Alicia could no longer contain herself. She stood up and confronted Cordelia. Her hand, which was holding her lace fan, trembled so violently that her slender bones were visible.

“Do you know who gave Lord Richard all those connections in the Old Continent? It was me! I married Randolph and gave them to him!”

Deep down, Alicia knew this was an exaggeration.

Her family were low-ranking nobility with no notable connections to the Old Continent. In fact, it was Lucas’s sudden appearance and the wealth he brought with him that had had a far greater impact on the Duquesne family.

However, objectivity was the last thing on her mind at that moment — even if she had been calm, she wouldn’t have wanted to admit it.

“You turned your life around by getting a man, and now you have the nerve to humiliate me in my own home?”

“Alicia—”

“And now you’re trying to steal all the credit like a coward?”

“Credit?”

Cordelia, who had half-expected some form of backlash due to her father-in-law’s blatant favoritism during dinner, widened her eyes at the word “credit.”

“Alicia! It was wrong of Father to reprimand Mr Randolph during the meal. But what exactly have I taken from you?”

“You don’t know what the problem is? Do I really have to spell it out for you, Cordelia? Ugh, you’re so clueless!”

In truth, Alicia shouldn’t have raised her voice like that, but she couldn’t bring herself to admit it.

Instead, she glared at Cordelia, her eyes full of jealousy.

Her feathered hat and pink satin dress were the latest arrivals from the Iridescent Department Store.

And yet, somehow, Cordelia always seemed to get the better items, while Alicia was left with hand-me-downs from last season.

Her chestnut hair was braided thickly and pinned up with a delicate mother-of-pearl clip — such an elegant image it was irritating.

The way the soft lilac dress clung to Cordelia’s body like a silk cloud made Alicia feel as though she would die of envy.

The current trend called for bolder colors and glamorous tassel embellishments with sparkling jewels, yet in Cordelia’s presence, even those things seemed faded.

As if to prove that no passing fashion could ever triumph over timeless grace.

Still, to nitpick about something so petty was beneath her pride.

So since it had come to this, Alicia decided to take it in another direction.

“Honestly, it’s ridiculous that Lucas suddenly showed up claiming to be Lord Richard’s son, but ignoring all the contributions my husband has made? How is that fair? Earlier, only Lucas was called out!”

“So you want me to not side with my husband, Alicia? Just because Father praised his son?”

In truth, the power struggle within the Duquesne family was far from Cordelia’s priorities at this point.

Feeling a headache coming on, she pressed her temple with her fingers.

Alicia, still fuming, straightened her back and shot a sharp glare.

“You really are a master at making me out to be the villain every time. How impressive.”

“……”

“You’ve contributed even less than I have to this family, yet you act so self-important. Cordelia, you owe me an apology for tonight’s dinner. That’s only right.”

Cordelia narrowed her eyes and looked at Alicia with a gaze that now held only pity.

So this was what it looked like when inferiority complex and self-pity reached their peak—resorting to cheap tricks to wring something out of others.

She had no real intention of apologizing, but curiosity got the better of her.

“What sort of apology are you expecting, exactly?”

“For Lord Richard’s birthday party next month. You handle all of it. On your own.”

“Alicia, if I recall correctly, I also handled last month’s garden party by myself.”

“What do you mean, by yourself? I remember helping with that party too, you know?”

Cordelia barely managed to hold back the dry laugh that was threatening to escape.

If showing up late to the venue, fussing with a few ribbons and then running off to gain favour with Richard could be called ‘helping’, then the definition was truly pathetic — worse than those who did the actual work.

Just as she was about to respond with a poised insult, however, Cordelia changed her mind.

“…Fine.”

Alicia’s eyes widened in shock, even though it was her own proposal.

She had expected Cordelia to press her lips together tightly, argue that the task was unfair, and make a fuss.

But Cordelia simply lowered her gaze and agreed so meekly that it startled even the one who asked.

“Fine? Really?”

“Yes. If that will help ease your frustration today, then I’ll do it.”

Cordelia nodded gently.

Alicia, who had shown a little too much delight, quickly realized it and hastily covered her mouth with her fan, pretending otherwise.

“Hmph. At least you’ve got some decency, even if you lack awareness.”

“……”

“And know your place, Cordelia. I was watching over Lord Richard in this house long before you came into the picture!”

Apparently satisfied after letting it all out, Alicia turned and left the parlor ahead of her.

Only after the sharp exchange ended did Cordelia finally allow herself to lean back in her chair, fatigue washing over her.

‘She probably thinks I’m easy to manipulate.’

She knew very well how unfair this was, but the fleeting thought that it might actually be a good opportunity crossed her mind.

‘If I take charge of the banquet, I might be able to widen the guest list a bit.’

The guests her husband had invited, or who were connected to his family, were no help to her now.

They undoubtedly knew that she had been deceived, yet they remained silent.

From now on, it would be far better for her to actively seek out useful connections wherever she went.

Alicia had originally managed the guest list because she had been part of this household for longer.

However, given how things had played out, it would be better for her to take charge alone this time, even if it meant shouldering more of the burden, to avoid arousing suspicion.

Nevertheless, despite all her careful planning, Cordelia felt uneasy as she imagined her father-in-law’s study somewhere across the corridor. What sort of scheme was this greedy family plotting this time?

***

No matter one’s age, being lectured by a stern father is never pleasant. Yet Lucas showed no signs of nervousness, even with Richard right before him.

He hadn’t apologised once since the day they first met, so there was no reason to start now just because Richard was older.

Richard, well aware of Lucas’s fearless nature, simply smiled without displeasure and picked up a cigar.

“This latest oil venture has fallen completely into the hands of our family. Well done, Lucas.”

“You flatter me.”

“Don’t bother being modest. I know better than anyone that it’s thanks to you the Duquesne family has finally escaped the days when we were laughed at like gangland thugs.”

Richard gave Lucas a sly smile.

“Glad to know that giving the Duquesne name to a rat from the slums wasn’t a complete waste.”

“……”

Lucas looked at Richard with calm eyes, but inwardly scoffed.

Not a drop of shared blood between them, yet no one had used him more thoroughly than this man and now he wanted to act as if he’d made some noble sacrifice?

And that surname—Duquesne—it wasn’t even a prestigious one. It only sounded aristocratic. A made-up name, with no roots to speak of.

But Richard, drunk on satisfaction, continued his story.

“It’s already been six years, hasn’t it, Lucas? Since you came under my wing from Hell’s Realm…”

“……”

“I remember thinking even back then—you were no ordinary schemer. Even after killing off my men in that district, you were bold enough to—”

“What’s the point of dragging up those filthy old times?”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed further, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly into a cool smirk.

The old man’s long-winded nostalgia was wearing thin. Everyone had a past they’d rather forget.

Lucas had fled the Hadrian Empire and ended up in the slums of this city. To survive, he had done every filthy thing imaginable, clawing his way up like a beast.

Why would anyone want to look back on such times as if they were something to reminisce about?

But what unsettled him most was Richard’s drawn-out preamble.

When someone went on and on, the real issue they were trying to hide was always trouble waiting to erupt.

Richard took a deep drag of his cigar, holding it in his mouth before exhaling slowly and deliberately.

“That’s right, reminiscing about the old days is a waste. A waste of time, a waste of money…”

“And yet here you are, doing exactly that.”

“But, there is one important matter from those days that still remains.”

“……”

“Our deal. The promise I made to grant you a noble title.”

‘So that’s what this is about.’

Lucas slowly lifted the corners of his mouth into a faint smile.

Richard looked at him now without a trace of humour; the prominent bone in his brow cast a shadow over his eyes.

“You used to mock me so exquisitely, saying that even if I adopted a child and married them off to nobility, that would still be different from earning a title myself.”

“Yes, I was rather cheeky about it, wasn’t I? I’m still grateful you spared me, though.”

“Ha! And yet I found your words reasonable. That’s why I gave you the stepping stone to get what you wanted.”

Richard jerked his chin towards the door.

“Cordelia — she’s your way in.”