“You’ve done quite well today.”

“…Pardon?”

“I think this is enough for now. You’ve reached perfection.”

It was almost the first time she had ever heard such words. Ilenia turned the compliment over awkwardly in her mind.

A small thrill leapt in her chest. The sense of accomplishment was far greater than anything she had felt when praised at school.

“It’s only thanks to your teaching.”

“Now you’ll be able to attend a banquet without hesitation, blending in with ease.”

The face that had bloomed like a radiant flower stiffened slightly. No matter how hard she tried, the mere mention of tea gatherings still sent a wave of dread creeping over her.

“Then you can attend this one as well.”

At that moment, Lady Hildebalt held out an invitation, her expression bright with delight.

Accepting the neatly folded envelope, Ilenia tilted her head in uncertainty.

“What is this?”

“It’s a small group I regularly participate in. It’s a group for women who love the Mateo Empire to get together and talk, as well as an art and poetry appreciation society.”

“Ah…”

Ilenia’s hand trembled slightly as she touched the teacup. As memories of that day flooded back, she shook her head.

She had endured all those rigorous lessons until now to avoid a situation like that. This time, she wouldn’t have to pretend to be one of the fake flowers stuck in a vase, as she had done back then.

“It’s a group mostly made up of up-and-coming women from the Mateo Empire, so it wouldn’t be a bad place to try again. Besides, many of them are friendly towards me.”

Lady Hildebalt, unaware of Ilenia’s true feelings, smiled and patted her on the shoulder.

“You studied so hard for a day like this. You are the daughter of the exalted House Hildebalt, and I’m sure you can do it.”

Of course, Lady Hildebalt hadn’t acted solely in the interest of her daughter’s future. In fact, it was to elevate the name of the small group to which she belonged. It had started as nothing more than a group modelled on the first Grand Duchess’s salon. For those who admired high-ranking individuals, ‘playing salon’ was quite a successful venture. The same was true for the group Lady Hildebalt was in. The ladies pooled their membership fees and opened up their own parlors to create a space.

While it looked respectable enough, it still fell short of being a true salon in terms of prestige.

What would happen if Lady Lukehardt were invited? Although she was not yet the Duchess of Lukehardt in name, she was already considered one of the strongest candidates for the position.

After all, most people said that, if not for Lord Delphius, who else could possibly lead House Lukehardt?

This made Delphius of Lukehart’s daughter an enticing target.

For a gathering of little consequence, the presence of a duke’s family member would provide perfect publicity.

Besides, Lady Hildebalt had already boasted to those around her that she would bring her daughter. She had even received a fair sum of money for doing so.

From her position, she had no choice — she had to take her daughter to the gathering, whatever it took. It would be even better if her son-in-law were to attend as well.

Lady Hildebalt smiled warmly at her daughter. Who would have thought that the child she had cast aside at birth as unwanted and a burden would turn out to be such a blessing?

Everything was falling neatly into place, just as she had arranged.

“I’m grateful for your consideration, but this isn’t something I can decide alone.”

Wouldn’t it be best to test just how far your training has brought you?”

Lady Hildebalt pushed forward, just in case Ilenia had any other ideas.

“It would still be better than disgracing yourself in front of your husband. But if you want to demonstrate your incompetence and tarnish the Lukehardt name again, I won’t stop you.”

Ilenia began to tremble nervously. There was only one thing a mother could want from her trembling daughter. As if she were Ilenia’s only lifeline, Lady Hildebalt squeezed her hand tightly. The invitation she held was an added bonus.

“So be sure to come. If only for your husband’s sake.”

Ilenia looked at the invitation in her hand. She nodded weakly, fidgeting with the black paper. Lady Hildebalt’s smile deepened.

······ ✦ ✧ ✦ ······

“What kind of small group is it?”

Meg inspected the invitation suspiciously. Ilenia explained as best she could, since even her mistress didn’t seem to know about it.

“I’ve heard of a place like that… Just rumors, though.”

Meg spoke as she laid the invitation down.

“I’ve heard it has a fairly good reputation. Still, it isn’t worthy of the Lukehardt name. For a family like the Lukehardts, salons or clubs would be more fitting.”

She hinted that such places were part of not only high society but also the new centres of business.

However, entry into those circles was difficult. They were exclusive, reserved for the highest ranks only. For the mistress, who had only recently been added to the Lukehardt family, obtaining an invitation to such a place would be almost impossible.

“Then it would be better not to go, wouldn’t it?”

The small murmur brought Meg abruptly back to herself. Her lady might still fall short in certain noble manners, but in every other respect, she was flawless.

More than that, she was admirable — fully aware of her shortcomings and willing to make the effort to overcome them. Meg thought of everything her mistress had endured until now and shook her head.

In recent days, her bearing had improved so remarkably that one could hardly recall what she had once been like. She tried her utmost to hide it from the master, but sometimes the change was evident — so much so that it was difficult to believe she was the same woman.

They could stave off these invitations for now, but not forever. There would surely come a day when she would have to attend a banquet as his wife — a duty from which no one could escape.

It would be better if she had gained some experience by that time.

“I think it would be fine as well. But of course, we would need the master’s permission.”

“Delphius’s…”

Ilenia’s expression grew complicated.

Since that tea gathering, no further invitations had come to her. Naturally, no one had called for her presence either.

Of course, it was entirely possible that no one intended to send her an invitation at all. And yet, the words that had once been whispered in her ear refused to leave her mind.

Swallowing the discomfort in her chest, Ilenia asked in a tone almost like a sigh.

“Do you think he would send me?”

“Send you where?”

Lady Meg was the first to react. Her body moved in response to the familiar voice before her rational mind had time to register it.

Startled, Ilenia only turned her head after that.

Delphius was already approaching, and Madam Meg, bowing her head, stepped back at once. Only after all of this unfolded did Amanda, belatedly flustered, stumble backward behind Meg.

“D-Delphius? When did you arrive?”

“Just now.”

“I didn’t hear a knock.”

“The door was open.”

He tilted his head toward the door, still slightly open.

“So? What sort of worry had the three of you holding such a serious discussion?”

Ah, mm. Ilenia and Meg exchanged a familiar glance. It was their way of silently agreeing to put matters aside for later. After a brief hesitation, during which her expression wavered for a moment, Ilenia nodded.

“A worry… I’m not sure what you mean.”

It was, in short, the tactic of feigned ignorance.

Nothing had yet been decided, after all. There was no need to provoke Delphius’s attention with half-formed words.

However, Madam Meg had overlooked one thing: her lady’s lies had never held any weight with the master before.

Her pink eyes rolled restlessly, unable to meet his gaze. She clasped her hands together as if in prayer, although it was certainly not the time for prayer.

Delphius found this both pitiful and endearing, and a quiet laugh escaped him.

“You can’t deceive my eyes, Ilenia.”

Delphius let his gaze drift towards the desk. It didn’t take him long to spot the unfamiliar item among her things.

He finally found it among the neatly stacked papers — an invitation — and lifted it up.

“Do you still not know what I’m talking about?”

“It was Lady Hildebalt who gave it to me.”

This was why Ilenia had never wanted to lie to Delphius. Her lies always betrayed her. Swallowing a sigh, she spoke in a resigned voice.

“She suggested I attend. She said it was a decent gathering.”

Watching her husband open the invitation, Ilenia squeezed her eyes shut.

“I—I wasn’t planning to decide on my own. I meant to wait until you returned and then—”

“You may go.”

“What?”

Delphius set the invitation back down, the corner of his mouth tugging upwards.

“If you want to go, then go, Ilenia.”