Count Trow immediately called his eldest son for a discussion.

“We’ll use Baron Durford and Lady Seigan to bring down Peirlily.”

“What? How?”

The Count explained his vile plan with a sinister smile.

Baron Durford, an illegitimate child of Grand Duke Calosi and a member of the royal family.

It was widely known in social circles that he was obsessed with young, beautiful ladies from good families. Among them, the most famous lady was Leah Piert, known as Peirlily.

The Baron had even taken out loans to buy a mansion near the Piert ducal residence just to pursue Peirlily. That incident was still talked about in social circles.

“If we emphasize that such a man is now pursuing Yuria Seigan instead of Peirlily, what do you think people will think?”

Yan Trow understood his father’s intention.

Right now, society thought that Baron Durford, who had a thing for young and beautiful women, had just set his sights on another lady.

But what if they spread it as ‘Baron Durford, who knows how to spot beautiful women’ had switched to a ‘more attractive’ new woman?

It was a plausible story. After the recent rumors about Helix, Leah’s popularity among male nobles had already declined somewhat.

Yan Trow said, “People will start saying that Lady Seigan is now the talk of society.”

“It would be more effective if Baron Durford says Peirlily is now past her prime.”

Since Baron Durford loved attention, if they persuaded him well, he might even openly announce it at a party. Lord Trow nodded.

“This will surely make Peirlily’s sky-high popularity stumble.”

“Then we’ll turn it into gossip.”

Count Trow continued.

He suggested they should promote Lady Seigan more, elevate her as Peirose, and create a rivalry between the two ladies by calling it the war of the Rose and Lily.

Lord Trow swallowed as he listened to his father’s thoughts.

‘This gossip will work!’

Rose and Lily.

A war between prestigious flowers.

People would be intrigued even if it was just presented as a competition between beautiful young ladies.

But these beauties were daughters of the kingdom’s finest ducal families! A battle of nerves competing in both beauty and family prestige!

People thirsting for interesting events would surely flock to this.

Lord Trow looked at his father with eyes of admiration.

“The name itself is catchy. Connoisseurs will talk about it until their mouths run dry.”

Then he carefully asked.

“But how will you promote Lady Seigan as Peirose?”

“Leave that to me.”

Count Trow said confidently.

“You just need to encourage rumors that Baron Durford has abandoned Peirlily for Peirose.”

“Yes, father.”

***

Unaware of what scheme the Count and his son were plotting, Leah was contemplating how to safely break the sleep magic.

‘Since Helix will do his best to find a solution, I should prepare as well.’

She brought in several trusted doctors who worked at the Piert Pharmaceutical Research Institute. She had them examine the people affected by sleep magic and record their symptoms.

“Hmm. Janet falls asleep every four hours and wakes up after fifteen minutes, while Lord Ehan falls asleep every twelve hours and wakes up between thirty minutes to two hours later…”

If they recorded and knew the patterns, it would be easier to cope even if the sleep magic removal was delayed. Leah planned to distribute watches with alarm functions to those affected by sleep magic for the time being.

‘If the alarm rings before they fall asleep, they won’t suddenly collapse. It’ll be much safer.’

Janet was amazed at Leah’s idea.

“How did you think of this, My Lady? You must be a genius!”

“You develop tricks when you work.”

After saying it, Leah realized her mistake. She had only worked in her previous life, not in this life as a noble lady.

However, Janet interpreted it differently.

“What? You immediately develop tricks when you work? As expected, our Lady is truly a genius!”

Better not say anything more.

She’d either make more mistakes or deepen Janet’s misunderstanding.

Though Leah resigned herself to keeping quiet, Janet showed no intention of doing the same.

“But is it alright to give us such expensive items? I heard these watches are very high-end…”

They weren’t just watches, but alarm watches. She and Rikeil had racked their brains to add the alarm function, which didn’t exist yet in this world.

“They’re prototypes. Don’t worry about it, just use them well since we’ll improve and sell them based on your feedback.”

She spoke lightly while organizing the records. Janet peeked at them.

“But My Lady, you’ve recorded the symptoms, distributed watches to people, and even told everyone how to cope?”

“That’s right.”

“Then why do you keep organizing those records?”

Leah said while stacking the documents together.

“When we find a way to break the sleep magic, these records might be useful. If medicine needs to be taken, it’ll be good for prescribing the right amount for each person.”

Janet marveled.

“Though I’m not well-educated and don’t know much, My Lady, you seem to have a real talent for this. Have you been working like this for a long time?”

“I started doing this recently.”

Leah smiled gently while clearing her desk.

“Before that, I was too sick to even think about sitting at a desk.”

She looked out the window, remembering the time when she was one with her bed.

She recalled the times when she lay there, struggling to breathe while watching the curtains sway in the wind. It felt like such a long time ago.

“…It’s all thanks to Helix.”

I miss him.

Those grey eyes, cold and stern, but warming when they looked at her. She wanted to meet those eyes, hold his hands, and tell him about her day.

Her heart fluttered at the thought of him calling her name tenderly, making her want to strike up conversation just to hear his low voice more.

It’s all thanks to you.

I feel empty without you.

What expression would Helix make if she spoke honestly? Would he slightly furrow his brows as though he were troubled, looking down at her helplessly?

Then she’d hug him. If she sighed about how much she missed him, he’d weaken and hug her back.

‘I hope you return safely and soon.’

Leah firmly gripped the contractor’s jewel around her neck. If only this connected their voices, not just their mana.

‘I’ll make a real magic communicator later. Then I can contact him and hear his voice at times like this.’

Having majored in liberal arts in her previous life, she couldn’t dream of developing video calls to see faces.

***

After planning to launch a public opinion campaign in social circles, Count Trow quickly approached Duke Seigan.

“We would like to support Lady Seigan’s social activities.”

“You mean Yuria?”

Doubt appeared on the stern face of Duke Seigan, who was known for being straightforward.

‘Why would this person make such an offer?’

There were three dukes in the Kingdom of Peiren.

Grand Duke Calosi, the king’s uncle.

Duke Piert, who held territory in the east but recently became more active in the capital.

Duke Seigan, whose influence was solid in the west.

Yuria was Duke Seigan’s only daughter, and rumors said she was treated like a princess in the west, with beauty matching her father’s influence.

However, no matter how impressive she was in the west, in the capital Yuria was still just a country newcomer, and though she held the same title as Leah Piert, there was a world of difference in their standing and influence.

Duke Seigan was well aware of this.

Though the Seigan ducal family was also an ancient noble house, their prestige had recently fallen compared to the Piert ducal family. The three Piert siblings dominated social circles.

Even Grand Duke Calosi, the leader of the pro-empire nobles, couldn’t surpass the Piert ducal family’s popularity and influence these days.

In this situation, having left the west after a long time to debut his daughter and engage in social activities in the capital where they had no foundation, even Duke Seigan couldn’t help but worry.

‘I must protect my daughter’s honor and pride, and appropriately display our family’s influence.’

Count Trow seized this opportunity.

He said that the Trow family, well-versed in capital gossip, would help promote Lady Seigan in social circles. Duke Seigan was wary of Count Trow’s goodwill, as they had no previous connection.

“I don’t understand why you want to support our Yuria.”

“I run a small trading company.”

Count Trow presented a plausible reason.

“We deal in cosmetics and medicines… things like creams, powders, and lip rouge. But since the Piert Trading Company has been promoting Leah Piert as Peirlily, their products have become too popular.”

“Hmm.”

“So we’ve been looking for a beautiful lady who could rival Leah Piert, but as you know, we needed someone with matching beauty and family status. When we saw Lady Yuria’s debut, we thought ‘Ah, that’s the one.'”

Duke Seigan understood. Such a reason made sense for wanting to support Yuria.

“So… you want to make our Yuria, who is of the same rank, the muse of Trow Trading Company?”

“Haha, you understand quickly indeed.”

Count Trow spoke subtly.

“It won’t be a bad proposal for Lady Seigan and your ducal family either. The only thing Lady Seigan lacks is connections in the capital. If we provide that, it would be like giving her wings.”

Indeed, having the help of Count Trow, a capital noble, would make it easier for Yuria to establish herself in capital society. Duke Seigan was intrigued but concerned.

“Then our Yuria would be placed in a competitive relationship with Peirlily… Though it’s embarrassing to say, she’s still young and inexperienced.”

“When it comes to one’s own child, parents always see them as lacking.”

Count Trow gently encouraged.

“With Lady Yuria’s beauty, rumors will spread naturally. If she’s going to be talked about anyway, wouldn’t it be better for her to receive more grand attention?”

“Hmm.”

“I’ll also introduce you to a well-connected noblewoman who can properly introduce Lady Seigan to capital society and give her advice. There’s Baroness Whipft, a very strict lady. As you can tell from her title, she’s of trustworthy status… Ah yes, she also has connections with designers who lead the capital’s latest fashions.”

Duke Seigan’s ears perked up.