“I’m still not completely recovered, so could you leave me alone for a while?”

“…Huh? Oh, okay…”

Evelyn finally managed to shake off Beatrice, who had insisted on following her all the way inside.

She leaned her back against the bedroom door.

“Haa…”

A long sigh escaped through her slightly parted lips.

This was only the beginning.

She couldn’t afford to be exhausted already.

And yet, for some reason, the day felt unusually long.

“Let’s rest for a bit first.”

After changing clothes by herself, Evelyn sank onto the sofa in the corner of the room.

She rested the back of her head against the sofa and placed the back of her hand against her forehead.

It was still hot.

Apparently, she had pushed herself too hard while she was still recovering.

Evelyn forced her tired body back to its feet, soaked a towel in water, and placed it over her forehead.

Cold.

But strangely enough, she preferred it this way.

The coolness seemed to clear her mind.

Before long, however, the towel became lukewarm.

As Evelyn lifted her arm to reach for it, the short sleeve of her dress caught her eye.

It was obvious now.

The clothes Evelyn had been wearing did not fit her properly.

Not this dress.

Nor the one she had worn when she went out today.

‘When I think about it, there were so many things I simply endured…’

Realizing that anew, Evelyn rose from the sofa.

***

Scratch, scratch.

The quill racing across the parchment suddenly came to a stop.

Viscountess Schneider dipped the dried nib into the ink once more and was just about to continue writing when…

“Mother, it’s me. Do you have a moment?”

“Come in.”

Viscountess Schneider removed the spectacles she had been wearing while writing the letter and placed them on the table.

When she saw her daughter, Beatrice, looking strangely flustered, her brows drew together slightly.

‘That young lord of House Osment must have sent her another gift.’ 

‘What does she see in that fox? He may have a handsome face, but there’s nothing but darkness inside him.’

If everything currently underway went according to plan, Viscountess Schneider intended to arrange a marriage between Beatrice and a family at least as prestigious as House Osment.

But she hadn’t told Beatrice about it.

She thought it would be better not to get her hopes up and risk ruining things before they were finalized.

‘Perhaps I should at least hint at it soon.’

With that thought, Viscountess Schneider spoke.

“What is it?”

“I heard Evelyn broke up with brother!”

“With the young lord of House Osment?”

“Yes!”

“They must have had some minor quarrel.”

Assuming it was nothing serious, Viscountess Schneider reached for her spectacles again.

Then Beatrice muttered almost to herself,

“I don’t think so. She seemed… determined somehow.”

“Good grief…”

A long sigh escaped between Viscountess Schneider’s lips.

Beatrice glanced cautiously at her mother, sensing her displeasure, before carefully speaking again.

“If they really did break up, doesn’t that mean I have a chance too?”

“What?”

“To tell you the truth, I always felt that Brother Alexis was secretly interested in me. I just never told you…”

“Is that really true?”

“At first, I thought I was imagining it. I wondered if he was simply treating me well because I was Evelyn’s younger sister…”

“……”

“But even the escort knight and maid who had been watching said the same thing. They both said the same thing, that Brother Alexis seemed to like me, not Evelyn.”

“And?”

“Could it be that the two of them finally realized what was going on and broke up because of it?”

Viscountess Schneider pressed a hand against her throbbing forehead and shook her head.

“Why are you doing that, Mother?”

“Come to think of it, Evelyn really is foolish.”

At the unexpected criticism of Evelyn, Beatrice’s eyes curved into crescents.

But soon, her expression shifted to one of curiosity as she looked at her mother, wondering why she would say such a thing.

“If I were Evelyn, I wouldn’t even give the young lord of House Osment a second glance.”

“Why not…?! What’s wrong with him?”

Beatrice immediately bristled, raising her voice slightly.

Viscountess Schneider gave her daughter a brief sideways glance before continuing.

“She was fortunate enough to be born into such a high position, yet she doesn’t know how to make use of it.”

‘If only I had married a little later…’

No.

‘If only my brother had gone to the battlefield a little earlier and distinguished himself.’

If that had happened, she could have used the title of Marquis Ceres’s younger sister to secure a far better marriage.

Instead of merely becoming one of countless viscountesses in high society.

That lingering regret was why Viscountess Schneider considered Evelyn’s choice so foolish.

If she had been Evelyn, she would have sought a connection with a ducal family rather than House Osment.

And that wasn’t all.

Considering how powerful House Ceres currently was, a marriage into the imperial family might even have been within reach.

Yet with such an advantageous position, Evelyn had chosen nothing more than the young lord of House Osment.

‘That man has nothing but snakes writhing inside him.’

Viscountess Schneider wanted to say exactly that.

But she forced herself to keep silent.

Everyone who mattered already knew about Evelyn and Alexis’s relationship.

House Osment had deliberately allowed the rumors to spread discreetly.

Among the aristocracy, it was fairly common for nobles to have lovers even while being engaged to someone chosen by their family.

But such relationships usually ended before they became the subject of uncomfortable gossip.

Even after marriage, if a noble chose to keep a lover as a mistress or paramour, discretion was expected.

“Anyway, don’t get any ideas. Evelyn won’t be able to separate from the young lord of House Osment that easily.”

Seeing the questioning expression on her daughter’s face, Viscountess Schneider quickly added,

“Everyone already knows about their relationship. What family would want Evelyn now?”

“……”

Only then did Beatrice nod as though she finally understood.

Knock, knock.

A knock sounded at the door.

After a brief silence, Evelyn’s voice came from the other side.

“…It’s me.”

Viscountess Schneider was slightly caught off guard to hear Evelyn standing outside.

But she quickly composed herself.

“Yes, Evelyn. What is it?”

“Do you have a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

At Evelyn’s request to come inside, Beatrice flinched.

Then she quickly shook her head.

Apparently, she didn’t want Evelyn to realize that she had rushed here to tell her mother about what had happened with the young lord of House Osment.

“Good grief…”

Viscountess Schneider let out a quiet sigh.

She gave Beatrice a small nod before walking toward the door.

“I was just about to go for a walk. Would you mind talking while we walk?”

“Of course.”

Evelyn nodded.

As they began walking, Viscountess Schneider glanced at her.

“Well, Evelyn. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

“I was delayed because I came down with a cold, but I thought I should visit the dressmaker now.”

Evelyn had always visited the dressmaker whenever the seasons changed.

But this was the first time she had ever taken the initiative and asked to have new dresses made.

“The dressmaker?”

Viscountess Schneider asked, puzzled.

“Yes. The imperial palace ball is coming up soon.”

Viscountess Schneider gazed into the distance for a moment before nodding in understanding.

The Marquis of Ceres had recently announced that he would attend the upcoming imperial palace ball.

To show him, it would probably be a good idea to have a new dress made for Evelyn.

“Is that all you wanted to discuss?”

“Yes.”

Viscountess Schneider had hoped Evelyn would tell her what had happened with the young lord of House Osment.

But Evelyn merely gave a small nod and said nothing more.

Viscountess Schneider wanted to press her for details.

In the end, however, she decided to keep her questions to herself.

***

The carriage carrying Evelyn and the Viscount Schneider, mother and daughter, came to a stop in front of a dress shop located in the heart of the bustling district.

A moment later, someone emerged from the shop and bowed deeply to the three women.

“Thank you for visiting our establishment.”

The three were warmly welcomed inside.

Normally, aristocrats would summon a dressmaker to their homes, where measurements could be taken and designs selected.

It was far more convenient that way.

Viscountess Schneider, however, always preferred to visit the dress shop herself.

Her reasoning was simple.

Whenever a dressmaker made a house call, they added an inflated amount to the price of the dress under the pretext of a traveling fee.

Once inside, Viscountess Schneider looked around before asking,

“Madame Charlotte isn’t here today?”

It was clearly a complaint that the owner of the dress shop hadn’t come out personally to greet them.

The shop attendant seemed to notice her displeasure and answered with a bright smile.