I Was Tricked Into A Fraudulent Marriage By The Obsessive Villain - Chapter 5.4 - Banquet

“Yes…….”

“Answer with strength in your stomach! Loudly! With diaphragmatic breathing!”

“Yes!!”

And so, Iona continued her Spartan etiquette lessons with Madam Kalzavas for several days.

Then the day of the party finally arrived.

The Hardin family carriage pulled up in front of the Grand Duke’s mansion.

 “In order. Do you understand?”

“Yes……”

“Answer with strength in your stomach! Do you understand!”

“Yes!”

Iona was getting adorned by the maids for the party that was to take place in a few hours.

Madam Kalzavas stood next to Iona as if she couldn’t tolerate even a moment’s break, continuing her etiquette lessons.

From the first day Madam Kalzavas came to the mansion until now.

Under her guidance, Iona learned everything from basic facial expressions, facial management, posture, and even social dances that she had long forgotten.

Despite the overwhelming amount of information that couldn’t be learned in such a short time, Madam Kalzavas grabbed Iona and made her digest it all somehow.

Even having a strict teacher come to your house for personal lessons would seem less difficult than this.

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

No, this is hell…

Having lived her whole life without even stepping into the shadows of high society, Iona writhed in agony.

Iona was once at the level where she was confused about basic dining etiquette, but now she had mastered even walking while balancing dishes on her shoulders.

“Okay. Now, recite them in order.”

The enchanting words flew once again.

“One.”

“One. Don’t wrinkle your forehead.”

“Two.”

“Two. Smile with your eyes. No letting your soul run away.”

“Three.”

“Three. Your mouth should seem tense yet relaxed.”

“Very good.”

Madam Kalzavas nodded in satisfaction.

Iona let out a deep sigh of relief.

What was currently exhausting Iona wasn’t just Madam Kalzavas.

“How wonderful. The dress is silver, resembling the color of His Highness’s hair.”

“Wouldn’t it accentuate her waistline better if we pin it here on this side?”

“Good. Since the dress is splendid, let’s go with a simple headpiece…”

About half a dozen maids were clinging solely to her.

Iona was regretting her decision to attend the party.

She should have pretended to be crazy and screamed that she wasn’t going to go when given the choice.

She was filled with deep regret.

She was listening to Madam Kalzavas’ etiquette training through one ear and entrusting her body to the maids when one of them suddenly announced a visitor.

“Your Highness. Duke Hardin has arrived.”

“My sister?”

Iona’s eyes widened.

As she turned her gaze towards the door, behind the maid, she caught sight of Johanna with her head tilted quizzically.

“Sister. What brings you here?”

“Miss, ah, no. Your Highness! We, we are invisible to you?”

“Sob. How could you forget our memories of chasing after you every time…?!”

Johanna wasn’t the only one who had come.

Behind Johanna, the maids who had been in charge of Iona at the Hardin Estate also revealed themselves.

“…You came too?”

“Of course! If the Lady is here, we should naturally be here too!”

“Have you already forgotten about us?!”

The maids said, their eyes reddening.

Johanna approached Lady Kalzavas, leaving behind the bewildered Iona and the teary-eyed maids.

“Countess Kalzavas. It’s been a while.”

“Her Grace, the Duke of Hardin. I presume you’re here to see Her Highness, so I let you talk.”

Countess Kalzavas excused herself.

As the madam left and Johanna was about to say something to Iona.

“It’s been a while. Duke.”

“…Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

Carvain appeared.

Iona caught sight of the two most terrifying people she knew.

Between Johanna and Carvain, who were silently exchanging glances, it seemed as if invisible sparks were flying.

Just touching hands would feel like being electrocuted by high voltage.

In an atmosphere that felt like it could slice through skin, Iona wanted nothing more than to run away right then.

Please… Can’t you two go outside and talk?

Don’t do this here.

Iona muttered words to herself that she could never utter aloud.

“What brings you here, traveling such a long way?”

“It’s not that far.”

“Is that so?”

Despite the conversation being exchanged with smiling faces, there was a sharp edge to it.

“Yes. I heard my one and only sister is making her debut in society. I came here out of concern.”

“If that’s the case, you’ve worried in vain. My wife is preparing without any issues.”

“No issues, you say?”

Johanna twisted her mouth at Carvain’s words.

“How much time could a newly established family have had to prepare for a party? I can’t stand to see someone from the noble Hardin family making their first appearance in society looking like a poor, beaten old horse.”

“Looking poor? I see, nowadays old horses are wrapped in jewels. I wasn’t aware.”

Carvain indicated to Iona with a gesture.

The dress Iona was wearing seemed to easily surpass the price of several mansions.

It shone as if jewels had been finely ground and sprinkled over it, with small, intricately crafted gems densely embedded all over the dress.

’Like a human disco ball.’

Iona muttered to herself.

She absolutely did not want to get involved in a conversation that seemed like it could leave one unable to recover even their bones if they misspoke.

“The adornment of women is not just about surrounding oneself with expensive things.”

Johanna sharply retorted to Carvain’s words.

“From finding a hairstyle that suits one’s face to meticulously fitting the dress to one’s figure, to finding shoes of the right height that are also comfortable. “

“These are all things that need to be carefully prepared by people who have been with you for a long time. “

“I cannot entrust them to the hands of these maids who have not been with her for long. “

At Johanna’s words, the maids of the grand duke’s family who were attached to Iona frowned momentarily.

“Traditionally, the debut in society is hosted by the family of the debutante. Even now, the preparation will be undertaken by the Hardin family.”

Johanna gave the command with a flick of her chin, and as if waiting for it, Hardin’s maids moved towards Iona.

‘Stop them!’

‘Protect Her Highness!’

‘What are these people?!’

The maids of the Grand Duke’s household exchanged glances and barricaded in front of Iona as if erecting a barricade.

‘Where do you think you’re blocking?!’

‘Get out of the way! Don’t touch our lady!’

‘Do you think we’d hand over someone we’ve held in our hands for over a decade to you?!’

The maids of the Hardin household glared fiercely at those of the Grand Duke’s household.

It was as if invisible flames were flickering between the maids.

Iona genuinely felt so tired that she just wanted to lie down.

‘Can’t they just leave without causing a scene, please?’

Why does nobody ask for her opinion?

Feeling that something might explode the moment she opened her mouth, Iona simply kept quiet.

“My wife’s family is now the House of Thanatos.”

“Do you intend to treat a child with an intact family as an orphan?”

“…….”

“Just by delaying her debut in society and not holding a debutante ball, she’ll already be the talk of the town. Do you really want to add fuel to the fire?”

Johanna seized the momentum and pressed on.

“Are you planning to make her the laughingstock who debuts in society not under her family’s name, but by emptying her husband’s pockets?”

“…….”

Carvain shifted his gaze to take in Iona.

Iona silently met Carvain’s intertwining gaze.

“If that’s how you feel, then I shall step back.”

After staring at her for a while, Carvain took a step back.

“Please take good care of my wife.”

“I will take good care of my sister.”

…Excuse me. Could you please stop now?