The newly arrived Duchess, Elicity, was wearing a top-tier dress that set the latest fashion trends.

Elicity was, by any standard, an objectively beautiful woman. Though she was not as stunning as Princess Lucellia, she was still considered remarkably beautiful for a noblewoman.

However, having grown up as a fallen noble, she had no sense of aesthetics, was ignorant of the latest trends, and was often criticized for her poor fashion choices. But now, even that was no longer the case.

As the guests absentmindedly stared at the Duchess, a gentle voice resonated across the terrace.

“You must have had a hard time coming all this way. Please, relax and enjoy the tea party.”

After a few rounds of conversation about the weather, the latest dresses, and the trending gemstones, Countess Bennet, who had come well-prepared, finally spoke up.

“Duchess, what will happen to the young lady?”

As expected.

Elicity had anticipated this question. Feigning ignorance, she calmly set down her teacup.

“What do you mean?”

“It has been nearly decided that the young lady will become the Crown Princess of Salita, hasn’t it? You are sending her, aren’t you?”

In truth, Elicity had arranged this tea party not only to establish connections with the noblewomen of prestigious families for the sake of the Zeroden household but also to resolve the matter of Salita’s Crown Princess.

If she declared at this gathering that Bella would not be sent to Salita, these gossip-loving noblewomen would spread the news for her.

With an unaffected smile, Elicity spoke as if the topic held no concern for her.

“My husband and I have decided not to send her.”

At that moment, silence fell over the gathering as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over them.

A moment later, Countess Bennet, wearing an expression of disbelief, questioned her.

“Duchess, do you understand how prestigious that position is?”

“Of course. Salita is a powerful nation.”

“Then why would you refuse?”

Elicity responded lightly once again.

“I want my child to do what she desires. My daughter does not wish to be a queen.”

“Oh dear, that is just a phase. When she grows older, she will surely resent you for not sending her to Salita.”

“That’s right! The position of Salita’s queen is incredibly prestigious. It would be the most successful marriage among her peers!”

The noblewomen started voicing their agreement, criticizing Elicity’s decision as a mistake.

Elicity did not think they were foolish. She was neither angry nor irritated by their remarks.

After all, before losing her daughter, she had thought the same way. She had believed that her daughter’s greatest happiness lay in an advantageous marriage.

But she had been wrong.

‘Trying to persuade them here is pointless. People do not understand the value of something until they lose it…’

She did not want to come across as arrogant. Instead, she used the excuse she had prepared in advance.

“Truthfully, my husband and I simply cannot bear the thought of sending our daughter to another country. She is our only child.”

“Oh my…”

“As you all know, I cherish Isabella dearly.”

The noblewomen nodded in agreement. Elicity was well-known for doting on her daughter, Isabella.

“If I send her to Salita, I would cry every day. So even if she does marry, it will be to one of the esteemed young men here, not to a foreign nation.”

Hearing this, the noblewomen with eligible sons clenched their fists in anticipation.

Elicity could clearly see their intentions. She almost scoffed but maintained a composed expression.

After a brief silence, the highest-ranked noble among them, the wife of Marquis Hansen, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, fluttered her fan and spoke in a coy tone.

“Well, it is true that staying in one’s homeland is often the better choice for women. Speaking of which, how old is Bella now?”

“She is ten years old.”

“Ah, then she is about four years younger than my eldest. You must visit our villa sometime, Duchess.”

At this, Countess Leverdon, the mother of Diana, who was unofficially betrothed to Marquis Hansen’s eldest son, gasped in horror.

“M-Marchioness? Your eldest son is already…”

However, the Marchioness smiled sweetly while speaking in a cold tone.

“I don’t understand what you mean, ‘Countess.’”

She deliberately emphasized ‘Countess.’

Then, turning back to Elicity, she gave her a gentle smile.

“My family has recently started supplying military goods to the royal court. My husband wishes to discuss this with His Grace, the Duke of Zeroden. Do you think there would be an opportunity for that?”

“I will ask my husband.”

Elicity responded with a bright smile.

As the conversation seemed to be progressing smoothly, the wife of Earl Winter, the current Commander of the Navy and a favored subject of the King, suddenly placed her teacup down with a sharp clatter.

“Duchess. My son is also fourteen years old. During the recent Youth Hunting Festival, he hunted a stag as large as a bear and received high praise from the King. Were you aware of that?”

“Of course. I know very well that he is incredibly brave despite his young age, just like his father, Countess Winter.”

“Oh ho, you flatter me.”

Countess Winter glanced sideways at Marchioness Hansen before tilting her chin up proudly.

“My son has never shown any interest in young ladies. Unlike some, he does not have a fiancée.”

“Ah…”

“Moreover, my husband has never taken a concubine. He takes after his father and would never cause his wife any grief, ho ho.”

The fluttering motion of the fan was no different from a beckoning gesture. Elicity offered the Countess of Winter a gentle smile.

“Oh my, the young earl is quite the ideal groom.”

“Oh, not at all. I’ve heard that the young lady is the perfect bride. The two would make a wonderful match.”

In truth, most of the noblewomen present had some connection to a young man of Bella’s age.

They either had sons around Bella’s age, nephews in their birth family, or at the very least, distant cousins who were several degrees removed.

At the same time, they belonged to families that needed to stay in the good graces of Alex, the prosperous ruler of the fertile Zeroden territory and former commander of the Royal Knights.

In other words, they secretly coveted Bella’s hand in marriage. It was precisely for this reason that Elicity had extended invitations to them.

Thus, from the moment Bella declined the position of Salita’s crown princess, these noblewomen saw an opportunity open before them.

What followed were repeated assertions of their sons’ or nephews’ superiority, with Elicity engaging in pleasant conversation to entertain their claims.

The atmosphere remained lively and warm when, after some hesitation, Countess Bennet carefully parted her lips.

“But, Your Grace.”

“Yes?”

“That, um, about the young lady’s tutor… Was she truly brought in as a concubine?”

“…?”

For a moment, Elicity doubted her own ears. She was too stunned to respond, prompting Countess Bennet to ask again.

“I mean Miss Lorraine Fertel. Surely she wasn’t brought in just to educate the young lady. Given her striking looks, I assume His Grace took a liking to her?”

“What did you just say…?”

“Ahem. Ahem!”

Sensing Elicity’s expression hardening, the Marchioness of Hansen cleared her throat loudly. However, the oblivious Countess Bennet continued prattling on.

“Of course, it is one way to soften the shock for the daughter… but isn’t it a bit outdated, Your Grace?”

“……”

“The young lady is mature enough that even if she suddenly gained another mother one day, she would understand.”

Elicity could no longer hold back. She set her teacup down on the table with a distinct clatter.

“Where did you—!”

Before she could finish, Countess Bennet’s eyes widened in surprise, as if questioning why Elicity was reacting so sensitively.

‘Well….’

To Elicity’s dismay, in Madonia, noblewomen often introduced their husband’s mistresses into their households as their child’s tutor, personal maid, or servant.

The reasoning was that it would be less shocking for a child to see a familiar, kind-faced woman become their father’s concubine rather than a complete stranger appearing overnight.

Elicity believed that either scenario was shocking, so it was better to be upfront about it.

However, noblewomen viewed managing their husband’s concubines and maintaining harmony between them and their children as part of their duty.

Suppressing the sudden surge of anger and dismay, Elicity responded calmly.

“That is absolutely not the case. Miss Lorraine is residing in this duchy purely as my daughter’s tutor.”

“Oh? Ah… I see. My apologies for the misunderstanding, Your Grace.”

As Countess Bennet’s face paled, Countess Winter quickly intervened with exaggerated cheer.

“Everyone knows how much His Grace cherishes the Duchess! There’s no way he’d take on a concubine.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Didn’t he say before the wedding that he wouldn’t step foot in this duchy without his wife?”

“Oh my, how enviable!”

Peals of laughter rippled across the terrace. Elicity forced herself to join in, curving her stiff lips into a smile.

Yet deep inside, a dull ache settled in her chest.

She loathed how many noblewomen simply accepted the idea of their husbands taking mistresses.

Moreover, the only reason Countess Bennet had spoken so carelessly—even though the women had hastily tried to smooth things over by praising Alex’s devotion—was because Alex had never truly appeared to love her.

If he had, the thought of Lorraine being a concubine wouldn’t have even crossed their minds.

Though the conversation soon shifted to another topic, Elicity no longer had the energy to engage.

‘I’m exhausted….’

***

The woman, beaming with a radiant smile, was as beautiful as ever.

She knew precisely when her value shone the brightest. Thus, she adorned herself exquisitely, sitting gracefully upon a gilded chair with a serene smile.

It was a slight pity that today’s guest was of the same gender. Still, she believed that her beauty would only serve as an advantage, never a hindrance.

“Your Highness, you are as stunning as ever today.”

“Thank you, Countess Bennet.”

Indeed, Countess Bennet seemed so overwhelmed by Lucellia’s beauty that she couldn’t even meet her gaze directly.

The admiration in her eyes was unmistakable.

But Lucellia had received such looks countless times throughout her life—to the point of exhaustion.

She propped her chin on her hand, already growing bored.