Chapter 3.6

It wasn’t unusual for Madame Green and Flory to insist on attending the parties they wanted during the social season. However, this was the first time Madame Green had gone so far as to prepare a list for Ariana. It was clear that Madame Green was trying to restore her authority after Ariana had humiliated her in front of the servants during their last encounter on the stairs.  

Ariana glanced over the list Madame Green had prepared. All the most prestigious events, including the Imperial Banquet, were marked with circles.  

‘Shameless.’  

For commoners like Madame Green and Flory to attend such high-level events, they needed a valid excuse. That excuse always came in the form of a letter from Ariana, stating that she couldn’t attend and was sending her mother-in-law and sister-in-law in her place.  

Ariana wasn’t particularly fond of parties, so she had always been willing to let Madame Green and Flory take her place when they showed interest. After all, she had attended countless parties since she was a child.  

But given the current state of her marriage…  

‘I have no reason to accommodate you anymore.’  

Yet Madame Green seemed confident that Ariana would once again act on their behalf. In fact, she didn’t even seem to feel the need for confidence—Ariana had always done so, and they saw it as a given.  

“…I’ll take it into consideration.”  

Without further comment, Ariana placed the list on her desk. Madame Green left the room with a smug expression, as if everything had gone as expected. Gwen, who had been silently observing the confrontation, exploded as soon as Madame Green was out of earshot.  

“You can’t let such insolence slide! She deserves to be punished… that ignorant woman!”  

Gwen assumed Ariana would let Madame Green’s rudeness go, but Ariana had no intention of doing so.  

‘Punishment. Of course, she’ll get what’s coming to her.’

***

The Imperial Banquet, hosted by the Imperial Family, officially marked the start of the Empire’s social season. Invitations were sent to every family listed in the Nobles’ Yearbook under the Emperor’s name, making it the largest event of the season.  

The banquet was seen as a stage to predict the year’s social trends. Who would become the talk of the town? What incidents would occur? What outfits would people wear, and what music would they enjoy? It was a battlefield of subtle competition, requiring perfection in every aspect.  

Like any noble family, the Astaroth Earl’s household was abuzz with preparations for the Imperial Banquet. Unsurprisingly, Madame Green was the most enthusiastic.  

“Is this all you have?”  

Madame Green lounged lazily on the sofa, interrogating the designer who had come from the renowned atelier of the Blonde Street. She looked ready to toss the design book in frustration, but the designer remained unfazed.  

“Yes.”  

“Yes? And you’re not even considering bringing more designs?”  

“Take it or leave it. There’s already a long line of people waiting to commission dresses.”  

“What…what did you just say?”  

As Madame Green’s eyes widened in disbelief, the designer smirked and muttered just loud enough to be heard,  

“A commoner pretending to be a noble. I rushed over because I thought the Countess herself had called.”  

It was clearly a deliberate provocation. Madame Green’s lips twitched in anger. She had indeed used the Astaroth Countess’s name to request the designer. High-end ateliers like this one only responded to noble clients. But wasn’t she technically the “senior lady” of the Astaroth household? She was the Earl’s mother, after all!  

Still, if she pushed too hard, she risked losing even the few designs she had been offered. Sensing the tension, Flory quickly snatched the design book from her mother’s hands.  

“Ahem! On second thought, these seem fine. Mother, why don’t we go with these? I think they’ll suit you well.”  

Flory’s timely intervention gave Madame Green an excuse to back down.  

“Well, I’m not entirely satisfied, but if my daughter thinks they’re fine, then they must be.”  

“Mother, you look beautiful in anything.”  

“Oh, darling, you’re the one who’s truly stunning. This dress will look perfect on you.”  

As the mother and daughter exchanged compliments while choosing their dresses, the designer hastily took their measurements and left the mansion, clearly relieved to be done with them.  

Meanwhile, Alena, who was strolling through the garden arm-in-arm with Earl Rowen, noticed the designer leaving.  

“Oh? That’s the designer from the atelier on Blonde Street. It looks like Ariana commissioned a dress. Well, it is the social season.”  

“What? The atelier on Blonde Street?”  

Rowen followed Alena’s gaze, spotting the designer clutching a thick design book as she hurried away from the mansion.  

“Hah. Just because she won a famous artifact at auction, she’s already flaunting her wealth. She’s probably spending the household’s funds recklessly and will soon come asking for more money.”

Rowen openly expressed his displeasure, prompting Alena to gently stroke his arm as if to calm him down.  

“Wearing a pretty dress and attending parties is part of a noblewoman’s role. If she shows up in shabby clothes, everyone will think the Astaroth family has fallen into ruin.”  

“Who said she should wear shabby clothes? I’m talking about buying excessively expensive outfits. Spending should be done within limits.”  

“Within limits…”  

Alena repeated Rowen’s words as if she were committing them to memory. He furrowed his brow and scrutinized her attire.  

“Now that I think about it, your outfit is too plain.”  

“This is appropriate for my station. I’m just a servant.”  

“A servant? You’re my lover and the mother of my child.”  

Rowen spoke while gazing at the retreating figure of the atelier designer.  

“I should call them back immediately. I need to have clothes made for you.”  

“No! Please don’t!”  

As Rowen moved as though he would chase after the designer, Alena panicked and grabbed his arm.  

“I don’t go to parties or wear fancy clothes. I really don’t need them.”  

“Alena, you’re so frugal.”  

The phrase “don’t go to parties” lingered in Rowen’s mind, and he looked at Alena with pity.  

“While you can’t attend parties hosted by others, I’ll host a grand party for you. You won’t need an invitation addressed to you to attend. You can wear a beautiful dress and come.”  

“Would that… really be okay?”  

Alena’s eyes sparkled with hope as she asked, and Rowen thumped his chest confidently.  

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be? Do you think I wouldn’t do that for the woman carrying my child? I need to catch that designer right away.”  

Rowen began walking briskly toward the retreating designer, and this time, Alena didn’t stop him.  

“The Earl treats you so preciously, my lady. I’m so envious.”  

The maid, who had been following behind them, flattered Alena with a cheerful smile. She was a maid Rowen had specifically hired for Alena.  

“Really? Is that how it looks to you?”  

“Of course! The Countess doesn’t even seem to matter to him, but his gaze completely changes when he looks at you.”  

“Oh, but the Countess is incomparable. Ariana is a real noblewoman and his actual wife.”  

“What does status matter? This is the Earl’s household. What matters here is who the Earl values more.”  

“Is that so?”  

“Absolutely! You’re the most precious person here!”  

At the maid’s exclamation, Alena stroked her belly and smiled. She found the title of “lady” very pleasing.

***

“Madam, the Earl has requested to have dinner with you…”  

Gwen hesitated as she delivered the message, clearly uncomfortable with the unexpected request. Ariana was puzzled. Rowen didn’t enjoy dining with her. While she adhered to proper dining etiquette, he found himself fumbling awkwardly, which made him uneasy. Although they had once regularly shared dinner out of obligation, those occasions had naturally ceased at some point.  

‘It must’ve been around the time he got involved with Alena.’  

Ariana could only speculate.  

“This is unusual. Did he ask to dine with me alone?”  

“No, it seems Madame Green and Miss Flory will join as well.”  

“I see.”  

Considering he had enlisted two of his allies to confidently propose the dinner, it was clear he had something to say.  

“Tell him I’ll agree.”  

“You’re accepting the invitation?”  

“Yes. We live under the same roof—it would be ridiculous to keep avoiding him. Besides, I’m curious about what he wants to discuss.”  

If she refused the dinner, they would likely barge into her room and cause a commotion. Ariana thought it better to face the battlefield directly than to deal with uninvited guests in her personal space. Of course, thorough preparation was essential.  

“I’m sure I’ll get indigestion, so make sure to prepare some antacids in advance.”