* * *

Selvia got into the carriage and faced Leliana.

“When we go to House Evelyn, mind your titles properly.”

“I will.”

Leliana snorted.

She had already received quite a few glares for not using proper titles when the Karina delegation came.

“Ah, right. You saw him too? My former fiancé.”

“……Why bring him up suddenly?”

Cracks appeared in Selvia’s previously expressionless face.

Not noticing this, Leliana started chattering excitedly.

“He must have come looking for me because he can’t forget me. How did he even know to come here.”

How foolish. How would he know you were here?

Moreover, if he was seen in the palace, she should have been suspicious about how he got past security first.

“If only his family wasn’t so insignificant, he would have been fun with that face. It’s a shame. Even in the dark, he’s still captivating.”

“So did you have any fun?”

Selvia’s expression became indifferent again as she listened to Leliana’s chattering.

“Are you curious?”

Leliana leaned back and crossed her legs. She lifted her dress slightly and struck a seductive pose.

Selvia smiled slightly at Leliana.

“Well. Leliana, there’s only one thing I’m curious about right now. Whether you’ll behave like this at the duchy too.”

“……What?”

“Please refrain from such vulgar behavior. I’m afraid you’ll bring shame to my face.”

“What did you just say?”

Leliana stood up with an expression like she might grab her hair at any moment.

‘Pull it.’

The shadows shook the carriage at Selvia’s words.

Clunk—

The carriage shook as though it hit a bump.

Because of this, Leliana lost her balance and fell.

“My, didn’t you learn as a child not to stand in a moving carriage?”

Selvia looked down at Leliana who bit her lip while glaring.

“We seem to have arrived, so get up quickly. What an embarrassment it would be if the door opened now.”

“Huh.”

She looked at Leliana who let out a laugh of disbelief, then stood up from her seat.

Just then the carriage opened and Selvia got out with an indifferent expression, accepting the escort.

“It’s an honor to have you visit like this.”

Lady Evelyn came out to welcome Selvia. When Leliana emerged behind her, the lady’s expression became somewhat bewildered.

Selvia knew why Lady Evelyn’s expression wasn’t good.

It was because of the commotion when Lady Evelyn’s fiancé fell for Leliana and demanded to break off their engagement.

Lady Evelyn probably hadn’t expected Leliana to brazenly come to an event where the queen was invited.

Leliana had cried and made excuses saying she didn’t know at the time, but Lady Evelyn knew the whole story.

That her foolish fiancé had abandoned her after being captivated by Leliana’s face.

“It’s nice to see you. It’s been a while. I heard you ended up breaking off the engagement with Derick. But I’m glad to see you looking well.”

Leliana spoke with an innocent smile.

Selvia felt uncomfortable with Leliana’s shameless behavior.

‘She’s digging her own grave.’

Looking carefully, Leliana didn’t show a single sign of discomfort.

“Yes…… Lady Flandre has come too.”

However, Leliana’s brow furrowed at Lady Evelyn’s unexpectedly lukewarm response.

If Beatus had spoken to her beforehand, she would have known her place.

‘I need to put that pride in check.’

She was under the delusion that she already had Beatus’s complete love.

Her arrogance, the way she’s as if she were already queen, was beyond redemption.

Selvia clicked her tongue inwardly, sensing what Leliana was thinking.

‘We’ll be lucky if she doesn’t embarrass herself.’

Rumors had subtly spread that Leliana was receiving Beatus’s love.

The one who spread those rumors was none other than Selvia.

She had done it thinking it would be easier to distance herself from his side if unfavorable rumors circulated.

Recently, Selvia had been handling all external events and activities, so the nobles acknowledged and respected her position.

After all, someone they  could see was better than Beatus who never showed himself.

“Shall we go, Your Highness?”

Selvia smiled and entered following Lady Evelyn’s guidance.

Before entering the mansion, she didn’t forget to glance back at Leliana.

“Leliana, what are you doing standing there like a fool? It’s not polite to keep everyone waiting.”

“That’s right. Please come quickly. Everyone is waiting for Her Highness—if you come in late, they might mistake who the main guest is.”

Lady Evelyn sneered lowly while looking at Leliana.

No matter how beautiful and accomplished one might be, this is how you get treated when you steal someone else’s fiancé.

One could tell at a glance how much effort Lady Evelyn had put into the banquet as soon as they entered.

The interior was decorated in fresh greens that Selvia liked, naturally drawing attention.

“You must have worked hard preparing this. It’s so beautiful, it’s a pleasure to look at.”

“I’m honored that Your Highness is pleased.”

Selvia smiled slightly at Evelyn’s words and took her seat.

Everyone looked at Selvia with sparkling eyes.

Until now, Selvia had never responded to any invitation she received. However, recently, starting with Lady Evelyn’s, she had begun responding to everyone.

Now she no longer needed to hide her claws while crouching.

Selvia was thinking positively about her contract with Harwin.

She wasn’t foolish enough to kick away an opportunity to escape the kingdom.

For an amicable divorce, she needed allies. People who would look at her with sympathy, for instance.

If her planned strategy failed, she would need a backup plan.

If people acknowledged her abilities and she had a good reputation, they were more likely to sympathize rather than criticize when she stepped down from being queen for not having the power of light.

‘Judging by their expressions, I made the right choice responding to this place first.’

The reason she chose Lady Evelyn as her first move was because of Leliana.

Selvia knew what Leliana had been doing.

Her sister particularly coveted men who were already paired with others.

Whether they had good positions or outstanding looks, it seemed she wouldn’t be satisfied until she had whatever she wanted.

Without even thinking about how it would all come back to poison her later.

“Oh my, Lady Flandre has come too.”

The ladies who belatedly noticed her presence made subtle expressions.

Though everyone usually smiled pleasantly upon seeing Leliana’s face, perhaps due to her innate power of light, not a single person here was smiling.

After all, there wasn’t anyone here who hadn’t been hurt by Leliana.

Everyone had admired and envied Leliana, but that was all.

Leliana lived thinking only of herself.

Perhaps it was natural that no one welcomed her, as she took people’s goodwill for granted and didn’t care about harming others.

“Yes, it’s been a while. Have you all been well?”

She should have regularly shown her face in social circles and exercised her power of light.

It was a way to gain people’s favor. However, recently, even that influence had weakened because Leliana hadn’t left the palace.

Because of this, the ladies who now faced Leliana tilted their heads at the strange feeling.

‘This is odd, I thought we were on good terms with Lady Flandre……’

She’s not welcome at all. If anything, her presence is irritating enough to make us wonder why she came.

They couldn’t understand why. However, they vaguely thought it was because they felt uncomfortable due to Selvia’s presence.

Selvia quietly observed the ladies’ expressions.

It seemed Leliana would naturally become isolated even without her intervention.

Could Leliana handle that feeling?

Though she hadn’t expected it, she felt pleased now that this situation had arisen.

She might get to see the downfall of someone who had made people her allies through deception.

“Please sit, Lady Flandre. Not there, over there.”

Evelyn finally frowned when she saw Leliana trying to sit in the seat of honor.

As this was Leliana’s first time receiving such treatment, confusion was evident on her face.

“Oh my, isn’t this my seat? I am Her Highness’s sister after all.”

As Leliana smoothly composed her expression and smiled brightly as if nothing was wrong, light began to emanate around her.

She used her power because things weren’t going her way.

Seeing this, the ladies’ expressions instantly softened. Even Lady Evelyn nodded.

“Lady Flandre can sit there, it’s fine.”

“Please sit, the tea will get cold.”

Selvia shook her head at people’s attitudes that changed so quickly.

Seeing Leliana use her power for such trivial matters, it seemed she had become somewhat desperate.

Seeing it in person made it certain. Her light makes people become favorable towards her.

‘Come to think of it, there was one more thing I needed to confirm.’

Selvia casually brought up the topic of wine with Lady Evelyn.

She had already come knowing that the lady was growing grapes and selling wine from her territory.

“I hear House Evelyn is famous for its wine. Could you perhaps recommend some good ones when I leave? I was thinking of purchasing a few.”

“Of course. We would be honored. I actually have some prepared, so please taste them and let me know.”

Lady Evelyn immediately called a maid and ordered her to bring several wines.

“I would be grateful if you did. It seems like it would pair well with the prepared food.”

Things flowed exactly as Selvia wanted.

What she wanted to confirm was simple.

Whether Leliana could drink alcohol.

“Oh yes, Lady Flandre, I heard you’ve been staying at the palace since the carriage attack incident?”

Lady Demere asked with curious eyes.

As if she had been waiting for those words, Leliana gently nodded.

“But it seems you’ve been there quite a while……”

Lady Demere trailed off while carefully watching Leliana’s reaction.

Their curiosity must have grown since there were recent rumors about Leliana.

Moreover, even Selvia, who they thought would look haggard, was doing better than expected, so it was natural for people to wonder about the truth of the rumors.

“Lady Demere. Won’t you leave when it’s time? Unless you’ve started an affair with His Highness.”

At Selvia’s direct words, Demere startled and bowed her head saying,

“I apologize…… It seems I spoke out of turn.”

Only then coming to her senses, Demere hurriedly waved her hands.

Leliana’s face crumpled as she looked at Selvia.

Then she kicked Selvia’s leg under the table and even gave her a reproachful look.

‘Are you crazy? Saying things like that, what will people think of me?!’

However, Selvia stared at Leliana without changing her expression.

‘So you can feel shame.’

Selvia smiled and firmly stepped on Leliana’s foot.

“Ack!”

A cry of pain escaped Leliana’s lips.

“Did something happen?”

When the startled Lady Demere asked, Leliana bit her lip.

Fortunately, the quick-witted Lady Evelyn clapped her hands and changed the atmosphere.

“Oh my, the mood has gotten a bit strange! Why don’t we stop the uncomfortable talk and just enjoy ourselves?”

The atmosphere became convivial again as wine was poured with perfect timing.

Selvia quietly waited for Leliana’s reaction.

And the moment wine was being poured into Leliana’s glass, she waved her hand and said,

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can drink alcohol.”

At Leliana’s statement, Selvia’s smile deepened.