/
“Don’t worry too much, Princess Tatiana. You are now a part of my gatherings.”
“

.”
I didn’t even want to respond anymore. I simply sealed my lips shut.
“There won’t be any problems with your debut in the social circle, Lady — May I call you ‘Lady’? – Tatiana. I will assist you.”
Her tone sounded as if she was bestowing a great favor upon me. But I could endure it up to this point.
Three years in the slave market of the Demon Realm and one year living in the Demon King’s castle.
During those long four years, I had honed the skill of brushing off unpleasant remarks.
But Lady Ghiberti kept pushing the boundaries
..
“Actually, I envy you, Lady Tatiana.”
Suddenly?
I stared at Lady Ghiberti with a skeptical gaze.
“Honestly, it sounds like a story straight out of a fairy tale, doesn’t it?”
“

A fairy tale?”
“Yes. The meeting between the human hero who vanquished the five Demon Lords and the child who suffered in the depths of the Demon Realm!” Lady Ghiberti raised her voice as if she wanted me to hear. “Moreover, didn’t the hero even save the child?”
“

.”
In an instant, I felt a chilling sensation, as if ice water had been poured over me. But Lady Ghiberti’s words weren’t finished yet.
From what I’ve heard, Duke Orleans is known for his great compassion. Perhaps it was thanks to his virtuous nature that such a miraculous event took place?”
Lady Ghiberti glanced at me with a sidelong glance and smiled lightly.
“So, Lady Tatiana, you are truly a fortunate person.”
On the surface, it sounded like a compliment.
But if you dissected her words, it meant something like this:
‘You only became a lady because of Duke Siegfried’s compassion, and in reality, you are just a nobody who has no connection with him.’
‘Being a lady itself is a miraculous circumstance, so don’t act all high and mighty by saying you’re a lady.’
”Phew.” I took a short, deep breath.
And then.
“Lady Ghiberti, you are such a kind person,” I smiled brightly at Lady Ghiberti.
At the same time, a fleeting emotion passed over Lady Ghiberti’s face. It was a clear mockery.
“Oh my, you’re saying such things.” Lady Ghiberti struggled to control her expression as she replied.
She probably thought I didn’t understand the sarcasm in her words. Her lips were trembling, as if she was on the verge of bursting into laughter.
I pretended not to know anything and added, “So, I will make sure to convey your kind words to my father.”
Instantly, Lady Ghiberti stiffened.
“What?”
“You know, it’s such a shame that you said such nice things and I’m the only one who knows.” I clenched my fists firmly, displaying them proudly. “Father should know that Lady Ghiberti is a very kind person. So, please trust me.”
“Oh, no. There’s no need to go that far
”
“Why? To be honest, Ghiberti and Orleans haven’t been on good terms so far,” I spoke with a bright voice. “If I tell them that the young Lady of Ghiberti has been kind to me, wouldn’t it help resolve the tensions between the two families?”
“I-It’s alright. I appreciate your words, but I can’t burden you with that, Princess.”
Young Lady Ghiberti’s face turned pale, and she rambled on, trying to dissuade me.
“It’s not a burden. I just want to convey my gratitude.”
“No, it’s better to leave adult matters to the adults.”
“Well, I’d rather tell him

.”
“Princess, it’s really okay!”
Now Young Lady Ghiberti had an expression as if she was about to cry.
‘Of course, she should.’
I looked at her with a satisfied gaze.
If this conversation reached Siegfried’s ears, it could escalate into a conflict between the two families.
They had arranged today’s meeting to restore the relationship with Duke Orleans, but instead of that, it seemed like the relationship would worsen.
‘What if this conversation leaks to the outside?’
I narrowed my eyes wickedly.
I can’t wait to see how embarrassed Countess Ghiberti will be

..
“You know, young lady Ghiberti,” I called out to her with a smile on my face.
She swallowed dry saliva and faced me.
“I’m afraid the Young Lady considers me a fool.”
“

P-Princess.”
“A fool like me should rely on adults, shouldn’t I?”
My smile deepened a little more.
The young lady’s face flushed, then drained of color.
An uncomfortable silence ensued.
“

.”
“

.”
In the end, the one who lost was Young Lady Ghiberti. She closed her eyes tightly and apologized to me.
” I’m sorry, I made a mistake.”
“

.”
I didn’t respond with forgiveness.
Instead, I rolled my eyes and changed the subject.
“We shouldn’t keep the ladies waiting too long. Would you mind showing me to the tearoom?”
“

.”
It was a blatant disregard.
Young Lady Ghiberti clenched her lips with a resentful face. However, because she had committed a fault, she couldn’t rebel against my actions.
“

.I will guide you.”
Well, that’s good.
Now that I have found a weakness, at least the things that bother me should decrease a bit.
* * *
After that, my impression of the tearoom for the first time was

‘Well, you did pay attention.’
Beautiful teacups and teapots, tableware, and various tea foods.
It was a teatime that would be perfect no matter where it was placed. However, it felt a bit old-fashioned.
‘It feels like it’s trying too hard to imitate the tea times of adults.’
Well, it’s the teatime of noble ladies, so it’s understandable.
Still, according to Nora’s teaching on proper etiquette, at events which are mostly attended by young ladies, the tea food and tea should be served to suit the tastes of children.
But.
‘Cucumber finger sandwiches? I’ve never seen any kids like that.’
Even Lakius, who is never picky about his food, secretly hates it.
Most of the ladies at tea of the teatime were around my age or slightly older. Around twelve to fifteen years old?
Young Lady Ghiberti seemed to be the oldest, and I belonged to the youngest group.
“Oh, you’re here?”
“We’ve been waiting anxiously for when you would arrive.”
As we entered the tearoom, the young ladies greeted us with delighted faces.
Lady Ghiberti looked at me with an elevated nose.
“Yes, and this is the Princess of Orleans, whom I invited.”
‘I invited.’
The young lady’s face lit up at the words. As if it was thanks to her exceptional ability that she invited me.
‘

She’s really something.’
I looked at her with a sense of awe.
‘You had a nervous breakdown right before we entered the tearoom, didn’t you? And yet you still managed to take advantage of me.’
I must admit, I admire your strength of character

.
But the moment the young lady introduced me, the atmosphere of the ladies changed drastically.
“Oh my, Princess Orleans is here?”
“Hello, Princess!”
“It’s truly an honor to meet you like this!”
All the ladies’ eyes were fixed on me. Some of the ladies even got up from their seats and tried to talk to me.
In response, lady Ghiberti scolded the ladies with an annoyed expression.
“Why are you all so fussy? Sit down.”
“Ah

.”
The ladies glanced at Lady Ghiberti discreetly.
Then they awkwardly took their seats.
‘Oh ho?’
I glanced at Lady Ghiberti’s wrinkled face from the corner of my eye.
‘It seems like the little Countess Ghiberti has been playing the role of a queen in this gathering.’
I roughly understood why.
The imperial family had no princess, and the Marquis of Philomel, the empress’s family, currently had no children of its own.
In fact, the few daughters of count families were being treated as ladies of the highest rank in the empire.
Moreover, the Countess of Ghiberti was related to the Duke of Orleans, one of the three heroes who saved humanity. That alone was enough to warrant special treatment.
But

.
‘Now there’s me.’
I, whom Siegfried himself had adopted as his daughter.
By the very nature of the Orleans duchy having a daughter, Countess Ghiberti had been stripped of the special position of being the “blood relative of a hero.”
Furthermore, Siegfried is the only duke in the empire, and I have the status of a princess.
Perhaps that’s why all the ladies’ attention is focused on me.
Well, since the atmosphere had been formed like this.
‘Of course, I should somehow take advantage of this atmosphere, right?’
My eyes glinted slyly, but in truth, I didn’t need to work at it at all. My dads were more popular than I ever realized

.
“Um, Princess,” one of the ladies cautiously called out to me. Her eyes were shining with anticipation. “I heard that the Princess came with the Duke of Orleans this time, is it true?”
“Heuk, the Duke of Orleans?”
Upon hearing that, another lady widened her eyes and looked in our direction.