The Duchess of Wiscombe was not as Sophia had imagined. Given her romantic history, Sophia had expected the duchess to be a beauty much like her mother.

Sophia’s mother, with her blonde hair and blue eyes, resembled a goddess in a painting or a mythological beauty.

‘People used to say she looked like a goddess. Some even compared her to an angel.’

Alex had inherited that beauty, but unfortunately, Sophia had taken more after their father.

Baron Ariel, Sophia’s father, was a kind and good-natured man, but his appearance was quite plain. It was something that Sophia often lamented. Why had only Alex inherited their mother’s beauty? The person who needed it most was Sophia.

Compared to her mother, the Duchess of Wiscombe seemed quite ordinary. However, her overall impression showed that she was undoubtedly a refined and sophisticated lady of the capital.

With her upright posture, a modest but elegant dress, and neatly groomed hair adorned with just a single small ornament, the duchess radiated dignity and intelligence.

Sophia greeted the Duchess of Wiscombe and offered an apology.

“Please forgive my attire. I plan to visit the Finega family, our in-laws, and do some sightseeing today.”

She was only apologizing for her casual outfit, but when the duchess’s gaze lingered on Sophia’s worn-out shoes, it felt as if she was apologizing for her entire appearance.

The duchess shifted her gaze from Sophia’s shoes and spoke.

“I should have met you yesterday, but with the preparations for the debutante, I was too preoccupied. I’m sorry for the rudeness. So… did you come to the capital prepared for the debutante, or do you still have things to arrange?”

“I thought it would be better to purchase the dress and accessories here in the capital, so I haven’t prepared much. Is there anything else I need to do? I’m not very familiar with debutantes…”

The duchess looked Sophia over and smiled.

“We’ve hired people for the hairstyling and makeup for the debutante, so you can join Isabelle for that. As for the dress, where are you planning to get it? Isabelle’s gown is nearly ready, but I expect the dressmakers will need to make a few more visits. Why not order your dress from the same place? They seem to do excellent work.”

“I was thinking of just buying something off the rack. A custom dress would be too expensive for me.”

With a gentle but concerned tone, the Duchess of Wiscombe replied, “But a debutante is a once-in-a-lifetime event. If you skimp on the dress, you might regret it later. How about this? Consider it my gift to you—a custom dress. Let’s say I’m making up for all the presents I haven’t given you over the years.”

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, but I don’t want to spend too much. I appreciate your concern, but my circumstances truly don’t allow for it. The greatest gift you’ve given me is allowing me to have a debutante alongside Isabelle. Thank you so much for inviting me, Duchess of Wiscombe.”

The duchess made no comment as Sophia continued to call her “Duchess.” She simply looked at Sophia and thought quietly to herself.

‘She managed to find her place after being left alone all day. Thankfully, she’s not entirely clueless,’ the Duchess of Wiscombe thought with a sigh before speaking.

“Fine. Do as you wish with the dress and accessories. I won’t burden you with anything for the debutante. Is there anything else you need me to do?”

“No, nothing else. I’ll do my best not to impose on you or the Duke of Wiscombe,” Sophia replied.

“You don’t resemble Alex in appearance, but your mannerisms are just like his. Why are you acting so distant? Even though it’s our first time meeting, I am still your aunt. There’s no need to be so formal.”

Sophia smiled gently and responded, “Please understand, I’m trying not to be a burden. I’m already so grateful that you’re hosting my debutante at such a crucial moment in my life. I don’t want to cause any more trouble than necessary. It was something my father also asked of me.”

“The Baron Ariel asked, did he? Your mother was the same. She never sought my help, and even when I offered, she didn’t welcome it. You’re just like her.”

Sophia remained silent, not engaging as the Duchess wistfully mentioned her mother. Sophia felt that the duchess’s sentimentality toward her mother wasn’t as deep as she let on.

‘Am I being too harsh on the duchess because of what happened yesterday?’ Sophia wondered.

The Duchess of Wiscombe straightened up and spoke again.

“You’ll need to join us for dinner with the duke tonight, so make sure to return before sunset. And, perhaps you should pay more attention to your attire. While it might be acceptable in Ariel, in the Duke’s household, even among close family, we always dress appropriately.”

“Understood, Duchess.”

As Sophia replied, her face flushed with embarrassment. The outfit she was wearing was the best one she owned for going out.

Though she had prepared a dress for formal dinners, she suspected the duchess wouldn’t be pleased with it either, judging by the way she had scrutinized her earlier.

‘And the fact that she hasn’t corrected me once for calling her ‘Duchess’ rather than ‘Aunt’ shows there’s no affection between us,’ Sophia thought.

As Sophia expected, the Duchess had no intention of growing closer to her or to the Ariel family. She offered no further pleasantries.

The assurance that Sophia would be able to spend her time freely in the mansion sounded to her like a polite way of saying, “Let’s keep our distance.”

‘Why did she even summon me in the first place?’ Sophia began to worry.

‘Will I end up regretting coming to Wiscombe against my father’s wishes?’

The only consolation was that John, was too busy with matters in the administrative wing to keep track of her day-to-day life at the Duke’s mansion.

‘If I can just manage Jack well, I should be able to keep whatever happens here under wraps. It’s only two months. I just need to get through two months.’

* * *

Sophia’s first meeting with her aunt ended before the tea could even grow cold. She immediately set off for the Finega family’s home.

The Wiscombe estate was located in the prestigious Second District, near the royal palace, whereas the Finega family lived in the bustling Third District, closer to the commercial center. In the capital, each district was home to different social classes.

No matter how wealthy someone was, if they didn’t hold a title, they couldn’t live in the Second or Third Districts. It was an unspoken rule that only nobles could reside there.

Even if commoners bought homes in those districts, they would lease them out to the nobility. Despite occasional marriages between nobles and commoners, the social divide remained stark.

In fact, many reacted more sensitively due to these interclass interactions. Wealthy, educated commoners, especially those referred to as the bourgeoisie, were often viewed with suspicion by the nobility.

Sophia’s in-laws, the Finegas, were a typical bourgeois family.

As the carriage neared the Finega residence, the clamor of passing carriages and crowds grew louder. Jack, seated next to the coachman, couldn’t contain his awe and excitement, constantly exclaiming at the bustling city.

Every now and then, he even praised the coachman, though the man remained silent.

“This is the busiest road I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe how you’re able to maneuver the carriage so skillfully,” Jack remarked, full of admiration.

Sophia leaned toward the open window next to the driver’s seat and spoke to Jack, who had been chattering non-stop.

“Stop whining… Don’t keep talking so much. You’re distracting the coachman.”

Jack responded to her scolding. “My Lady, you don’t understand because you’re not sitting up here! Even though I’m not holding the reins, my palms are sweaty. So many people are crossing in front of the moving carriage like it’s nothing, and horses are suddenly cutting in too. This would never happen in Ariel!”

Sophia turned to the coachman. “If it’s distracting, feel free to tell Jack to be quiet. If you leave him be, he’ll chatter all day long.”

Jack replied in a dejected voice. “Please, don’t be like that, My Lady. My father already scolded me so much before heading off to the administrative wing today.”

Sophia addressed Jack firmly. “And yet, you keep talking? Jack, just look ahead and keep your mouth shut. It’s fine to observe, but quietly! Be amazed in silence.”

“Yes, My Lady,” Jack replied, sounding thoroughly deflated. His slumped shoulders were practically visible. In truth, Jack needed to hold his tongue. One thing Sophia and John had agreed on was to speak as little as possible while staying at the Wiscombe mansion.

John didn’t trust the people in the Wiscombe household. Having frequently traveled to the capital, John knew the Wiscombe family well and harbored strong suspicions. Sophia also planned to follow John’s advice as closely as possible.

Not only did they have to be cautious around the Duke and his family, but also around the staff. In households like the powerful Wiscombe family, the servants were often more dangerous than powerless nobles.

The servants had influence and tended to be arrogant. If one were to get on their bad side, unpleasant things could happen.

To prepare for any potential problems, the three of them had agreed to keep their conversations to a minimum while at the Wiscombe estate. The person most at risk of breaking that promise was Jack.

Jack’s personality, while endearing in its friendliness and ease with people, had a downside—he was quite the chatterbox. His mouth was loose, but his ears were wide open, which allowed Sophia to hear almost everything that happened at Ariel’s manor and in the surrounding villages through him.

Sophia briefly wondered if she could use Jack’s sociable nature to gather information about the Wiscombe household.

‘But for now, I don’t even know what to ask or what to worry about, so I can’t give Jack any specific instructions just yet,’ Sophia thought.