The view of the lower nobles who had bought their titles was never favorable to begin with, but the Count’s reputation plummeted to rock bottom among them.

Moreover, thanks to their loud voices, the reason for their fight became known. As the fight intensified, Conrad finally sent his aide to them.

“Guests. Creating a disturbance here is problematic.”

“Right! I see from that badge you’re from the guild! These people……”

“So please continue this over there. The Deputy Guild Master has cleared out a spacious lounge for you.”

“Perfect, we didn’t want to ruin an innocent banquet either, let’s go there!”

With that, the people practically dragged the Count to the lounge. Count Vita resisted several times but couldn’t overcome the majority.

“Oh my…… What an embarrassment.”

The Countess, who had already distanced herself, covered her flushed face with a fan. Her husband’s disturbance lowered her class. The Countess fled to the lounge, saying she couldn’t stay here any longer.

The young count, who had opposed coming to the banquet in the first place, also disappeared into the lounge following the Countess.

Left alone in the banquet hall, Robelia searched frantically for Lady Odor, her last lifeline. Finding her wasn’t difficult.

“My lady!”

“Ah…… Robelia, you came.”

Lady Odor was playing the role of protagonist among the young ladies. Seeing Robelia approach like a dog finding its master, Lady Odor frowned. Then she snapped open her red fan to cover her face.

She was clearly showing her discomfort with Robelia.

Seeing this, Robelia’s world crumbled.

What she thought was her last lifeline turned out to be not a sturdy rope but a thin thread.

“M-my lady?”

Robelia desperately grabbed Lady Odor’s sleeve. She wasn’t the type to let go of everything just because her mind was breaking down. She was just stupid.

Instead of letting go of the thin thread, Robelia wound it tightly around her hand to grip it even more firmly.

Lady Odor wrinkled her face behind the fan.

‘She’s of no use anymore.’

Lady Odor had never once considered Robelia as a friend or partner.

Though she had expectations since Robelia was a somewhat well-known young lady, the reality was far below imagination.

She might barely manage to play queen bee among children in the social circles where everything could be solved with pretense if backed by a pretty face, among immature children who loved showing off.

However, she was far below the level needed for the ‘real’ social circles where one couldn’t participate without high-level education, where psychological warfare occurred based on deep knowledge.

‘But it would be a waste to discard her now.’

Robelia was one of the cards to be used and discarded.

Though she turned out to be a useless card with just a reflective surface despite seeming to shine at first glance, she wasn’t bad enough to throw away yet.

Moreover, she hadn’t yet played the final card she got from Robelia. She was keeping it hidden until the Founding Day Festival to gather and inform as many people as possible. //It wasn’t time to discard Robelia yet//, if only to increase the credibility of that card.

Lady Odor closed her fan and pulled up the corners of her mouth. Though it was a forced smile, to the desperate Robelia, it was like an angel’s smile.

“I didn’t know you were attending today’s banquet. You should have sent a letter.”

“Ah…… I was a bit busy! I had many invitations and needed to buy clothes…… These days, Mother is teaching me the duties of a lady of the house. I agreed to help with winter preparations, so I was busy.”

Robelia awkwardly spun her lies.

Though the lies flowed smoothly from her mouth, her shaking pupils and hands gesturing aimlessly in the air were honest.

Robelia, who had done nothing but attend social tea parties, meet friends, and spend money while shopping, had spent quite a boring time lately.

She couldn’t possibly go shopping when she had sold all her clothes and jewelry. With no new clothes, she didn’t want to attend tea parties or banquets either.

“You came today despite being so busy.”

“It’s the first banquet held by the Eileen Guild. I had to come even if I’m busy. And my sister is coming today too. Since my sister is weak and busy, I haven’t seen her often, so shouldn’t I meet her even like this?”

Robelia said while anxiously chewing her lip.

Even calling Adelia ‘sister’ irritated her. Her inability to hide her emotions showed she was nothing but a greenhouse flower.

Lady Odor turned her head away like she was looking at something pathetic.

“I see. Follow me.”

As Lady Odor walked away, her followers trailed behind her.

With a brightened face, Robelia followed the lady like a puppy. Throughout the banquet, Robelia had to stay far behind Lady Odor, not beside her.

But even that was fine with Robelia. She felt superior to her family members who had either fled to the lounge or been dragged away by creditors, as she had attached herself to someone powerful.

‘Family means nothing…… What kind of nobles are they, begging around with no money. I don’t need them anymore, only Lady Odor can save me.’

* * *

A black carriage appeared in the capital. Decorated with gold and bearing the imperial crest in red, the carriage carried Lucian and Adelia.

Inside were two long seats facing each other, with plush velvet cushions making it so comfortable that one could hardly feel the carriage’s movement.

“Mmm……”

Adelia was sleeping soundly, leaning against the comfortable seat. In the small space, her breathing was clearly audible.

Her steady breathing resonated evenly, occasionally accompanied by mumbled words.

‘How cute.’

Lucian sat across from her, watching the sleeping Adelia. His gaze was intense, as if she were the only person left in the world. From head to toe, he committed her image to memory until every detail was etched in his mind—from her adorably mumbling lips to her long lowered eyelashes.

Of course, he didn’t just watch. When her head nodded, he would stack cushions to support it, and when the carriage shook violently, he would steady her.

After confirming Adelia was deeply asleep, Lucian opened the closed window.

The coachman trembled upon feeling Lucian’s gaze.

“How much longer?”

“T-ten minutes until arrival!”

“Take it slow.”

After asking his brief question through the window, Lucian gently closed it.

He was anxious that the sound of voices or the window might wake Adelia.

The carriage moved slowly, and thanks to Lucian, Adelia was able to sleep very well for a short time.

“Please wake up. We’ve arrived.”

“Mmm…… Already?”

Adelia blinked her sleepy eyes. As she covered her mouth with both hands to yawn, small teardrops rolled down from her drowsily drooping eyes.

With a half-asleep face, Adelia tapped around her eyes and stretched while patting her neck.

Lucian waited patiently for her to fix her disheveled clothes.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes. Shall we go out now?”

Lucian opened the carriage door. The black carpet stretching to the banquet hall entrance and the stained glass lamps decorating both sides of the path shone brilliantly.

Lucian got out first and extended his hand to Adelia. She took his hand and stepped down from the carriage.

Lucian’s hand was still large, and his firm grip gave a sense of stability.

‘Well, let’s see how long you can all remain so proud.’

Adelia looked at the banquet hall with a sneer. Her confidently opened eyes contained a beauty as dazzling as the stars.

A cool breeze cut through the humid summer evening air. Her silver hair scattered in all directions in the wind that blew away even the humidity. Colorful lights from the stained glass lamps settled on her snow-white skin and hair.

“You’re beautiful.”

Lucian whispered softly.

The scenery and brilliant lights were beautiful. But what was most beautiful was Adelia’s strong face.

Her solid appearance that seemed impenetrable by any storm was beautiful enough to make him want to kiss her right then, and radiant enough to make him want to lock her away in his embrace where no one else could see her.

His left hand escorting Adelia was calm, but his empty right hand twitched with a crackling sound, wanting to fulfill his desire.

“Ah…… Thank you.”

Unaware of Lucian’s dark thoughts, Adelia responded with a bright smile. When she tucked her wind-tousled hair behind her ear, her beautiful features became even more apparent.

Lucian blankly took in her appearance. Only after firmly imprinting this moment’s image, emotions, touch, and even scent in his mind could he face Adelia with a more relaxed heart.

“Shall we go in?”

“Yes, let’s go in. You haven’t forgotten what I asked, right?”

“Of course not.”

The two walked toward the banquet hall, chatting quietly.

The attendant at the front received their invitation with trembling hands. Soon the doors opened and countless gazes poured out.

‘How unpleasant.’