Chapter 98

It was a good thing that Elicia’s reputation and personality were already in ruins.

Thinking that for the first time, I lightly tapped the hems of the ladies’ dresses with the tip of my fan.

“If your head’s empty, you should at least fill your purse. And if your purse is empty, you should at least fill your head. But you, my goodness, both are empty?”

As I spoke, I quickly scanned the family crests stitched onto their clothes.

‘Comparing them to the crests I memorized from the invitation list…’

They were all unmarried ladies. Their families weren’t particularly wealthy, and their status was far below mine.

Not that surpassing me was easy to begin with.

“Then at least keep your mouths shut. You’ve been cackling nonstop. Are you renting out the chapel or something?”

“Lady Elicia.”

“Isn’t this going too far? How can you publicly insult us like this when we’re your friends?”

The ladies’ expressions twisted sharply.

They all shared one notable trait. They were the trashy crowd that the former Elicia used to associate with.

It was almost impressive how she managed to befriend only people like this.

“Insult? So that cackling just now was praise?”

“…”

“This is the chapel where Rosalind is present, and more importantly, where Her Majesty the Empress is present. So calm down and know your place. You’re irritating.”

By now, many eyes had turned toward us.

Some were even whispering that the Lombard duchess’s temper actually came in handy sometimes.

Humiliated thoroughly, the ladies ground their teeth as they glared at me.

‘Staring like that won’t change anything.’

Maybe the old Elicia needed friends, but I didn’t.

Some people get timid when they’re alone, but I was perfectly fine going to restaurants, parks, and crowded theaters by myself.

Life starts alone and ends alone anyway.

Realizing that I wouldn’t be dragged along anymore, the ladies locked in a silent power struggle eventually folded first.

“…We’re sorry, Duchess.”

“We were careless.”

“As long as you know.”

I waved my fan leisurely, not bothering to hide my sneer.

Understanding the clear message to get lost, the ladies flushed red and hurried away.

Only then did Katerina, left alone in the corner, come back into view.

“Are you alright?”

She lifted her head at my question.

Even to someone like me, who knew nothing about dresses or jewelry, what she wore was clearly not of good quality.

Yet unlike her shabby appearance, her eyes were sharp and intelligent.

I could tell instantly she was no ordinary person.

“Duchess, why did you help me?”

She was testing me instead.

But I didn’t think long about it. After last night’s incident at the ball, I’d decided to stop pretending to be nice.

I shrugged and answered honestly.

“It’s not like I helped you out of pity, Lady Katerina.”

“…”

“I was impressed by your story. I heard that instead of fleeing during the rebellion, you led the army and fought on the front lines.”

The current situation in the Kingdom of Favia was far from good.

The ones holding the throne were the Reformist faction.

Katerina’s father, the late king, had grown tired of constant interference from the council. To purge them and strengthen royal authority, he converted the state religion.

There was fierce opposition regardless of rank, but the king was resolute.

He believed that executing a few council leaders would make everyone else fall in line.

But things didn’t go as planned.

Not only the council, but even commoners refused to abandon their faith, unafraid to mount the pyres.

The smell of burning never left the plazas, and the bodies of martyrs filled the outskirts of the capital.

Then one day, the king died suddenly of cardiac arrest.

The first in line to the throne was Katerina, his legitimate eldest daughter.

Having steadfastly upheld the old faith amid persecution, she was seen as a guardian figure by its followers, and the people rejoiced.

‘But the real problem came after that…’

The Reformist faction, emboldened by the former king’s policies, feared retaliation if Katerina ascended the throne.

So they sided with her half brother and plotted a coup.

Katerina fought to protect the royal family and the people, but ultimately ended up in exile like this.

Coming back from my thoughts, I continued calmly.

“There’s another reason too. If I watch royalty get humiliated and do nothing, wouldn’t I be next as an imperial relative?”

“…”

“Prevention is easier than treatment. Once rot sets in, it’s too late.”

Perhaps my answer sounded convincing. Katerina nodded.

This time, it was my turn to ask.

“By the way, why is the strongest knight of Favia looking so timid now? You didn’t even refute those rude remarks.”

“Because my battlefield isn’t here.”

“…”

“When I think of the suffering my people are enduring back home, I don’t see value in responding to mere verbal insults.”

Honestly, it surprised me.

I knew she was principled, but I hadn’t expected her concern for her people to run this deep.

Being forced to wander foreign lands begging for asylum should have been humiliating, yet she worried about her homeland first.

“Lady Katerina.”

“Yes?”

“We’re both being sidelined anyway. Why don’t you attend the offering ceremony with me?”

She fell silent for a moment, weighing my intent.

Then, unexpectedly, she nodded.

“If I stay with you, at least I can avoid trouble like earlier. I’ll gratefully accept your kindness.”

“You could’ve given a nicer reason. You’re very straightforward.”

“I hear that often.”

“I’m not criticizing. I’m the same way. Since this is a connection of sorts, let’s call each other by name from now on.”

“Then please call me by name as well.”

People were scarce around us to begin with, aside from northern nobles closely tied to Lombard.

Now, our surroundings would be even emptier.

Just as I was thinking how convenient that would be, Katerina spoke again.

“There is one person I already had an appointment with today. She hasn’t arrived yet, but would it be alright if she joined us?”

“Of course.”

In a society obsessed with power, I wondered what kind of eccentric would bother keeping an appointment with a fallen princess like Katerina.

Curious but unconcerned, I agreed lightly.

As if she had spotted her, Katerina stood up.

“It’s been a while, Marchioness.”

“I’m sorry. I’m terribly late. There was a small incident on the way.”

“…”

I rose to my feet as well.

I couldn’t help it. Even without memorizing the invitation list, that crest was burned into my memory.

‘An open book and a palm branch.’

The symbol of the House of Ferrand.

Which meant the elderly woman before me was none other than Isabella La Ferrand, the greatest intellectual in the Capital and someone I had long admired and revered.

‘Oh my god. This is insane. Absolutely insane.’

Had I just become a successful devotee?

They say followers never get lucky, but didn’t I just hit the jackpot? This is real, right?

Do I look proper right now? Pretty? Nothing out of place?

Forgetting all about Elicia’s usual foolish persona, I unconsciously adjusted my appearance, then froze.

Isabella La Ferrand’s voice felt strangely familiar.

Still, just in case, I spoke very carefully.

“Marchioness, I apologize for the sudden question, but could it be that you…”

“Oh my.”

It seemed she felt the same.

She was staring intently at my hands.

I disliked gloves, so I’d planned to put them on once the ceremony began and had them tucked away.

But the way she looked at my hands made it clear this wasn’t just about etiquette.

“Elze…”

“Elze? Oh my god.”

I couldn’t believe it.

The woman I met at Bookworm’s Paradise was the Marchioness of Ferrand.

And she remembered me.

At this point, I could die without regrets. Well, not completely without regrets, but still.

I was stammering like an idiot, unable to process the rush of emotions, when raised voices broke out nearby.

It was the empress and the master of ceremonies, arguing heatedly.