Chapter 8 – Danger Quietly Under Happiness (Part 5)

Ria kindly answered the dumbfounded question, leaving them echoing her words in disbelief. Mentioning their names so familiarly was surprising enough, but what? Those two dukes get embarrassed? And she comforts them?

“If you still want to know…”

That wasn’t the end of the shocking statements.

“Get permission from Rune or Eden, and I’ll tell you.”

Ria tilted her head and smiled brightly, her pure expression freezing them. Serena and Katrina, unable to hold back their laughter, lowered their heads and shook with mirth.

The tea party proceeded relatively smoothly after that. Serena naturally shifted the topic, preventing anyone from bringing up the embarrassing subject again.

After seeing off the guests and returning to the terrace, Serena’s face was filled with satisfaction. Ria had handled things better than expected, easing her worries about the hunting festival.

“Is everyone gone?”

“Yes. Lady Melbourne seemed a bit stiff, though. It was so refreshing.”

Serena, excitedly recounting the guests’ expressions, propped her chin on the table with her hands.

“They probably didn’t expect Ria to respond like that. They underestimated her.”

“Indeed. At the royal banquet, they approached as soon as the dukes and Lord Fernon left. They think she’s an easy target.”

“At the banquet too?”

“Yes. I intervened out of concern. I felt guilty about my previous mistakes. But seeing how Lady Ria handled things today, I think she would have managed well even without my help. It was impressive, especially considering her lack of social experience.”

Katrina, agreeing with Serena, praised Ria’s handling of the situation. For someone at the center of the social circle, Ria’s response was commendable, especially given her inexperience.

Blushing at the continuous praise, Ria spoke softly.

“You’re praising me too much. Half of what I said was sincere.”

“Sincere? What do you mean?”

“When I said to get permission from Rune or Eden. I really would have told them if they got permission.”

Serena and Katrina, puzzled, asked for a more detailed explanation.

“It’s only right to ask for their permission before sharing personal stories with strangers. They’re kind and would answer honestly. Oh, but maybe they wouldn’t ask because of their high status?”

“Hmm…”

“I didn’t think of that. Did I make an unreasonable request?”

As Ria looked at them with innocent eyes, Serena and Katrina exchanged glances, communicating silently.

‘The young lady doesn’t know the well-known sides of those two, does she? Probably not.’

‘They’re only kind to Ria. Ah, so how did her words sound to others? Probably like a death sentence.’

“……”

After a moment of silent understanding, they decided to let it go.

“No, it’s the people who asked personal questions at the first meeting who were wrong.”

“The Marchioness is right. Don’t worry about it.”

After all, the result was good, so that should be enough.

“More than that, I didn’t expect you, Lady Peune, to help Ria.”

“I’ve made many mistakes with her, and this is all I can do to make up for it. And… if it’s not too presumptuous, I’d like to become friends with her…”

Blushing uncharacteristically, Katrina shyly looked down. In truth, she had wanted to befriend Ria since the royal banquet. She didn’t want to lose someone who recognized and appreciated her efforts. Though that wretched Omur had ruined everything, she hadn’t been able to send a letter or visit out of guilt. She thought it was the end.

‘I’m glad. She still thinks well of me.’

Katrina saw a chance and decided to seize it.

“If it’s alright, could you call me by my name?”

“I’d love to! Please call me Ria, Katrina.”

“What’s this? Just the two of you? Include me too!”

Serena, who had never found the need to engage in high society or make friends in such a superficial place until meeting Ria, had only heard rumors about Katrina. Being the type not to believe anything without seeing it herself, Serena had no particular feelings toward Katrina—neither hostility nor goodwill.

Therefore, seeing Ria show goodwill towards Katrina and Katrina reciprocate, Serena’s affection for her grew rapidly. It was easy to go from zero to positive.

The atmosphere among the three, now on a first-name basis, became even more harmonious than before. The fragrant scent of flowers swayed by the breeze filled the air, and freshly brewed tea was served on the table. Their clear laughter echoed through the terrace.

It was a peaceful and pleasant afternoon.

***

Inside the carriage heading back to her mansion, Exi Melbourne frowned deeply, biting her nails. This was her habit whenever things didn’t go as planned.

‘Annoying.’

She had failed to manipulate a perfect prey as she intended, ruining her plans. She had nothing to report to her father.

‘He’s definitely going to ask.’

Her father despised the two dukes more than anything, especially after returning from political meetings, where he would throw things in anger.

He would certainly ask about the tea party she attended, knowing the woman the two dukes were seeing would be there. If she couldn’t provide a satisfactory answer…

“Ow!”

A sharp pain made Exi look down at her nails, now bleeding.

“Argh!”

‘So frustrating, so annoying!’

“Why does nothing ever go right?”

Throwing a cushion beside her and screaming, Exi panted heavily. The shy demeanor she had shown on the terrace was nowhere to be found.

After a while, she calmed down, running her fingers through her hair and taking a deep breath.

“First, I’ll go fix my nails and tell Father that her appearance has changed. Since the hunting festival is coming up, he won’t hit me.”

She reassured herself repeatedly, hoping her father wouldn’t punish her before the big event.

After the tea party, Ria’s unusual appearance quickly spread among the nobles. The rumors grew, suggesting that the dukes were enamored because she was from another country, and so on.

The four men, Serena, and Katrina paid no attention to these rumors. They had expected this since Ria attended the tea party. They merely took silent measures to ensure the rumors didn’t reach Ria’s ears or be openly discussed. Thanks to this, the rumors seemed to die down quickly.

However, the information had already reached someone it shouldn’t have.

A man hurried through a dark, underground passage. Despite the pitch-black surroundings, he moved forward without hesitation, familiar with the path.

Reaching the innermost part, he encountered a thick stone door. He opened it with practiced ease and entered. Unlike the pitch-black outside, the room was dimly lit by scattered lanterns, revealing silhouettes.

Approaching a figure standing by an iron gate, the man bowed deeply. The figure, clad in a black robe with a hood pulled low, raised a hand, prompting the man to speak.

“A woman with black hair and hazel eyes has appeared.”

A gleam appeared in the eyes hidden under the hood. The robed figure turned slightly and asked.

“How credible is this?”

“We are still verifying, but it seems highly likely. Those who attended Marchioness Rosevita’s tea party recently all said the same.”

“Where is she now?”

“Well…”

The man hesitated, unable to answer immediately. The robed figure’s eyebrow twitched.

“Answer.”

The voice, suddenly chilling and inhuman, made the man shiver and bow even lower.

“She’s at the Astina Duke’s residence, ugh.”

“Say it again.”

“Duke Astina’s… residence… urgh!”

The robed figure had somehow closed the distance and was now gripping the man’s throat. He instinctively struggled to break free. The figure stared at him for a moment before releasing him.

The man fell to the ground, coughing and gasping for air.

“Is that all?”

“Cough, yes… yes/”

“I asked if only Duke Astina is with her.”

“No, Duke Carlisle, Lord Fernon, and the Crown Prince are also with her.”

Fearing another chokehold, the man answered quickly.

“Tsk, a step too late.”

Fortunately, the robed figure seemed lost in thought and paid him no further attention. After a while, the figure stroked their chin and spoke.

“I’ll release one during the hunting festival.”

“But there are rumors of heightened security.”

“They’re just trying to protect their own. It doesn’t matter. I only need to buy time.”

“What do you plan to do…?”

Ignoring the man’s question, the robed figure approached a nearby table and scribbled something on a piece of paper. They sealed it in an envelope and handed it to the man.

“Use a foolish yet greedy noble. Deliver this. He’ll gladly accept it because he likes rare things.”

“Yes.”

“And send a few skilled people. There might be unexpected variables. Have them quietly observe and intervene if things go wrong.”

“Understood.”

The man bowed and left, while the robed figure pulled back his hood.

Moonlight from a small window illuminated his now entirely white hair. In the brighter light, only an elderly man with a benevolent face remained.