Since he was looking only out the window as if he had never helped, she specifically pointed him out and thanked him again.

“Thank you, Duke. Thanks to you, I was able to receive the golden rose proudly after the Celsior side withdrew their objection.”

“……Ahem.”

The duke scratched the back of his neck with an awkward face and said.

“Still, don’t expect too much. Since there’s no clear evidence, there’s a high possibility it will end vaguely without being able to charge Celsior with a crime.”

“That’s why Celsior also withdrew obediently earlier. Since they compromised, they want us to do the same.”

Lord Diart added with a displeased voice. He also glanced at her sideways with a somewhat apologetic face.

But she didn’t mind at all. She had expected it to some extent anyway, and what she wanted had been achieved.

“It’s fine. I’m satisfied just with becoming queen legitimately.”

“……Then that’s fortunate.”

The duke nodded with a bitter smile for some unknown reason.

Deborah, who was sitting next to her, spoke as if suddenly remembering.

“Oh, right! They said your knight did something big. He ran around here and there to understand the situation and even found the culprit. Right, brother?”

“Yeah, right. He investigated everything for us and even contacted the imperial palace. What’s that knight’s name, Shailyn?”

Dain asked with sparkling eyes. He seemed to have become curious about Carl.

“It’s Carl.”

“Oh, even his name sounds like he’d handle a sword well. Tell him to come play at the training ground later.”

“I will.”

She nodded and resolved to meet Carl first when she got back.

But Carl wasn’t at the ducal residence, so meeting him right away failed.

He returned home without a word only in the late evening. She, who had been firmly guarding the front of the servants’ quarters, widened her eyes.

“Hey, in these dangerous times, what if someone kidnaps you coming home this late?”

“……Master?”

Carl, who hadn’t expected her to be waiting, opened his eyes in surprise and then chuckled.

“Why would anyone kidnap me.”

“Because you’re a cute and capable bondservant they’d covet?”

“I’d prefer if you left out the first part.”

“I don’t want to.”

When she replied primly with her hands behind her back, Carl swept his hair back as if dumbfounded.

They naturally moved to the back of the quarters.

There was a small lamp and bench, making it suitable for conversation.

“So how did it go today.”

Carl, who had taken off his outer coat and laid it on the chair, asked directly. She puffed out her chest and answered proudly.

“Of course I won since I’m your master.”

“Did you dance well with the tower master?”

“According to people who watched, we were absolutely amazing.”

When she spoke with a slight exaggeration, his face stiffened strangely.

Carl, who turned his head to stare at her intently, asked as if throwing out the words.

“What about you, Master.”

“What?”

“Among all the dance partners you’ve had so far…… was the tower master the best?”

At those words, she crossed her arms and seriously pondered.

Her memorable dance partners were four in total.

Dain, the crown prince, the tower master, and Carl.

First, since Dain’s dancing skills were similar to hers, it was hard to say whether he was good or bad.

The crown prince led her stably but wasn’t particularly fun.

The tower master was the most decent since they complemented each other’s mistakes and matched well, but.

Actually, this was largely because she had practiced dancing like crazy with Carl beforehand.

‘The one who felt most like a man while dancing was Carl though……’

She tried to glance at him sideways but happened to meet his eyes since he was also looking at her.

“Why won’t you answer.”

“……Ahem! Honestly, dancing with you felt the most natural and enjoyable.”

“That’s obvious.”

Unlike his blunt answer, Carl’s lips were twitching upward.

This dishonest cute guy.

“But His Highness the Crown Prince and the tower master weren’t bad either. Enough that I’d want to dance with them again if I had the chance?”

“……What did you like so much about those people.”

“They’re both blond.”

One is even my male lead candidate, and the other is a potential candidate.

There was no way she wouldn’t like them from the start.

Carl stared at her with strange eyes and then opened his mouth.

“If you could only dance with one side between those people and me, who would you choose, Master?”

“Those people.”

“Ha……”

Carl let out a bitter laugh as if his pride was hurt by her immediate answer without hesitation.

Sorry, if your opponent is a male lead, I can’t help it either.

“That d*mn blond hair…… really too much.”

Carl muttered quietly while dry-washing his face.

Eventually he got up and extended his hand to her.

“I’ll take you to your room. Go back and rest now.”

“Ah, wait. I came to thank you.”

While taking his hand and getting up, she looked straight at Carl.

“I heard you worked hard to reveal what the Celsior ducal family did for me. Thank you.”

“……”

Complex emotions that she couldn’t read passed over his face.

He replied in a very small voice.

“It can’t be said it was only…… for you, Master.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

“……Never mind. Just think I fulfilled my duty as a bondservant. Anyway, you must be tired.”

Carl slightly spread his arms, making a gesture as if asking whether to hug her.

She quickly nodded. She was tired and didn’t want to bother walking to her room.

Instead, she asked to be put down in front of the corridor rather than in front of her room since she’d get in trouble if Mandy caught them.

Carl picked her up and carried her more smoothly than a carriage.

This is it, this is it.

“Sleep well, Carl. Have good dreams.”

“You too, Master.”

He watched until she entered her room before turning away.

For a very brief moment, she thought he looked like a man who had walked his girlfriend home, then the thought disappeared.

***

The next day.

A system window sparkled in front of her as she opened her eyes refreshed from the morning.

【Fifth Mission Clear!

Wow! As expected of the female lead!

Oh, you completely turned the social world upside down! (ﾉ›_‹)ﾉ

Congratulations on becoming the social queen!

As a reward for this, the favorability of multiple male leads who were watching you has increased♥】

“Yes!”

She, who had been reading the system window while lying down, couldn’t contain her joy and sat up abruptly.

【And we’ll also provide a hint about the male lead.

Hint: One of the male leads really hates grape juice. He absolutely won’t even put it to his lips.】

Hmm, so there’s a male lead who hates grape juice?

If he won’t even put it to his lips, she thought there probably wouldn’t be that many people who fit.

‘Especially at parties and such, I could check whether they drink it or not.’

Then I should participate in many parties from now on.

While reaching that conclusion inwardly, Mandy knocked and entered.

“Are you awake, Miss?”

“Yes, good morning.”

“There are many letters for you, Miss. Please check them after washing and eating.”

“Really?”

She didn’t think deeply about Mandy’s words and let them pass.

However, when she actually checked the letters after washing and eating, she gaped at the mountain of them.

“What, what is this……”

“You became the social queen, Miss. Various families sent a tremendous number of party invitations.”

“Wow.”

Is what it’s like to be the social queen?

While flipping through the letters in bewilderment, she frowned.

“Oh my, there’s trash mixed in here?”

She lifted two letters with her index finger as if touching something dirty and held them out to Mandy.

“What? That can’t be…… Oh my, it really is trash!”

Mandy confirmed that the senders of those letters were the count mother and daughter, smiled broadly, and stuffed them into her pocket.

“I’m sorry, Miss. There were too many letters so I failed to filter out the impure elements.”

“It’s fine, that can happen.”

The obsession and persistence of the count mother and daughter, who still couldn’t give up and sent her letters, was remarkable.

She fell into thought while carefully examining the letters again.

Since she couldn’t go to all these parties, she’d have to choose the best places to go.

‘Isn’t there someone who could tell me which places are good……’

There was.

That person was Rain. He had become quite knowledgeable about the social world while running the boutique.

“Marchioness Perry is famous for matchmaking. Many young nobles attend her parties. And Countess McCall has wide connections and is linked to various people, and Viscountess Nilson is……”

Rain sorted the invitations into two sides. The right side was places to go, the left side was places not worth going to.

Most letters were processed to the left side, and only about five or six remained on the right.

“You said you’re looking for a husband, right, Miss? Then I recommend Marchioness Perry’s party as first priority.”

“Thank you, Rain. Then I should reply to the marchioness letter first.”

Following Rain’s advice, she expressed her intention to attend the Perry family party.