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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: A Calculated Move
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This ball was an affair exclusively for the young nobles of high society.
Its hostess, Yuriana, had said that every young lady in the capital would be in attendance.
Her words seemed to be true, as there were a great many unmarried noblewomen dressed in beautiful gowns.
Naturally, there were just as many noblemen, though judging by the numbers, it seemed attendance wasn't mandatory for all of them.
Princes Cedric and Damian appeared to be attending for their sister's sake. They could be seen chatting cheerfully with a few young ladies.
“The atmosphere is a bit strange.”
Romeo remarked, lightly swirling the champagne in his glass.
Lellia had just exchanged nods with Princess Yuriana, her ladies-in-waiting, and Lute from afar, and was now standing near the terrace with Romeo.
“What do you mean?”
When Lellia asked, Romeo gestured to a spot with his chin.
Looking over, she saw a young lady glancing around awkwardly.
A closer look revealed her to be the red-haired lady from before.
*Was her name Grace?*
In any case, she remembered her as one of Yuriana's ladies-in-waiting, and the one she had asked about at the tea party.
“And look over there.”
Lellia looked where Romeo pointed next and saw a group of young lords and ladies.
Paying closer attention, she realized they were pointing at the other lady from a distance, openly mocking her.
“And there.”
Romeo indicated yet another spot.
Princess Yuriana and her ladies-in-waiting were there.
With smiles on their faces, they were chatting while glancing back and forth between the group of lords and ladies and the young woman being ridiculed.
“…Ah.”
Lellia immediately understood what Romeo was getting at.
Openly ostracizing someone was quite common in high society.
She had heard similar stories back in the Superion territory. Whether they were young or old, nobles behaved in much the same way.
But this was a little different.
At first glance, it looked like the group of lords and ladies was bullying a single young woman…
*But it seems Yuriana and her ladies-in-waiting are the ones orchestrating it.*
It was certain, given that one or two people from the group kept glancing and signaling toward Yuriana’s retinue.
“While some were rolling through battlefields fighting a Mad Dragon to protect the peace… the nobility is amusing themselves with this sort of thing. Isn’t it ridiculous?”
Contrary to his words, Romeo was smiling brightly.
Lellia, too, felt a wave of guilt, having eaten and slept in comfort while her friends fought so hard on the battlefield.
“I’m going to the terrace to get some air. Have fun playing the part of the philanderer, and come find me if you need me.”
With that, Romeo turned and walked away.
“……”
Left alone, Lellia felt a suffocating tension.
She was already uncomfortable with the furtive glances from several nobles… but now that Romeo was gone, they were all staring at her openly.
It seemed they judged it would be easier to approach her now that she was by herself.
*I can’t just run away.*
Just then, her eyes met Lute’s, who was watching her from a distance.
He mouthed something, gesturing with his chin.
Looking closely, she realized he was telling her to hurry up and play the part of the philanderer.
With Princes Cedric and Damian present, he clearly wanted to create a definite comparison.
It seemed he thought that the better Lellia played the philanderer, the more points he would score.
*That irritating man.*
Lellia couldn't agree with Lute's plan, but she decided to play along obediently for now.
If it would put his mind at ease.
*He’ll have to confess sooner if his mind is at ease.*
Lellia cleared her throat and began flashing smiles at the young ladies who met her gaze.
As if their wariness had melted away, a few of them approached and struck up a conversation.
Without exception, they were all mesmerized by Lellia’s appearance. One even praised her as being far more beautiful than a Donatelli painting.
Lellia repeated a mantra in her head—*Like a philanderer, like a philanderer*—and responded with a gentle demeanor.
It was then.
A small commotion erupted in one corner.
She and the young lady she was talking to went over to see, and it was where the lady named Grace had been standing.
“Hey, Miss Grace, don’t tell me you’re still stalking me?”
“N-No, I am not. I’ve never done such a thing…”
“How rude of you. If you keep this up, I won’t be able to overlook it.”
Miss Grace looked so pitiable, as if she might burst into tears at any moment.
And the one shouting at her was…
*Isn’t that Prince Damian?*
It was Prince Damian, his silver hair neatly swept back.
He was fuming about something, glaring daggers at Miss Grace.
People had formed a circle around them, whispering amongst themselves as they watched.
Lellia asked the young lady beside her.
“What’s going on?”
“Ah… well…”
The young lady blushed as she looked at Lellia, then quickly explained.
“There have been rumors that Miss Grace not only has a crush on Prince Damian but is also stalking him. Isn’t it dreadful?”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. And it seems she found out what His Highness Prince Damian would be wearing today and dressed to match, like a couple’s outfit. Isn’t that just chilling?”
“……”
As she said, Prince Damian was wearing a formal suit of navy and gold, and so was Miss Grace.
“How shameless. How could she do such a thing when she was one of Princess Yuriana’s ladies-in-waiting?”
Lellia let the young lady’s chatter go in one ear and out the other, turning her gaze back to the center of the commotion.
Miss Grace looked truly wronged.
She seemed genuinely frightened of the fuming Prince Damian right in front of her; it was painful to watch.
However, the commotion was quickly quelled when Prince Cedric, who had been watching, stepped in.
The nobles returned to their small groups and resumed enjoying the party.
But their eyes were still fixed on Miss Grace, who now stood alone.
They were all talking about her.
*They’re being so obvious about it.*
Miss Grace was holding back her tears, her shoulders held straight and proud. It seemed she was holding her ground to confront the rumors.
If she fled now, people would take it as a confirmation of the truth.
As Lellia watched with a heavy heart, a good idea suddenly came to her.
Her objective, to put it bluntly, was to get on the bad side of Princes Cedric and Damian.
That was exactly what Lute wanted.
Lute intended to tear down ‘Sir Raymond’ to showcase his own superiority and reliability.
He wanted to use that to get on the good side of Yuriana’s family.
If Lellia sided with that young lady, and Lute openly turned against her for it?
Princes Cedric and Damian would naturally see Lute as an ally.
And so would Yuriana.
The secret, childish squabbles of high society were often more emotionally charged than grand political battles.
She felt a pang of guilt for using the situation, but Lellia truly did feel sorry for Miss Grace.
*I'll go talk to her.*
There was no way to know if she had actually been stalking him. For now, they were just rumors, weren't they?
Besides, seeing the group of men and women mocking Miss Grace, along with Yuriana and her ladies-in-waiting, solidified her conviction.
Every one of them was taking pleasure in laughing at the isolated young woman.
Their smiles were filled with malicious glee.
Lellia was surprised that Yuriana seemed to be letting it all happen.
*Ah. Could it be?*
Lellia suddenly recalled a passing detail from the original novel.
It was a story about how Princes Cedric and Damian had stepped in to put young ladies who were envious and jealous of Yuriana in their place.
There were no specific episodes, but the passage illustrated just how protective the princes were.
*Whatever. Those princes have nothing to do with me anyway.*
Lellia shook her head and walked over to where Miss Grace was standing alone.
The sound of her footsteps echoed through the hall.
A silence had fallen just as the musicians were about to begin a waltz.
Many people had already been watching Lellia, and their expressions were ones of surprise.
To approach Grace, who stood alone like a laughingstock.
Prince Damian had openly shamed Grace. This meant that no one was to side with her.
To take Miss Grace’s side would be to disrespect Prince Damian.
It was an unspoken rule of high society.
But in everyone’s eyes, ‘Sir Raymond’ wasn't a noble of Auraria anyway.
They seemed to think that was why he could act this way, but they were still surprised.
“Miss Grace.”
When Lellia appeared before her, Grace’s mouth fell open in shock.
“Ah, hello, Sir Raymond.”
“We met at the tea party a while ago.”
“Yes…”
Lellia smiled faintly and offered her a glass of champagne.
Miss Grace looked anxiously toward where Princess Yuriana’s ladies-in-waiting were gathered.
“Sir Raymond…”
*If you’re seen with me, you might be misunderstood.* That was what she was about to say.
The musicians began to play a slow, elegant waltz.
“Miss Grace. May I ask for the first dance?”
Miss Grace couldn't answer Lellia's question and simply fidgeted.
“Or would my presence make you more uncomfortable?”
“No, it’s not that… If you stay by my side, you’ll be criticized by everyone, too. You don’t have to help me.”
As Grace spoke, her voice trembled like a lamb’s. Lellia thought for a moment before asking.
“Ah, if you’re worried that Prince Damian might misunderstand…”
“No!”
Thinking perhaps Grace did have feelings for the prince, Lellia had brought it up, but Miss Grace waved her hands in denial.
“I wasn’t stalking him! I don't even have feelings for him. It's all just a misunderstanding…”
“I thought as much.”
“……!”
Grace was overcome with emotion.
She had never imagined that Sir Raymond, with whom she had barely exchanged a few words, would believe her.
And for him to approach her as she stood all alone.
Even her own fiancé was over there, laughing at her with the other noblemen.
She felt tears welling up.
Truthfully, she wanted nothing more than to flee, but she was holding on, knowing it would bring shame upon her family’s name.
For Miss Grace, who was stiff with tension, Lellia decided to make small talk instead of offering to dance again.
It was a very trivial conversation.
“There seem to be many birds in the Aurarian Imperial Palace. Thanks to them, I wake up naturally in the morning, no matter how late I go to bed.”
At times like this, light conversation was the best way to put someone at ease.
Lellia could understand how Grace felt.
She, too, had been pointed at by her peers in the Superion territory when she was younger.
Though she had never told her grandfather, uncles, or aunts.
“Thank you, Sir Raymond.”
Thanks to Lellia’s consideration, Grace gradually began to feel more at ease.
Just having Sir Raymond approach and stand with her made the stares from the crowd feel less like daggers.
Meanwhile, those who had been openly glaring at Miss Grace now began to whisper while sneaking glances at the two of them.
Some of the nobles who had secretly pitied Miss Grace began to praise Sir Raymond.
“A true gentleman.”
Though they were in a position where they had to be mindful of Prince Damian, the noblemen who valued chivalry said as much.
“To think he is not only so handsome but also has a righteous side.”
“Ah… he’s so wonderful. To think I’d be envious of Miss Grace. It’s so romantic.”
The noblewomen giggled, watching the scene with warm eyes.
On the other hand, a few of the noblemen clicked their tongues at the sight.
“Is he allowed to do that? To openly ignore His Highness Prince Damian when he’s a noble from another country.”
“How audacious. He looks so frail, like he couldn’t even fight. What do women see in a man like that…”
“They must all be blind. Honestly…”
Meanwhile, Romeo, who had said he was going to the terrace, was leaning on the second-floor railing, watching Lellia.
His gaze was as sharp as a blade.
