Sophia’s outings were simple. Just like before, her entourage consisted only of a carriage, a coachman, and a single servant. Though she enjoyed the position of the prince’s fiancée, she knew that she would have to relinquish it someday, so she behaved as she always had.

Ironically, this very attitude was praised as one of her virtues. Sophia only responded to such compliments with a shy smile.

‘I can’t exactly say, “I’ll be breaking off the engagement soon, so there’s no point in acting arrogant,” now, can I?’

The Wiscombe estate was as imposing as ever. Looking up at the grand manor, Sophia muttered to herself, “If you live like this, there wouldn’t be much left to desire. That’s why Wiscombe is a duke, and Ariel is not.”

Sophia waited for the Duchess in the same reception room where she had first waited on her initial visit. She could sense the duchess’s intention.

‘She wants to remind me that I once came here begging for support just a few months ago.’

Sophia waited just as she had back then. Though it didn’t shock her like it had the first time, the reception room was still beautiful, adorned today with exotic orchids in vibrant colors.

‘Did they import them from Netunia again? Hmm…’

Unlike before, however, Sophia was at ease. No matter how she treated the duchess today, the strained relationship between Wiscombe and Ariel would remain unchanged. She had nothing to fear and nothing to hope for.

‘Whether the duchess treats me well or I bow first, it’s not going to change anyone’s stance on Ariel. I love that I can decide how to respond based on how they treat me. There was a time when I didn’t have that choice. Being the prince’s fiancée is indeed a privilege.’

It was nearing 3 o’clock, past the agreed-upon time of 2. Sophia glanced at the clock in the reception room with a faint smile.

‘Isabelle must have truly secured Prince Frederick if she’s this relaxed and arrogant.’

Exactly at 3, Sophia rose. A maid waiting by the door informed her, “The Duchess was suddenly called away. Would you mind waiting a bit longer?”

As she moved toward the door, Sophia replied, “I’ll come back another time. Please tell the Duchess I have another appointment and must be leaving.”

The maid blocked her path. Sophia recognized this maid as the girl who had attended to her during her stay at Wiscombe. Seeing Sophia’s gaze, the maid spoke again.

“Would you please wait a bit longer?”

“I know who you are.”

The maid looked at her, then quickly lowered her gaze in surprise.

Sophia also knew that this maid had once looked down on her, knowing Sophia was dependent on the Wiscombes and dared to slip in impudent remarks or slack in her duties.

Sophia needed to confirm if the maid was acting of her own accord.

“If you acted without your mistress’s orders, I won’t let this go. I’m not sure of the rules in the Duke’s house, but if I say I’m displeased, the Duke might dismiss you just to avoid the trouble. So, choose wisely. If you acted out of spite, thinking I’m just some country bumpkin showing off as the prince’s fiancée, then step back. If the Duchess instructed you, say it again.”

The maid spoke in a trembling voice, “…Please, do wait.”

Sophia returned to the reception room and said, “Alright. Bring more tea.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Sophia sipped her tea as she waited.

She thought it might not be a bad idea for Prince Robert to meet everyone at Wiscombe.

‘He might have some scores to settle with Wiscombe too.’

* * *

Just then, Prince Robert arrived at the Wiscombe estate and gazed at the grand manor anew. There was a time when coming here brought him joy.

Remaining in his carriage, he sent a servant to deliver a message to Sophia. But before the servant could relay the message, Philip hurried out upon seeing the prince’s carriage.

Philip greeted the prince politely, “Since you’ve come all this way, would you at least join us for a cup of tea, Your Highness?”

Robert returned the greeting with equal courtesy. “Lord Wiscombe, I’ve come to escort Sophia today, so I’ll take a rain check on the tea.”

Philip nodded, then went inside, heading not toward the reception room where Sophia was, but to Isabelle’s chambers.

In Isabelle’s drawing room, the Duchess was sipping tea, and Isabelle was seated beside her, slowly turning the pages of a book. They both appeared completely at ease. Philip announced, “Prince Robert has come to fetch Sophia.”

The Duchess was momentarily surprised but quickly smiled.

“How can we know if it’s truly for Sophia or for some other purpose? We’ll have to find out.”

The Duchess adjusted her attire and said, “Isabelle go to Prince Robert. Philip, find a reason to escort Sophia here, then step aside. Isabelle, go to the garden and speak with the prince.”

Isabelle frowned.

“Why? Why go out of your way to create trouble…?”

“I just can’t believe that Prince Robert truly got engaged to Sophia. For someone as cunning as him to be engaged to a girl with nothing like Sophia… it’s far more likely that it’s a fake engagement and that he’s preparing to switch over to Gareth. Isabelle, why don’t you try probing him a bit? Congratulate him on his engagement, and say that you wanted to clear up any misunderstandings face-to-face.”

Though Isabelle frowned, she went to her room to touch up her appearance. Philip spoke up.

“Don’t take too long. You need to be there before Robert heads to the garden.”

“I know,” Isabelle replied curtly.

The Duchess began walking toward Sophia with measured steps.

Sophia was looking out the window. It was already past 3, and Prince Robert hadn’t come for her. If he was here, the chances were high he’d been taken elsewhere within the Wiscombe estate.

‘They’re such meticulous people.’

Through the reception room window, Sophia watched as a group of workers exited the garden.

She smiled to herself as she gazed at the garden. ‘A chance meeting in the garden… if I write another novel, I should title it The Scheming Mother and Daughter.’

She wanted to keep watching, but the window didn’t provide a clear view of the other side of the garden, as the reception room was set further inside the estate. All she could see were the backs of the servants leaving the garden.

Reluctant to leave the window, she was startled when the door to the reception room opened, and the Duchess entered. With a smile, Sophia greeted her.

“Duchess Wiscombe, I’m finally able to meet you. I have a prior engagement, so perhaps we could reschedule for another time?”

“Is that engagement with Prince Robert, by any chance?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“In that case, we have plenty of time. Right now, he’s speaking with Philip.”

“Didn’t he ask for me?”

“Sophia, we haven’t even started our conversation yet. Let’s talk while Philip takes care of Prince Robert. You know there are quite a few misunderstandings between Wiscombe and Ariel.”

“Very well.”

After sitting on the sofa, Sophia folded her hands neatly and looked at the Duchess. The Duchess glanced at Sophia’s teacup before calling for a maid.

“Bring some fresh tea.”

Sophia noticed the teapot and the spare teacup next to her own and looked briefly at the Duchess, who pretended not to see her gaze.

“I was quite surprised when I heard about your engagement to Prince Robert,” the Duchess said. “We may have wronged you, but you ended up engaged to a prince, after all. Isn’t that fortunate?”

Sophia drank her tea in silence.

‘That’s why Father constantly curses Wiscombe.’

“With this, maybe the misunderstandings between Wiscombe and Ariel will finally be cleared up,” the Duchess continued, glancing warmly at Sophia, who was looking down.

“Assuming you’re truly engaged to Prince Robert, that is.”

The newly served tea set was placed alongside the set Sophia was using, making it obvious that hers was of inferior quality.

‘This is a bit much.’

Noticing that Sophia was unable to take her eyes off the new teacup, the Duchess smiled.

Pouring tea slowly, she watched Sophia, who still looked at the teacup. The Duchess spoke.

“Once, I was treated like this by a certain countess. At the time, we were surrounded by people, all using identical teacups—except for mine. She’d done it deliberately to make sure I knew I was different. So, how does it feel? Are you prepared to endure this kind of treatment? The royal family can be even worse than that countess. You can expect the same for your engagement celebration ball.”

The Duchess spoke with a face and voice filled with concern.

“Just return to Ariel. Ask to break off the engagement quickly. No matter how much Robert tries to protect you, how long could he possibly keep it up? Ariel can’t handle the politics and nobility of the capital. No one will fall for a fake engagement. Whatever Prince Robert promised you, the sooner you leave, the less damage you’ll suffer. I’m only advising you like this because I’m your aunt.”

Seeing the Duchess pretend to be worried made Sophia smile. She looked down at her teacup and said, “Is this what you call advice?”

The Duchess silently set down her teacup. Observing her poised manner, Sophia thought to herself,

‘A few rude remarks won’t be enough to get to her, will they?’

Holding up her own cup, Sophia continued, “The fact that you, my aunt—no, the Duchess—would go so far as to repeat the same humiliation you experienced to me… now I understand why you still haven’t made a solid place for yourself in society. It’s because your standards are so low.”

At last, anger flickered across the Duchess’s face, and Sophia rejoiced inwardly.

‘Now we’re just getting started.’

Sophia calmly set her teacup down with a poise equal to the Duchess’s.

“I’m currently receiving intensive lessons in court etiquette. Someone named Acel told me that the overly complex court customs evolved precisely so no one would unwittingly create enemies. Even the smallest slight can cause someone to hold a grudge and wait for a chance to repay it, especially at the moment when their opponent least expects it.”

The Duchess, seeing Sophia’s pride in learning royal etiquette, sneered.

‘Such etiquette is part of what one learns when taking the first steps toward becoming a duchess. Sophia, you’ll never understand.’

Ignoring the Duchess’s reaction, Sophia continued,

“In court, where people meet regularly and face each other often, of course relationships become tangled, and one must be mindful of etiquette. But to them, the Duchess was like a sudden invader. Not someone to be treated delicately. In fact, someone who should not be treated delicately at all.”

Once again, Sophia observed the face of Duchess Wiscombe, who still seemed amused by what she perceived as Sophia’s arrogance. Sophia spoke.

“I don’t know how that countess who humiliated you is doing now, but she succeeded, didn’t she? She made you aware of your place and gave you an unattainable goal. You must have tried hard to become like them, probably putting in quite an effort to gain their approval.”

This time, the Duchess couldn’t bring herself to scoff. Sophia smiled as she looked at the now tense expression on the Duchess’s face.

“Of course, you failed. It was impossible from the start. The harder you tried, the more you must have proven how different you were. Haha. I don’t care how you were treated in society. It would be amusing to hear about it, though. I’m sure you think things will be different once Isabelle and Prince Frederick marry. But no. Even then, Duchess, you’ll still be disregarded.”

Looking back at her teacup, Sophia continued.

“Of course, it won’t be as childish as this. You’ll be excluded in more subtle ways. For the rest of your life.”

The Duchess forced a smile as she spoke.

“What would a country bumpkin from Ariel like you know? Do you think you’ll be any different from me?”

“No. It’ll be the same. I’m already being treated that way, am I not? I’m no better off than you, Duchess. But unlike you, I won’t waste my time and energy trying to keep up with them.”

Sophia spoke confidently.

“If someone insults or humiliates me, I’ll just use Prince Robert or His Majesty to eliminate them. And if someone tries to pull a similar stunt, I’ll use whatever means I can to push them aside. They may avoid me, but they certainly won’t dare to disrespect me.”

“If people avoid you, how is that any different from being disregarded?”

“It’s different. If you can’t see that distinction, Duchess, then you truly have no hope.”

Receiving Sophia’s scornful smile, the Duchess glared at her. Sophia, enjoying the Duchess’s anger, continued.

“Do you think Isabelle avoids you? Or does she simply disregard you? Do you really not see the difference?”

The Duchess slammed her teacup down harshly, causing tea to spill over with a sharp clinking sound. Sophia gazed contentedly at the tea overflowing onto the table.