Translator: Nox

Chapter 32

#32

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Being the host of a ball was not actually a comfortable task. No, it was a troublesome one.

There were those who simply opened the doors and let the guests enjoy themselves, but I wasn't of that temperament.

I checked everything: whether there was enough food, whether I had greeted all the invited guests, whether the music suited the guests' tastes.

And just when I thought everything was going smoothly, I detected something with an ominous air.

"What is it?"

A group of noble young ladies were huddled in a corner.

Of course, them standing together wasn't strange. They came to the ball to chat with close friends and have a good time.

But what I found odd was that their atmosphere didn't seem friendly.

"Is there something wrong?"

I quietly approached them, smiling as I spoke.

It was just an ordinary question, but the woman in front of me was startled and turned around to look at me.

It was the Countess of Cornwall.

"Ah, it was Bianca."

Recognizing me, a look of relief crossed her eyes.

"Yes. Is there anything you're uncomfortable with?"

I could see the other noble young ladies over her shoulder.

The Viscountess of Hapilog, the Baroness of Wales, the Baroness of McQueen, and… Maria.

No, it didn't seem right to put Maria on the same level as them.

Maria was standing in the corner of the hall, and the other young ladies were standing around her as if surrounding her.

It was as if they were all ganging up on Maria.

"No, there's nothing uncomfortable. Bianca prepared the ball perfectly."

"Then you must have been having a fun conversation?"

I smiled and looked around at the others, but they didn't say anything. They were just looking at the Countess of Cornwall with their eyes.

The leader of this group was probably her.

Judging by her status, she was the highest, and it was as if her thoughts were the thoughts of them all. When the Countess of Cornwall spoke, they all smiled and nodded.

It was as if their brains were all connected by an invisible string.

"Rather than a fun conversation..."

The Countess of Cornwall glanced at Maria.

It wasn't a look that signaled or hinted at anything.

It was a gaze filled with contempt and disdain. In that moment, I was sure that she knew about Maria's situation.

Well, if the Marquis of Wensbury suddenly adopted a daughter out of the blue, and she looked somewhat like Lord Wensbury, they would naturally guess the situation.

No matter how prestigious the family, no matter how high-ranking the aristocrat, a bastard could not be properly treated.

That was natural. The noble aristocrats would never welcome treating a bastard from a commoner, perhaps even a slave, as their equal.

That's why I tried to make Maria's Debutante splendid.

"Maria didn't seem to know much about society yet, so we were just telling her a little bit."

She added the honorific 'Miss' probably because she was conscious of others, but her expression and tone showed no respect for Maria at all.

It was more like she was correcting Maria's manners rather than kindly informing her about society.

A Countess speaking to a Marchioness.

"Ah, I see."

But I didn't bother to point out her tone.

"Maria doesn't know much about society yet."

I just nodded and glanced at Maria.

Huddled in the corner, Maria was looking down, probably because of what they had been saying to her.

I couldn't see her face, but I could easily guess that she didn't have a good expression.

"Yes. She doesn't seem to know anything at all. How else would she flirt with a man who already has a partner?"

I had a bad feeling.

"Don't worry, Bianca. We've told Maria very kindly and thoroughly."

The Countess of Cornwall smiled, her expression revealing contempt for Maria and a cunning desire to please me.

Maria must have heard the Countess of Cornwall's voice, but she was still looking down and didn't say anything.

"What do you mean, worry?"

"We've made it very clear that that sly bastard shouldn't flirt with Lord Wincaiser."

The Countess of Cornwall sneered, looking at Maria with a mocking tone.

And then she looked at me and smiled brightly, as if to tell me not to worry.

Her expression was like a dog bringing back a stick and waiting for praise. No, that was an insult to dogs.

Dogs do it out of loyalty, but I knew that her actions were flattery to get on my good side.

It was also a foolish interference that disrupted my plan to not tell Maria about Ricardo and my relationship yet.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

I coldly erased the smile from my face, which had been smiling until just now, and looked at the Countess of Cornwall. And while I was at it, I slowly looked around at the other young ladies.

I could feel them flinching every time our eyes met.

"B, Bianca?"

As expected, it was the Countess of Cornwall who opened her mouth.

"We were doing it for Bianca..."

"Oh, for me?"

I made an exaggerated gesture and gently placed my hand on my chest.

"Oh my, how grateful I am. You did that for me."

Only then did a look of relief appear on the Countess of Cornwall's face, foolishly.

"I'm sorry. I must not be attractive enough as a woman, so I've caused you trouble."

"Yes?"

I had known the Countess of Cornwall for quite some time, but this was the first time I had seen such a variety of expressions.

She looked at me with a bewildered expression, her mouth open.

"I simply asked Lord Wincaiser to escort Maria with good intentions."

"B, Bianca asked him to?"

"Yes. But since you thought that way, I can only think that you were worried because I wasn't attractive enough."

"Ah, no. It's not like that..."

"Ah! If it's not that, then you thought Lord Wincaiser was the kind of man who would fall for any woman?"

"Not at all!"

"Then it seems that I am indeed lacking and have caused you to worry."

"No! Not at all!"

The Countess of Cornwall was now pale and shaking her head. She was shaking her head so fast and violently that the glitter stuck in her hair was about to fall to the floor.

"If I had just been a little more beautiful and knowledgeable, I wouldn't have caused you this trouble. I'm so sorry."

With an expression that showed how truly sorry I was for my shortcomings, I bowed my head to the young ladies, who were clearly less beautiful and knowledgeable than me.

"Ah, no!"

"What are you saying!"

I couldn't see them bowing their heads in embarrassment, but I could feel it.

When I slowly raised my head, I saw the young ladies sweating profusely.

"I may be lacking, but I'll take care of my own affairs, so please don't worry too much."

"No, it's not like..."

I saw the Countess of Cornwall poke the Baroness of Wales in the side when she tried to say something.

Indeed, I could see why she was their mouthpiece.

Still, she was probably the smartest and most perceptive of them all.

"Of course. Bianca's judgment is much better than our foolishness. We just hope you know that we did it for Bianca."

The Countess of Cornwall seemed to have understood that I meant to stay out of my business and get lost.

It would have been much easier to say that to them directly, but I couldn't.

Even though they were lower in status than me, they were noble young ladies, and those insignificant women gathered together to form the society of the Splendor Empire and create my reputation.

She quickly signaled and led her group away from there.

Even after they had all disappeared, Maria was still looking down.

"Maria."

I carefully called her name.

"Is it... true?"

Maria's voice, mumbling softly, was unclear, but I could easily guess what she was trying to say.

She was asking if Ricardo was really my fiancé.

"Yes, it's true."

I had no intention of lying now.

Besides, it was a fact that would be revealed someday.

Except for the commoner who had just come up from the countryside, everyone in the capital's aristocracy knew that Ricardo and I were engaged.

I didn't intend to reveal it like this, though.

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Because you didn't ask."

"Then why did you ask Ricardo to escort me?"

"Because you seemed to want his escort."

"......"

"I wanted to do whatever you wanted. And I thought you wouldn't want to know that Lord Wincaiser is my fiancé."

After hearing all the answers, Maria slowly raised her head and looked at me.

Her eyes were...

I couldn't explain it.

If anything was speaking from her expressionless, pale face, it was Maria's eyes.

But I couldn't understand what she was saying at all.

Whether it was resentment, anger, or even murderous intent.