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

Eve lowered her eyes and glanced at Clareta, as if suggesting that Clareta was the one who had spread the rumors.

Clareta froze on the spot, becoming as silent as if she had swallowed honey.

‘Did she think I wouldn’t know?’

Eve had positioned several maids in the ceremony hall before the ceremony began. They were there to naturally read the atmosphere among the nobles and report back to her.

As soon as the ceremony ended, a maid had come to Eve and reported. Apparently, the person spreading the rumors had been so conspicuous that she was easy to spot.

‘How careless.’

Eve looked over the speechless young ladies and asked Lady Anna:

“I think I’ve made the young ladies uncomfortable with such serious talk. Since we’re meeting for the first time, I’d like to discuss something more pleasant. What topic would you suggest, Lady Anna?”

“With so many young ladies gathered, it might be good to discuss what interests young ladies these days.”

Lady Anna added that she might find it difficult to recommend topics since her age group had different interests.

Eve barely managed to suppress a laugh that almost burst out.

Lady Anna was the type to return exactly what she received. To think she would throw back the exact words the young ladies had used earlier! Eve felt a sense of satisfaction.

The young ladies only exchanged glances without readily opening their mouths.

Just as Eve wondered if she had intimidated them too much, Rachel cautiously spoke up.

“Have you heard the news? About the sample dresses made with tulle material that recently came out from Laurent Fashion House.”

Rachel seemed to want to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

The mention of Laurent Fashion House dresses somewhat revived the previously heavy mood.

“So those dress samples have finally come out!”

“But I heard that Laurent Fashion House said they would only dress one person.”

“I wonder who will get to wear it.”

“Oh my, now that I think about it, wasn’t the dress Clareta wore at the last tea party from Laurent Fashion House? I remember it was made of tarlatan, and the way it flowed down was so sophisticated.”

“Yes, Clareta was definitely the star that day.”

Indeed, these were the pillars of high society.

Eve shook her head at how quickly they revived and started praising Clareta again.

The young ladies became excited as the conversation shifted back to a topic they were familiar with. Their conversation flow was so dense that Eve and Lady Anna couldn’t even interject.

Eve took another sip of lemonade to moisten her dry throat.

Coincidentally, Laurent Fashion House, which Rachel had brought up, was a subject Eve knew extremely well. Moreover, the sample dress made of tulle material was the first dress Eve had tried on.

“Lady Anna, do you know about Laurent Fashion House?”

“Oh my, how could I not know about Laurent Fashion House?”

The young ladies chattered excitedly, giggling among themselves.

So, since they couldn’t win with words, they were trying to overwhelm with numbers?

But Lady Anna seemed completely unfazed by the young ladies’ conversation. Instead, she quickly caught the momentary shift in conversation and passed it to Eve.

“Even I couldn’t possibly not know Laurent Fashion House. Didn’t you actually try on their dresses, Duchess?”

Lady Anna was quite mischievous. She knew perfectly well that both Eve’s wedding dress and evening gown were from Laurent Fashion House.

“Yes, I did try them on.”

At Eve’s use of past tense, Clareta raised the corners of her mouth with an expression that seemed to say, “I thought as much.” Then Clareta looked at Eve and asked:

“By the way, where did you have your dress made, Duchess? Being the Duchess of Archild, you must have chosen a dress from a good fashion house, right?”

Eve didn’t answer the question but simply smiled.

“Oh my, did I ask something I shouldn’t have? Perhaps it wasn’t made at a fashion house…”

As Clareta spoke with her mouth covered by a fan, as if mocking, a series of words with clear undertones of ridicule and mockery flowed from their mouths.

The young ladies continued their conversation like a whirlwind, not giving Eve a chance to respond.

“Oh my, young lady, really. If not from a fashion house, where else would one have clothes made?”

“I heard ready-made clothes are quite trendy these days. Perhaps the Duchess is wearing ready-made clothes.”

“Ready-made clothes! I know about those. Aren’t they mass-produced clothes that commoners buy because they can’t afford custom-made ones?”

Their conversation escalated with excitement.

‘I don’t know whether to find this amusing or rude.’

Clareta, who had started the conversation, pretended to mediate like a disapproving sister-in-law, though her intentions were spiteful.

“Everyone, please calm down. That can’t be the case. We’re talking about the Duchess, after all. Duchess, please answer us.”

Eve pushed down the words that were about to burst out of her throat.

“Fortunately, it should be a name you can recognize.”

“There aren’t many ready-made clothing stores that we would know.”

They seemed to have already concluded that Eve had bought ready-made clothes.

Eve composed her expression and smiled beautifully, as if painted.

“I thought you would know since you were just talking about it, but I’m disappointed. This dress was made at Laurent Fashion House. The wedding dress too, of course.”

The young ladies who had been mockingly laughing just moments ago froze.

“I didn’t realize until today that Laurent Fashion House dresses were so difficult to obtain. I’ve been meeting with Madam Laurent frequently lately to discuss dresses.”

Eve looked over the young ladies and continued.

“However, I didn’t expect you to disparage the dress that Madam put so much effort into making by calling it ready-made. Madam would be sad to hear that. Wouldn’t she, Bella Liliana, Rachel Alaska, Clara Louise?”

It was quite a sight to see them turn pale as each name was called.

It was essentially a threat, implying that she would personally report their disparaging remarks to Madam Laurent. Of course, she had no intention of going that far.

“Unfortunately, I’ll have to end our conversation here, young ladies. Others are waiting for me. Lady Anna, shall we go to where you were heading?”

“Of course. I’d be delighted. Many people are waiting to see you, Duchess.”

The young ladies were too shocked to respond properly. Only Clareta was trembling, unable to contain her anger.

Eve smiled at Clareta and left with Lady Anna.

Honestly, she hadn’t intended to engage in such a power struggle with them, but what could she do when they came at her like that? She had to respond.

Eve’s steps felt lighter than before. As they moved, Lady Anna praised Eve.

“Duchess, you were truly magnificent.”

“It was nothing. I learned it all from you, Lady Anna.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to confront them so directly.”

Eve laughed out loud.

“You’ve grown so much that it’s hard to believe it’s only been two months. This isn’t a level one can reach simply by being a quick learner.”

“I’m embarrassed by your praise, Lady Anna.”

Eve told her to stop and continued their light conversation.

They soon arrived at Lady Anna’s table, where Eve was introduced to new people.

The time spent with the people Lady Anna introduced was enjoyable. There were no power struggles like with the young ladies, nor was there a difficult atmosphere where one had to watch what they said.

After that, everything proceeded as expected. After finishing greetings with Lady Anna’s acquaintances, Eve joined Medric, who had returned just in time, and went around greeting people from other families. They memorized each face and thanked those who had stayed until the end to bless them.

Only after meeting all the people connected to Medric could they finally leave the banquet hall.

“I’ll stop by the study to finish some work. You go up to the room and rest first.”

“All right.”

Medric apologized for not being able to escort Eve personally and hurried to his study. He was probably going to check on the discussions he had with other nobles at today’s banquet.

Once she realized it was over, Eve felt all the strength drain from her body. Her exhausted body urged her to return to her room quickly and rest.

The path to her room seemed especially long today.

Eve gripped the handrail and laboriously made her way up the circular staircase.

Just as she reached the second floor after climbing the long oval staircase…

“…?”

She saw someone collapsed under the window.

Who could it be? This was the main building, located exactly opposite from the guest quarters prepared for distinguished visitors.

Eve approached the collapsed figure.

“…Your Highness?”