As the day of Lady Nox’s tea party drew near, the ducal estate was in an uproar from morning onward.

“Bring the powder!”

“No, not that oil—use the more refined one!”

It almost seemed as if they were preparing for an imperial ball rather than a simple gathering.

“Bagi, I think we could just keep it simple.”

“No, my lady!”

At Bagi’s rare, firm tone, Breti’s shoulders gave a startled flinch.

“For occasions like this, you must look as though you’re not dressed up, yet still seem elegantly adorned—it has to be just right!”

Breti shook her head with a baffled expression, as though she could not understand a word of it.

“My lady, please don’t move—your lipstick will smudge.”

After enduring hours of their fussing since dawn, Breti at last stepped out of her room, escorted by the attendants’ farewells.

The first place she went was Meliover’s chambers.

“Mother, may I come in?”

“Yes, come in, child.”

With her mother’s permission, Breti stepped inside. Meliover was sitting on the sofa, well enough to enjoy a cup of tea — her health had clearly improved recently.

Her eyes lit up at the sight of Breti.

“You look lovely today. Where are you off to?”

“I’ve been invited to the tea party hosted by the Nox family, the one I mentioned before.”

“Ah, yes… wait a moment, my dear.”

As if suddenly remembering something, Meliover rose from her seat, took something from her vanity, and approached Breti.

“Here, let me see.”

Unfastening the necklace at Breti’s throat, she replaced it with another.

“How does it look?”

“Oh, Mother… it’s beautiful.”

Breti gasped at her reflection in the mirror. The necklace Meliover had placed around her neck was adorned with a clear, gleaming gem that made her throat shine even brighter.

“This was once a gift from your father to me.”

“Is it really all right for you to give me something so precious?”

Breti looked at Meliover with a slightly uneasy expression. In answer, Meliover stroked her cheek and said,

“Of course. Naturally.”

“Mother…”

“I can give you everything I have, my child.”

At those words, Breti lowered her head deeply. All of Meliover’s heartfelt devotion felt as though it should have belonged to her own daughter, not to herself. Was it truly right for her to accept it? A weight pressed against her chest, heavy as a stone.

“My dear, go safely and return well.”

With such a gracious send-off from Meliover, Breti left the room and stepped out through the doors of the ducal estate.

The sight of Karsten waiting for her there made her heart pound loudly in her chest.

“Ah, so you’ve come.”

Turning toward her, Karsten gave a faint smile. That smile sent an uncontrollable tremor through her heart.

“Everyone, step back for a moment.”

At his command, all those standing nearby withdrew to a distance.

“So, you’ve accepted Lady Nox’s invitation.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“This will be your first appearance in society since the formal gathering.”

There was a trace of dissatisfaction in Karsten’s tone. The thought of her going alone to the Nox estate seemed to trouble him.

“Who are you?”

Kalstern asked her. Breti already knew the answer he sought.

“I… am Laterna.”

“Yes. You are Laterna.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Then act as Laterna would.”

At the firmness of his voice, Breti’s heart sank. How she wished he would speak with just a little more gentleness—but it seemed he had no intention of doing so.

“You must never bow your head to anyone.”

“Yes.”

Breti answered with a faint smile. Meeting her eyes directly, Karsten abruptly turned his gaze away.

“Go safely.”

Breti looked at him with faint puzzlement before stepping into the carriage. The snap of the whip urging the horses forward rang out, followed by the steady clatter of hooves.

She gazed out the window, watching the ducal estate recede into the distance. More precisely, she was watching Karsten, who had yet to leave his place. Her eyes lingered until he was no longer in sight.

“Haa…”

Breti let out a long sigh and touched the necklace at her throat. It felt as though it lent her strength, filling her with comfort.

The carriage steadily drew closer to the Nox estate. But after a long stretch on the road, it suddenly came to a stop.

Thinking they had arrived, Breti drew back the curtain. But that was not the case.

“Our lady was invited here, I tell you!”

“And I’m telling you, all the invited guests arrived over an hour ago!”

The sound of the coachman bickering with the gatekeeper drifted in from outside.

Hearing the exchange, Breti quietly opened the carriage door and stepped out.

“What’s going on?”

“My lady, what are we going to do? It seems we must have mistaken the appointed time.”

Breti frowned slightly.

‘No way…’

Though uneasy, she knew she had to pass through this gate. Hastily, she retrieved the invitation from her bag and held it out to the gatekeeper.

“Here, the Nox family’s seal is pressed upon this invitation.”

“Perhaps it’s only a counterfeit seal?”

The gatekeeper sneered.

At that, Breti finally understood Lady Selenel’s true intent in inviting her. With a quiet sigh, she lifted the carriage cloth and gestured.

“Do you see the crest engraved on my carriage?”

“Yes, I see it.”

“Then…”

“…?”

“Did you also mistake that crest for a counterfeit, just as you did the seal on this envelope?”

The man checked the crest with a sullen look, then turned pale and stammered.

“L-Lady…!”

“Yes. I am Laterna White, sister of Duke White.”

“Oh, my lady…! I have committed a terrible offense…”

“If you don’t open this gate immediately, it will cause great strife between our families.”

“O-of course, of course!”

The gatekeeper rushed to open the gate wide. Breti climbed back into the carriage, and before long they arrived at the count’s estate.

The servants nearby, startled by her appearance, began to whisper in confusion.

“Where is the tea party for Lady Nox being held?”

“Ah—this way, my lady. Allow me to show you.”

One of the maids bowed reluctantly, glancing around nervously as she led the way.

After walking a short distance, Breti heard the sound of cheerful chatter and laughter. A group of five or six young ladies appeared to be gathered, their conversation in full bloom.

At that moment, one young lady caught sight of Breti and was the first to rise from her seat.

“My, isn’t this the young lady who vanished and now returned?”

The faintly mocking tone told Breti at once that this was Selenel.

“Oh my, that lady?”

“Isn’t it her?”

Soon, every gaze turned toward Breti. Half were filled with curiosity, the other half with hostility.

Selenel stepped closer and said,

“Why so late? I thought you meant to arrive only after the refreshments were already over.”

She spoke with a bright smile, but Breti inwardly let out a dry laugh.

“The invitation you sent me stated this time.”

“Oh, surely not! I couldn’t possibly have given you the wrong time, could I?”

“Are you suggesting that this letter, bearing the Nox family crest, is wrong?”

Breti held out the invitation bearing the Nox seal and read its contents aloud.

“We invite the young lady to the tea party. Please arrive at the count’s estate by 3 p.m.”

As she read the time aloud, Selenel’s expression darkened.

Murmurs rippled through the gathered ladies at Breti’s words.

“Ours clearly said two o’clock…”

“Yes, mine too. It was to begin at two…”

As the whispering swelled, Selenel answered with a flustered look.

“Ah, it must have been a mistake by the servants when preparing your letter. I trust you’ll understand.”

Breti smiled faintly at her clumsy excuse.

“And that servant who made such a mistake…”

“…”

“Should be punished severely, don’t you think?”