Chapter 2. Exploration Phase

“We have arrived at Duke Carca’s mansion.”

Startled by the coachman’s sudden announcement, Eurene had been lost in her heated memories of carriage s*x. She almost left a drool mark on her expensively arranged dress.

As soon as she stepped out of the carriage, she was surrounded by the murmuring voices and laughter of people. Eurene looked around, blinking her eyelashes that a maid had painstakingly extended. What’s this? She said it would be a small tea party, right? This was more like a debutante social gathering. Somewhat surprised, she took a deep breath, then coughed slightly as her tightly laced corset restricted her. Eurene, who had reluctantly boarded the carriage headed for the duke’s mansion after her brother’s insistence, scrunched her nose.

Ugh, how annoying…… I’ll just show my face briefly and leave quickly. Her feet ached from wearing high heels for the first time in ages. She stood hesitantly, glancing at the ladies she had hardly ever seen before, chattering “hohoho.” Ah, I should have brought my sister-in-law or Rona. Even if it would be somewhat rude, being with them would be better than standing awkwardly and spacing out. After all, she and the duchess were already on terms based on the ultimate rudeness.

“Oh my! My lady!”

Speak of the devil. A blonde noblewoman who could have appeared straight out of a romance novel illustration walked toward her with butterfly-like grace. She seemed to have her own halo besides the small cape attached to her elegant thin shoulders. Standing close to her and smiling sweetly, Eurene felt like dried squid. It was like being an invertebrate exposed to the direct rays of the hot summer sun. The duchess was too beautiful to approach. Having simply made Eurene shrink with her presence, she happily took Eurene’s shrunken hand. The physical contact was so familiar that even the usually dull and insensitive Eurene was startled.

“I’m so happy you came.”

“No…… I’m the one who’s honored.”

Eurene awkwardly fidgeted with her fingers. So this hand…… The duchess, seemingly oblivious to Eurene’s mortified expression, kindly linked arms with her and walked toward a group of noblewomen and noble ladies who were glancing this way while fluttering their fans.

“Let me introduce you. This is Eurene Eifel, whom I invited. I insisted because I wanted to become friends with her.”

The duchess laughed elegantly, covering her mouth like a swan spreading its wings. As soon as the party hostess introduced her, welcoming greetings flew from everywhere. It was the first time since her social debut at sixteen, which her brother had practically dragged her to, that she had made eye contact and greeted so many people. After responding to greetings in confusion, she found herself sitting next to the hostess. Even Eurene, insensitive to etiquette, knew that this seat was reserved for important guests at gatherings. Her mouth fell open. Why on earth is this woman treating me like this?

“Isn’t Miss Eifel adorable?”

“Hohoho, she certainly is.”

She rolled her eyes silently, listening to the noblewomen’s agreement, which she doubted was genuine. She thought Duke Van Carca was the only person on the entire continent who would say such things to her, but now it seemed his wife and her minions(?) were included as well. Though she doubted they had the same sincerity as Van.

Eurene put a macaron in her mouth while observing the forced smile of the lady across from her, who seemed unable to lie well. Oh! Delicious. Van must eat such things every day. Her characteristic leisurely optimism kicked in as she surveyed the beautifully arranged snacks and cakes. Meanwhile, a few more noblewomen arrived, and the topic quickly changed, allowing her to pick up madeleines or cookies with more ease.

“By the way, Miss Eifel, how old are you?”

That was until someone addressed her. A noblewoman with chestnut-colored hair asked with a smile on her lips. Eurene swallowed her pastry and answered without her voice catching.

“Twenty-two.”

“Oh my, not much difference from me? I thought you would be much younger than me.”

“Ah, yes.”

Eurene nodded mindlessly. The woman was prettier than Eurene. Her mature appearance was vastly different from Eurene’s childlike demeanor. After an awkward smile, thinking she wouldn’t be addressed again, Eurene was reaching for a pink macaron when the woman spoke again, forcing her to freeze in place.

“Then you must have a fiancé? What kind of person is he? I’m curious about who your partner might be, since you’re such a charming person, Miss Eifel.”

“I’m not engaged.”

“Oh my! You’re not engaged yet?”

Somehow her voice rang shrilly. As a result, the attention of guests chatting quietly to the left and right all focused on Eurene.

What’s this? Eurene pouted her lips indifferently and somewhat dissatisfied at their gazes, as if looking at a strange creature. No, actually, that description was kind; their gazes were exactly like looking at an old maid who had missed her prime due to some deficiency. Then they scanned her up and down, knowingly or unknowingly, and whispered among themselves.

No wonder no one has taken her. So fat and ugly. Not a trace of sweetness or charm in her expression, and her speech and behavior show not even a speck of refinement. No, above all, I’ve only heard about the Eifel family today. Must be from some rural area with a barely surviving lineage. Oh my, could they be newly ennobled? Or perhaps……

It was pure bullying, as if not being engaged was some kind of crime. Conventionally, the marriageable age was between sixteen and twenty, when one would enter society to find a husband, then get engaged and married. At the latest, people married before turning twenty-three.

But the dictionary definition of “conventional” just meant that most people did it that way, not that it was mandatory. Eurene was proud of herself.

Women married because it was the most honorable and easiest future life plan, for family benefit, or for love. Eurene could live well enough without marriage, her marriage wouldn’t particularly help the Eifel family, and she had no love interest whatsoever. Was being unmarried illegal? She really couldn’t understand why they were making such a fuss because she hadn’t done what they had done.

More than feeling unpleasant, she was intrigued by their apparent interest in other people’s family matters, even more than her own, and opened her mouth slightly. They’re truly diligent! They seem to know my family better than I do! Of course, she found their efforts rather pointless, but for Eurene, their incessant chattering was impressive. Sometimes even basic real-life communication was too troublesome for her.

As she blinked blankly, her cheek tingled. Someone was staring at her. The Duchess Carca was watching Eurene with a strange smile.

* * *

Surely, she wouldn’t actually come?

Van reflexively thought according to common sense, then reconsidered, remembering that the other person was Eurene. No, being obedient, she might have come trotting along when told to come. He had assumed she would naturally decline since he had told her she didn’t have to come if she didn’t want to, but he hadn’t explicitly cut her off, so it was uncertain. He frowned. He had certainly been somewhat insensitive. “That woman” wouldn’t do anything useless.

In a sense, there might not be a couple who understood and knew each other as well as the Duke and Duchess of Carca. Even if they had never seen each other n*ked, wouldn’t one snake know how another hunts mice? They were soulmates of a different kind. Van laughed expressionlessly, letting out an exclamation. Isn’t this a fantastic match? So, as his uncle, the previous duke, had put it, he had truly found his destined partner.

If there was one problem, it was that when two snakes are placed in one cage, they end up eating each other.

He wanted not a cold-blooded animal with the same cold blood as his, but a warm-blooded one he could embrace and coil around. One he wanted to devour alive but couldn’t bear to finish because it was too precious.

He felt somewhat irritated. Is that woman trying to mess with me? His wife was certainly an intelligent woman. She probably knew her husband’s insensitivity born from arrogance. Recalling Eurene’s clear face, Van licked his lips.

“Are you going now?”

“I plan to visit Marchioness Langpadour first. I promised to present her with a precious porcelain piece before. She has graciously agreed to accept it. Hahaha.”

Oliver proudly puffed out his chest. Whether he brought porcelain or a rice bowl, Van had little interest in his sycophantic lifestyle, but he was clearly good at forming connections. Marchioness Langpadour was currently the emperor’s favored mistress. She had shown subtle interest in him as well; she was certainly a charming fox with a quick mind.