Chapter 3

Today, Lyzbel was once again invited to her friend Eugene’s tea time, chatting with other friends.

When Lyzbel’s elder sister and brother severed ties with their parents, it caused a massive uproar in the capital. Knowing this, Lyzbel had considered finding a contract marriage partner from a distant region to marry and later divorce. However, her constant surveillance made this impossible. To find a man from a faraway region, she would first need to visit an informant, but there was no way she could evade her watchers to do so.

With a heavy sigh, Lyzbel collapsed onto the sofa.

These friends had known each other since childhood, having seen both the best and worst sides of one another. While Lyzbel outwardly maintained the poise and elegance of a proper lady during other tea times, she let her guard down completely when she was with her friends.

Her friends, fully aware of her struggles, couldn’t help but pity her. Perhaps, if she hadn’t been born a lady of a noble family but an orphan instead, her life might have been easier.

The reason her parents assigned knights to monitor her was utterly revolting. While it was true they were worried she might run away, there was another reason. To sell her off in a marriage deal, they needed her to remain pure. As a result, they forbade her from attending any social gatherings except tea times with other ladies. This left her friends scrambling to organize various tea times to keep her company. To avoid suspicion, they occasionally invited other ladies to join as well.

“I can’t believe it. My parents, who are trying to sell me off to a nouveau riche for a quick payday, are actually my parents.”

Naturally, every noble family aware of the Ivelia Baron couple’s disgraceful behavior rejected their marriage proposals. Not only families in the capital but also nobles from other territories refused. These days, it was widely known across the Empire that the Ivelia Baron couple was sending marriage proposals even to shady nouveau riche families.

Most nouveau riche who suddenly came into wealth were former criminals. They had accumulated their fortunes through drug trafficking, gambling, or looting near the borders. While the Empire had executed many criminals, some managed to survive by hiding their wealth and laundering their identities, making it impossible for the Empire to touch them.

There were even cases where people forced into marriages with such nouveau riche ended up dead, and Lyzbel was on the verge of becoming one of them. Worse still, many of these men were obsessed with virginity. In fact, most nouveau riche openly demanded young and pure women.

However, the Baron couple didn’t care what happened to their daughter as long as they got the dowry. Lyzbel had no affection left for such parents. If not for the Empire’s oppressive laws, she would have run away long ago.

“I want to denounce the Empire’s law that treats unmarried children as their parents’ property.”

“Exactly. Honestly, if Lyzbel’s parents are so desperate to make money off a dowry, why don’t they remarry?”

If not for her friends, who shared her frustration, Lyzbel wouldn’t have been able to endure. Her parents’ surveillance had intensified since her siblings severed ties with them. If she hadn’t made friends before then, she would have withered away in loneliness.

The knights assigned to monitor her were there solely to ensure she couldn’t escape. The constant rebellion simmering within her made her want to betray her parents in the worst way possible. That thought consumed her daily. Lying on the sofa, staring at the chandelier on the ceiling, Lyzbel finally spoke.

“The current prospect is Viscount Wilstrong, who’s 45 years older than me. He’s had six previous wives.”

“What? Forty-five years older? And with six wives? Doesn’t that mean he has children?”

“Yes. Including the children from mistresses, he has sixteen.”

“This is beyond absurd. I can’t believe your parents are seriously considering such a match.”

The Baron couple had tried to hide the details of the marriage prospect from Lyzbel, but a loyal maid had informed her. They had already accepted the proposal and were negotiating the dowry. This left Lyzbel feeling even more distraught today.

Moreover, the Wilstrong Viscount’s estate wasn’t even in the capital, meaning she might never see her friends again.

“…Lyzbel. I know something about that family.”

All eyes turned to Winter, who had just spoken. She grimaced as if disgusted and began recounting what she knew about the nouveau riche Viscount Wilstrong.

What Lyzbel already knew was bad enough, but the truth was even worse.

Viscount Wilstrong was a greedy and shameless man. He was obsessed with virginity, marrying or taking as mistresses young ladies from fallen noble families as soon as they became adults. Many families had tried to protect their daughters from him, but he retaliated, forcing some daughters to become his mistresses.

The Ivelia Baron couple, however, was ready to hand Lyzbel over as long as they got their money. One could only imagine how eagerly Viscount Wilstrong was pursuing the marriage talks.

“On top of that, he insists on bringing a priest to verify virginity before marriage.”

“That’s disgusting. What do we do…? I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

“Melina, me too.”

“…And if the priest determines she isn’t a virgin?”

“He immediately cancels the marriage and takes back the dowry. It’s absolutely vile.”

“Wow. That’s exactly the kind of story that would make my parents lose their minds.”

Strangely, Lyzbel felt intrigued by this. She had been worried that talking about the Viscount would darken the mood, but now she was glad she had brought it up. Where else could she have learned such critical information?

“There’s no way to bribe the priest.”

“Even attempting to bribe them could result in being charged with heresy…”

“Eliminating Viscount Wilstrong isn’t an option either. There’s only one solution.”

This meant she would have to sacrifice her virginity. Her friends were shocked, their mouths agape, but Lyzbel appeared calm. She was tired of her life, where she couldn’t even go out without a chaperone.

It had been six years since she turned seventeen and became an adult. For over six years, she had endured this lifestyle. If she were an ordinary noblewoman, she might have already married into a respectable family.

The reason she avoided meeting anyone in high society was this: she refused to give in to her parents’ demands. It was her small act of rebellion. But now, if she were handed over to that nouveau riche, her parents’ surveillance would simply be replaced by her husband’s. Her parents would sell her off to that old man and live comfortably off the dowry.

Her friends realized that Lyzbel wasn’t joking. The silence in the parlor was finally broken by Eugene.

“I like you, Lyzbel.”

“Yes, I really like all of you too.”

“So, if you’ve made up your mind, I want to help you. But how will you evade the knights who always follow you?”

“Ah.”

“They follow you everywhere. They even stand guard outside your room and beneath your window.”

“That’s right. It’s disgusting how they monitor you to ensure you don’t escape.”

The relentless surveillance was a problem. The knights of the Baron household always shadowed her. Bribing them wouldn’t work. As silence fell again, Eugene spoke up.

“I’ve been thinking. Your parents allow you to stay overnight after our tea times, right?”

“Yes, but they always station guards near my bedroom.”

“Well, my family’s Valencia estate has many hidden passageways. The knights don’t know about them!”

The mention of secret passageways piqued everyone’s curiosity. Eugene glanced around, then motioned for the group to huddle closer. While no one was listening, it didn’t hurt to be cautious.

“There’s a secret social gathering I know of.”

“A social gathering? What kind?”

“No one can see each other’s faces. Magic conceals everyone’s appearance. You can only talk, but if you like someone, you can… well, you know.”

“There’s… a place like that?”

“It’s a discreet gathering known only to a select few. I found out about it through my sister. The reason I’m recommending it to Lyzbel is that it’s untraceable, and there’s no need to worry about diseases.”

According to Eugene, men were required to undergo health checks before being allowed entry. The organizers strictly enforced safety measures, and anyone who acted violently was permanently banned.

“Only those with an invitation can attend. I’ll give you one.”