Ellen grabbed Spaniel’s arm, stopping her from shouting.

Ellen quietly shook her head and then spoke,

“Countess Periwinkle.”

“Go ahead.”

“Rumors are always crafted by those who don’t know the truth, to suit their tastes. You might have heard such stories.”

Aren’t you just saying such things because you want them to be true?

Countess Periwinkle’s face flushed at Ellen’s calm sarcasm.

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

“Oh… By the way, I heard that young Periwinkle is a failing student at the academy. Is that true?”

“Why are you suddenly bringing up Miller?”

“I was wondering if there’s smoke without fire.”

Ellen shrugged her shoulders with a casual smile, and Countess Periwinkle’s cheeks quivered.

“…I don’t understand why you’d say such nonsense so confidently.”

“Oh, I thought I was practicing what you taught me. I guess I was wrong.”

Ellen covered her mouth with her fan and laughed out loud.

“Ah, should I have specified it was the basic culture course, Empire’s History? A first-year common course that a second-year couldn’t pass even after retaking, and had to take a special retake at the professor’s discretion. So technically, he’s not a failing student at the academy. After all, he’ll be promoted.”

“That was… because of issues with his exam paper…”

“Oh, I see. Only his exam paper had issues.”

Ellen continued to smile brightly.

“Well, it seems rumors can arise without smoke.”

The clearest smile Ellen had shown since entering the banquet hall appeared on her face.

Countess Periwinkle was left speechless with a mix of astonishment and anger.

In her place, it was Baroness Oseman, standing beside her, who spoke up.

“It seems Duchess Krembell doesn’t understand a mother’s heart, as she has no children.”

The Oseman family.

A family following a path similar to Crient’s.

A family that, thanks to its wealth, mingled with those above its level and was considered one of the core financial backers of the noble faction, though that was only within the noble faction.

“I believe I’ve never met you.”

You really do come from a humble family.

Ellen cleverly rephrased her words, and Baroness Oseman’s face stiffened.

“Nice to meet you, Duchess Krembell. I’m Lily Oseman.”

“Oh, Oseman.”

Regardless of the situation, Ellen’s current status was that of a duchess. She wasn’t someone to be approached without an introduction, especially with such aggressive language.

It seemed Baroness Oseman realized this only then. She bit her lip slightly and spoke.

“I should have introduced myself first. I apologize.”

“It’s fine. I probably would have forgotten even if I had heard it.”

Baroness Oseman’s face turned red. Countess Periwinkle then spoke again,

“Madam, should I find you a good doctor? It seems you have memory issues, forgetting even the dress trends you see daily, and I’m worried.”

“Indeed. In that case, I could recommend a good boutique. Since I manage it, I can guarantee the quality of the products.”

As Baroness Oseman kept interjecting into their conversation, Spaniel couldn’t hold back and muttered.

“Guarantee, my foot. They’re all inferior versions of Thalia.”

“What did you say?”

“Oh, didn’t you know? You should manage your designers better.”

“It’s inappropriate to compare them to Crient’s Thalia! That indecent dress design, where on earth…!”

Baroness Oseman shouted at the sarcastic Spaniel.

Ellen sighed deeply, truly disappointed.

“…For Oseman to reveal my lack of taste in such a public setting. I’m greatly disappointed.”

“What do you mean?”

“With such a lack of refinement in the lady of the house, there’s no need to remember.”

“Duchess Krembell!”

“You keep talking about my attire. While others aren’t in the industry, you shouldn’t. It’s better not to say anything else now.”

Lily Oseman looked at Ellen’s outfit with eyes filled with anger.

A completely off-trend off-shoulder dress.

The collar seemed to have been discarded somewhere.

Instead, there was a straight collarbone and a smooth neck adorned with a splendid necklace.

The sleeves were so heavily adorned that the lace used seemed wasted.

But the draped skirt line was beautiful, and the hem was luxurious.

Moreover, the bracelet that highlighted her slender wrist seemed as valuable as the necklace.

Even the hairpin in her hair, though devoid of any jewels.

‘They spent a lot of money, and it was made by a master among masters. But such an absurdly designed dress…’

Did she think she could lead a trend herself?

As Baroness Oseman was about to speak with an internal sneer, a familiar yet unfamiliar voice came from behind.

“Is my taste really that poor?”

“Your Highness!”

‘Your Highness?’

“I’m guilty of gifting something without knowing the trend.”

Kaiden appeared suddenly, mocking.

It took a moment for Baroness Oseman to grasp the situation, realizing Ellen’s dress was connected to the Crown Prince, and she exclaimed.

“Your Highness, that’s not what I meant…!”

The others with her were equally surprised by the unexpected appearance.

Ellen watched quietly, smiling brightly, her face devoid of any regret, and spoke,

“Oh… My advice seems to have come too late. I’m sorry, Countess Periwinkle, Baroness Oseman.”

“What, what?”

Countess Periwinkle, not expecting to be addressed so directly, looked flustered and quickly changed her expression to speak to Kaiden.

“Your Highness, it’s not what you think…”

“Sir Cheshire. Did I just hear that I’m ignorant of trends and speech?”

“In my judgment, yes.”

“Remarkable. I’ve never heard such criticism, not even from my mentor.”

But Kaiden didn’t seem interested in hearing her out and simply said what he wanted.

Terriard joined in Kaiden’s sarcasm, and the two women’s faces turned pale.

“I’ll make sure to report your opinions to His Majesty. That the designer he appointed is being criticized.”

“Your Highness, that’s not what I meant…!”

“Not what you meant?”

“That is…”

Kaiden, surveying them with a leisurely look as if admiring captured prey, spoke.

“…It seems we didn’t recognize it due to our lack of insight.”

Baroness Oseman clutched the hem of her dress tightly, her knuckles turning white.

“We’re ashamed, Your Highness.”

She apologized and bowed deeply, and Kaiden, with a satisfied smile, spoke,

“Indeed. It’s only right to forgive mistakes born of ignorance.”

With those words, he nodded toward the entrance of the banquet hall, drawing everyone’s attention there.

“I can’t say what others might think.”

“My goodness.”

Someone let out a small gasp, and those who saw the person entering from there were left speechless.

It was Duchess Tria, wearing the dress they had scorned for not keeping up with trends.

* * *

“It seems you were having an interesting conversation. The party’s energy seems to be gathered here.”

Ashley Tria.

A middle-aged lady with a fifteen-year-old son.

Backed by the Duke, she had the authority to select the next Duchess, a power none could dispute outside the imperial family.

Click-clack, her powerful steps brought her to Ellen, and she looked surprised.

“Oh my, I didn’t expect I wouldn’t be the first.”

“Hello, Duchess Tria.”

Receiving Ellen’s greeting, she approached.

She first greeted Kaiden, who was standing next to Ellen.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

When Kaiden nodded, she turned her head toward Ellen with an openly curious expression.

“It’s been a while, Duchess Krembell. But…”

She moved close enough to see the details of the dress and examined Ellen’s dress carefully before asking.

“…Is that a piece from Thalia? I heard Crient scrapped all previous designs.”

“It’s true that we have dresses from this line at Thalia, but this was a gift from His Highness.”

Ellen responded with a bright smile.

“Oh, then this is from the imperial—”

“Yes. It’s indeed the work of the designer from Tria, who’s currently serving the imperial family.”

“My.”

Duchess Tria smiled broadly at Ellen’s words, which clearly identified the designer as being from Tria.

“You seem to be very well-informed, madam.”

“As you know, Crient has taken quite an interest in clothing. I’m very interested in Tria’s cultural education that produced such a wonderful designer.”

Ashley Tria.

She was a woman with immense pride in her possessions.

Thus, she sometimes performed unbelievably generous acts under the guise of upholding the family’s prestige, and at other times, she was excessively strict.

And the cultural and educational policies within Tria Territory were her areas of involvement.

“There’s a saying that only great things catch Crient’s eye. Should I feel honored?”

“Then that honor should go to Tria for giving us the opportunity to see such works.”

“Oh my! I might just fall for it.”

She didn’t seem to mind the flattery, as she bursted into laughter.

“If you don’t mind, may I send some of our products from Thalia to you?”

“To me?”

“Yes.”

“Gifts usually come with strings attached.”

She awaited Ellen’s response with a smile.

“There’s nothing in particular.”

Ellen gestured toward where Periwinkle and Oseman were standing.

“It’s just that the other ladies don’t seem to have the same taste…”

And the faces of those suddenly brought into the conversation turned pale.