“Duke Archild and the Duchess have arrived!”

At the doorkeeper’s resonant voice, everyone’s attention focused on them. Medric and Eve, having changed their clothes, entered the hall.

Eve, who had changed from her wedding dress into a wine-colored evening gown that flowed with a silky sheen, was breathtakingly beautiful.

Her white skin, contrasting with her upswept black hair, looked bewitching.

The dress clung to her body and fell to her ankles, revealing tantalizing glimpses of her legs when she walked, creating an atmosphere completely different from her pure image during the ceremony.

Medric matched her style with his hair neatly swept back and wearing a different black formal suit than before.

They appeared as if spotlights were shining on them, even without any special lighting.

Men who passed by swallowed hard, while noble ladies and young ladies covered their faces with fans while persistently following the couple with their eyes.

Receiving blessings from many, the couple first sought out Glishakov in the banquet hall. Medric bowed his head to Glishakov.

“I hope you have been well. Thank you for honoring us with your presence.”

The Crown Prince, with his dazzling blonde hair and skin so clean it appeared transparent, smiled.

“It’s been a while, Duke. You as Duke Archild… This is my first time seeing it. Thank you for inviting me to this wonderful occasion.”

“Hello. I am Eve Hesse.”

Contrary to what she had expected, Glishakov was closer to a sickly pretty boy. She wondered how someone so delicate-looking could have scolded everyone so forcefully in the ceremony hall earlier.

“You two make a wonderful couple.”

Glishakov blessed the couple with a kind smile.

Eve knew that the First Princess Roanne had become the queen consort of another country, and the Second Princess Juliana was still too young to participate in politics, which was why Glishakov had become Crown Prince early on.

“I am overwhelmed with gratitude.”

“Oh, it’s nothing much.”

Glishakov smiled gently and continued his conversation with Medric.

“By the way, Duke Archild, you didn’t attend the recent council meeting. Have you heard the news?”

“Ah, I was actually going to ask about that. Was there any discussion about measures following the relief efforts?”

“No… that’s the problem. There was no progress even at the council meeting. We’ll likely supply additional resources soon, but matching the required numbers is no easy task.”

“I see, as expected. Did the Papal Office say anything?”

“The Papal Office is already providing help as much as they can, so asking for more would be…”

“But only divine power can purify the plague, can’t it?”

“That’s true, but…”

The conversation that started with simple greetings soon shifted to matters of state. Medric and Glishakov continued their heated discussion. Seeing that the conversation would likely go on longer, Eve told Medric she would go around and greet others.

“Lady Anna should be waiting over there. I’ll go before it gets too late.”

“Will you be alright?”

Of course, Lady Anna wouldn’t be the only one waiting.

Even now, look—there were people watching for an opportunity to exchange even a single word with her, or eyes filled with eagerness to devour her.

It felt like walking straight into a den of monsters, but she couldn’t just stay glued to Medric’s side without doing anything.

Medric knew this too, which is why he worried about Eve. But what could he do? When Eve assured him she would be fine, Medric stared at her for a moment before finally nodding.

With Medric’s permission, Eve made her way to where Lady Anna was. Fortunately, she was able to quickly join Lady Anna who had been waiting for her.

“You looked so beautiful at the wedding. I was moved to tears.”

“Oh, Lady Anna.”

“Let’s go to my table. I’ll introduce you to the other ladies.”

Eve agreed and followed Lady Anna to change seats.

After taking just two steps…

A young lady with honey-colored hair wearing a blue dress made of crepe fabric approached Eve.

“Hello, Duchess. I am Clareta Marvel.”

Clareta smiled beautifully like a blooming flower and curtsied gracefully, lifting her skirt slightly.

Clareta Marvel.

Eve knew her well.

Clareta Marvel was the number one person Lady Anna had pointed out as someone to be cautious of in society.

As a young lady from the Marvel ducal family that had conquered the nouveau riche nobility faction, she was essentially at odds with Lady Anna Carlena, the countess who had conquered the established nobility faction.

‘I didn’t expect to converse with her so quickly.’

“I hope I haven’t startled you by greeting you so suddenly. I’ve been looking for an opportunity to greet you since earlier, and finally, the chance has come.”

Clareta spoke only to Eve as if Lady Anna were invisible.

At this rude behavior, Eve frowned and was about to say something when Lady Anna grabbed her arm and shook her head. At this signal to refrain, Eve closed her mouth.

Clareta stepped slightly to the side and introduced the noble young ladies standing behind her.

“These are young ladies who wanted to talk with you and came with me. From here, Bella Liliana, Rachel Alaska, Clara Louise.”

“Hello, Duchess.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Duchess.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Congratulations on your marriage.”

“Instead of standing here talking, why don’t we go over there to chat?”

Now she was openly treating Lady Anna as if she were invisible. Eve swallowed the laugh that threatened to burst out and said:

“Young lady, I’m afraid I was just about to move with Lady Anna. Perhaps another opportunity?”

“Oh my, have you decided to go with her? The age difference might make conversation difficult for you.”

At Clareta’s words, the noble young ladies around her covered their mouths with fans and giggled among themselves.

Her skill at mockery was extraordinary. Moreover, it wasn’t just mockery. Her words carried an implicit threat that if Eve moved with Lady Anna now, she wouldn’t be able to set foot in Clareta’s circle.

‘I can see how she gathered the nouveau riche nobles.’

Eve furrowed her brow, considering how to deal with this rude young lady.

Simply ignoring her and following Lady Anna seemed unfair to Lady Anna, who was being disrespected just by standing beside her.

Eve looked at the honey-haired young lady and said:

“Well, it might be difficult to move to your table for conversation, but shall we chat here briefly?”

“Will you? You’ve made a good choice, Duchess.”

Eve asked with a gentle smile:

“But would it be alright if Lady Anna joins us? This is my first such gathering, and I think I’d be very nervous without Lady Anna.”

At Eve’s words, Lady Anna opened her eyes wide in surprise. Of course, the surrounding young ladies did the same.

Clareta’s face hardened as she exchanged glances with the young ladies around her. The flustered young ladies crossed glances with each other.

“Lady Anna too…? Well, would that be alright?”

“If the Duchess wishes it.”

“It should be fine for a short while, shouldn’t it?”

To Eve, high society was like a game of territory. What mattered was how many nobles you could bring to your side and how much influence you could display.

If Eve, who had just debuted in society, aligned herself with only the nouveau riche or the established nobility, her ceiling would be predetermined. At such a large reception where even the Crown Prince was present and many people were watching, being seen with only one faction would be fatal. Eve didn’t want that.

‘Since the young lady has taken the initiative to approach me, I should gladly use this opportunity.’

Eve asked a nearby footman for a glass of lemonade.

Then, smiling, she threw out a topic that she knew the young ladies would be curious about.

“I wonder what made such precious young ladies grace me with their presence? I heard some interesting conversations in the ceremony hall earlier. About Baron Hesse, or about my background.”

The flustered young ladies cleared their throats and pretended ignorance.

“Oh my… Were there people saying such things?”

“I didn’t hear anything… Perhaps you misheard?”

Eve took a sip of lemonade to moisten her throat and laughed out loud.

“As if I have no ears. With both eyes and ears intact, how could I not know? Isn’t that right, Lady Anna?”

When the question turned to her, Lady Anna gladly replied with a smile:

“I heard it too. My goodness, how shameless it was. We were fortunate that His Highness the Crown Prince stepped in.”

“Indeed. I couldn’t exactly burst in wearing my dress to tell them to stop, and I felt so relieved when His Highness intervened.”

Lady Anna and Eve seemed as if they had rehearsed their lines.

When the Modga marquis family collapsed, Eve had pleaded with the King, clutching at his trouser legs, and had even threatened doorkeepers by holding their knives to her neck. It was the same at the Renox count’s mansion. But in this country, pleas fell on deaf ears.

Only power struggles and faction battles mattered. Only those who won these battles could grasp the opportunity to twist their opponents’ necks.

That’s why she had promised herself while learning from Lady Anna.

That she would learn their ways as they wished. That she would fight them in their own style.

‘If I don’t do this, I might go crazy.’

Clareta and the young ladies were visibly flustered by the conversation between Eve and Lady Anna.

With the Crown Prince being mentioned, they didn’t know what punishment might befall them if they misspoke.

Yet they couldn’t readily agree with Eve either. The moment they did, they would become the very people who had engaged in “shameless” conversation.

Eve looked down at the young ladies with a smile playing on her lips.

She could see it. The corners of Clareta’s forcibly upturned lips trembling.

Eve covered her mouth with one hand and spoke to the young ladies as if whispering a secret:

“Actually, I know who spread those stories, but I won’t mention them here specifically.”