Insane.

Everyone in this room must be thinking the same thing. She even heard someone next to her muttering that this was a masterpiece they’d never see again in their lifetime.

The personal maids who were initially flustered when I ordered to bring her to my room and dress her up soon faithfully carried out the command. Later, they seemed to burn with real determination. Well, anyone could see she had looks worth dressing up. You could say it was a base model that guaranteed maximum job satisfaction.

What had been a troublesome over-the-top dress for me became a flower when put on Mélisande. Of course, the delicate Mélisande was about a span smaller in build than me, so the dress was a bit large. Therefore, several quick-handed maids needed to attach themselves and make impromptu alterations, but even considering this, it was no joke.

I did add some seasoning like “Mélisande’s build seemed similar to mine, so I’m glad it fits since I prepared it to my size.” A few maids who knew the truth looked at me with coldly seasoned eyes, but I decided to act boldly. Well. If I say so, then that’s how it is. I felt a bit guilty about Mélisande’s seemingly moved gaze though.

Mélisande in the pure white dress was literally like an angel. The lily embroidery and sparkling gems harmonized picturesquely with her moonlight-like silver hair. The highest-grade cosmetics purchased with the same weight in gold painted over her porcelain doll-like face. Anyone could see she was today’s protagonist.

When I led Mélisande into the banquet hall where the reception was being held, I saw dozens of people literally drop their jaws without exaggeration. Even that Antoine looked shocked. Was this how the fairy godmother who transformed Cinderella felt? World, behold. This is my work.

“My goodness, look at the new marchioness.”

“I thought it was an exaggeration, but she is indeed a beauty. Well, that’s how she captivated that marquis at once……”

“But if that beauty has no substance, how long will it really last? Our Lord also said in Proverbs that charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting.”

The voices of riffraff chattered like background music. When I glanced around, some were familiar faces. Some of those from branch families or vassals who had been trying hard to marry their daughters to Antoine to get their names on the Levizet main family tree. Those who had been spewing envious malice turned their heads toward me when they felt my gaze.

“Oh my, isn’t that Mademoiselle Levizet?”

“Goodness, how long has it been? Since you rarely come from the capital, we never see you in the territory. My daughter has been missing you, Mademoiselle.”

“Ah, Mademoiselle Levizet. We’re planning to hold a dinner soon, and if you could participate, we’d be more than delighted—”

Tsk, like a swarm of flies flocking to honey. I twisted one corner of my mouth in a smile and snapped my fan shut against my palm.

“It has indeed been a while. By the way, you seemed to be having an interesting conversation.”

Sensing an ominous atmosphere, some hesitated. But there’s always someone clueless in any group of a certain size. One branch family member playing the role of ‘clueless guy’ among them bravely stepped forward.

“We were just worrying that the marriage to the new marchioness might be a bit hasty.”

He approached me with a subtle tone and glances as if seeking agreement, rubbing his hands together like a fly.

“As someone belonging to Levizet, I’m not sure how a woman whose qualifications haven’t been properly verified can handle the heavy responsibilities of a mistress. The new marchioness’s level—”

Whoa there, I raised my hand to stop the man who was about to spout complaints about the bride.

“Is that so, but who were you again…… Was it Baron Gailo?”

“……It’s Viscount Garin, Mademoiselle.”

“Ah, Viscount Garin!”

I clapped my hands exaggeratedly.

“Right, Viscount. That viscountcy you hold, wasn’t it a title you received when your ancestor seven generations back sired a bastard?”

The man flinched. He looked puzzled. Since rumors had already spread that Mademoiselle Levizet was vehemently opposed to this marriage, he probably planned to badmouth the bride a bit to curry favor. But the me of now is different from yesterday’s me.

“Answer me. Is your position one that can dare evaluate the right and wrong of the judgment of the marquis, who is the head of this Levizet family?”

When I spoke with a deliberately colder face, his face turned pale. I drove in the wedge.

“Just because you received the grace of attaching Levizet’s lily to that paltry coat of arms, did you mistake yourself for truly being a member of the marquis family? I’m curious how you, a mere side branch, thought you could interfere in the main family’s affairs.”

I savored the humiliation spreading across his reddened face as I accepted a glass and took a sip. When Viscount Garin hurriedly fled, his family members who had been watching the situation flowed out of the banquet hall like an ebbing tide. I enjoyed the quieted atmosphere. Those nobodies who can’t even enter the court, where do they get off trying to bring down the new marchioness?

The orchestra began playing, and Antoine led Mélisande to the dance floor. Under the soft lighting, his reddish-gold hair, similar to mine but slightly deeper in color, harmonized with Mélisande’s sparkling silver hair. The bride and groom dancing under the beautiful floral decorations of the banquet hall were like celestial beauties, regardless of their inner circumstances.

Yes, watching that, I seemed to have hoped a little. If this event could create even a little progress between Mélisande and Antoine, wouldn’t there be no reason for Mélisande to be heartbroken or for the family to be ruined?

At that moment, a voice that completely shattered my fairly good mood reached me.

“Alix, it’s been a while since we’ve met in the Levizet family’s territory. Almost a year, isn’t it?”

“……Caleb.”

A handsome man with a gentle impression who had approached my side at some point was smiling brightly.

Baron Caleb Julard.

Antoine’s childhood friend and groomsman at this wedding.

And…… Antoine’s hidden lover.

Ah, don’t be fooled by his puppy-like gentle impression and think of him as just a tragic lover caught in a love forbidden by the times. If it were just a tender love, who would say anything?

Caleb Julard is a final boss-level villain in the novel who encouraged Antoine to take Mélisande from a humble family as his wife so his influence over Antoine wouldn’t diminish.

Meanwhile, his jealousy is tremendous, so even though he recommended her as marchioness himself, he greatly hates Mélisande. The reason is simply that she has the qualification to legally stand beside Antoine.

If Antoine shows even the slightest interest in Mélisande, causing trouble to turn attention back to himself is basic, and he also spreads dirty rumors about Mélisande in high society.

He’s even the mastermind who cleverly used his status as a childhood friend who had frequented the marquis family since childhood to instigate Mélisande’s harsh married life. He doesn’t come to his senses until the very end and tries to harm Mélisande after she becomes the grand duchess, only to be retired in one blow by the enraged grand duke.

If my memories of my previous life hadn’t returned, I would have been purely happy to see him. In fact, I, who had only thought of him as a kind older brother’s friend, used to quite like Caleb. But now I just feel uncomfortable. I can only think—so this guy is the root of all evil.

No, more than that, I wonder if he could think of tormenting someone after seeing Mélisande’s delicate figure that looks like it might break if touched lightly. Cruel bastard.

Whether he knew my feelings or not, Caleb spoke affectionately.

“I was thinking of dropping by the Levizet territory when I had time, but opportunities rarely arose.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes, seeing Alix in this mansion makes me realize anew how much time has passed.”

Well, it has been a while since I met him at the Levizet main family mansion. In childhood, I invited him to the territory every summer to spend time together, but since we came of age and began living in the capital, there was no particular reason to come down to the territory.

“But Alix. I heard you had specially prepared clothes for today.”

Ah, so that’s why he came. ‘Why is she wearing the white dress you prepared while you’re wearing such plain clothes?’

The over-the-top dress—thinking about it, there was Caleb’s instigation at the very beginning. When I was annoyed, calling it an unsuitable marriage, Caleb subtly suggested I at least wear a pretty dress. While doing so, he casually mentioned white dresses in passing, and I, taking the bait completely, cheerfully ordered the over-the-top dress.

It was all this bastard’s grand scheme. I have nothing to say since I excitedly caused trouble together with him.

I quickly finished calculating in my head and responded nonchalantly.

“Ah, isn’t it quite pretty? This navy satin came up from the southern country. It’s a dress tailored by Her Highness the Princess’s seamstress.”

Caleb narrowed his eyes slightly. Of course, the dress he mentioned would be the over-the-top dress that had now become Mélisande’s reception dress, but if I showed that here, it would become a situation where I instigated your troublemaking or knew about it but overlooked it. Caleb, perhaps realizing this too, skillfully changed the subject.

“By the way, Friedwen is still beautiful as always. It’s regrettable that I have to leave here after the reception ends.”

I wish he’d get lost quickly. But without showing it, I smiled pleasantly and answered.

“Please drop by once more before going to the capital. My brother would be very pleased.”

“Yes, if you invite me soon, I’ll make sure to visit.”

Actually, that was empty words. I won’t invite you. Get lost. Unlike my inner thoughts, my mouth, accustomed to social conversation, faithfully spewed out lip service.

“Ah, that’s right. Since my new sister has joined us, holding a banquet in the territory wouldn’t be bad either.”

At the mention of ‘new sister,’ I could see Caleb’s forehead wrinkle slightly. It was slightly satisfying. Yes, no matter how much you scheme, there’s a separate legal marchioness. No matter how much he torments her with various schemes, until the divorce, the person who would be the mistress of this place and have her name engraved right next to Antoine’s in the noble registry was Mélisande.

Of course, Caleb, who instantly composed his expression, tried to change the subject by asking about the situation in the capital, but having caught him, I deliberately kept picking only words that would scratch Caleb’s insides—how the new newlywed couple was so beautiful, how I looked forward to heirs who would inherit both their beauty, how happy I was to have a new sister who seemed virtuous.

Eventually, Caleb fled with a smile that looked like he was gritting his teeth, and I laughed heartily. Where are you extracting sesame oil? So annoying!

***