Chapter 13 Part 3

Garnet’s hands were busy as she helped me prepare for the party. Despite starting early in the morning, it seemed her efforts still weren’t enough to satisfy her. Right up until the moments before the party, Garnet appeared flustered with countless details to tend to.

“Good thing you tried on the dress yesterday. If you’d waited until today, we might have run out of time.”

“With how much time we’ve spent, running out seems impossible…”

“Beauty is something that only becomes more refined the more time you invest in it. Miss, you’ll be so stunning even you’ll be surprised when you see yourself!”

Hearing Garnet’s confident words, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anticipation. Every time she put her heart into helping me dress up, the results were always breathtaking.

“And on top of that, she’ll be at the party today, watching you. Just for today, you must be the most beautiful person in the entire empire.”

“What good would it do to defeat her with outward beauty?”

Having already glimpsed her hideous inner self, the thought of competing with her in any way repulsed me. At this point, I’d rather let her enjoy some hollow sense of victory.

“Of course, but people are especially vulnerable to visual impressions. That woman, using her beauty as a weapon to find even the smallest flaw in you—I can’t allow it! You’re so stunning already, and the idea of you being compared to her just because a little less time was spent on your appearance is unacceptable.”

Knowing I couldn’t win against Garnet’s firm resolve when it came to preparation, I pretended to agree and surrendered myself to her meticulous touch. I just hoped I wouldn’t end up late to the party.

“Lady Rose Knight of the Marquisate, entering!”

The dazzling lights of the banquet hall seemed to pour down on me all at once. The corridor I had walked down was adorned with plenty of chandeliers, but the brilliance of the banquet hall was incomparable, and the sudden change in brightness made me blink.

As the attendant’s voice announcing my arrival echoed through the hall, countless eyes turned toward me. The soft, involuntary gasps of admiration that followed drew even more attention in my direction.

With all eyes on me, I walked steadily to the staircase overlooking the dance floor, from which the gathered crowd came into full view. The noblewomen and young ladies couldn’t take their eyes off my dress, while the noblemen were captivated by the jewelry. Taking advantage of the moment, I offered a brief word of gratitude to thank everyone for their attendance.

“…Thus, I ask you to consider this party a special occasion for the VIP clients of our trading company. As you have shown us so much interest and support, it is only right that we reciprocate that interest

Fortunately, the crowd’s gaze remained favorable. Despite not being the head of the trading company, there seemed to be no objection to me leading the event. Considering how many tasks I had already taken on in the company’s stead, perhaps this was to be expected. With that thought, I continued my speech.

“That is why we have organized this party, to introduce our new products first to our VIP clients. Furthermore, we plan to host similar gatherings twice a year to showcase and explain our new offerings.”

Although time constraints meant we couldn’t present a wide range of products this time, the hope was that establishing this event as a regular occurrence would allow more products to pass through and reach the market sooner.

“Those of you present here will not only be the first to experience our new items but also have the opportunity to purchase them before anyone else.”

The expressions of the people turning toward me began to show signs of boredom, as I had anticipated. A fair number of them even openly displayed disappointment. The word ‘event’ had piqued their curiosity, but I had clearly failed to satisfy their expectations for originality or innovation.

“Once again, thank you for attending the party. I hope you thoroughly enjoy yourselves tonight,” I concluded with a smile, concealing my inner thoughts.

Since the majority of the items handled by our trading company are luxury goods, the VIPs attending were mostly nobles. They were already accustomed to receiving catalogs or direct sales visits from various trading companies touting their new products. Given their lofty standards, this kind of party may have felt underwhelming.

“…Are you all right, my lady?”

“Of course. I never expected to captivate them right from the start. But once they see the products I plan to introduce, any disinterest will vanish.”

Hearing my confident tone, Gannet, who had been slightly deflated, found her smile again. Standing close to me, she must have noticed the shifts in the guests’ expressions and worried I might be disheartened. I gave her shoulder a reassuring pat before asking about the most critical matter.

“Where is Taryn?”

“He’s waiting just outside the hall. Once I step out, he’ll come in and place the glass near you.”

“Good. Now all I need to do is wait.”

In the center of the party hall stood the framework of a bouquet, its petals made to hold gemstones. Once the guests placed the gems they had brought into the empty slots, the bouquet would be complete.

A few sharp-eyed individuals had already figured out the purpose of the emerald earrings upon seeing the incomplete bouquet. As they amusedly began adding their pieces to the arrangement, others followed suit, one by one completing the petals.

“The craftsmen must have had a hard time making that,” I remarked.

“They did,” Gannet replied. “Especially since we moved around all the positions of the petals for dramatic effect. They said it was much harder because the structure had already been set.”

Knowing that Gannet had given up her days off and even her personal time to handle matters outside the estate while I was preoccupied with paperwork, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude.

“Thank you, as always, Gannet.”

“For you, my lady? Always. You can count on me anytime”  she said, momentarily flustered but quickly regaining her confidence. It was moments like these that made Gannet, despite being older than me, seem like an adorable younger sister—a thought I kept to myself.

Though I wanted to stay at the head table and keep watch over the event, this was, after all, a social gathering. I needed to step down and mingle with the crowd, exchanging pleasantries with various attendees. Whether they offered me friendly smiles or dismissive glances, I maintained a steady composure and responded with poise.

While I navigated the conversations, Gannet approached me quietly, ensuring her words wouldn’t be overheard by other nobles.

“The emerald earrings seem to be quite filled up, milady.”

“That’s right, it’s about time to call Taryn.”

As things seemed to be progressing, tension marked Garnet’s face. Worried that her tense expression might catch Daisy Queenie’s eye, I tapped Garnet’s shoulder, sending her silent encouragement.

“I’ll go then. Just wait a moment, milady. I’ll be back soon.”

Garnet spoke with a solemn tone as if she was heading somewhere far, making me laugh briefly. However, knowing how scared Garnet had been after hearing about the poison from Lockus, I smiled brightly to reassure her.

“Go on, I’ll be waiting.”

Garnet would surely be back soon. It was only a matter of stepping away until Taryn could spike my drink. Once Garnet had left the ballroom, I too deliberately ignored the glass at my table and stood in the middle of the party hall.

Glancing sideways, I saw Daisy Queenie blatantly watching Taryn. Knowing everything as I did, all her movements seemed like a comedy to me.

What face would you make if you realized the puppet you thought you were controlling was actually stringless and targeting your neck?

“Well, let’s see if you can figure that out on your own…”

The naivety of believing that the maid Tarin was completely bought off, or the stupidity of thinking that Locus could only be her person… Why did I realize it only now? Daisy Queenie was merely wielding others through relationships forged by the ‘Seduction Perfume’.

If that is taken from her, she’s nothing but a child who knows no better than to use such base tactics. My past self, who only feared and hid from such a person, feels foolish to me now.

While I was away from my spot, Taryn slipped something into a drink, and Daisy Queenie, who was intently watching everything, smiled a smile intoxicated with victory. Yes, enjoy it for now. It will all be over soon. It was time to end this persistent bad blood.

“Now the completion of this bouquet is just around the corner.”

I fiddled with the empty frame in the center, tilting my head as if I knew nothing.

“But the most important spot is still vacant. The gem for this spot would be… Ah, of course, Lady Daisy Queenie’s emerald earrings.”

A few who had shown interest in the bouquet from the beginning now threw glances at Daisy Queenie. Although no one openly reproached her, there was a curious look as to why she hadn’t filled the spot with her gem.

Since I had asked through the servants and maids at the party to provide the emerald earrings to complete the jewel bouquet, it was natural for her to be curious as she had ignored that request until now.

“Ah, I have…”

Caught off guard by the sudden interest and questions, Daisy Queenie’s words faltered as she opened her fan to cover her face. It might have been a mistake to think lightly of it, assuming the issue would resolve itself when I drank from my glass and chaos ensued at the party. Her anxious gaze kept brushing past my glass, seemingly hoping that I would drink from it in the meantime.

“What is it that you wish to say?”

“I seem to have lost my emerald earrings.”

“Oh dear, how did that happen?”

“I definitely had them until today, but it seems I’ve dropped them somewhere while enjoying the party.”

It was a reasonably good excuse made up on the spot. Losing the earrings she had brought to the party. It’s an excuse anyone might accept.

“Is that really true?”

“Yes. It’s unfortunate, my lady. The bouquet would have been even more beautiful if it had been completed.”

Seeing her excuse being accepted, Daisy Queenje added something unnecessary, possibly in an attempt to provoke me, given her confident expression.

Given that her emerald earrings had been assigned the most prominent spot, the completion of the bouquet was now out of reach without it. I responded with a faint smile, lifting the incomplete bouquet.

“Do you truly find it unfortunate, Lady Queenie?”