that you’re going to go on a hunger strike.”

“Mir, what are you talking about to your one and only sister? Baby, don’t worry. Just wait a little longer.”

It had been a few days since she had asked her father to annul her engagement, but she was turned down.

Looking at Charelize who mentioned Marquis Lesse to mock her, Helene thought for a while.

“Aren’t you afraid of the Goddess’ curse?”

“Curse?”

“Isn’t the rosemary embroidered in the cloak a symbol of Madame Lientil?”

She brought up a story about Madame Lientil.

“I have no interest in Princess… so I have no question about you…”

“…”

“On the other hand, Princess seems very interested in me, don’t you?”

“…”

“I only recently found out about the symbol of the designer I signed with… but somehow you already know about it.”

When she insulted Charelize person, Madame Linetil, Charelize felt no need to put up any longer.

“Do you know that my partner, the esteemed son of Marquis Justina, is now grieving his maternal grandmother?”

“Why are you suddenly bringing about him?”

“In this situation, it would be irrational to enter with someone else, even if it’s the Duke.”

She stopped the flow she used to play in moderation and spoke coldly. At Charelize’s words, Helene showed a look of bewilderment.

“Shouldn’t we keep the minimum respect for the deceased?”

“That’s…”

“If Princess were in my situation, what would you do?”

Just a moment ago, she spoke ill of Charelize, who entered alone without a partner. Stabbed by her own words, Helene couldn’t answer.

“Come to think of it… I heard you recently had a sister.”

“Ah… Maybe it’s because you only grew up in a warm greenhouse, you seem to hear the news very quickly.”

Because the attention was suddenly focused on her, Helene couldn’t just step back like this. When she mentioned Lillian, the illegitimate child, she intended to touch her planting lightly.

“Now… D-Did you say greenhouse? How could you say such a rude thing!”

“Are you… really… that stupid?”

“What are you saying….”

“How dare you mention the illegitimate child in front of me and call her my sister? Come to think, you look like a lot. With that kid, Lillian.”

“Who are you comparing me to now!”

“Speaking straight out without thinking, I’ve found it cute so far.”

Charelize approached Helene and whispered softly into her ear. “But you can’t stay in the greenhouse forever.”

“R-Right now, I will tell you father…”

“Please, you’d better watch your words and actions. Did you forget that all eyes around were focused on you?”

“D-Do you know who I…”

The moment Helene lost her temper.

“Helene!”

“…B-Brother Leon?”

From far away, Leon, her second brother, came calling her.

“It’s been a while, Lord Leon.”

“…little Duchess.”

Upon being greeted by Charelize, Leon quickly blushed. He had a history of constantly sending letters for Charelize even before she got engaged to Delphir.

“I-I fell in love with you at first sight.”

“…”

“I… like you.”

“I think you know that I have someone to be engaged with.”

“B-But…”

“I’ve never said anything about it for the sake of Duke Porte, but I ask you… please stop sending me letters.”

“…I’m sorry.”

More than anything, he confessed directly, but got rejected.

“Princess Porte must be in awe. It’s to the point where she has been shaking herself from a while ago. Can the Lord help her to the resting room?”

“To take care of my little sister… Thank you, little Duchess.”

“No need.”

Leon looked at Charelize but couldn’t make eye contact properly. Seeing him smiled like that, Helene ran away in anger.

“Helene!”

“This.”

“I’m sorry, little Duchess. I will go first.”

Leon hurriedly ran after Helene, who had disappeared immediately. The remaining young ladies also scattered one after another, at a loss for what to do.

“It’s like a ten-year-old congestion is being cleared at once, Your Highness.”

At the refreshing sight, Martin grabbed her belly, smiled and even shed tears.

“Will it have any impact on the business we are working on together?”

“Duke Porte distinguishes between public and private matters, so this won’t interfere with our business.”

To Hailey, who asked with a worried look, Charelize replied, shaking her head.

“Little Duchess.”

“Viyon?”

Viyon, who came to her side, called for Charelize.

“May Goddess Resina’s blessing reach you.”

“May there be protection for you too. What is it?”

“It’s not something I can tell you here, so let’s sit down for a while…”

Did she bring the information about Viscount Ramed I ordered during the last time?  Viyon showed a rather cautious attitude. Charelize nodded as if she understood and moved to the corner.

“As Your Highness said, the lady(Lady Ramed) was a person who liked gossiping about others.”

“Really?”

“Viscount Ramed didn’t show up, so when I asked about it, it was said that he went out early in the morning.”

“Do you know who he contacted?”

“It seems that Empress Lireet’s father, Marquis Rebraze, has been in contact with him for quite some time.”

“…with the Marquis?” When the name of the Marquis Rebraze came up, Charelize asked back in surprise.

“He ran a small merchant company, and it was said they had connections from there.”

“Find out the information about the merchant company. The Marquis… It’s been a while since he hasn’t even been active in society.”

“I understand, Your Highness.”

It wasn’t long after Salome, who came from a brothel, became queen thanks to the birth of Royal Princess Veloche. Marquis Rebraze asked for the divorce of his daughter in order to bring her back who had suddenly become a laughing stock. However, when Harbert IV refused, Marquis Rebreze hardly appeared in society. As if in protest, his wife quit being active in society too.

“After that, the relationship with the empress must have grown estranged… Are you saying that Marquis is related to Viscount Ramed?”

“I also couldn’t believe it easily when I heard it.”

Charelize recalled the incident at a time when words were still being said among people.

“What the hell, how things are going on.”

She couldn’t believe it and laughed without realizing it.

“Anyway, good job.”

“And, Lady Ramed really liked the gift Your Highness give to her.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Looking at it, I think she’s wearing it again today.”

“Viyon, it’s because you conveyed my words well.”

Charelize looked around and found Lillian surrounded by people.

“His Majesty the Emperor, the Father of the Elioter Empire, the Glorious Sun, is entering!”

At the same time, a magnificent trumpet was heard, announcing the emperor’s entrance. All nobles knelt in unison.

“Her Majesty the Empress, the Mother of Elioter Empire, the Beautiful Moon, is entering!”

“Your Royal Highness the First Princess, the Shining Star of the Elioter Empire, is entering!”

The ones who came together after him were Empress Lireet and Royal Princess Veloche.

The person who usually attended as Harbert IV’s partner was Royal Princess’s Veloche’s biological mother, Queen Salome. To think that the empress, who didn’t enjoy a place like this, showed up. This had never happened in her previous life, so Charelize was puzzled by the ever-changing memories.

It never happened in her previous life, so Charelize felt strange that her memory kept changing.

“Today… the last remaining blood relative of my aunt, Princess Lowellin, the Grand Duke Innovestin has finally reached his coming-of-age.”

“…”

“It’s also a very important day for him to formally inherit the title.”

Harbert IV emphasized that he was the only remaining blood relative. Those who knew the truth about the deaths of previous Grand Duke Innovestin and Grand Duchess Penelope, who passed away when they were still young, naturally had to shake their heads.