Although I pretended not to know, I actually knew this woman.

She was Lady Liriel of the Duke’s family, the earliest customer who came after I promoted the guild at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.

I gave a genuine smile to this VIP customer.

“I’m glad it was helpful.”

Even after Liriel left, quite a few noble customers had visited the guild.

Nobles who initially came with skepticism began to spread the word after seeing results, and now there were too many reservation requests for me to handle alone.

“Oh my. Did Lady Liriel also visit that guild?”

“Actually, I visited the guild too…”

The ladies excitedly blossomed into conversation about the guild.

While I was imagining myself sitting on a pile of money and fanning myself, Violet interjected among the excited ladies.

“Wait a moment, everyone. What guild did Lady Ferial tell you about?”

The honey-colored haired woman called Liriel stopped her cheerful laughter and began to hesitate. She seemed to be watching Violet’s reaction.

“Ah, well… Lady Ferial told us about an information guild.”

Under Violet’s gaze, that seemed to ask her to continue, Liriel carefully added.

“I was frustrated with the lack of progress in my relationship with Young Lord Ravi. So I visited the guild for help.”

“You mean it’s a guild for love counseling?”

“Something like that.”

After briefly stiffening her expression, Violet’s eyes curved into half-moons again.

“How fascinating that such a guild exists. But it seems everyone already knew about it. This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

Startled by her disappointed tone, Liriel hurriedly explained.

“I thought Lady Berto wouldn’t be interested in such guilds. After all, you’re so beloved that you don’t need any help.”

“Th-that’s right! Who could possibly not love Lady Berto?”

“Indeed. That’s why the Marquis cherishes you so much, isn’t it?”

Pleased by their flattering words, Violet covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

“My brother is like that, yes.”

As Violet said this, she suddenly stared at me intensely.

“My brother always supports me, saying it’s fine even if I make mistakes or commit serious errors.”

At Violet’s words, the young ladies’ eyes sparkled with envy.

“That must be so reassuring, Lady.”

“Marquis Berto seems to love you more than anyone else.”

I unconsciously glanced at Echo.

I was worried she might feel left out by Violet’s words.

…Huh?

Contrary to my expectation, Echo was staring directly at me. With bright, doe-like eyes at that.

I gave Echo an awkward smile.

“Sometimes my brother’s overprotectiveness can be burdensome. It was worse when I was younger. If I just said the food tasted bad, Brother Lucian would cut off the chef’s hands right then and there.”

“Oh my, how envi—”

The young ladies who were about to reflexively agree with Violet closed their mouths.

I observed the suddenly subdued atmosphere.

This is unexpected?

In the novel, Violet was the beloved protagonist, no matter what she did.

So I thought people would just overlook or applaud whatever nonsensical things Violet said.

But fortunately, I should say, everyone here seemed to recognize that what Violet was saying wasn’t normal.

“Sometimes I still wonder if my brother sees me only as a child.”

While everyone was carefully watching their reactions and rolling their eyes, Violet just cheerfully smiled and prattled on.

I clicked my tongue and said to Violet.

“Marquis Berto’s way of showing love is truly unique.”

Violet tilted her head.

“If you were my sister, I wouldn’t have done what the Marquis did.”

Violet’s expression gradually hardened as she seemed to contemplate the meaning of my words.

“What do you mean by that, Lady Ferial?”

I shrugged my shoulders and answered.

“If someone made a mistake, I would help them not to make it again, and if they did something wrong, I would scold them. Of course, I wouldn’t punish a chef just because someone complained about the food.”

Violet glared at me while biting her lip.

“Why not?”

“Because they’re family, I love.”

As I glanced away, I saw Echo staring at me with her large eyes wide open.

“Don’t true family members want their beloved siblings to follow the right path?”

When I turned back to look at Violet, she still had a face that seemed unable to understand.

But she must have been offended by my words, as she flushed red and bit her lip like someone who had been insulted.

“Are you saying my brother doesn’t love me?”

“Well…”

Instead of explaining, I held my tongue.

I just looked at her with eyes that said she already knew my answer without me having to say it, which made Violet snap.

“They say there are many kinds of love! My brother expresses his love for me in his own way!”

Having shouted with all her might, Violet breathed heavily and muttered.

“Lord Oberon said so…”

…Wait, who?

My mind froze at the name that suddenly came out of Violet’s mouth.

“Lady Berto, that name just now…”

I tried to ask Violet immediately, but the young ladies around us began to chime in one after another, causing my words to dissipate into the air.

“O-of course. Everyone in the Empire knows that Marquis Berto cherishes Lady Berto very much.”

“Let’s stop stating the obvious and move on to another topic, shall we?”

I quietly observed Violet, who was still looking down, visibly struggling to calm her anger.

Something feels off.

I couldn’t have misheard because I heard it too clearly.

And if I heard correctly, why would the name of the Fairy King, who supposedly died long ago, suddenly come up here?

Everything was full of questions, but for now, there was no way to resolve my curiosity.

I’ll ask again when I get the chance.

Having settled that, I opened the conversation while reading the atmosphere.

“By the way, did you all enjoy His Highness’s birthday banquet?”

At my question, Liriel clasped her hands together with a dreamy expression, as if reminiscing about that day.

“It was the grandest banquet I’ve ever attended. I heard that all the nobles of the Empire attended?”

“All to see the Saintess. I heard that a noble from the southern region traveled for a month to reach the capital just to see her.”

I quietly watched the young ladies who began chattering about the events at the banquet as I had intended, then casually brought up a topic.

“I heard that the Empire’s only princess and the princes also attended the banquet and greeted the Saintess.”

“I saw them too. It was my first time seeing the Princess, and she was truly as beautiful as the rumors said.”

“But there was one person who wasn’t seen until the end of the banquet.”

At my casual remark, everyone’s gaze turned to me.

Echo also asked me with a puzzled look.

“Who are you referring to, teach… Lady Ferial?”

…Did she just almost call me teacher?

After hesitating briefly, I pretended not to notice and continued.

“Prince Deus.”

“Prince Deus?”

The young ladies looked at each other and tilted their heads as if to ask who that was.

I gaped blankly.

Wait, is this for real?

The people in the novel don’t even know the male lead’s name?

I already knew that Deus was treated poorly before the original story began, but I didn’t realize it was this bad.

I composed my expression and then asked Violet.

“Lady Berto, don’t you know him either?”

Violet, who had been wearing an awkward smile as if unable to adapt to the sudden change of topic, slowly shook her head.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard that name.”

Well, I guess that makes sense. The original story hasn’t even started yet.

Sigh. I just wasted my time.

Feeling like I’d come up empty-handed, I clicked my tongue and took a macaron from the three-tiered tray.

But at that moment, I made eye contact with Echo, who was staring at me again.

When I awkwardly smiled and placed a macaron on Echo’s plate, Violet spoke.

“Lady Ferial seems to like children.”

“Pardon?”

I wore a puzzled expression at Violet’s question.

“The way you take care of my sister seems very natural.”

What did I do?

That question was answered when I saw Echo holding the macaron preciously with sparkling eyes.

That reaction…

It seems Echo has already figured out my identity?

I laughed with a resigned face.