In the novel, we couldn’t hear detailed stories about Ilion’s past.

Partly because he was a supporting male character and couldn’t be given much page space, but also because Ilion didn’t talk much about his past to the saintess.

The saintess was already mentally exhausted, so he couldn’t burden her with his own difficulties.

Instead, he remained by the saintess’s side consistently, becoming her place of rest.

His unwavering kindness and strength that didn’t flinch even at the harsh words of the broken-hearted saintess was the reason I kept reading this depressing novel that didn’t match my taste.

But suddenly, thinking about his past, I realized that I didn’t know much about Ilion either. Except that he was cursed by a witch and had an unhappy childhood…

Looking at his back as he walked confidently, he seemed like someone who would never bend or break no matter what anyone said.

As if he was certain that the world’s scandals couldn’t tarnish his status or honor in any way.

But isn’t that a contradiction? Can he really be so nonchalant while being so conscious of others’ eyes?

“And you know what, the fiancée he brought is quite a sight too.”

At some point, the topic of the two men’s conversation had shifted from Ilion to me.

“Yeah, I saw her too. Where did he find such a lacking woman? Did you see her carrying food earlier? I thought a beggar had come.”

“Hahaha. I was struggling to find the right word, but that’s it, a beggar, exactly.”

“……”

I looked down at the two men laughing loudly while coldly insulting me.

If they were just badmouthing Ilion, I would have ignored it, but to insult me too…

I was already looking for an opportunity to cause trouble today, so this is perfect.

Ilion might stay quiet because he has a lot to lose, but not me.

Anyway, my concept was to act crazy while smiling, and I was going to be kicked out of the mansion soon, so it wouldn’t matter if I tarnished my reputation — if I even had any — a bit more.

I picked up a vase placed next to the window with the calmest expression I could muster.

Then I pulled out the flowers from the vase and poured the water inside out the window refreshingly.

“With such a woman becoming the mistress, the Duchy Celestine will soon be… Aaargh!”

Bishop and his friend, who were still smoking cigarettes while gossiping about Ilion, looked up in shock at the water I poured.

“…Miss, Miss Rischefeld?”

“Oh my– Are you alright?”

“What, what are you doing, Miss?”

The two men, looking like drowned rats, instead got angry at me in a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

“I saw smoke rising, so I thought there might be a fire, you know?”

“Do you think that makes sense? We’re all wet! What are you going to do about this?”

They were truly exemplars of being strong against the weak and weak against the strong. If I had been the Duke, they wouldn’t have dared to make a peep.

“I’ll compensate you, so shall we go to the Duke together? By the way, I think I heard some strange words earlier… Um, what did you say about legitimate lineage or something? What did you say? I can’t remember well because of the word ‘beggar’.”

As I put my hand to my ear and asked again, Bishop’s face turned red and blue in a remarkable feat, then he muttered and ran away.

From the beginning, he seemed to be trying to curry favor with Ilion to get something, and he proved to be a despicable person to the end.

“Oh? Baron! Where are you going? I said I’d compensate you!”

Anyway, he sure is quick to run away. If this vase had belonged to Ilion, I would have thrown the whole thing, what a shame.

I put the flowers back in the vase and returned it to its place.

“What did you just…”

Ilion, who had been walking ahead, turned around with a dumbfounded expression at the small commotion. Since it’s come to this, might as well keep acting crazy to the end.

“Fire safety is important day and night. Always check extinguished fires. Don’t you know?”

“…Fire?”

“Wasn’t it? To my eyes, it looked like trash had caught fire. Fortunately, there was water in the vase, right?”

Ilion stared at me silently.

Yes, go ahead and say what you want to say. Something like ‘Are you crazy?’ or ‘You’re out of your mind.’ or ‘To think I was going to take such a woman as my fiancée!’ would be great.

If you could say all three at once, I couldn’t ask for more.

I looked at Ilion with an expectant expression.

“You should probably take etiquette lessons again…”

But the words that came out of his mouth fell far short of my expectations.

“I’ll tell Sebastian.”

“Tell him what?”

“To find a home tutor for you.”

“What?”

You’re going to make me take etiquette lessons? Why is the conversation going there?

“Um, Duke? I’ll have you know, I’ve already received proper etiquette education.”

When I smiled and implicitly asked him to withdraw his words, Ilion looked at me with eyes full of disbelief.

“I don’t mean to speak ill of your family, but if that’s what you received, Count Rischefeld must have raised you quite freely.”

This guy, he’s already said all the bad things, what’s he talking about now?

“Are you saying I didn’t receive proper home education?”

“Of course not. I’m saying how preciously Count Rischefeld must have raised you.”

That wasn’t the nuance at all, though? I glared at the back of Ilion’s head as I followed him while he muttered calmly.

If you have the time and effort for etiquette education, just kick me out instead!

***

As we returned to the banquet hall, the Marchioness approached us with a welcoming smile.

“Oh my, where did you two sneak off to so quietly? Ah, youth is wonderful indeed.”

“No, it’s not like that, we just went to the powder room for a moment…”

As I hurriedly explained, sensing some strange misunderstanding, the madam waved her hand as if she understood everything.

“You don’t need to make excuses. Did you have a good time?”

“…Ah, yes.”

Although there wasn’t a single moment that could be called a good time, I decided not to correct it if it was a misunderstanding in a positive direction. It didn’t seem like they would believe me even if I corrected it anyway.

“By the way, my husband was looking for you earlier, Duke. It seems he has something to discuss about business. I told him to refrain during my party, but he insisted it had to be today…”

The Marchioness made a troubled expression as she made her request to Ilion. So that’s why they were waiting for us.

“Then I’ll go see him for a moment.”

“Ah, my husband should be in the study now.”

Fortunately, Ilion was more comfortable with business talk than the banquet, so he didn’t mind her request much.

However, seemingly worried about leaving me alone, he whispered to me quietly.

“I hope you’ll behave while I’m gone.”

It was a single sentence that contained so much.

I didn’t want to betray Ilion’s expectations, but unfortunately, perhaps because I had been through too much today, I had no energy left to cause any more trouble.

So I planned to spend the rest of the time quietly eating desserts as Ilion wished.

Just then, the Marchioness didn’t leave but showed interest in me and started a conversation.

“Are you enjoying the party, Miss Rischefeld?”

“Yes. The banquet hall is so beautiful, the music is enjoyable, and above all, I love that there are many desserts.”

“It seems you like sweet desserts too, Miss.”

“Yes. But the Duke doesn’t like them much. So I always have to go to town if I want to eat them.”

“Oh my, desserts are one of life’s pleasures, but men often don’t understand that.”

She’s indeed an educated person. She knows. I nodded vigorously, strongly agreeing with the Marchioness’s words.

“Exactly. How can they live without knowing this taste? I’m sure they’re missing the part of their taste buds that senses sweetness.”

“Hahaha, you have such an interesting way of expressing yourself, Miss. Then, why don’t you come visit sometime when you’re free? I’ll teach you some recipes.”

I nodded enthusiastically at the Marchioness’s suggestion.

“Oh my, hello. I thought I heard joyful laughter somewhere, and here you two are.”

Just as the conversation was getting interesting, a familiar face appeared.

“Hello, Miss. We meet again.”

It was Julia, who had helped me this morning.

“Actually, I’ve been wanting to talk to you for a while, but I couldn’t find the opportunity. May I sit with you for a moment?”

“Of course. You’re always welcome, Miss Julia.”

She naturally sat at our table, and with her joining, the conversation became even more lively.

From trivial stories about social circles to current trends in the capital and recent hobbies they were into, the topics were diverse, and it was enjoyable just listening to the two of them talk.

Contrary to my worries, people were kind.

I thought that all the numerous novels I had read were just novels after all, and at this rate, I could easily complete the homework Ilion had given me.

That was until Julia started rummaging through her bag with a surprised face.

“Hmm, that’s strange. I thought I put it somewhere in here.”

“Did you lose something?”

“Well, it seems I’ve lost my ring. I’m sure I put it in my bag.”

Julia, who had been searching her bag for a while, eventually started shaking out her bag, emptying all its contents onto the table. An ornately decorated mirror and a few cosmetics fell haphazardly on the table.

“Oh no, I think I really lost it.”

“Maybe you dropped it somewhere?”

“I’m sure I put it in my bag when I washed my hands earlier. Where could it have gone?”

Julia absently fingered the inside of her bag. Perhaps because I felt a sense of kinship for having lost a ring too, it didn’t feel like someone else’s problem, so I stood up and asked.

“Where’s the bathroom where you might have lost it? I’ll go look for it.”

“…There’s no need for that.”

However, the answer came from an unexpected place.

“…Pardon?”

“I saw it. I saw Miss Rischefeld rummaging through Miss Julia’s bag earlier.”

“…What?”