The ribbon blindfolding her eyes was removed.

Bronwynner froze in shock.

In the dimly lit space illuminated by candles and lamps, there were no tea, cakes, or ribbon decorations.

Instead, about a dozen young ladies dressed perfectly in day dresses sat in chairs, staring intently at her. Among them were, of course, Devon and Annie Moonstone.

Bronwynner turned to look at Jemima. Under what she had thought was a coat worn against the cold, Jemima was also wearing a day dress.

Bronwynner was so dumbfounded she could barely speak.

“Jemima, you told me to wear nightclothes……”

“Oh, didn’t you know? Only you were supposed to wear them.”

At Jemima’s gesture, the tall Annie came forward and grabbed Bronwynner by both shoulders.

“We want to evaluate whether you’re qualified to receive bride training at this school.”

“Goldenborough is a backward place. We need to see if your qualities and morality match that.”

Jemima said spitefully.

The Count of Goldenborough, Derek Farraway, was an extremely sophisticated and gentlemanly person. His sister, Countess Helen Windell, was also a perfect lady. And Goldenborough was by no means a backward region. Rather, all the money from the north was flowing there.

However, the impression that Whittingham ladies and noble young women had of the factory district was quite different from reality. As commoner businessmen who made large fortunes from factory construction and operation frequently took daughters of fallen nobility or widowed noblewomen as wives, the antipathy of noble women toward this trend intensified. Goldenborough was simply lumped in with this perception.

“Let go of me!”

Bronwynner resisted, but Annie was as strong as she was tall. Jemima removed Bronwynner’s night robe.

“Walking around in nightclothes at this hour, you’re disqualified as a lady.”

“Jemima, you told me to come dressed like this!”

Jemima clicked her tongue.

“If you were a lady with any sense, you should have refused.”

Next, the ribbon of her nightgown was untied, and the thin fabric fluttered down to her feet. Now all that remained on Bronwynner’s body was a camisole barely covering her upper body and drawers that came down to mid-thigh.

“Wow, her br*asts are as good as Celestine’s.”

Annie slapped Bronwynner’s upper chest exposed above the camisole and snickered. Then she spitefully cupped underneath her br*asts, as if placing an ornament on a display shelf.

“How many points for this, Devon? Lady score?”

“Five out of ten.”

Devon answered primly. The rest of the women giggled.

“Aren’t you being too generous? Her figure is so immoral. So vulgar.”

When Jemima pulled the ribbon from her hair, Bronwynner’s red locks cascaded down over her white body.

“Her hair is nice though?”

“Three points because it’s red.”

Devon’s comment triggered another burst of laughter.

“Stop it!”

Bronwynner struggled. Annie grabbed her hair. Though not particularly rough, it reminded Bronwynner of when Alec had grabbed her by the hair, and she froze.

“Gentlemen hate rebellious ladies. You should stay still. Like on your wedding night.”

“Maybe she’s already experienced that? With men who work in factories.”

Jemima giggled as she pulled down the shoulder strap of the camisole. With that careless gesture, the contents inside seemed about to spill out at any moment. Bronwynner clutched her undergarment and held firm. If her clothes tore, she would have to return to the dormitory in a shameful state.

No, would they even let her go back to her room……?

Their malice had been obvious from the moment they told her to come in nightclothes while they were fully dressed. They intended to strip Bronwynner n*ked before their eyes and ‘evaluate’ every inch of her body. She probably wasn’t the first person to be bullied like this. The reason it hadn’t become known was likely because Devon Whitman was the headmistress’s granddaughter, and the victims kept quiet out of shame.

Then, emotions long suppressed exploded.

These were feelings she should have felt when Alec Bingham attacked her.

Emotions she should have expressed when Baroness Bingham threw her out without paying her wages or severance.

Overwhelmed with anger, Bronwynner swung her arm violently.

“Ouch! She hit me!”

Annie shouted.

Bronwynner escaped from Annie’s grasp as she tried to grab her again, and this time slapped Jemima across the face. Ah, just last night she had shown kindness to Jemima. Though she hadn’t expected anything in return, at least if Jemima had been grateful, she shouldn’t have done this.

Jemima burst into tears.

“Who do you think you are to hit me!”

“Want more? Someone like you needs to be whipped on the calves!”

Bronwynner never thought she would miss the strict governess of the Bingham baronial family. Miss Carter should come and give these wicked girls a thrashing until they came to their senses.

Bronwynner picked up her night robe and quickly put her arms through it. The garment was inside out, but she didn’t care. She approached the students who still maintained their composure.

“All of you, apologize to me.”

⌜A lady is someone who honestly admits when she’s wrong and is the first to say sorry.⌟

When Bronwynner said this, Elise and Kaylee would immediately tear up, apologize, and give her a tight hug. The women sitting here weren’t even as good as those two little girls.

One of Devon’s guards was incredulous.

“Why should we apologize to you? We told you, this is to evaluate the new student’s qualifications.”

“I already passed the interview. His Grace the Duke of Crimsworth is my guardian.”

At the mention of ‘the Duke of Crimsworth,’ several people flinched. But they soon smiled mockingly, perhaps confident that a man far away in Crimsworth wouldn’t interfere in matters between ladies.

“If you don’t apologize, I’ll tell everyone what you did in front of the rest of the students and teachers. And to Lord Crimsworth too.”

Bronwynner said, looking directly at Devon’s face.

Based on what Maude had said, Devon was interested in getting engaged to Jeremy, but the man didn’t seem to reciprocate, so Devon wouldn’t want this fact to reach his ears.

“How dare you threaten us!”

Annie and Jemima, who had followed her, pulled Bronwynner away. As she was dragged toward the door, Bronwynner raised her voice.

“Lady Devon, you score zero out of a hundred! For character and conscience! Celestine is much better than you.”

At the name ‘Celestine,’ Devon’s smile deepened. That was precisely Devon’s weakness. Bronwynner didn’t want to be someone who attacked others’ weaknesses, but she also didn’t want to just take it when she was being attacked. She shouted,

“That’s why Celestine will be a crown princess candidate, and you won’t!”

“My goodness, what outrageous words!”

Someone exclaimed loudly.

Either Annie or Jemima struck Bronwynner on the head, seemingly to silence her, causing one of her ears to ring. Bronwynner stood her ground against both of them. There was no reason to tolerate noble young ladies doing things that even orphanage children over fifteen wouldn’t do to her.

There were two opponents, and one was bigger than her, but the strength difference wasn’t as overwhelming as with Alec Bingham. When Jemima grabbed the hem of her night robe, Bronwynner kicked her.

“Stop, stop!”

A mature woman’s voice interrupted.

Annie and Jemima quickly moved away from Bronwynner.

The owner of the voice was the etiquette teacher, Miss Herman. Perhaps on patrol, Miss Herman had a lantern in her hand. The etiquette teacher’s eyes widened.

“My goodness, Lady Jemima Laurel! Lady Annie Moonstone!”

Bronwynner stood up, adjusting the hem of her half-removed night robe. Miss Herman turned to her.

“……Miss Pemberton. What is all this about?”

That tone was completely different from how she had addressed Jemima and Annie. The look she gave Bronwynner was just as cold as her tone.

Bronwynner sensed immediately that things were turning against her. In fact, they had been from the moment she accepted the invitation to the ‘night tea party.’

‘What should I do……?’

⌜You should have just fainted instead.⌟

Why, of all things, did that man’s sarcastic remark come to mind at this moment?

Bronwynner looked up weakly at Miss Herman.

“Teacher, I……”

And then she collapsed onto the cold floor. She fell on the side without a carpet, and the impact hurt her head badly.

“Miss Pemberton!”

Miss Herman shouted in alarm.

* * *

The Duke of Crimsworth’s work didn’t observe weekends.

In today’s Lennox, the concept of a ‘lord’ had changed to something closer to Her Majesty the Queen’s administrator, so now rather than ruling his territory, he managed it on behalf of the crown and received a portion of the taxes, but there was still much to do.

Recently, his main duty was meeting various stakeholders regarding the new railway line—the railway company, lawyers, accountants, land surveyors, representatives of Crimsworth residents, and senators—but he also needed to periodically check on his investment projects and affairs at Crimsworth Court and the townhouse. For the latter, even though he had delegated most tasks to the butler and housekeeper, the moment he turned his attention elsewhere, matters awaiting his decision quickly piled up.

Maude was still too young to take on the role of mistress of Crimsworth Court.

If he missed visiting Her Majesty the Queen with the excuse of being busy, she would surely say, “That’s why you should get married quickly, shouldn’t you?” So he made time during the week to visit Her Majesty and his cousins.

Her Majesty didn’t ask about the progress of investigating Celestine. If it had been urgent, she would have at least subtly pressed him.

So, thinking he still had time, he returned to Crimsworth on Friday night. When passing by Whitman School in a carriage on the way from the palace, he started to say something to the coachman but stopped.

On Saturday, he was out all day as well.

With one appointment canceled, he could return home about two hours earlier than planned, which put him in a good mood. Though he had nothing special to do at home, rest was good, wasn’t it?

As soon as he saw his sister’s face when she came out to greet him, he asked,

“Where is Lady Havilland?”

“She went to pick up Miss Pemberton. In Whittingham.”

He looked at his watch. It was already almost five in the afternoon.

“Jeremy, will you have dinner with us?”