Published at 23rd of August 2022 09:58:19 AM

I had followed Rosalind to the balcony and had come back but not one person had said a word to me.

Most people kept giving me an evil leer so I began to wander around the hall feeling embarrassed.

Where did Dietrich go?

I couldnt see Dietrich or Charlotte anywhere.

When the band started playing at a fast tempo that was popular these days, the people began to dance in groups.

I have to go to the corner.

Id rather sit on the sofa prepared at the corner of the hall and rest but because of the people taking up the center space, I couldnt cross to the other side.

The train of the dresses swaying in circles created a colorful ring on the floor.

Why isnt anyone eating?

The tables set up everywhere were filled with mouth-watering finger foods.

Uhmm

The canapes were topped with smoked salmon along with cheese on crackers and the fruits were generously glazed with dried chocolate showing off their luster under the glamorous chandelier.

I can just eat them then.

I picked up a canape, guessing that it was set up to be eaten, however, a middle-aged woman who had kept glancing at me approached and started yelling at me.

Lady Anissa! It is customary to eat the finger food prepared after dancing. The first dance hasnt even ended yet!

Her fierce look was enough to kill any thoughts of eating.

She reminded me of a strict teacher that I quickly chewed and swallowed the canape I placed in my mouth.

A person is talking right now and yet youre eating food?

I mean, Ive already put them in my mouth, so what should have I done?

I hurriedly opened my mouth to utter an excuse.

Ah. I see. So that was why nobody was eating them. I didnt know.

Goodness. Does the Princess of the Grand Duchy not even know this basic common sense? You cant even be called a lady.

I pouted my lips at the biting expression on the womans face. It was because she reminded me of my long-ago memories.

Youre a girl, so why are you like this?

She had similar eyes to my mother, who belittled me who was clumsy in every way, compared to my older sister who was obedient and gentle in words and actions. I felt a little bitter as bits of the finger food fell from the prepared table.

Then she raised her voice again in a debilitating manner.

Princess!

......Yes?

Even if you are the younger sister of Grand Duke Lagrange, I am still Countess Hilbert, the older sister of Duchess Dona Euclid.

I didnt even know where in the world the Hilbert territory was located.

I think it was mentioned briefly in The Rose Wars of Men.

However, judging from the womans authority, she seemed to come from an influential family. I had no other choice but to keep silent and listen to her sudden burst of family pride.

Is the young princess, who hasnt even made her debut yet, disregarding my words, who is a Countess?

Pardon? N-no, Im not disregarding

I hurriedly waved my hands to prevent things from escalating.

I mean, why was she so angry when Ive kept my distance after she told me not to eat them?

Marilyns private lessons must have not been enough.

Although Marilyn was a noble, she came from a humble baronial family, moreover, she wasnt a noble from the capital.

However, it seemed that the reason why this woman was attacking me was not only because I didnt know the etiquette.

I heard you blackmailed Miss Charlotte Vallandia with the power of the grand duchy and took her necklace.

Pardon?

Youre correct, Countess Hilbert. I also heard about that incident.

The man standing on the right side of the woman agreed and nodded his head. Even if the story was twisted, how could it be twisted like this?

I opened my mouth in astonishment but promptly closed it again. The womans words, which gained support from the people around, started to get longer and longer.

These Northerners! They could have just enjoyed themselves on their own, why do they have to come to the capital?

Do you think we came here because we wanted to?

It would be trouble if the emperor didnt acknowledge the succession of Lagrange on the pretext that I had talked back to the countess.

Just only until we get approval for Dietrich to succeed the title.

I gritted my teeth and stared at the countess silently.

Dorothea, whats the matter?

Amid the gathering of the crowd, a petite middle-aged woman approached the Countess.

Ah

I forgot about the current situation and stared at her.

No one told me who she was, but I recognized her at one glance.

Didnt she say earlier that she was Duchess Dona Euclids elder sister?

Even though I thought I had no feelings of spite towards her but still I felt a tingling sensation in my heart. Did my body remember that I was abandoned?

I stared vacantly at my biological mother who couldnt recognize that I was Anissa then bowed my head.

Greetings. I am Anissa Lagrange. Its a pleasure to meet you, Duchess Euclid.

Hmm.

She hadnt changed much from what I remembered about her.

The pale brown skin tone, the blue eyes like the summer sky, and the small, round face gave the impression of a maiden.

I did hear from Charlotte. You helped her, didnt you?

Dona Euclid didnt show any hostility towards me contrary to my expectations. I looked at her with a good-natured countenance and bit my lips tightly.

My sister seemed to have misunderstood Charls story. Please dont mind it too much, Princess.

Dona, what are you saying? Charl definitely said so. That she lost the holy relic.

Yes, but she didnt say that this young lady blackmailed her.

Charl is very kind so would she actually tell the true story? Its obvious as this is what Lagranges do.

Dorothea raised her upper lips and made invidious remarks like a person with close ties to the Euclid family.

Princess, you should return Charls necklace while Im being nice

What are you going to do if it isnt returned?

I wasnt the one who responded to the thorny threats made against me. I turned around, startled at the long shadow that fell over my head.

D-Duke.

Your Grace.

What?

I just came back from officially receiving the approval to succeed as the Grand Duke. Get my title right, Dorothea Hilbert.

Like me, Dietrich shouldnt have encountered a noble from the capital, however, he called her name and ordered her with one of his hands inside one of his pockets.

Dorotheas face lost color in an instant.

Dietrich wasnt even particularly threatening, but she looked back at her younger sister while trembling in fear.

Duke, I was just about to apologize for the mistake my younger sister has done to the princess.

If you dont want to see one of your sons arms fly in the next round, dont interfere.

You insolent!

Dona Euclid, as if shocked by Dietrichs words, burst into forced laughter.

He placed a hand on my shoulder completely ignoring her reaction.

Countess, I remember telling you to finish your words.

The first one who made a mistake was your sister, isnt that right? Your Grace?

Dorothea cried as if she couldnt bear the situation wherein she had to use formal speech when speaking to Dietrich.

Everyone already knows that Miss Charlottes necklace was stolen.

Are we talking about that damn necklace again?

Dietrich ground his teeth in annoyance.

Thats right! Why are you northerners coveting the holy relic of the sun god Hera?

A holy relic that doesnt even look like a star, itd be better to throw it away.

I made up my mind to buy and sell any holy relics of Hera that I chanced upon.

A necklace blessed by a southern god is akin to rubbish with no meaning in Lagrange.

If that is so, then why?

Annissa only helped Charlotte Vallandia who was in need.

Everyone was staggered at Dietrichs words.

Thats a lie, right?

To say that Lagrange helps others, isnt that ridiculous?

At this point, I was wondering if I was being bullied throughout the whole country.

Whats the point of having power and wealth?

When people detest us this much.

I got a little sad and tightly held Dietrichs hand who was standing beside me. He held my hand and squeezed, then he glanced at the other side.

Charlotte Vallandia.

At the sudden call of her name, Charlotte, who stood a short distance from Dietrich, was startled and turned to look at us.

It was as if she just came down from dancing, her flushed cheeks were lovely.

....Oh, um? Are you calling me?

Thats right. You explain.

However, Dietrichs eyes looking at her were not only indifferent, but they were also chilly.

I dont know why youre angry at me.

She shrugged her shoulders with a slightly embarrassed smile.

When will their romance start?

Arent you the cause of this problem?

Dietrich pressed her again when she didnt answer. Perhaps feeling sorry for Charlotte being cornered, the people came to defend her.

Why are you angry at Charlotte, Your Grace? She is the saint who will be the salvation of the North.

I was taken aback by the womans words and glanced at Dietrichs countenance. For the desolate North meant Dietrich himself.

It was also an opportunity for Dietrich to fall in love with Charl.

Salvation?

But he just smiled crookedly, finding it absurd.

I dont need your salvation or whatever, so tell them whether Anissa really extorted your necklace or not, Vallandia.

In truth, I had never told Dietrich the details of how I came into possession of Charlottes necklace.

What if I did steal the necklace? Whats the point of you doing that?

Without loosening the grip he had on my hand, he added.

Anissa is not the kind of girl who would covet your necklace for no reason.

B-but

At Dietrichs firm words, Charlotte hesitated and crammed her lips together. After a while, she finally opened her mouth.