It took an hour from the Wiscombe mansion to reach the Finega estate, much longer than expected due to the increasing congestion as they neared the city center.

Among the row of mansions, the Finega residence was the largest and most immaculate. The carriage came to a stop in front of the steps leading to the main entrance, which also served as the front gate. As if they had been waiting, the doors to the Finega estate opened, and Mrs. Finega, Helen, and Sol stepped out to greet Sophia.

The most excited of the group was Helen Finega, Sophia’s sister-in-law. Helen was two years younger than Sophia, and the two had grown close during Helen’s stay at Ariel for the wedding.

Sol, now thirteen years old, greeted Sophia politely. In contrast, eighteen-year-old Helen embraced Sophia with enthusiasm and exclaimed loudly,

“How long are you staying? You should stay for at least six months to properly enjoy the capital!”

Sophia returned the embrace and replied, “Two months, at most.”

Mrs. Finega, smiling warmly, ushered the two girls inside as she spoke.

“Why are two grown ladies standing out here in the dust? Come inside, come inside!”

For the first time, Sophia truly felt like she was visiting family.

* * *

Sophia first handed Mrs. Finega letters from Ellie, Alex, and Baron Ariel.

“I brought these with me on the way here. Each envelope contains a letter addressed to you all.”

Mrs. Finega, glancing at the letters and the boxes being carried inside, shook her head. “The letters alone would have been more than enough.”

“It’s nothing much. My father also sent some medicinal herbs. I’ve heard it’s become fashionable in the capital to process natural ingredients by hand. Please think of it as a token from the Ariel family.”

Though the Finegas lacked for little, Ariel was not a wealthy place. However, the herbs and medicinal plants gathered from the base of the Titania Mountains, where Ariel was situated, were of excellent quality. Since both Baron Ariel and Sophia had carefully selected the items, their quality was the best.

Mrs. Finega, visibly pleased, smiled and said,

“Thank you so much. You must be so busy with the debutante preparations.”

“It’s really nothing, just a small token of our appreciation. We received everything you sent to Ariel safely. We’re grateful that Ellie came to Ariel, and with all the help we’ve received from Finega, we wanted to give something in return, however modest it may be. Please just accept it as a gesture from the heart.”

“No, Lady Sophia, we’re the ones who are fortunate to hear you say that. Ellie has always been a bit of a troublemaker and hasn’t had many useful skills.”

“Please, feel free to speak casually. We’re family now, and you’ve already said I should be treated as such. Helen and I are comfortable with each other, so there’s no need for such formality.”

Helen chimed in, “Exactly! I call her ‘Sister Sophia,’ but how can you keep using formal language with her, Mom?”

Mrs. Finega shot Helen a disapproving glance before smiling at Sophia and replying, “I’m an old-fashioned woman, I can’t help it. It’s actually more comfortable for me to use formal language, so please, don’t worry about it.”

“Finega is both a benefactor and family to Ariel. And these days, many people, regardless of their status, are more casual with each other. If you treat me informally, I’ll feel more comfortable visiting often.”

Helen jumped in again, saying, “Exactly! You have to make her feel welcome so she’ll visit often. It’s not like she’ll feel relaxed for a second at the Wiscombe mansion. We need to make sure she feels at ease here!”

Mrs. Finega sighed deeply and replied, “I’ll try, but it will take some time. Helen, isn’t it enough that you’re treating her informally?”

As Mrs. Finega firmly declined, Sophia dropped the subject, and Helen took Sophia’s hand to show her around the house. Mrs. Finega watched them go and let out another sigh.

Sol, observing their conversation, gently patted Mrs. Finega’s hand. “Sophia really wants to make you feel comfortable.”

“I know, dear. That’s why I can’t. It’s so kind of them. They’ve all treated Ellie so well and loved her so much. Even though she tells me to be at ease, it’s not easy.”

In truth, Mrs. Finega had some reservations about Ellie’s marriage. Ariel, upon her visit, had turned out to be in worse shape than she had expected. Still, she didn’t regret the decision.

She had heard too many sad tales of bourgeois women marrying into noble families. Despite Ariel’s situation, with Finega’s support, Ellie would never face hardship, and she would continue to be loved.

The Ariel family had already alleviated many of the Finegas’ concerns.

As Sophia and Helen chatted, Mrs. Finega discretely observed Sophia. She knew there had been no previous interaction between the Ariel family and the Wiscombe family. The sudden invitation for Sophia to visit Wiscombe had raised concerns.

When a brief lull in Sophia and Helen’s conversation occurred, Mrs. Finega spoke up. “How did you find the Duchess of Wiscombe?”

Sophia paused for a moment before replying, “She wasn’t what I expected. Given her reputation as the ‘Cinderella of the Empire,’ I thought she’d be a dazzling beauty.”

Sophia turned to Mrs. Finega and asked, “Do you happen to know anything about Isabelle Wiscombe?”

Before Mrs. Finega could answer, Helen chimed in with an excited tone, “Isabelle Wiscombe? She’s the muse of all the artists who frequent the Wiscombe mansion! And I’ve heard she’s close to Prince Robert, who’s a friend of Philip Wiscombe.”

Mrs. Finega raised her eyebrows at her daughter, who quickly defended herself.

“Mother, everyone is fascinated by Isabelle! Do you know how many people are interested in her? She hasn’t even had her debutante yet, but she’s already mentioned in every magazine—though they refer to her as ‘Miss I.’ She’s a daughter of the only two dukes in the empire, and her parents’ love story is famous across the continent. Plus, her brother’s friend is the prince! She’s like a living romance novel character!”

Seeing Mrs. Finega’s exasperated look, Helen continued, “I’m not the only one! There isn’t a girl my age who doesn’t know about Isabelle.”

“Helen Finega, if only you’d show as much interest in more productive matters…”

Sophia quickly jumped in to support Helen. “I know how famous Isabelle is too. I’m just curious if there are any other rumors about her.”

Helen nodded enthusiastically. “I only catch bits and pieces between my studies, but the gossip is so widespread, it’s hard to miss. And you’re right to be curious, Sophia. You’re going to be debuting together, so of course, you’d want to know more.”

With a sigh, Mrs. Finega looked at Sophia and said,

“You’re not close with Isabelle yet, I suppose. I’ve heard she’s beautiful, but there are also rumors that she’s not as lovely as people say. Since the Duchess of Wiscombe isn’t known for her beauty, there’s talk that she might have coerced the artists she supports into praising Isabelle. Some even say that’s why she’s delaying her debut—she’s afraid her looks won’t live up to the hype the artists have built up around her, so she avoids public appearances.”

Helen smirked and added, “Ellie and I probably got our love for gossip from Mom.”

Mrs. Finega gave Helen a stern look, but Helen just laughed it off and continued, “I’ve heard that rumor too. People say she’s not as beautiful as the daughter of Duchess from the Gareth family. Some claim that all the praise for Isabelle is just an effort to compete with Parma Gareth. Apparently, Parma will be attending Isabelle’s debut as well, and people are eager to see them side by side to confirm the truth of all these rumors.”

“Lady Gareth?” Sophia asked.

“Yes, it’s well-known that the Gareth and Wiscombe families don’t get along, and naturally, the two young ladies are rivals too. Parma Gareth is famous for both her beauty and her fierce personality. People say she’s skilled at intimidation, as one would expect from a Gareth, but no one can deny her beauty.”

Helen glanced at Sophia and continued, “Some even speculate that Isabelle keeps postponing her debut because she’s worried about being compared to Parma. We’ll find out soon enough. That’s why so many people are watching Isabelle’s debut closely.”

Helen looked at Sophia with concern and said, “I was shocked when I first heard that you’d be debuting alongside Lady Wiscombe. I wasn’t sure if I should mention this, but I think it’s better for you to know now than to hear it behind your back.”

Mrs. Finega cut in sharply, “If it’s something that shouldn’t be said, then don’t say it, Helen Finega.”

Helen pouted and replied, “But it concerns Sophia too!”

Sophia, feeling Helen’s tension, gently urged her, “Please, tell me. I think I’d feel more at ease if I knew.”

Helen relented, “They were apparently looking for someone to stand as a companion for Isabelle at her debut. People say Isabelle is so shy that she can’t handle the debut alone. But the young ladies in the capital know the rumors—if Isabelle isn’t as beautiful as they say, whoever debuts alongside her might risk falling out of favor with the Wiscombe family. If she really is stunning, then anyone standing with her will just end up being overshadowed.”

Helen looked anxiously between Mrs. Finega and Sophia before continuing, “They say a debutante is a once-in-a-lifetime event for noble ladies, and no one wants to start their social life on such a poor note. So finding a suitable companion hasn’t been easy. I heard this from a friend who works at Madame Poche’s dress shop.”

Mrs. Finega sighed deeply, resigning herself to the fact that Helen’s love of gossip was incorrigible. Despite her irritation, she couldn’t help but cast a worried glance at Sophia.

Surprisingly, Sophia seemed quite calm. “If that’s the reason, then I think I understand why the Duchess invited me. I’m not sure how she heard that I’ve yet to debut, but it makes sense now.”

Helen asked, “Are you okay with just being a companion? I’ve heard that a successful debut makes it much easier to find a good match for marriage. Your reputation in society is pretty much decided by how well your debut goes.”

Sophia smiled. “I’m fine with it. I was more worried there might be something worse going on. If it’s just about being a companion, that’s not a problem. Ah, by the way, I’m planning to explore the city today. Helen, what are your plans?”

“Of course, I’m going with you! Do you have any particular places in mind?”

“I need to buy some dresses and accessories. I’ll go for ready-to-wear instead of custom-made. And I have a list from Ellie with suggestions.”

“Let me see! But wouldn’t custom-made be better? You still have a month left.”

“It’s just for a companion’s outfit, so there’s no need to spend a lot of money. I’d rather save up for everyday clothes or something else more practical. There’s no point spending too much on a dress I’ll only wear once.”

Helen nodded. “If you’re going for ready-to-wear, let’s not rush. We should check out all the shops in town first to get a sense of the latest trends. Leave it to me—I know a few places with good prices, besides the ones on this list. There are some new shops worth checking out too.”

“That’s a relief.”

As Sophia and Helen excitedly set off for their shopping trip, Mrs. Finega’s worries didn’t fade. If Wiscombe was truly just looking for a companion for Isabelle, there were plenty of young noblewomen in the capital who would be willing. The capital was full of impoverished noble families. Was Sophia invited simply because they were relatives, or could there be another reason, as Sophia feared?

Mrs. Finega resolved to ask her husband to investigate. She hoped that nothing would happen to hurt Sophia, who had grown up so thoughtful and mature.

‘She’ll probably keep quiet even if she gets hurt or insulted, just for the sake of her family. I can’t let that happen…’