As Breti delivered her final words with emphasis, Selenel’s hand trembled slightly. It was clear that the claim she had sent a servant was a lie — Breti was certain that only her invitation had been altered.

Breti watched Selenel’s every movement and smiled pleasantly.

“But, well, there’s no need for me to involve myself, is there?”

“…”

“I trust Lady Nox will take care of it herself.”

Passing her by without another glance, Breti calmly took a seat. Selenel looked deeply vexed that her plan had gone awry. She had hoped to see Breti, newly arrived in noble society, flustered and humiliated—yet it was she herself who had been unsettled. No wonder she was frustrated.

The moment Breti sat down, she felt the weight of countless eyes on her—from the way she poured tea into her cup, to the way she lifted it to her lips, to the way she accepted a handkerchief from her maid.

The attention was a little burdensome, but she focused on maintaining the utmost decorum, determined not to make a single mistake.

Then, a young lady with a gentle expression seated beside her spoke.

“My lady, I heard you spent ten years growing up somewhere other than the ducal manor.”

At her question, every ear in the room seemed to perk up.

“I suppose it’s no secret that my life has been somewhat different from yours.”

Yielding to the mood of anticipation, Breti opened her mouth, and their eyes lit up. She took a quiet breath before continuing.

“Yes, it’s true, as you’ve heard. Those ten years away from the ducal manor were rather special.”

“And what do you mean by “special”, my lady?”

“Unlike all of you, I was raised like a commoner.”

“Oh my.”

Her words sparked a stir of surprise. The others were genuinely taken aback by the idea. Breti listened silently to their murmurs.

“But you don’t look it at all.”

“That’s right. When did you learn proper etiquette?”

“I saw you at the Imperial Ball. You were so beautiful, and carried yourself with such grace…”

Contrary to her expectations, the young ladies seemed far more interested in her flawless etiquette than in the ten years she had spent living differently from them.
“That dress you wore then—it was lovely. Was it perhaps from Lorin Atelier, the one managed by House White?”

“To be honest, I was curious myself—the dress suited you so perfectly, my lady.”

Breti had expected the same sneering or cold stares she had received from Selenel, yet instead, she found herself met with eyes brimming with curiosity.

“Would you come to our marquisate’s tea party next time?”

“And ours as well!”

It seemed everyone was eager to invite her.

Their enthusiasm left Breti a little embarrassed. If she didn’t put a stop to it, she would end up attending the tea party of every young lady present.

“…”

Selenel remained silent, watching Breti with clear displeasure.

She recalled the day she had visited the crown prince’s palace, only to be publicly humiliated. She had always known that Fedriol didn’t see her as a woman. But for all attention to suddenly shift to Breti, who had appeared out of nowhere, had to mean something.

‘To think she managed to charm His Highness the Crown Prince… Who knows how she’s been living these past ten years?’

Suppressing a derisive snort, Selenel posed her question lightly.

“Now that I think of it, my lady, didn’t you spend those ten years doing work beneath your station?”

Her voice brought a moment of silence. The same curiosity glimmered in the eyes of the other young ladies nearby.

With a faint smile, Breti answered,

“Yes, Lady Nox, you are correct.”

“What kind of work did you do?”

“Exactly what you’d call menial labor.”

“Oh my, how unfortunate.”

“But since it was a matter of survival, I couldn’t refuse.”

Aside from Selenel, sympathy flickered in the gazes of the others.

Just then, a sharp clatter rang out nearby—coming from Selenel’s direction.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry—it was an accident.”

Selenel looked apologetic, but Breti couldn’t shake the feeling that she had dropped the teacup on purpose.

“Hailey, could you fetch something to clean this up?”

While the maid went to get a cloth, Lady Nox clapped her hands lightly.

“Ah, come to think of it, for Lady White, cleaning up a broken cup mustn’t be difficult, right?”

When Selenel made her remark, the other young ladies exchanged glances; their faces were tinged with discomfort. However, Selenel paid them no mind and addressed Breti directly.

“If someone were to get hurt, what would we do? It would be best if those who are able could step up and clear it away quickly.”

“…”

“Would you do it for us, Lady White?”

The room fell silent and everyone looked from Selenel to Breti.

Eager to silence Breti, Selenel waited, but Breti moved with unhurried grace, simply lifting her teacup.

After taking a small sip, she smiled faintly and looked straight at Selenel.

“Are you sure that would be wise?”

“In what sense?”

Selenel’s eyes didn’t so much as flicker as she responded immediately.

“If I were to injure myself while tidying up after Lady Nox, that would be a very serious matter.”

She gave a sharp laugh.

“And why is that?”

Her tone suggested that any injury Breti suffered would be insignificant.

Their quiet battle of wills left the others frozen, unable to speak.

Breti, with Selenel’s smirk fixed in her gaze, said evenly,

“A count’s daughter, injuring the sister of a duke…”

“…!”

“If such a story were to spread, wouldn’t that cause quite the problem?”

It was only then that Selenel’s composure wavered.

For so long, her status as the Crown Prince’s fiancée had earned her respect. Even young ladies from higher-ranking families would bow to her out of courtesy.

Because of this, Selenel carried herself as though she were high nobility.

“Lady Nox, it seems you’re unaware, so allow me to remind you.”

But the truth was otherwise.

“You are the daughter of Count Nox. I am the only sister of Duke White.”

Amid rumors that her engagement to the Crown Prince had been cancelled, it was recently suggested that if she were to part ways with him, she would be reduced to nothing more than the daughter of Count Nox.

If that happened, everyone who had once deferred to her would undoubtedly turn their backs on her.

Now was not the time for her to host tea parties and look down on others — she needed to keep a low profile.

Breti shook her head and rose from her seat.

“I can no longer just sit and watch your discourtesy, my lady.”

“…”

“I’ll be taking my leave.”

Selenel was seething, but she couldn’t muster a single retort.

As Breti moved toward the exit, Bagi, who had been standing nearby, hurried after her, chattering brightly.

“My lady, that was so satisfying to watch!”

Breti’s cheeks flushed.

“Did it look that way to you?”

“Yes! Absolutely!”

Bagi even began to act out Breti’s earlier words and gestures, making her flustered enough to try and stop her.

She had only been following Karsten’s advice to act like Laterna.

‘I suppose I did well.’

Had she managed to please him, even a little?

A vague, hopeful thought bloomed in Breti’s chest.

“Lady White!”

Just then, someone called out to Breti.

She and Bagi stopped in their tracks and turned around. Sierra was hurrying toward her, her steps urgent.

A flicker of discomfort crossed Breti’s face.

‘Was Sierra there as well?’

She quickly searched her memory, but among the half dozen young ladies present earlier, Sierra hadn’t been among them. Had she stepped out for a moment?

“It’s hardly pleasant to take tea in a place where the hostess is so discourteous.”

Sierra said warmly as she came right up to Breti.

Before Breti could answer, Sierra smiled and added in a friendly tone.

“Why don’t you join me for a cup of tea instead?”