The moment she realized this, Eloise’s face turned red. Baroness Fairfax was viewing her as a “pitiful creature.”

If it had been purely out of genuine sympathy, that would have been fine, but Eloise also detected a faint pleasure in her expression.

As if she enjoyed being in a position to pity Eloise.

But she couldn’t say anything about it. She had just come to ask for their hospitality. The only proof of the unpleasantness she had just felt was her own intuition.

What could she possibly say in this situation?

“Mother!”

Just then, a high-pitched woman’s voice was heard from outside.

“I’m really busy! I don’t have time to accompany some country bumpkin who’s come from who knows where…!”

The woman who was entering the room with a sharp voice stopped abruptly when she saw Eloise standing inside, closing her mouth in surprise.

She was a young lady with long, curly blonde hair that reached her waist and blue eyes.

Her dress was simple in form, flowing along the lines of her body, but its pattern was more elaborate than anything Eloise had ever seen before. It was clearly exotic silk.

Was she about to go somewhere? Her short gloves, which extended to her wrists, were also made of beautiful patterned white lace.

Eloise had occasionally encountered daughters from wealthy families in Camborne who spared no expense in adorning themselves.

She thought she had become somewhat accustomed to extravagance, but compared to this young lady who had just entered, the ladies of Camborne would seem quite modest.

This person, wrapped in what anyone could see were high-quality items, was…

“Beatrice.”

Baroness Fairfax gently scolded her daughter who had stormed in.

“Show a ladylike attitude. Such a raised voice doesn’t suit you.”

That was all. Baroness Fairfax made no other comments.

As if she hadn’t heard her daughter’s remark about “some country bumpkin who’s come from who knows where.”

“You remember her, don’t you? This is Beatrice. She’ll be helping you from now on. Greet each other.”

Because Baroness Fairfax spoke so casually, both Eloise and Beatrice found it awkward to express their discontent.

After exchanging stiff greetings, Baroness Fairfax spoke to Beatrice in a placating tone.

“Eloise left the capital when she was young, so she won’t know anything about the capital these days. Help her become accustomed quickly. Oh yes, I’ll send a letter about Lady Sinclair’s gathering that you asked about before. If you go with Eloise, I’ll allow you to attend.”

“Really?”

Though Eloise didn’t know what Lady Sinclair’s gathering was, as soon as Baroness Fairfax mentioned it, Beatrice’s sullen face brightened.

“Thank you, Mother!”

Beatrice kissed Baroness Fairfax on the cheek.

“Honestly, it’s not a gathering that I would consider refined by my standards, but it’s probably the best place to hear about current affairs and the latest news in the capital.”

As she said this, Baroness Fairfax muttered as if lamenting that too many soldiers had been frequenting the place lately.

“Anyway, show Eloise around the mansion and talk with her for a while. I need to go back upstairs and rest. Yesterday’s soirée at Count Grant’s went on too long, and I haven’t recovered from the fatigue yet.”

As she said this, Baroness Fairfax glanced at Eloise, as if curious to see how she would react to her words.

But how could Eloise possibly react?

“Thank you for your hospitality. Please rest well, ma’am.”

Eloise offered a simple and appropriate greeting.

Looking somewhat disappointed by Eloise’s response, the lady returned to the second floor with her maid.

Now only Eloise and Beatrice remained in the room.

Eloise looked at her and smiled brightly.

“I’m in your care, Beatrice. As your mother said, I’ve come to the capital after a very long time, so everything is still unfamiliar to me. I might make mistakes, so please let me know if I do anything inappropriate.”

Beatrice looked at Eloise with surprise at her words.

A few days ago, she had heard from her mother that a woman a few years older than herself would be coming from the countryside.

At that time, she didn’t think much of it. The Fairfax baronial townhouse always had people coming and going because they had so many acquaintances.

So she hadn’t paid much attention, but today her mother suddenly called for her and said she would have to accompany this woman for a while, which irritated her.

The winter social season was about to begin. She had so much to explore—new clothes, cafes newly popular among the ladies and gentlemen of the capital, art galleries, parks, and more—yet she was being told to play babysitter to some country girl.

‘But if I can attend Lady Sinclair’s gathering!’

Lady Sinclair.

She was a woman from a middle-class family in the capital who had served as a nurse during the war and achieved great merit.

After receiving a peerage directly from the Queen, she had appeared in society.

Despite being somewhat older, she paid no attention to romance or marriage, prioritizing her work instead. While many gossiped about this attitude, she was an extremely cheerful and interesting person.

Above all, with her broad knowledge and culture, she not only discussed current affairs and future trends but was also thoroughly versed in the latest fashions of the capital. This made every socializing young lady eager to attend her gatherings.

Going there meant being able to prepare early for the hats and clothes that would be fashionable this year.

One could also learn topics of conversation suitable for discussions with refined gentlemen.

That’s why Beatrice had been desperate to go there, but Baroness Fairfax, with her strong pride as a baroness, detested the idea of her daughter associating with a woman of middle-class origin.

Yet now she was allowing her to attend this gathering she had so strongly opposed.

If she could go there, she could tolerate dragging around this country girl.

Besides, she had expected Eloise to confront her about her rudeness, but instead, she smiled cheerfully and asked to be taught. She liked that attitude.

Having someone like this who bowed to her and tried to please her wouldn’t be so bad to have around.

“Don’t worry about getting around the capital, Eloise. But I might sometimes treat you like a strict teacher. Just know that it all comes from my desire to prevent you from making mistakes elsewhere.”

Eloise understood the hidden meaning of those words. It meant “don’t blame me if I act rudely.”

Eloise responded with a bright smile, as if she hadn’t noticed anything.

“Of course.”

* * *

A few days later.

“Eloise, look at this! My new ball gown just arrived! What do you think?”

Beatrice flung open the door and burst into the room. Eloise didn’t point out that she had entered without knocking.

Instead, she opened her eyes wide in apparent amazement and clapped her hands lightly.

“My goodness, I’ve never seen anything so beautiful! The dressmakers in the capital really are different, aren’t they? Oh my, this sheen… what kind of silk is this?”

“It’s Krinian silk. There are only a few places in the capital where you can get this.”

As Eloise made a fuss praising the dress, Beatrice’s shoulders straightened with pride.

The maids who had followed her looked into the room with surprise through the open door.

Beatrice was quite a difficult young lady. She would be in a good mood one minute, then suddenly become irritated and lock herself in her room the next.

Because of this, despite the Fairfax baronial background, she had few deep friendships with other young ladies.

But this new lady had instantly become friendly with Beatrice and now acted as if they were old friends.

After showing off her new clothes to Eloise for quite some time, Beatrice returned to her room. She would probably come back wearing the new dress.

Watching Beatrice leave, Eloise thought to herself.

‘This is easier than I expected.’

From their first meeting, she could have confronted the condescending attitude and patronizing gaze that was clearly evident.

But instead of doing that, Eloise chose a different approach.

She pretended not to notice their attitude toward her.

‘This is the right approach for now.’

Without the Fairfax baronial family, she had nowhere else to stay. So she needed to continue staying here.

‘Then there’s no need to be confrontational, is there?’

These were people from whom she needed to get as much help as possible. Of course, her pride was hurt by the attitudes of the Baroness and Beatrice, but she had to endure it for now.

Finding Ryan was the important thing right now.

As Beatrice hurried back to find her in yet another outfit, Eloise showered her with more compliments while thinking to herself.

When she found Ryan, she really wouldn’t let him off easily.

* * *

At the same time, Ryan, who was in Gilia, suddenly felt a chill and rubbed his arms.

It was natural to feel cold in winter, but the breeze that had just passed him carried an unusually cold chill.

Sniff. He wiped under his nose for no particular reason, then folded his arms again and leaned against a building with his head down, like someone looking for a day’s odd job.

After some time had passed, just as his hunched body was beginning to complain of stiffness, the people he had been waiting for emerged from the building.

They passed through the crowd of vagrants, clicking their tongues.

As dignified Gilian voices, out of place in such an alley, exchanged words:

“So Lady Sinclair…”

A name caught his ear.