I Was Tricked Into A Fraudulent Marriage By The Obsessive Villain - Chapter 5.3 - Banquet

Squinting her eyes momentarily to gauge the man’s true intentions, Iona soon shook her head.

After all, it didn’t seem like pondering deeply would yield any answers.

She knew well that, in the end, there was only one choice to make.

“Alright. Let’s go together.”

“A party with my wife. It’s an honor.”

The man smiled casually and kissed the back of her hand.

Does this man really think my hand is coated in honey?

“In that sense, I have prepared something for you, wife.”

“…Please, no more barrage of gifts.”

Do you know how much trouble that caused?

“It’s okay. This time, it’s just one.”

Knock knock.

As soon as the man finished speaking, someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Following the man’s invitation, a middle-aged lady entered.

…Something’s off.

That was Iona’s first impression of the lady.

She was clearly wearing a dress, but everything about her was sharply defined.

She looked like a soldier.

She remembered a military documentary she’d seen in her past life, where a private folded all the fabric into knife-edge folds.

The woman, who had approached without Iona realizing it, greeted her.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness.”

“Your Highness. Allow me to introduce myself, Countess Leal Jarabas Kalzavas.“

“…….”

……..The name is quite extraordinary, isn’t it?

***

 House Kalzavas was essentially a vassal family of the Duke of Winchester, the First Empress’s family.

A loyal servant to the noble House of Winchester, a powerful northern powerhouse, that was Kalzavas.

However, their influence began to wane after the first Empress was defeated in the palace intrigues and executed.

The Duke of Winchester, one of the six pillars of the Empire, was about to be destroyed.

– You must go.

– Your Highness, this cannot be. Please allow me to stand by your side honorably until the end…!

Hurry on.

The younger Duke, who succeeded the family, was determined to save his old vassal, House Kalzavas.

He demoted the Kalzavas family to the rank of counts and severed the vassal relationship.

– I will stand by your side. Please let me stand by Your Highness and the prince’s side. Your Highness…!!

– Leal. You must live. Survival is the priority.

– ……Daniel.

Her childhood friend, who had just become the duke, smiled as if he was breaking apart.

He soon commanded again as a master.

– This is my first and last command as your master: survive.

It was a disgrace for not being able to protect his master and a grace she could never forget in her life.

Thanks to the Duke of Winchester, House Kalzavas has been spared the bloodbath.

– If you ever need my help, please seek me out. Your Highness.

To Leal Kalzavas, who was the maid of honor to the First Empress and a close friend of her younger brother, the young Duke of Winchester, was Carvain like a thorn in her side.

An innocent child left alone at a young age after losing her mother.

The bloodline of young Winchester that she failed to protect.

Thus, Madam Kalzavas sent letters to Carvain every time.

Though she couldn’t visit him due to the public eye, she always said she’d rush to his aid whenever he needed.

Yet, she never received a reply.

Madam Kalzavas gritted her teeth and endured.

The insults of Empress Padul and the sorrow of failing to protect her master.

Instead of gathering strength for immediate revenge, she endured the humiliation, vowing to survive till the end to become Carvain’s strength.

Promising to be at the forefront when Carvain someday draws his sword for vengeance.

And so it was that Madam Kalzavas endured, until one day Carvain contacted her.

– Countess. I need your help.

– Anything. Just say the word, Your Highness.

She felt a thrill at the call for help, ready to draw her sword and charge at the detestable Empress Padul immediately.

However, the help Carvain requested was of a different kind.

“I am Countess Leal Kalzavas.”

Madam Kalzavas greeted, scanning the young Grand Duchess before her.

She was surprised to be greeted by a lady, but even more surprised that she was Hardin.

Lady Kalzavas wept tears of joy that Carvain had asked for her help, even if it was in a different direction than she had expected.

She was skilled with the sword, but her years as a handmaiden to the First Empress had made her well-versed in manners.

She firmly resolved to transform the young Grand Duchess before her into a flawless figure.

“Then, I leave my wife in your care.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will do my best.”

As Carvain left the room, only Iona and Madam Kalzavas were left.

“…….”

In the suffocating silence, Iona awkwardly smiled and opened her mouth.

“Um, Madam. I’ve kept my distance from social circles and my etiquette skills are quite lacking.”

“Stop with the weak talk.”

“Excuse me…?”

“Your Highness has not yet made her debutante debut or stepped into society. Is that correct?”

“Ah, yes.”

“But now that you’ve become the Grand Duchess, you cannot avoid your relationship with society. Do you understand?”

“Yes…..”

“Your responses are too weak!”

“Yes!”

Iona felt momentarily confused.

What is this situation?

Despite her confused mind, her mouth seemed to be responding involuntarily.

“Out there, we may be the Grand Duchess and Countess, but here, Your Highness and I are just mentor and pupil. You must approach it as a learning experience. Do you understand?”

“Yes…!”

“This Kalzavas will make Your Highness’ etiquette surpass anyone else’s. Trust and follow me. Do you understand?”

“Yes…… Yes!”

It feels like the word ‘cadet’ is missing after ‘Do you understand’…

Why does her intuition feel so ominous?

Iona murmured inwardly, tears welling up.

With an unusual name and a military-like demeanor in her attire, Lady Kalzavas began to teach Iona in a  Spartan manner as if she had become a soldier.

“Again. Your shoulder is leaning to the right.”

“L-Like this?”

“Again! The corners of your mouth are trembling. You must smile naturally. Now, follow me. One, keep your brow relaxed. Two, squint your eyes halfway! Three, raise the corners of your mouth as if you’re giving a subtle smile!”

“As if giving a subtle smile…?”

It was a half-air, half-slap metaphor.

“Don’t talk back! Now, one!”

“Ha, haha.”

Iona tried hard to smooth out her brow.

“Two!”

She half-closed her eyes forcibly.

“Three!”

“Is, is this how?”

She raised the corners of her mouth.

As if giving a subtle smile. As if giving a subtle smile.

Murmuring the lady’s expression, Iona tried to mimic it. Her mouth trembled like a vibrating phone.

Madam Kalzavas stared at her for a moment, then clapped her hands and shook her head.

“Again!”

“Why again!? I’ve done one, two, three!”

“You lack soul in your eyes! How can you conquer society with eyes like a fish that has lost its focus!”

No, ma’am. I wasn’t planning on conquering anything.

“No, I just…”

“Now, again! One!”

“…One.”

Iona had a mountain of things to say, but she obediently followed the lady’s movements, repeating them.

This is like the military. It’s like the military…

She was just planning to go to a party, but how did it end up like this?

It felt like finally receiving the punishment for running away from proper etiquette education during her childhood.

“Two!”

“Three! No twitching at the corners of your mouth!”