Chapter 4 – Part 4

“Welcome, Lady Venice, Lady Ellen. Thank you so much for accepting my invitation,” Kristin greeted them warmly.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Thank you for inviting us,” Venice replied, glancing at Isabella for a signal. She subtly tapped Isabella’s knee with her fan, signaling her to ask about touring the mansion.

“Lady Isabella, have you finished your conversation with Kristin?” Venice whispered carefully.

But Isabella was already distracted, her mind clouded by Kristin’s earlier words.

“Lady Isabella,”

Ellen, frustrated by the lack of response, took it upon herself to address Kristin.

“To be honest, we had some reservations,” Ellen admitted.

“What kind of reservations?” Kristin asked, folding her hands gently on her lap, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

At that moment, Ellen’s eyes caught sight of Kristin’s hairpin. Sitting at an angle, Ellen could see only the beautiful, unfamiliar hairpin.

“Oh, well… that is to say…”

“Feel free to speak comfortably,” Kristin encouraged.

Ellen, struggling to gather her thoughts, continued to be distracted by the intricate hairpin, which seemed to be unlike any she had seen before. Meanwhile, Kristin maintained her composed demeanor, waiting patiently for her guests to articulate their thoughts.

The atmosphere in the room was a delicate balance of tension and politeness, with each lady concealing their true intentions behind a veneer of civility.

Ellen gathered her thoughts again, preparing to speak, but Kristin preempted her.

“Do you happen to like hairpins, Lady Ellen? For example, like the one I’m wearing.”

“Pardon?” Ellen asked, taken aback.

“Who wouldn’t like such beautiful hairpins, especially one like yours? But why do you ask?” Ellen replied, trying to regain her composure.

Kristin had decided to shift her focus to Ellen. Isabella, enticed by the possibility of acquiring a special dress, had resolved to endure Kristin’s company for today. If tolerating someone she disliked for a single tea party meant receiving a dress with exquisite embroidery, it was a small price to pay.

Isabella, aligning with Kristin’s words, replied enthusiastically,

“Lady Kristin, your hairpin is so dazzlingly beautiful. I was dying to know where you purchased it.”

Ellen, bewildered by Isabella’s sudden change in behavior, mouthed silently, “What are you doing?” Kristin, noticing the exchange, smiled brightly and responded.

“It might be presumptuous of me to say this, but I received this hairpin as a gift. I would love to give you one just like it, but it’s quite rare.”

“There’s no need to go to such lengths,” Ellen replied, though her eyes were still fixed on the hairpin, hiding her envy behind a facade of indifference.

Kristin smiled, noting Ellen’s obvious fascination. She recalled her past life and her interactions with Ellen Agneta.

In her previous life, she had limited information about Ellen due to the brief time she had known her before her untimely demise. Nonetheless, Kristin saw this moment as an opportunity.

Kristin pondered over Ellen’s character and past, realizing she had overlooked many details in her previous life. She thought back to the events that led her to this moment, grateful for the chance to breathe and live again, seeing it as a near miracle.

As Kristin looked at Ellen, she remembered what she knew about her previous life.

Ellen Agneta

She was the closest confidante of Isabella, a central figure in high society. Although Ellen didn’t genuinely like Isabella, she too desired to wield such influence.

Someday, she hoped to surpass Isabella and become the queen of the social circle.

Kristin had once been invited to an imperial gathering as a Duchess, and it was there, in one of the reception rooms, that she happened to overhear a conversation between Ellen and another lady.

The conversation was brief but intense.

“Instead of ugly Isabella, I will one day become the most prominent noble lady in the Union Empire. I’m tired of playing the maid beside Lady Isabella.”

“Of course. Lady Ellen is far more noble than the slightly ignorant Lady Isabella.”

“She thinks I like her, but I let her be mistaken because it’s convenient for me.”

“Lady Ellen, you are indeed clever.”

Such was their conversation.

A deceitful and selfish lady.

Perhaps even more vicious and ruthless than Isabella was Ellen Agneta.

Kristin, pondering for a moment on how to deal with Ellen, concluded.

‘Lady Ellen is a lady who might betray you at any moment, so it would be a waste of time to try to make her completely an ally.’

With this thought, Kristin spoke to Ellen in a gentle tone.

“If you wish, I can have our servants bring you the same thing.”

“Pardon? Why would Lady Kristin… And don’t you lack the means to do so now?”

As Ellen spoke with a mocking tone, Kristin decided that after today’s gathering, she would proceed with her plan to meet the mine owner tomorrow. She needed significant wealth to avoid being disregarded by so many.

Kristin picked up the teacup in front of her, appearing unfazed by Ellen’s words. She took a slow sip before speaking.

“It’s true that our household has become increasingly impoverished compared to other viscount’s families. Saying this feels like spitting in my face, but I believe I need to speak up. The Edith family isn’t working with other nobles as business partners, and it seems my father is wasting his efforts…”

“Wasting his efforts? Are you referring to the gambling halls?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

At the mention of gambling halls, the faces of Isabella, Venice, and Ellen turned pale with shock. They had already heard rumors about Viscount Vernon’s frequent visits to the gambling halls.

He spent entire days there, indulging in gambling, which was unbecoming of his status. Worse still, he would drink excessively after losing money and cause a ruckus in the city, making it impossible for anyone to remain unaware of his behavior.

Viscount Vernon’s actions were enough to tarnish the dignity of the nobility, and the commoners in the Union Empire began to harbor resentment toward the aristocrats.

Because of this, the nobles could not think well of the Edith family. Nobles, being of higher status than commoners, were expected to be respected and treated with honor. Yet, people gossiped, viewing all nobles as akin to Viscount Vernon Edith.

Viscount Vernon Edith was a disgrace to the nobility of the Union Empire. Thus, the other young ladies could not view his daughter, Kristin, favorably.

“Frequenting gambling halls and disgracing the nobility has gone too far,” said Venice, unable to hide her discomfort at being in the same space as Kristin, despite Isabella’s forced smile.

“What do commoners think of us? We are not mere barons or counts but viscounts. The commoners will look down on us, saying we lack even a shred of dignity. How can that be acceptable?”

Venice added, “I cannot tolerate commoners speaking ill of us.”

Under the banner of nobility, she regarded commoners as less than human. However, Kristin hadn’t brought up her father’s actions merely to defend him. She wanted to show how miserable her life was.

Despite being loved by Marquis Winston and Duke Raphael, her family was in ruins. If the young ladies in front of her could feel even a slight twinge of sympathy and change their negative perceptions of Kristin Edith, then her unhappy current state could become the key to unlocking their closed hearts. Kristin felt certain of this.

It was not a blessed life by any means.

Kristin decided to show as much of her pitiable side as possible. If she eventually acquired the diamond mine and it became known throughout the empire that Kristin Edith was its owner, then Isabella, Venice, and Ellen would come to the Edith estate of their own accord, eager to be in her good graces.

They would probably say things like:

“How difficult it must have been for you, Lady Kristin.”

“After the tea party, I was so worried about you that I couldn’t sleep, but to think you’ve become the owner of a diamond mine—congratulations!”

“You mentioned gifting a pin back then, but I never received it. I didn’t want to burden you, Lady Kristin.”

While pretending to console her, they hope to gain something from her.

However, contrary to her desire to create such a situation, she was woefully lacking at the moment. A single tea party wouldn’t be enough to win their hearts fully.

Their faces still showed discontent and unease, so Kristin had to come up with a sure way to entice Ellen, Venice, and Isabella.

Kristin carefully opened her mouth while keeping her gaze on the teacup.

“My father shouldn’t have behaved that way. I’m well aware of it. I know he absolutely shouldn’t have acted like that. Because of his actions, I’m already aware that my reputation isn’t good. The nobles in the empire probably think I’m the same as my father since I’m his daughter.”

As soon as Kristin finished speaking, the three women in front of her set down their teacups one by one. Perhaps feeling a pang of guilt, they could no longer comfortably drink their tea.

Since their visit to the Edith estate was not meant for casual conversation and building friendships, Isabella hastily spoke up after hearing Kristin’s words.

“Let’s stop with the gloomy talk. I’m curious about your estate, Lady Kristin. How about showing us around?”

Throughout Kristin’s speech, Venice and Ellen had been glancing nervously at Isabella. Sensing their discomfort, Isabella made eye contact with them, prompting Venice and Ellen to support her suggestion.

“I’ve been invited to many noble ladies’ estates, but Kristin’s is the only one I haven’t visited,” Venice said.

“That’s right. I’m also curious about Kristin’s remarkable embroidery skills,” Ellen added.

Isabella pointed to Kristin’s dress, drawing Venice and Ellen’s attention to it.

“Wow! Lady Kristin,” Venice exclaimed.

“I’ve never seen a boutique in the shopping district selling dresses like this. Did you perhaps get it from the Sharon Boutique run by Lady Beatrice Charlotte? I’ve heard their embroidery is exceptional,” Ellen remarked.

Venice and Ellen were speechless as they admired the dress.

Seeing their reactions, Isabella spoke excitedly on Kristin’s behalf.

“That dress, Kristin embroidered it herself. In other words, she altered the dress on her own. Isn’t that amazing? Normally, we would ask a boutique madame or order a custom-made dress. It’s not something a noble lady would easily do herself.”

“Oh, it’s nothing, really,” Kristin said modestly, deciding to further assert herself in the favorable atmosphere.

“I’m not sure how the rumors about me have spread throughout the Union Empire, but if I get the chance, I’d love to offer my talents to the noble ladies. Although I have a long way to go, it would bring me great joy to see them happy with the embroidery they desire.”

Hearing Kristin’s words, Venice thought to herself,

‘Ridiculous. Where did she learn to act so virtuous?’

Isabella, too, kept her true feelings to herself, thinking,

‘She shouldn’t do this for other noble ladies. There must be a dress embroidered just for me. If everyone has embroidered dresses, they lose their uniqueness. That can’t happen. I need to shine at the upcoming Imperial Foundation Day party!’

Ellen also had her private thoughts,

‘Foolish Kristin. Was that her real reason for inviting us? To show how kind she is? She can’t be serious about that.’

Although Isabella, Venice, and Ellen nodded and seemed to agree with Kristin’s words, they still harbored dissatisfaction towards her. However, they concealed their true feelings and responded to Kristin in affectionate tones.

“You have such a kind heart,” Isabella said.

“How thoughtful of you. The noble ladies will be truly delighted,” added Venice.

“Kristin, your words make me even more curious about your embroidery skills. If your talent is this remarkable, I bet other dresses are just as beautiful,” said Ellen.

Kristin smiled warmly, grateful for their polite responses, even though she sensed their underlying insincerity. She knew she had to continue playing her role carefully to win them over.

Kristin responded with a shy smile, pretending to be bashful.

“Then I’ll show you around the Edith estate. Please, follow me.”

She stood up and began to walk ahead. As she did, Isabella, Venice, and Ellen followed, whispering among themselves.

“We should find something worth gossiping about in the empire. Let’s make the most of this visit and have some fun.”

Kristin, smiling at the ladies following her, turned her gaze forward and thought to herself.

‘They already think I’m inferior to them. I’ll show them exactly what they want to see. That way, I’ll feel a bit more at ease. And it would be even better if they spread these rumors throughout the empire.’

She led them through the estate, pointing out various rooms and details, all the while maintaining an air of humble grace. The young ladies followed, their curiosity piqued and their minds working to find any tidbits they could use for gossip.

Kristin was determined to use this opportunity to manipulate their perceptions, both to protect herself and to potentially turn the tide of opinion in her favor.