Clothing styles can transform one’s appearance.
Charlotte was at just the right age, her developnt slightly late, with a youthful face.
When she put on children’s attire and played the cute card, she was an innocent, carefree, and charming child.
But when she donned sophisticated evening gowns, the childishness was concealed, and her femininity surged.
Especially today, she had deliberately requested her maid to apply a mature-looking makeup.
This was a little strategem of Charlotte’s.
Previously, to lower others’ guard with cuteness, she would intentionally wear clothes that accentuated her youthful vibe.
But this ti, for the dinner, she had to let everyone know that the heir of the Castel family was not just a child.
She had just turned fifteen.
She had grown up and was ready to inherit her lands.
Thus, the effect was achieved.
The mont Charlotte stepped out of the carriage, the entire garden square fell silent.
All eyes were fixed on her, and for a mont, both n and won found it difficult to look away.
Eventually, it was the well-trained Duke Mansion’s deacons who recovered first, their faces quickly taking on respectful and enthusiastic smiles as they approached Charlotte promptly.
However, soone was even quicker.
"Oh! Miss Charlotte! Miss Charlotte, you’ve arrived!"
A shrill and enthusiastic voice rang out.
The portly noble Bruno, with a body like a ball of velvet, trotted toward Charlotte, his small eyes squinting with laughter.
Having studied the Duke Mansion’s information thoroughly, Charlotte was already aware of his exact identity - a second-tier steward of the Bold Duke Mansion with a Court Viscount rank.
Court Ranks referred specifically to those nobles who held titles but had no lands on the Mireya Continent, commonly found in the courts of duchies, kingdoms, grand duchies, or empires.
"Good afternoon, Viscount Bruno," Charlotte greeted with an elegant curtsey befitting a noblewoman.
She had perfected this gesture so well that she even pitied herself for it.
Being addressed by the young lady seed to delight Bruno.
He smugly lifted his chin toward the other stewards, who weren’t as quick, and then instructed the deacons who had caught up:
"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and tend to Countess Castel’s carriage!"
The stewards sprang into action, busying themselves around the Castel family’s carriage, sidelining other nobles, even though... Charlotte didn’t even need that many stewards.
anwhile, Bruno enthusiastically escorted Charlotte toward the Duke Mansion.
Black Cat Nisi also jumped down from the carriage, tail held high, striding forth with chest puffed out, a face of pride.
Only after the young lady’s figure had faded into the distance did the rest of the garden square gradually co to their senses.
"Who’s that noble lady? She’s quite beautiful..."
"Didn’t you see? The coat of arms on the carriage is a black eagle."
"Castel? Hiss... Is it her? Could the rumors be true, that she’s an Enchanting Demon?"
"Pfft, have you ever seen an Enchanting Demon walking in the sunlight? Look, she’s so pretty, she must be a witch who practices Black Magic!"
This was the conversation among the commoners enjoying the spectacle.
The city of Bold was rife with rumors, and it was these people who found amusent and spread conspiracy theories.
There was no helping it; the public was easily swayed by opinions, lacking genuine sources of information and led by the nose by the nobles who manipulated public sentint.
Information bubbles, a phenonon in any era.
However, it was different among the nobles:
"The one from the Castel family has arrived."
"She is truly beautiful, and her manners are impeccably graceful, befitting the heir to the Castel family."
"Pity she’s recently been beset by rumors; must be a headache for her."
"It’s uncertain which family she will choose for a marital alliance..."
"Yes, who will be the lucky one? The Castel family’s dowry is like half a duchy!"
What rumors are and what truths are, these seemingly righteous folks discerned with absolute clarity.
Those who couldn’t tell didn’t have the privilege of receiving an invitation to the Duke’s banquet.
And amid the chatter, the slightly more powerful nobles noticeably quickened their steps, following the young lady’s party.
A closer look would reveal that apart from the family heads, each of the attending noble families brought young and handso male mbers to the banquet.
Everyone’s gazes followed the movent of the young lady, seemingly prepared to approach and engage in conversation at any mont, their exchanged looks tinged with a competitive edge.
The nobles’ distinctively ornate attire and exaggerated styles made them look like a flock of peacocks always ready to duel.
Charlotte noticed as well.
She even curiously turned her head to look at them and smiled politely.
As a result, her casual glance and courteous smile excited a whole bunch of young nobles:
"She looked at ! She just looked at !"
"No! She was looking at ! And she even smiled at !"
"Clearly, she was looking at !"
"Idiot! She was looking at !"
"Want to duel?!"
"Co on! Who’s afraid?!"
It was a complete turmoil.
Charlotte slowly withdrew her gaze and couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her eye slightly, silently cursing herself for being such a sinful woman...
Of course, the above was about those more impulsive young nobles, mainly from smaller families.
Several of the larger families, also Earls and "participants in the marriage competition," were much more elegant and gentlemanly.
They inconspicuously approached the young girl, engaging in polite conversation, and wore an elegant and charming smile on their faces.
Among them were so faces even more handso than the pop idols of Blue Star from her previous life, capable of eliciting screams from any young girl and making Charlotte die of envy, literally sick with jealousy.
But it must be said, these guys did indeed have impressive social skills.
Even though she knew they had ulterior motives and she harbored an innate hostility towards their handso faces as a fellow male, the topics they brought up often successfully piqued Charlotte’s interest.
But unfortunately...
Their seductive glances were all cast toward a blind person.
Charlotte was indeed very interested in the topics they discussed, and the various pieces of noble gossip they revealed, but she felt absolutely nothing for the n themselves.
Furthermore, seeing these people approach restrainedly and gracefully, eagerly trying to show themselves off, and thinking of their true goal of lusting after her body and her family’s wealth, Charlotte even had an urge to punch them to the ground and then trample their faces fiercely with her foot...
Oh, no.
She couldn’t trample their faces herself.
Who knew if there were any perverts among this group of randy dogs for whom that might instead beco a reward?
Charlotte was quite confident in her beautiful legs and feet.
She should let Casimodo stomp on them rcilessly!
She silently thought to herself.
Of course, even if she could hear so gossip, a swarm of flies buzzing around long enough would still be annoying.
After a while, Charlotte began to lose patience.
However, soone grew anxious before she did.
"What are you all crowding around here for? I’m taking Miss Charlotte to et Lord Duke, are you planning on following along?!"
The chubby butler Bruno spoke up.
The young nobles instantly lost their nerve and backed away.
As one of the few Transcendents of the Third Tier at Bold, carrying the title of a Duke, he held significant clout.
Charlotte’s heart fluttered:
"The Duke... wants to see ?"
"Yes, Miss Charlotte, Lord Duke is waiting for you in the study. He said to bring you to him as soon as you arrived."
Bruno smiled obsequiously.
Charlotte nodded slightly, thoughtful, and continued to smile demurely as she followed Bruno deeper into the palace, all while being trendously vigilant in her heart.
Being from a Great Noble family and led by Bruno, Charlotte naturally bypassed the security check at the entrance of Duke Mansion.
However, just as she was about to enter the inner palace gate, she heard soone calling her na from behind.
Turning around, she saw the Black Cat Nisi being held up by the neck like a small chicken by the Starry Knight guarding the mansion gate, owing continuously while struggling and giving a pitiful gaze in her direction.
Beside them stood a sowhat bewildered Casimodo...
"Duke Mansion’s rules state that pets... are not allowed inside!"
The Starry Knight said to the old servant with a stern face.
Charlotte: ...
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