Chapter 47
#47
It was a rare evening gathering.
It was partly because I hadn't received any decent invitations lately, but also because I had been deliberately avoiding social events as much as possible.
However, this particular dinner party was a must-attend.
"Lord Marquis of Wendsbury, your war stories are always so fascinating."
"Oh, dear. I shouldn't be talking about such brutal things in front of elegant ladies. It's just the way I am."
"Not at all. It's not just any war; the battles Lord Wendsbury participated in are a page in Splendor's history. I enjoyed listening very much."
"Bianca, your flattery makes me feel more comfortable rambling on. Everyone, if you get tired of my stories later, blame Bianca, not me."
Everyone laughed at the Marquis of Wendsbury's joke.
I was no exception, and Ricardo, who was sitting next to me, chuckled softly and took a sip of wine.
I reached for my wine glass, subtly looking around.
The dinner party hosted by the Marquis of Wendsbury tonight was to introduce Maria to people.
She had already made her official debut as a Debutante, so this was a formal introduction. I guessed that he had invited people who he hoped would maintain a closer relationship with her.
This was because, unlike the usual banquets hosted by the Marquis of Wendsbury, the number of guests was small, and the age range was noticeably younger.
Even the invitation I received was addressed to me, not to the Croford Family, but to Miss Croford. Not to the Marquis and Duchess, but to the Croford heiress.
The same was true for Ricardo. The Marquis of Wendsbury specifically named Ricardo.
So, I assumed it was the same for the others.
"Lord Wincaiser, my younger brother has recently been assigned to the 1st royal guard. I would appreciate your looking after him."
The young Count Kenhill leaned slightly towards Ricardo, asking him to take care of his brother.
Having lost his parents early to an epidemic, he inherited the title at a young age but managed his territory quite well, and recently, he seemed to be getting involved in trade.
"Oh! My cousin has also been assigned to the 1st royal guard this time. It seems Count Kenhill's brother and my cousin are in the same cohort."
The second son of the Duke Bailey's family, who was sitting next to him, suddenly chimed in.
Originally, the second son in a noble family was treated as a spare to the eldest son, not inheriting the title or land, but he was different.
Duke Bailey held both the title of Duke Bailey and the title of Marquis of Tenwood, and the Duchess of Bailey cherished him, as he was her late-in-life child.
Moreover, Duke Bailey was a rare devoted husband in Splendor's society.
People generally expected that after Duke Bailey died, the title of Marquis of Tenwood would go to his second son, along with his territory and people.
"I should be the one thanking you for entrusting your precious younger brothers to the 1st royal guard."
Ricardo skillfully continued the conversation and naturally raised his glass.
Thus began a conversation about chivalry and swordsmanship between the commander of the 1st royal guard, a Count who lived buried in paperwork and had never held a sword, and the precious second son of a Duke's family who had never done anything dangerous.
And for my mental health, it was better not to listen to that conversation.
Turning my head to the other side, I saw the guest of honor for today's gathering.
Maria, wearing a sky-blue dress with a blue ribbon, was listening to Count Riccolled's story with a rather elegant expression, occasionally nodding and sometimes smiling.
Count Riccolled, who was talking to Maria, had a slightly flushed face, whether from being drunk or from the light.
Or perhaps he was intoxicated by the scent of the woman sitting next to him.
Maria was certainly capable of that today.
Whether it was because her education had finally paid off, her table manners were quite decent, except for a few minor things, and she didn't speak much, so her regional dialect wasn't very noticeable.
As the books said, Maria was quickly learning Splendor's society and seemed to be skillfully blending into it.
"Are you having a good time?"
While I was looking at Maria, I heard a voice from the side, so I naturally turned my head.
So that they wouldn't know I was spying on Maria.
"Yes. Thanks to you, I'm having a good time."
I responded with a smile towards Reintar.
"How is the wine? I prepared the wine that Bianca enjoyed last time."
"Oh, did you prepare it yourself?"
"Just the wine."
"Yes. It's a flavor I like."
"I'm glad."
Reintar smiled and filled my empty glass.
In fact, I had drunk quite a bit today. It was partly because I liked the wine, but also because few people spoke to me.
Maria, of course, didn't speak to me except for the initial greeting, and the other invited guests were almost the same.
I had only chimed in a few times to the Marquis of Wendsbury's words, and other than what he answered, I was just quietly drinking wine.
It wasn't that they were openly ignoring me, but I knew that the people here were a little uncomfortable with me.
After all, this gathering was a pro-Wensbury event for Maria, so it was perhaps natural that they would treat me that way, given the rumors that I had poisoned her mother.
"Thank you for inviting me like this."
But I didn't care what others thought.
I just thought about my purpose for being here and smiled brightly at Reintar.
It was a chance to meet all the people on my list of suspects, so what did it matter what people said!
"But the Duchess isn't here."
"Ah, my mother isn't feeling well today."
"Oh, dear!"
At Reintar's words, I frowned slightly and put on a concerned expression, but in reality, I was thinking that she wasn't sick, but rather that she was too jealous to come out to a party for Maria.
"Could I possibly see the Duchess before I leave? I'm worried."
"Ah, it's not that serious."
Seeing Reintar hastily shake his head, I thought that it was indeed a feigned illness.
"But how can I just leave after hearing that she's not feeling well? The Duchess has been so kind to me."
I would have backed down normally, but not today.
Since Maria's debut into society, I couldn't miss this golden opportunity to meet the Duchess, who hadn't been going out or attending gatherings, perhaps because of shame or because she hated being plagued by rumors.
"It's been a long time since I've seen the Duchess, so I'd really like to see her before I leave."
Looking at Reintar with pleading eyes, he, who had been staring blankly at me with his mouth slightly open, suddenly snapped out of it and blushed.
"If, if Bianca wishes, I will ask my mother."
"Oh, would you?"
As I smiled brightly at the thought of being able to meet the Duchess, Reintar also smiled slightly and nodded.
"I'll go touch up my makeup for a moment."
After the meeting with the Duchess was confirmed, I got up to end the conversation with Reintar.
After touching up my makeup in the powder room prepared for the guests, I sat there for a while.
I wondered what kind of fun story they were telling, as I could hear the hearty laughter of the Marquis of Wendsbury all the way here.
Before returning to the gathering, I checked my reflection in the mirror carefully one more time, when the door of the powder room opened quietly.
As a habit, I turned my head, and there stood Maria.
"……."
"……."
We, Maria and I, were just looking at each other without saying anything.
To be exact, Maria was glaring at me with hatred, and I was looking at such Maria with amusement.
"How dare you come here so shamelessly."
"I only came because I was invited."
As if I was hearing something ridiculous, I calmly retorted to Maria's words.
"Aren't you afraid of the heavens?"
"Should I be afraid?"
"Yes. You probably have nothing to fear now. Because you have the power and wealth of a mighty family. But the truth will be revealed someday."
Maria spoke like a heroine burning with a sense of mission to defeat a wicked villain.
Ah, not 'like a heroine,' but a real 'heroine'?
"The truth... You speak as if you know what the truth is."
"At least I'm closer to the truth than you are. More than you, who killed our mother with a wicked heart and tried to cover it up with the power of your family."
Clenching her small fists and standing tall despite being shorter than me, Maria momentarily looked like the goddess of justice.
The problem was that she was the blindfolded goddess of justice, wielding her sword in the wrong place.
"I sincerely hope you find the truth."
I pleaded my wish to the blindfolded goddess of justice.
"Are you mocking me now?"
But the goddess seemed to be not only blind but also deaf.
"No. I'm sincerely cheering you on. I also want you to find the truth."
"What I'm looking for isn't the truth. I already know the truth. What I'm looking for is evidence. Evidence to reveal your true nature to the world."
Maria glared at me venomously.
The blind and deaf goddess seemed to be hot-tempered.
And I was a prophet who knew that this goddess would eventually fail to find any evidence and reach the conclusion of delivering the goddess's judgment with her own hands.
"No, Maria."
I approached her.
"What you need to find is the truth."
The prophet gave true guidance to the foolish goddess.
May the goddess open her eyes and ears.
And let there be light.
