CH 85

Chapter 85

Not long after Dimitri left, I had to face an unexpected guest. It was Madam Elbas who found me through her butler.

“She said she had something to tell me?”

“Yes.”

I glanced briefly at Blois’s financial documents stacked on my desk.

‘Because financial matters are sensitive.’

“Tell Madam Elbas to meet me in the parlor.”

After conveying my words to the butler, I tidied up my desk for a few minutes before locking the door to the office and heading downstairs. Madam Elbas was already waiting for me in the small parlor on the second floor. She seemed to have fully regained her energy, sitting upright on the sofa just as she usually did.

‘The head seat…’

Her attitude of sitting in the seat where the owner should naturally be seated as if it were obvious, was a bit vexing.

Having learned to speak in a rather aristocratic manner, I smiled and said.

“It seems that the maid must have misdirected the Madam to the wrong seat. Ah, but that’s alright. I don’t want to make a big deal out of such things among my family.”

This was the art of ‘pretending to show mercy while pointing out the other person’s mistake’!

Madam Elbas, who couldn’t possibly be unaware of the subtle hints, couldn’t hide her annoyance, but she forced a smile nonetheless.

This was exactly the refined manner of engaging in subtle battles of wits among the nobility—giving subtle hints with a smile, hinting annoyance through laughter.

As if having something to say, she started the conversation first.

“I heard from the butler that the First Princess is coming to Blois.”

“Yes, I received the letter yesterday and accepted.”

“In that case, should we start preparing for a tea party soon?”

“A tea party?”

I recalled the table of contents of the book The Handbook for Noble Ladies that I received as a gift from Dimitri.

‘It seems like something like that was mentioned in Part 2 of the section on social gatherings…’

I remembered that it was written that when someone of higher status than oneself paid a visit, it was customary to gather local nobles of similar age as the guest and host a tea party as a gesture of welcome. Such occasions were particularly important social gatherings for local nobles who may not have frequent opportunities to participate in social gatherings in the capital.

‘Ah, a social gathering.’

Until now, I have managed to decline various events such as parties, poetry recitals, and flower-arranging gatherings using various excuses. But this time, it seemed that I couldn’t avoid attending a social gathering…

‘Even as the host.’

I forced a smile, but my mind was racing.

‘…I’m not sure what kind of conversation or activities I should engage in with people of my age.’

In my previous life, I didn’t have many friends. As a child, I wasn’t socializing because of the situation at home, so I spent my school years feeling depressed. And after I started living at my grandmother’s house, I had even fewer encounters with young people. The town I lived in was a very old town, with an average age of 70-year-olds, lived.

‘Well… since I get along well with maids my age like Agwen and Liddell, I guess I can just follow their lead. I should ask them to teach me about the recent trends among young people.’

I shook my head at the thought.

“I’ll prepare that.”

“Did you create an invitation list?”

“I’m in the midst of contemplating. As you may know, the current situation requires careful consideration, so I need to be cautious.”

It was already well-known that the nobles in this region, with Blois at the center, were being cautious and watching their steps to avoid taking responsibility for the slave trader issue.

Dimitri sent the Count of Bilbao to the Emperor, informing him that he would soon identify those involved and compile a list to submit. As the Emperor had set a trial date for Count Bilbao, there was no one in the empire who was unaware of this matter.

Of course, Madam Elbas couldn’t not know either.

She agreed with me.

“I suppose so. However, don’t dismiss the child I recommend. My nephew, Dieppe, happens to want to meet me.”

“If it’s Lord Dieppe, he’s the second son of Viscount Leon, right?”

“That’s right.”

I knew I had no choice but to allow him to visit.

‘I was wondering when they were going to break into Blois, though it seems like that it’s now.’

Dieppe Leon.

The Viscount of Leone was a prominent figure in Blois and the home of Madam Elbas’s sister, the Viscountess. In other words, Dieppe was her nephew and also a distant relative of Dimitri.

‘…And whom Madam Elbas is trying to push as the new duke as she tries to depose Dimitri.’

After all, there was no way that Madam Elbas would just stay quiet.

‘She’s preparing something.’

Even if I turned her down now, I’d meet him one way or another eventually, so it would be better to deal with him early. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep an eye on him.

“I understand. I’ll also send an invitation to Lord. Dieppe.”

After my conversation with Madam Elvas, I immediately wrote a letter to Princess Elaine. It was because, as a matter of courtesy, I had to ask whether the tea party should be held or not.

The response came soon from Elaine that she was fine with it, with the words that she’d depart for Blois as soon as the sun rose tomorrow.

I consulted with my aide, Baron Seville Placen, and sent out invitations to nobles and young aristocrats of Elaine’s age. Then, I went to find Esca and repeatedly asked him to take good care of the kittens.

The day ended like that, and finally, it was finally time to meet Elaine.

The procession of Alain, who was a spoiled child of the imperial family, wasn’t exactly glamorous. There were only two escort knights riding in a small carriage pulled by three horses. It was a small procession, even smaller than Madam Elbas, who had brought with her four carriages and ten knights.

The carriage door opened, and a man stepped out of the carriage first. It was a familiar face.

‘…Cadis?’

As my eyes widened at the unexpected reunion, Cadis glanced up at me with excitement. I could tell from his expression that he wanted to say hello to me but was disappointed that he couldn’t.

While he held the carriage door and stood respectfully, the platinum-haired maiden lowered her head slightly before stepping out of the carriage. Another escort knight on horseback took her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Princess.”

As Dimitri stepped forward as the representative of Blois and greeted her, Elaine lifted her head and looked up at him.

Finally seeing her face, I managed to control my pursing lips.

‘I’ve seen how she looks through the illustrations in the book, but seeing her in real life is prettier than the picture…’

I couldn’t believe that the real thing could be prettier than the picture.

First of all, the color of her hair was flourishing. She had pristine platinum hair with enchanting pink eyes.

‘For a Korean who grew up with dark hair and dark eyes, that hair color alone makes you look like a celebrity.’

In fact, not just Elaine but people like Dimitri with ash-gray hair or Viscount Villefranc with blue hair, and others with unique hair colors all looked equally fascinating.

Elaine, her cheeks flushed with a little excitement, smiled brightly.

“Nice to meet you, Duke of Blois. You’re as tall as I’ve heard.”

‘…Huh?’

I was taken aback by her unexpected remark.

It was true that Dimitri was very tall, but suddenly?

“I’m sorry. I think my excitement got the better of me because I saw so many beautiful landscapes on the way here. I couldn’t stop talking even in the carriage.”

Haha.

Laughing as if embarrassed, she turned to me.

“You must be the Duchess, right?”

I greeted her politely, bending my knee following the traditional aristocratic manner.

“Welcome, Empress.”

“I heard a lot about you!”

At her words, I maintained a slightly nervous smile while carefully observing her reactions.

‘…Is it the rumor about me hating shapeshifters?’

But despite that, her smile was very benevolent.

“Nice to meet you.”

From her gaze, as she spoke, I could sense that she was assessing me, but my own eyes were likely reflecting a similar expression.

“It’s an honor to serve you like this.”

“Please take care of me. By the way, this was my first time traveling outside the palace, so I was worried and asked my father to provide me with a hound. This is Cadis. I heard that you are acquainted, is that correct?”

After the clash between Cadis and Dimitri, it would have been reasonable for the Emperor to assign a different hunting dog instead, but shamelessly, he audaciously sent him back to Blois, covering up the incident in secrecy. It was evident that the Emperor had a dastardly intention to provoke us.

‘Pathetic.’

I glanced back and forth between Cadis, who was wagging his invisible tail, and Elaine, who was smiling sweetly.

‘Anyway…’

I thought back to the moment when I parted ways with Cadis. We had a very regretful farewell. It was a sign that we had grown close to each other.

‘Did Cadis say something nice about me?!’

I hoped he spoke well of me as I treated him well, though I wonder if it really happened that way?

I chuckled with great delight.

“That’s right. We’ve exchanged some greetings before. How have you been, Cadis?”

“Thank you. I was grateful for various things last time.”

Cadis, with his prominent features, displayed a kind and sincere smile. Just then, Dimitri stepped between us with a stern look on his face.

“Be grateful, but don’t make it too special. My wife is so compassionate and generous that she couldn’t just overlook those in need. Many people have received her kindness like a ray of light.”

It seemed like he wasn’t necessarily saying that I treated Cadis well because it was him specifically, but rather emphasizing that I treated everyone well.

I gazed up at Dimitri with trepidation.

‘Please don’t act like a villain. We are currently standing at a crossroads between becoming allies of the protagonists or remaining as villains—!’

Whether he knew my feelings or not, Dimitri Dimitri arrogantly stared at Cardis and declared.

“I’m sorry, Princess, but I don’t like dog shapeshifters.”

‘Ah…!’

It felt like my eyes were spinning.

Dimitri didn’t stop there.

“The only place in my mansion where dogs are allowed in my mansion is in the dungeon.”

‘What’s this person doing now?!’

I wanted to grab him by the scruff of the neck.

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