4. Socializing in Bloom

Letie’s body stiffened due to the sudden approach of her half-sister. Kana gently stroked the back of the female protagonist’s hand with her finger, easing her tension.

Letie’s lips curled slightly.

“Thank you, Miss Kana.”

“Don’t mention it.”

As they exchanged brief words, the distance between them and Cordelia shortened.

Olivia gave Kana a sidelong glance. It meant that two relatively strong-willed people should stand in front of Letie, just as Cordelia had young ladies on either side of her. Kana responded with a glance and stood beside her.

A subtle atmosphere formed naturally. Cordelia smiled brightly and started speaking.

“Older sister, you were here.”

“Yes, Cordelia.”

Letie was calm. She probably felt a bit uneasy inside. Cordelia spoke with an innocent smile, her eyes drooping.

“I was disappointed that we came separately even though we were invited together.”

“It doesn’t matter since we meet here anyway.”

Though Cordelia’s words subtly painted Letie as a cold sister, Letie responded calmly. Cordelia, at a loss for words, turned her gaze to Kana. Smiling with her eyes, she spoke.

“Oh my, you were the partner of the Master of the Magic Tower. Are you Lady Kana Round?”

“Yes, Lady Cordelia Serade.”

“You invited my sister to a tea party before the imperial palace banquet, didn’t you?”

Cordelia clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling. It seemed she was starting to warm up. Kana covered her mouth with her fan and replied in a businesslike tone.

“Yes. We had a good time then.”

“That was before my sister’s abilities awakened… Did you invite her because you were in a similar position?”

Cordelia tilted her head innocently, her pure expression masking a malicious intent. She was linking it to Letie’s difficult times to subtly mock both of them.

Recalling the villainous character of Cordelia as depicted in ‘The Fake Saint Was Real,”’Kana calmly corrected her.

“No. I invited Lady Letie simply because I wanted to get to know her better.”

“Ah, so you wanted to make a connection with the Serade family by getting on the good side of my sister during her tough times. Actually, I’ve never heard of the Round family before.”

Cordelia’s rude remark made the young ladies on Letie and Kana’s side frown. It was a statement that treated Letie as a foolish puppet while belittling another family.

Unlike the others who were visibly displeased, Kana felt indifferent. However, she couldn’t let such words go unchallenged, so she smiled brightly and countered.

“Oh, really? Lady Letie knew about me even before I introduced myself. It’s a pity that another Serade lady lacks such insight.”

Cordelia harbored an inferiority complex towards her half-sister. Before Letie awakened her healing abilities, Cordelia felt a petty sense of superiority, but now she must be even more frustrated.

Cordelia froze momentarily before clapping her hands with a bashful smile.

“Ah, it must be because my sister studied even the minor details before her abilities awakened.”

“That just shows how meticulous she is. Knowing about other families is basic knowledge. It seems you don’t know much since you joined the Serade family late.”

Kana’s sharp words pierced Cordelia, as she raised the corners of her mouth. Although it wasn’t an act she particularly enjoyed, the other party had provoked her first, and her role was aligned with the female protagonist’s line.

“Hmm, I am a lady of the Serade family, but you are just a lady of the Round family. It must be frustrating that your family lacks any special talents, but your words are excessive.”

“Still, unlike someone else, Lady Kana is the legitimate heir of her family. Cordelia, don’t be so arrogant.”

Letie, who had been silently observing, interjected at the right moment to support Kana. Cordelia flinched and furrowed her brows.

“Sister, I was talking to Lady Round.”

“But you belittled another family while mentioning ours. If you bear the Serade name, you should maintain its dignity.”

Letie elegantly waved her fan. Just as Cordelia was about to retort, Kana nonchalantly added.

“Lady Letie is right. Lady Serade, honestly, I found your words a bit uncomfortable.”

“Lady Round, you’re quite sensitive. I just wanted to know more about my sister’s friend…”

Cordelia’s eyebrows drooped as she trailed off. Her entourage glanced at Kana and whispered among themselves. It was a tactic Kana was familiar with from her original world—smiling while delivering a veiled insult, then accusing the other of being overly sensitive when they expressed discomfort.

Kana chuckled and closed her fan, replying coldly.

“It’s natural to react sensitively to unpleasant situations. I envy you for being so oblivious. Or perhaps it’s a lack of basic manners? People who genuinely want to know someone don’t behave like that.”

“Lady Kana, I’m sorry. You had to hear something you shouldn’t have.”

“It’s alright, Lady Letie. You don’t need to apologize for your sister’s mistake.”

As Kana and Letie exchanged warm words, Cordelia bit her lip. Letie glanced coldly at her half-sister and spoke sharply.

“What are you doing, Cordelia? If you’ve been rude to my friend, you should apologize.”

“…Apologize?”

“Yes, apologize. Surely, our sweet sister isn’t thinking of running away after I’ve already apologized first?”

Letie smiled brightly and gestured towards her half-sister. Cordelia hesitated, biting her lip. Kana quickly added to the conversation set up by the female protagonist.

“Lady Serade, if you’re going to apologize, do it quickly. I’d like to move on for the sake of my friend, Lady Letie’s, honor.”

“…I’m sorry, Lady Round.”

“Please be careful next time.”

Kana waved her fan nonchalantly. Cordelia kept her mouth shut.

As the tension between the two sides grew, the hostess of the salon appeared. A noblewoman with coiled auburn hair and intelligent green eyes, Ophelia, looked over the young ladies and spoke cheerfully.

“Oh my, everyone arrived earlier than the scheduled time.”

“Hello, Countess Dearon. Thank you for inviting us to the salon.”

Everyone, including Kana, greeted her with similar words. Ophelia accepted their greetings with satisfaction and gestured.

“Thank you for accepting my invitation. Please, don’t just stand there, have a seat.”

Everyone followed her guidance and took their seats. Kana quickly scanned the people sitting across from her and her side. The seating arrangement was subtly divided according to the factions centered around Letie and Cordelia.

‘As expected, she must have assessed everything during the imperial banquet. As a lady with influence in social circles, she’s quite perceptive.’

While Kana was making this judgment internally, Ophelia clapped her hands. Everyone’s attention turned to her. Ophelia began speaking with a gentle smile.

“I’m delighted to have an opportunity to meet with the young ladies since the imperial banquet. It makes me feel younger just looking at you all. I hope we have a pleasant time chatting.”

“Yes!”

Everyone responded in unison, clearly on edge. While everyone else was tense, Kana alone remained relaxed.

Ophelia, who was good at conversation, lightened the atmosphere and began mentioning poetry, novels, and theater.

Everyone relaxed and started chatting enthusiastically. It was a great opportunity to show off their knowledge, make a good impression on Ophelia, and build friendships with other young ladies.

Of course, Kana didn’t feel the need for any of that. She simply observed while enjoying the refreshments, occasionally adding a word here and there to avoid drawing attention.

During the conversation, romance novels, sweet poems, and plays were mentioned. Even the usually quiet Evie was more active than usual.

‘If I were still a reader in the original world, I might have been excited.’

Amidst the joyful people, Kana felt a bitter emotion alone. Since she worked as a supporting character now, she couldn’t find any enjoyment in these topics.

She had no interest in poetry except when studying for language exams, novels had become her workplace, and theater wasn’t much different from what she was doing now.

Suddenly, a sharp voice broke her thoughts.

“Lady Round, you were invited to Countess Dearon’s salon, yet you seem reluctant to join the conversation. Could it be that you don’t know the topics well and are keeping quiet?”

Kana turned her gaze towards the voice.

It was a young lady with dark green hair and gray eyes, seated in Cordelia’s faction, with a sharp impression.

Lady Margareta Cotton from the south, an extra villain who admired Kiriel in ‘The Fake Saint Was Real.’

‘It seems she was glaring at me during the imperial banquet… Is she picking a fight because I’m partnered with Kiriel?’

Kana clicked her tongue and responded leisurely with a warm smile.

“Oh, it’s Lady Cotton. I was simply listening to others.”

“Really? You were speaking well with Lady Cordelia earlier, but suddenly became quiet.”

“The situation is different now.”

As soon as Kana finished her calm response, Olivia tilted her head and suddenly interjected.

“Lady Cotton, why are you saying that? Just because she wasn’t talking to you doesn’t mean she’s reluctant to join the conversation. Lady Kana was talking well with us.”

“As Lady Olivia said.”

Kana added, sending a grateful glance to Olivia. Margareta closed her mouth with a dissatisfied look.

There were other sharp remarks here and there, but Kana handled them smoothly.

When the topics of poetry, novels, and theater died down, Ophelia, who had been leisurely watching the young ladies’ conversation, finally spoke.

“I enjoyed listening to your conversations. Seeing the lively and knowledgeable young ladies makes me feel pleased and delighted.”

“You’re too kind, Countess Dearon. We still have much to learn.”

Everyone responded similarly with modesty. Ophelia smiled kindly and changed the topic.

“No, you were all wonderful. Now, let’s put aside the cultured talk and discuss the imperial banquet, shall we?”

The young ladies’ eyes sparkled with interest.

‘Finally, we’re getting to the main topic.’

Kana, who had been relaxed, also straightened her posture and paid attention.