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~Chapter 91~
“That’s because… you prepared my dress, shoes, everything so I could debut like this today. I thought I should show you.”
Samantha answered casually.
“It’s the young ladies’ debut day. I can’t steal the spotlight they should have.”
Riden chuckled.
True, if the duchess appeared, everyone’s eyes might go to her instead.
When the image formed in her mind and she laughed to herself, Samantha spoke with an odd expression.
“I guess we have grown close. Seeing you laugh at my words.”
Was that rude? Riden blinked her wide eyes rapidly.
“Is your dance card full? Let’s see.”
“Ah, well…”
Samantha snatched the card so quickly that Riden’s hand only grabbed at the air.
“What… is this?”
Samantha stared at the empty card in disbelief.
She had thought her future daughter-in-law would be extremely popular, but the card was blank. How could that be?
She had come thinking Riden would be so beautiful and sought after that she’d be spinning on the dance floor not just with Ethan, but also with other young men—and yet not one had asked her?
‘Should I be pleased or angry?’
Thinking of Ethan, it seemed like a good situation. But deep inside, her temper flared. What was this feeling?
“I should just pluck out those fellows’ eyes…”
“D-Duchess!”
Riden grabbed at Samantha’s clothes as she stood up.
“There were people who wanted to write their names on my card. But I ran away here as soon as the music started. They’re not at fault.”
“…Is that so?”
Now that she thought about it, the powder room that should have been crowded was empty.
Samantha, looking at Riden who had stood up with her, fell into thought.
‘I’m getting rusty.’
She should have guessed from the empty powder room that her girl had run here the moment it began.
“But why are you hiding here like a little mouse instead of being in the ballroom?”
“That’s… because…”
Riden scratched her neck.
“I don’t have the strength.”
“…Right.”
Ah, she was weak.
Samantha was a little taken aback, but as long as it wasn’t that she was unpopular, it was fine.
“I should go now.”
She wanted to spend more time with her daughter-in-law, but sadly, Samantha now realized Riden would rest more comfortably if she herself wasn’t there.
As she turned away, she left one request.
“Be sure to dance with Ethan. At least twice.”
“….”
Riden didn’t answer.
‘She never answers at important moments.’
Yes, her girl was stubborn. Physically weak but stubborn—and strangely, Samantha liked that about her.
She was thinking that as she left the powder room when—
“Duchess.”
Riden’s voice, a little shaky, called to her.
“Please forgive my rudeness.”
Riden hurried over and hugged her tightly.
Since Samantha was nearly 180cm tall, the small Riden hugging her looked more like she was the one being embraced.
“Uh… oh…”
Samantha’s arms were wide and warm.
Riden felt like she was in her mother’s embrace.
‘A slightly bigger mother.’
Today was her own debutante, but also Marie’s debutante.
Which meant—the story’s original main characters, Ethan and Marie, would meet today.
‘The twisted plot will slowly return to its place.’
That was what Riden wanted.
Put the novel’s protagonists back on their path, and then return to her county to live peacefully.
Naturally, she’d also grow distant from the duke’s household.
It was strange. This was what she wanted—so why did her chest feel heavy and her heart a little sad?
“Thank you.”
Riden hugged Samantha once more, then let her go.
“….”
Samantha didn’t know the details, but she could tell Riden was deeply shaken by something.
Yet since Riden seemed to want to hide it, she decided not to show she noticed.
When Riden stepped back, Samantha patted her shoulder gently.
“It looks like your makeup has smudged. I’ll call Merica.”
While Merica was fixing Riden’s makeup, someone knocked on the door.
“Excuse me, is Lady McCreary inside?”
Outside stood an imperial attendant.
He said the McCreary estate’s head butler was urgently looking for her.
‘Glen?’
The imperial ball had strict entry by status, so Glen couldn’t enter.
Why had Glen, who should be at the count’s residence, come here?
Riden left the powder room and went where the attendant said.
In the corridor stood Glen.
“Glen.”
“My lady!”
Glen approached with a serious expression.
“Seeing you already in the powder room… just how fiercely did you dance?”
“What? Why are you here?”
At her request to get to the point, Glen’s face darkened quickly.
After a short hesitation, realizing the seriousness, he spoke.
“It’s about the baron’s daughter. You told me to investigate her because you thought something was wrong, remember?”
He whispered close to Riden’s ear.
“Yes. And?”
“I suspect the baron’s daughter has gotten involved with a strange knight.”
“…What?”
Glen explained.
Marie had tried to leave the baron’s residence and travel to the capital, and a knight had been with her.
That alone wasn’t strange—young ladies naturally traveled with knights for protection.
But for some reason, Marie gave up on coming to the capital and stayed somewhere, still with that knight.
The problem came after that.
The knight came to the capital in a carriage sent from the count’s estate to fetch Marie—and his claim was shocking.
“The knight says he and the baron’s daughter fell in love quickly and lived together. He says he came to find his wife.”
“…!!”
Riden’s face twisted in shock.
She went blank for a moment. What in the world…?
After several still seconds, she finally drew a breath and asked,
“It’s only his claim, right? Is there proof?”
In a hushed voice, Glen answered.
“There’s no proof yet. The knight insists they married, but it doesn’t seem a priest was present.”
How should she interpret this?
An extra trying to steal the beautiful heroine for himself?
Or…
“For now, I’ve detained the knight to prevent rumors from spreading.”
“Does he know Marie is at the count’s estate?”
“Not yet. But once he does, the rumor will hit the social circles.”
Glen bit his lower lip anxiously.
“…If that happens, not only the baron’s daughter, but you, my lady, will be in trouble.”
Riden now understood why Glen had run all the way to the imperial ball.
This was a serious matter.
If the knight’s words were true, it was a huge problem. Even if they were lies, she’d face trouble for a while.
At that moment, Riden realized she was suspecting Marie.
It didn’t feel good. But…
‘If it’s true… why would Marie do such a thing?’
The dam of suspicion she’d been holding back felt like it was about to overflow.
She should absolutely be on Marie’s side, but instead her mind kept imagining the worst.
“Riden?”
At that moment, Marie spotted her standing in the corridor and walked toward her.
