Alexis took my hand and strode forward.
Only when we reached the hall’s entrance did he release .
I cleared my throat loudly.
My throat kept tickling.
At that, Alexis chuckled softly.
With a pout, I asked,
“Why are you laughing? Do I look funny?”
“You sotis remind so much of your grandfather. Did you know that?”
“...?”
“How you grumble when you’re embarrassed.”
“...”
“And that loud throat-clear.”
Now that I thought of it, my grandfather often cleared his throat when he saw .
I wondered if he, too, felt this ticklish sensation.
Lost in that thought, Alexis covered my head with his large hand.
“...Your hair’s ruined.”
“See? You really are like your grandfather.”
“...”
“I’m going in first.”
“...Do as you like.”
He said that, then abruptly snapped his mouth shut.
Again, like Grandfather.
Alexis giggled and entered the hall ahead of .
I smoothed my gown.
My mind’s all over the place.
I gently smoothed the strands he’d mussed.
Though no warmth remained, my cheeks felt unaccountably flushed.
Then I heard,
“Why do you hate so much?”
Dalia’s voice cut through the air.
I looked at her with an indifferent expression. She glared back at .
“? Hate you?”
When I asked, Dalia fixed with a steely stare. Masa’s voice was silent—she wasn’t in the censer anymore. I had asked the maid to store it in my carriage.
Dalia frowned.
“I wanted to beco friends with you. But you keep making things hard for .”
Now that I knew Dalia was Yoo Se-eun, her true face was exposed. Se-eun always blad others for everything. Back then, I truly thought it was my fault.
“B-but it’s broken. What do I do...? It’s Grandma’s favorite dish... Aunt brought it from overseas...”
“L-let’s just clean it up quickly. It’s dangerous—”
“It’s all your fault! Why did you leave it on the table?!”
“Huh? I thought Grandma would take it ho, so I set it aside—”
“Because you treat things so carelessly, they get broken! You know I co ho from lessons exhausted, barely able to stand!”
“...”
“Waaah! I don’t care...! You’re so cruel!”
Even as a child:
“But why don’t you help out at ho? You make millions from tutoring.”
“Who makes millions from tutoring students?”
“Still, they said you make a lot. So why not help when our parents struggle? You really are heartless.”
“You wouldn’t have these troubles if you gave up that infernal piano. If you dropped those lessons, things would be better.”
“Why do you say it like that? I work hard to fulfill Dad and Mom’s dreams! I’m their dream!”
—And even grown up, it was the sa. Se-eun only got into her desired university after her third attempt. From high school through that third attempt, she refused to give up her hundreds-per-month lessons. Every hard-earned hour from my part-ti jobs went to Se-eun’s tuition. When she could no longer pay tuition, she blad . I wondered if I was truly cruel—selfish, causing our parents’ hardship?
But now that I considered it,
What utter nonsense.
“Let’s set things straight. It wasn’t making your life hard. You’ve been making things hard for yourself.”
“That’s because you were undermining —”
“Are you saying it was wrong for , your cousin, to stop you from being rude to Grandfather?”
“You could have quietly told when we were alone.”
“I tried to, but you retorted, ‘Why are you doing this?’ and got even defiant.”
“...”
“And why was it wrong for to stop you from stealing that longevity talisman our siblings worked so hard to obtain?”
“St-stealing? I wasn’t—!”
“Eavesdropping on the talisman’s existence and moving before we could claim it was just as much stealing.”
“...”
“And when you planned to sicken the people with the Crumatus plague, I was the one who stopped you.”
“If you’d warned earlier—!”
“Who threw a tantrum when I summoned you to talk?”
“...”
Dalia had no reply; in frustration she spat, “Hmph...!” and glared at .
“If preventing you from nearly ruining our house is interference, then I have nothing to say.”
“Why speak so coldly?”
“That’s exactly my point. Why do you always twist things to suit yourself?”
“...”
“Please, think a bit before you speak.”
I signaled a guard. It was ti to open the door.
Before the guard could move, Dalia spun around harshly.
“You’re really too much!”
“In what way? That I left you no coback?”
“You didn’t have to be so cold—!”
At that mont, the doors swung wide.
Because of Dalia’s scene, the onlookers side-eyed us. I stepped inside and glanced back at her.
“Dalia, do you know what Grandfather calls soone who never reflects on their own behavior and carps endlessly at every little thing?”
“...What?”
“A loser.”
Dalia’s face froze. It was the first ti I’d seen that expression—her pure façade vanished, revealing a cold core. I straightened up and smiled at the woman waiting at center hall.
“Your Highness, Lady Constantine.”
Dalia clenched her lips and stepped up beside .
“We greet Your Highness.”
Our gazes t fiercely in midair.
I made a resolution: I would never again be victimized by Yoo Se-eun.
Lady Constantine, her fan held over her lips, looked at Dalia and Erilot.
“So, you two are the....”
Dalia, who had been shooting a frosty glare, startled and lifted her head.
“Yes! I am Dalia, Your Highness!”
She recognizes after all.
Hera had said the Duchess would know her. Masa giggled in agreent.
Everyone’s eyes were on Dalia. She felt her shoulders swell with pride.
In a contest this grand no one ever noticed before.
Only the daughters of so renowned professor or famous pianist ever drew attention. Yet here— Erilot remained silently smiling. The Duchess raised an eyebrow.
Dalia scowled at Erilot.
Why, when you’re always preaching manners?
When soone as exalted as the Duchess speaks, you reply.
“Erilot, what are you doing? You should respond.”
But Erilot only bowed her head quietly.
Why is she doing this...? Huh?
The onlookers began to chuckle. Even the Duchess laughed, folding her fan.
“Well then, who might you be?”
“I am Erilot Astra. Granddaughter of the great Chronos Astra, and daughter of Damon Astra, chosen heir of the Red On.”
“...!!”
Dalia gasped.
What? Why?
I have no clue either....
Dalia stumbled, but Erilot remained composed. Her words were not to identify herself to Dalia, but to the Duchess:
You two share that “impure blood,”
—an insult. Recognizing its deaning intent, Erilot remained silent, calmly to point out that she was not of impure blood.
The Duchess fluttered her fan and said,
“It seems your grandfather did not dirty our house with sordid plots to make his illegitimate granddaughter suitable.”
“...”
“There were rumors all your achievents were your grandfather’s handiwork.”
Dalia was surprised.
What? The Duchess doesn’t much like Erilot either?
No one had ever been so rude to Erilot Astra. She answered serenely,
“I only followed my grandfather’s teachings.”
“Is that so? How did he instruct you?”
The Duchess spread her hand lightly, indicating the other girls behind her.
“I must impart my own teachings to my jewels.”
Masa squealed excitedly: [Look, the Bijoux Hera ntioned!]
Yes, that must be them.
The Duchess dearly loved exceptional young won and supported them lavishly. Those who enjoyed her patronage attended her salon gatherings once a month. These were the empire’s most noble young ladies—the Bijoux.
[Wow, wonderful—a circle of forr Guardian Stars...!]
Not only Guardian Stars. Any outstanding girl may beco a Bijou.
Dalia thought sullenly: [Right, and since most Bijoux had been Guardian Stars, everyone assud they all had been.]
Countesses, marchionesses, rchant princes... even many imperial consorts were Bijoux. Ocelia, the late Empress, and the Empress on her sickbed were both Bijoux. No noblewoman escaped that distinction.
Masa had forgotten her anger entirely.
Since they invited , they want as a Bijou.
Everyone around was whispering so. Nobles, maids, even curious onlookers in the street. The Duchess prized dignity above all and would never admit “impure blood” into the Bijoux.
“My lady will beco a Bijou, no?”
“A Bijou with the Astra bloodline feeding her soul... The position of Crown Princess is all but assured.”
“Well, she may not be Empress. The Crown Princess always becos Empress.”
“That’s not certain. Though Erilot Astra’s mother was certainly a foreign slave, my lady’s mother was a noble of pure blood.”
“There’s such a rumor? Oh my, dear, I’ll fetch the tea. We must show proper courtesy to the future Empress.”
The maids giggled along. The Duchess asked Erilot,
“Well then, enlighten . What did your grandfather teach?”
“He said... dignity cos from one’s character.”
“...!”
“...!!”
A murmur ran through the hall. She’d mocked the Duchess: prizing dignity yet treating others with base manners.
When the Duchess scowled, Erilot smiled.
“Grandfather also said: your counterpart is your mirror. If you deem them beneath notice, they will deem you so.”
“....And?”
“I have never regarded myself as insignificant. Yet, Your Highness, why do you regard as such?”
“Hah.”
“I have never found Your Highness laughable, so why do you utter such ridiculous words?”
Masa’s eyes widened: [Shouldn’t you be charming the Duchess? What’s with this attitude?]
Her pride must have been wounded beyond bearing.
[When undertaking great deeds one sotis must swallow pride. Now I see she’s utterly foolish.]
[I knew there was sothing off about her from the start.]
They shared silent laughter. But then...
“Haha-ha!”
The Duchess began to laugh loudly—not mockingly, but with genuine delight, bending at the waist and unabashedly beaming.
“How splendid. Truly splendid...!”
Every guest bowed to the Duchess. Even Dalia, bewildered, dipped her head.
What on earth?
[Why is ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) she doing that?]
Giselle Yusrotia, one of the Bijoux, chuckled,
“Told you, I said this girl is extraordinary.”
“Indeed, my precious pearl,” the Duchess crowed.
Giselle stepped forward to Erilot,
“Don’t take offense, Your Highness revels in spirited souls.”
“I am aware.”
“And she treasures courage unbounded by birth. She wished to see your noble spirit and so provoked you.”
“I ventured boldly, guessing Your Highness’s intent.”
“Well done. She especially cherishes clever girls.”
Erilot smiled and bowed.
Giselle chuckled,
“As a fellow Northern Guardian Star, I’m proud of you.”
“I rely followed the path before , sister.”
“Oh my!”
As Giselle laughed, the other Bijoux flocked over.
“Delighted to see you again. I’m Asaline, once a Northern Guardian Star.”
“And I’m Katya Montague, also from the North—Big Sister to Benya of your cohort.”
The Duchess’s countenance softened.
“You are all my jewels. Now, exchange greetings.”
The hall ward once more around Erilot.
Dalia bit her lip.
Dalia stamped and stord from the hall.
[Where are you going? Stop doing as you please! Talk to the Bijoux!]
“No one speaks to !” she cried in the empty garden.
“I always felt cliques based on school or hotown were the worst!”
Kids shared the sa teacher or region—here was no different...
Just then, her Crystal Orb chid.
It’s Hera.
Dalia connected.
“Mm, Hera... sniff...”
[What’s happened?]
[What is it! What’s wrong?!]
[Mashia, why that tremulous voice?]
It was a curtain of voices.
They’re the only ones left who love .
Dalia sobbed,
“No one will talk to . I don’t know high society’s ways, so they exclude ... It’s all Erilot...”
[Those wretches dare treat our Mashia so...]
Particularly Masitabuva’s younger sister, who adored her, tore into them.
Then Hera said,
[There is still an opportunity.]
“Opportunity?”
[I have information from one of the Duchess’s close aides. Rember, Mashia.]
I grinned.
Sure enough, when desperate, Yoo Se-eun clings to others.
That’s just like you.
That information—I’ll put it to good use.
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