Her husband informed her of the party without even asking for her opinion. Normally, such unilateral decisions would’ve irritated her, but for something like this to happen when their relationship was already strained—it was simply absurd.

‘The only reason I’m tolerating this is because I happened to be interested in the topic.’

Of all things, it was a banquet commemorating the first anniversary of the ‘Western Migration Policy’ at his alma mater. The policy had recently become a popular subject on radio programmes and in newspapers, so Cordelia had been keeping up with it diligently, just in case.

That was the only reason she was going to Reginald University without complaint. The newly built ivory tower, complete with a medieval-style watchtower, also stirred a quiet admiration in her.

‘My formal education ended far too early… Since I was engaged from a young age, I only learned what was necessary for marriage, and that was the end of my studies.’

Of course, she couldn’t help feeling inferior knowing that women like Louisa had been at school with her husband.

But right now, she couldn’t even bring herself to look at Lucas, who was escorting her like a devoted husband. Even being the target of his gaze felt as though she were being pierced by an invisible shard of glass.

Lucas let out a soft chuckle as he watched his wife resolutely avoid his gaze. But when he noticed the pink tint on her ears, his expression darkened slightly.

“Darling. Are those Morganites?”

“…? Yes.”

Cordelia tilted her head slightly and remembered the earrings dangling from her ears. Their soft, peach-toned lustre shimmered faintly as they swayed with her movement.

She had never liked showing off jewellery; her wedding ring had always been enough for her.

But now, forced to wear that ring, she wanted to express her resistance through small acts like this. She would rather have something sincere, even if it was less valuable, than that gaudy, deceitful pink diamond he had given her.

‘Still… do men usually notice details like this?’

She knew Lucas had a preference for the finest things and a keen eye, but did that extend even to identifying gemstones like these?

Though he said nothing more, Cordelia had a strange feeling that his mood had somehow improved.

But she was too afraid to ask why he seemed pleased now. She never knew what outrageous or emotionally wounding thing he might say next—so casually, so carelessly.

While Lucas was in conversation with the university president, she felt a pair of eyes watching her.

At a university gathering like this, there was someone who could never be absent.

‘Louisa Vanderbilt.’

She was smiling as if she had a great deal to say, her eyes sparkling like stars.

When Lucas had to talk to other alumni, Cordelia gently withdrew her arm from his. There was no reason for her to follow him around; she had her own business to attend to.

“Go on ahead. I’ll see you after you finish talking.”

“You’re planning to deal with Louisa?”

Lucas glanced between Cordelia and the silver-haired woman smiling with a subtle glint of madness, then let out a short laugh. He pointed toward the separate lounge area reserved for the ladies at the venue.

“If you’re feeling tired, you’re more than welcome to take refuge in the ladies’ lounge. If you go in, I can have it closed off.”

“Absolutely not.”

Why should she be the one to avoid the situation when Lucas and the others at fault were being so brazen? Besides, she would have to face Louisa eventually, and with so many people around, now was the safest time to do so in public.

As Lucas left to discuss business matters, the woman who had been eyeing her suspiciously finally made her move.

“Oh my, Lady Duquesne. Hello there.”

“Miss Vanderbilt.”

Louisa briefly scanned Cordelia’s face and upper body, then smiled brightly.

“I heard you followed through with what I suggested. And yet, you still seem like such a loving couple?”

“……”

“I’ll give you a little credit. You must love Lucas, even if not as much as I do. If it’s not love, then I suppose you’ve betrayed all decency.”

“Miss Vanderbilt, if you wanted to drive a wedge between us, wouldn’t it have been easier just to have an affair with him?”

Cordelia spoke to her in the same tone she would use to reprimand a servant for failing to meet expectations. After all, rather than trying to provoke her, they should simply have slept together.

‘Then the grounds for divorce would have shifted to Lucas.’

Never mind the betrayal or the heartbreak that could kill her—if Louisa had actually acted, everything might have been simpler.

But Louisa tilted her head with an innocent expression.

“Why would I do that?” If you and Lucas were to separate, it would be because of something you did. I have no intention of becoming a blemish on his record.”

“A blemish, you say. And do you really have the right to talk about faults, knowing how Lucas conducts his business? The man has….”

The man doesn’t even hesitate to shoot someone.

She had loved him, yes—but wasn’t that something utterly unacceptable by any standard?

But Louisa only smiled, as if entranced.

“How is that a fault? Weakness is evil. Strength—that is what’s good.”

“…Ha.”

“Isn’t love about embracing the flaws of the person you care for and treating them kindly?’ Ultimately, the important thing is that Lucas shines. Shouldn’t we be grateful for such minor collateral damage?”

Cordelia let out a hollow laugh and shook her head.

Yes, the way this woman casually said her husband’s name was ridiculous, but it was only now that Cordelia could clearly see everything she had failed to recognise over the past year.

“You people have no sense of shame! It’s hard to believe you received a higher education.”

“To hear that from a woman whose only talent is arranging flowers is quite the compliment.”

Louisa smiled sweetly.

“I dislike you, but I have no intention of criticizing Lucas’s choices. He’s a man, after all. It’s only natural for him to be momentarily drawn to something that sparkles in passing—even if it’s nothing more than an old, rusted thing… don’t you agree?”

“A sparkle, is it?”

Cordelia lowered her gaze, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Having been taken aback on their wedding anniversary, she had no intention of ever submitting to beasts again.

“Everyone has a moment when they shine, Miss Vanderbilt. I may be past mine, and you, you’re still… fresh.”

“Oh my, no need to be so modest—”

“But then, no matter how fresh something may seem, there are those who were never light to begin with, wouldn’t you say?”

At Cordelia’s words, Louisa’s smile slowly faltered. The face that had been fluttering like a white fox now darkened with a chilling shadow, as if it had been a lie all along.

Cordelia, however, gazed at her calmly. It was clear that Louisa hadn’t expected her to push back like this.

Well, of course. She had never taken such a firm stance before—neither in the Empire, nor here.

Cordelia had always endured like a gently smiling flower. Like that dreadful nickname once given to her—the Hadrian Rose.

“…What exactly are you implying right now?”

“But I don’t blame people for lacking natural talent. If I ever have to scold a servant, I blame them for a lack of effort, not ability.”

“Madam, what exactly do you mean by that?”

“I mean, Miss Vanderbilt, that not only do you lack the capability to seduce my husband, you haven’t even made any meaningful effort to do so.”

After all, a rose had thorns. Long before people tried to prune it for their own comfort.

“So, Louisa. If you lack the skill to deliberately seduce Lucas and create grounds for divorce, then do remain still. When one behaves wildly without ability, the world calls that ‘poorly educated.’”

***

After Cordelia Duquesne departed, Louisa wore a shadowed smile, her expression calm, yet simmering with rage beneath the surface.

‘…Hmph, she’s more capable than I thought.’

For the past year, Cordelia had been so well-behaved, she’d dismissed her as nothing more than a dusty old relic. But it turned out she had thorns.

‘A light that doesn’t exist, huh? Is that… me?’

She wanted to laugh in her face and deny it, but the truth was undeniable—no matter how long Cordelia lingered nearby, Lucas had never spared her even a sliver of interest. That, in itself, made him all the more attractive.

‘Still… I can’t afford to tarnish my precious reputation, can I?’

Dirty work should be left to dirty people. After all, a bit more soot on something already blackened hardly makes a difference.

Smiling sweetly, Louisa turned and approached a fellow alumnus who was pestering the champagne server.

“Hello, Langdon. How have you been?”

“Oh—Louisa!”

Langdon Wyatt. A fool who desperately wanted to be Lucas’s right-hand man, but lacked the competence to do so and could only badmouth others. Just the kind of man she needed.

‘And earlier, I saw Lucas point Cordelia toward the ladies’ lounge.’

Controlling who had access to that room, under the pretense of “security”… was easy enough.