“While I was preparing the tea, Lady Jane, known as the social butterfly, came by. She seems to have entered after seeing the Reushden ducal carriage in front of our shop.”

Roen could guess what conversation had followed without having to hear it.

Above all, before the day was over, the rumor that Duke Jean Reushden was a regular customer at the general store would spread throughout society.

“Of all people, Lady Jane. Tomorrow will be chaotic.”

“My lady, we might need to make potions right away. The rumor about him being a regular customer will definitely spread, and ladies will be coming in and out all day just to catch a glimpse of the Duke. And our potions will sell like hotcakes as a bonus.”

Cecil seemed excited at the thought of making money.

“Yes, that would be good.”

Roen followed Cecil out of the office. Before closing the door, Roen glanced at the chair where Jean had been sitting.

It was unexpected.

Although he had mentioned in the Recluse’s Forest that he would visit the general store, she hadn’t thought he would come in person.

She had assumed he would send a letter through Alex asking her to come to the ducal mansion.

But contrary to her expectations, he had visited in person.

Wasn’t he someone who detested getting involved in troublesome affairs?

Roen rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand. The warmth of his lips still seemed to linger there.

Heat rose to the back of her neck.

“My lady, what are you doing? We need to hurry and make potions.”

“Oh, I’m coming.”

Roen quickly left the office and headed for the basement.

* * *

“Have you heard that rumor? That Duke Reushden came to Ranke a few days ago.”

Viscount Beluga spoke with a meaningful expression, as if sharing a secret.

“I’ve already heard. It’s all anyone in society talks about these days.”

Count Humbolt had apparently heard the rumor as well.

“Who could be the Peirasmos who captured Duke Reushden’s heart? They say her face was covered with a mask, so no one could identify her.”

“That’s what I heard. Judging by the fact that even Ranke’s regulars don’t know, she seems to be a newcomer who debuted that night. But the problem is that since that day, this Peirasmos hasn’t appeared at Ranke, let alone performed.”

“Ah, I see. So that’s why Ranke is crowded with nobles now. They’re trying to see the woman who melted Duke Reushden’s icy heart.”

Viscount Beluga licked his lips as if finding the situation enticing.

Count Humbolt shook his head at this sight.

“Wake up from your dream. To enter Ranke without being a member, one must pay an enormous amount for a single night. Moreover, there’s no guarantee you’ll even see this Peirasmos.”

“Is money really the issue now? With luck, it’s a chance to get Duke Reushden’s mistress. That’s why nobles and merchants alike are flocking to Ranke regardless of cost.”

Count Humbolt raised his teacup with displeasure at Viscount Beluga’s vulgar words.

Then he looked across at Count Rubin Gerard, who was silently drinking his tea.

“By the way, I believe you’re a member of Ranke, Count. Have you been there?”

Rubin shook his head disinterestedly.

“No. I have no interest in such things. But I am concerned.”

“About what?”

“If Duke Reushden has fallen for a Peirasmos from Ranke, he won’t be interested in Duchess Roxburgh’s public courtship. If that happens, that rumored list will surface.”

“D*mn that monster Duchess.”

A curse escaped from Viscount Beluga’s lips.

The vulgar expression he had shown earlier while snickering about Ranke’s Peirasmos was gone, and his face had turned pale.

“Shouldn’t we visit the general store instead of just sitting here? They should have gathered all the information by now.”

Rubin nodded at Count Humbolt’s words.

“Let’s go after finishing our tea.”

“That sounds good. Oh? Wait. Count, isn’t that Miss Simonetta?”

At Count Humbolt’s words, Viscount Beluga and Rubin looked toward the building across the street.

As if by magic, they could see Simonetta coming out of the building.

“What a coincidence. But why is she coming out of that place? Unless she’s placing an advertisement in the newspaper.”

Rubin’s blue eyes sparkled with curiosity.

The place where the three men were sitting was a café frequented by nobles for their afternoon tea.

It was popular among young nobles because tables were set outdoors where they could enjoy tea.

Above all, the advantage of this café was that it was located across the street from the newspaper company Great Moment, allowing patrons to receive the special edition, Great Moment’s extra, which came out at 5 PM, before anyone else.

Great Moment’s special edition was very popular among nobles because, unlike the morning newspaper, it contained all sorts of gossip from society.

It not only detailed the previous day’s social news and scandals but also listed upcoming parties and balls, providing options for nobles who hadn’t decided which events to attend.

The column at the bottom of the special edition covered the hottest events in society for the week in detail, fueling the nobles’ curiosity.

“The person with her is Paella.”

“So the rumors about her wide connections are true. They say there’s nothing she can’t procure from the continent of Taran and no place her network doesn’t reach. I didn’t know she was also acquainted with Paella.”

Count Humbolt marveled.

In fact, Paella, the owner of Great Moment, was not someone who could be easily met just by placing an advertisement in the newspaper.

Moreover, even from a distance, Paella’s respectful behavior toward Simonetta caught their attention.

It didn’t seem like a relationship formed through advertisements or articles.

Rather, it felt more like a master-servant relationship.

Of course, the master was Simonetta, not Paella.

“But it’s a bit strange.”

“We don’t need to wait. We should go and find out right away.”

Interrupting Count Humbolt’s words, Viscount Beluga hastily stood up after setting down his cup.

“No, that won’t be necessary. Please sit down.”

Rubin spoke calmly, not taking his eyes off Simonetta.

Sure enough.

After finishing her conversation with Paella, Simonetta turned toward where the three men were sitting.

Then, as if she had been waiting, she began walking toward them.

Simonetta’s golden hair swayed in the wind as she crossed the street in the afternoon sunlight.

It was as beautiful as the golden waves that spread over Lake Pembruk, where elves were said to live.

As Simonetta stood in front of the table, Rubin slowly exhaled the breath he had been holding. Only then did he realize he had been holding his breath all this time.

“I didn’t expect to see the three of you here.”

A smile played on Roen’s lips. Her elegant features and mysteriously shining, clear emerald eyes sparkled.

“We didn’t expect to meet you here either, Miss Simonetta. If you have time, would you like to join us for tea?”

Count Humbolt expressed his delight and invited her to have tea with them.

Roen took out a pocket watch from her coat pocket and checked the time.

“I have about 30 minutes to spare.”

As Roen accepted the invitation, Rubin stood up and pulled out the chair next to him.

“How kind of you, Count Gerard.”

Roen, seated in the chair, didn’t notice Rubin Gerard blushing as he sat down, as she was busy ordering tea.

“I feel like a beautiful lady now, receiving the intense gazes of three gentlemen.”

After ordering tea, Roen joked lightly about the three men’s gazes directed at her.

“If we’ve been rude, would you forgive us with your generous heart, Miss Simonetta? Your beauty is truly the kind that makes one lose their senses.”

Count Humbolt asked for forgiveness with an affable smile.

“Thank you for the compliment, Count Humbolt.”

“It’s the truth. In fact, we were just talking about you until a moment ago.”

At the mention that they had been discussing her, Roen fell into thought for a moment. Only then did she realize why the three men had been more surprised than necessary when they saw her.

“The timing was good. It feels somewhat special.”

“Perhaps it’s fate. I’m delighted.”

Count Humbolt’s continued banter finally made Roen burst into laughter. It was a soft, clear laugh that brightened the atmosphere.

“If you were talking about me, it must be about that list of Duchess Roxburgh’s that you requested last time.”

“Does that list actually exist?”

Viscount Beluga eagerly interjected into their conversation.

He seemed to want to ask if his name was on the list, but apparently had enough sense left to restrain himself.

“Your tea, madam. Please enjoy your time.”

The waiter timely placed a teacup in front of Roen.

Roen slowly raised her teacup while observing Viscount Beluga, who was anxiously shaking his leg. Rubin’s blue eyes darkened as he watched her elegant manner of savoring the tea’s aroma.

His earlobes turned slightly red as he unconsciously lifted his own teacup.

“To get straight to the point, unfortunately, the list does exist.”

“D*mn it! I knew this would happen. Now we’ll become sacrificial lambs for that monster Duchess.”

At Roen’s answer, Viscount Beluga let out a despairing groan as if he had lost his country.

Roen almost burst out laughing at his reaction. Fortunately, she managed to swallow it by biting her lip hard.

But she couldn’t prevent the corners of her mouth from turning up.

“What will you do now? Duke Reushden is completely smitten with that Peirasmos from Ranke, so he’ll certainly reject the public courtship. Then we’ll become the next targets, won’t we? Shouldn’t we petition His Majesty and devise some countermeasures?”

“Viscount Beluga, you should lower your voice. And His Majesty? That’s too hasty a conclusion.”

Rubin reprimanded Viscount Beluga.

“Wait, what do you mean? Duke Reushden has fallen for a Peirasmos from Ranke? Did such a thing happen?”

Roen looked at each of the three men in turn as if this was the first she’d heard of it.

“Well…”