Ch#41
Viscountess Camille Emerson—Camille Arle, the baron's daughter before marriage—was quite popular for her beautiful appearance and lively, cheerful personality.
Her parties were praised as fun and enjoyable, just like her personality, but the reason Edel had never once attended one was that the fun often came at the expense of making someone look foolish.
“I’ve heard stories about Viscountess Emerson a few times. She’s outgoing and loves making friends, right?”
“Really? Then could I become friends with her too? She seemed quite young.”
Linia already seemed taken with Camille. Or perhaps she thought befriending a famous socialite would improve her own standing.
Edel, pondering how to dissuade Linia from Camille without hurting her feelings, spoke as cautiously as possible.
“…………It might be best to observe until the third invitation arrives. I see the first two meetings as a period to gauge each other.”
“Oh, really? Good thing I asked you. I almost got ahead of myself and acted too friendly.”
Edel felt a pang of sympathy seeing Linia try to laugh off her embarrassment.
*Spoils of war*
*‘How desperate must Linia be right now for even one friend? She’s probably mocked at parties because of that impatience.’*
*Duchess*
In any case, it seemed she hadn’t aroused Linia’s suspicions, so now she needed to withdraw before catching Marsha’s eye.
“True friendships require ample time to cultivate. I’m glad you seem alright, miss. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Truly written by Lemon Frog
“Ah, wait.”
“Yes?”
Her heart sank again.
Yet Linia, after calling Edel, avoided her gaze for a long while before mumbling in a tiny voice.
“If you have time……”
“Pardon? Sorry, miss. I couldn’t hear well.”
“No, it’s nothing! Go on.”
.
With that, she abruptly turned and retreated into her room.
*What was that……?*
Camille, nearly finished with her makeup, warmly welcomed her cousin and good friend Angela.
Edel tilted her head in confusion before leaving the spot.
For now, she needed to focus more on Marsha than Linia.
“Welcome, Angela!”
“It’s been a while, Camille.”
Angela, with her red hair and golden eyes, was a sensuous beauty who received affection from many men.
That was why Camille, obsessed with social popularity, always stayed close to her.
And the two matched perfectly in tastes and thoughts.
*A little star sparkling everywhere.*
*‘Proof that beauty and cheerfulness can coexist.’*
“This year’s party decorations are amazing too! How do you even come up with ideas like that?”
*The empire’s top party hostess.*
“Thanks for the praise, Angela. But it’s too early to be surprised. I’ve prepared much more spectacular things, so enjoy the full three days.”
“Give me a little hint about what you’ve prepared. So I don’t faint from shock.”
All of this was praise for Viscountess Camille Emerson. She intended to uphold her reputation this year as well.
Camille’s eyes crinkled further at Angela’s cute whining.
“Any problems?”
“Then shall I tell you one? Angela, do you know Linia Criserus?”
Camille, standing with arms outstretched for the maids to adjust her dress, quietly asked the head maid who had entered.
“Li… oh! You mean that mercenary-born count’s sister?”
“Exactly. She’ll make the seating quite enjoyable.”
“None at all, ma’am. The guests have begun arriving and are seated in their pre-assigned spots.”
“Good, good.”
Until then, Angela hadn’t the slightest idea what Camille had prepared. She simply disapproved of a commoner-born like Linia attending Camille’s notoriously hard-to-get-into parties.
However, that afternoon, when Linia Criserus appeared, Angela realized anew just how brilliant a party hostess Camille was.
She gazed at her glittering jewels and dress-clad self in the mirror and smiled brightly.
“My goodness, what is that? Is she really a noble?”
“This year, my party will be the most fun yet.”
“Leave her be. What would a commoner know about fashion?”
“She looks pathetic. Honestly……”
Since marriage, Camille had held a three-day party every early March, when winter’s boredom ended and spring began.
Her birthday was March 3rd, her husband Viscount Emerson’s was March 4th, and since everyone held tea parties large and small around then, she’d bundled them into a full three-day event.
A small stir rippled around Linia.
And that party had held the title of ‘best party’ unchallenged for years.
Camille had deliberately placed Linia’s seat right in the midst of the noble ladies who loved judging others, and Linia entered wearing heavy makeup, bizarre hair ornaments, and a gaudy dress fit for a courtesan—just as she always did.
“Ma’am. Miss Angela Bliss has arrived. Shall I bring her here?”
“Oh, Angela’s here! Yes, bring her this way.”
“Camille. This is what you meant?”
“Pfft! What do you think? That girl, living vulgarly off her mercenary brother’s earnings, keeps pretending to be a noble, so this time I’m teaching her she doesn’t belong in noble society!”
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