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Chapter 9
While hearing a brief explanation about the young lady who had recently become a victim, I also received more information about the reading club.
“The regular members are the host, Lillian Panesula, Hayley Ginevra, April Rency, and me. Then, depending on the choices of the three core members, another two or three people get invited each time.”
“The fixed group is really small. How did you even get into a place like that?”
“I’m fairly good at winning over younger girls.”
Minabel answered in a strangely weary voice, almost as if she were far older than the rest of us.
But she quickly changed her expression afterward.
Age probably seemed to be a sensitive subject for her.
“You’re a daughter of House Rosena. The moment they heard an invitation had been sent, everyone practically begged me to bring you.”
“I’m not really in a position where people should be begging to host me…”
“What are you talking about? Didn’t you say yourself that if you want connections, you need to deliberately place yourself at the center of people’s attention?”
Until her eyes nearly turned bloodshot, Minabel stayed awake all night explaining the relationships between noble families, the personalities of various ladies, and the political tendencies of their households.
“I still don’t really understand why the emperor in this world has to have red eyes. Honestly, I’m still confused about why you care so much about it and how nobles think too. But I do know that Peninsula envies things she can’t have. And House Rosena possesses every possible thing that could provoke her.”
“Oh dear.”
“So once you get what you need, you can quit the reading club immediately afterward. Tie, what do you think the prince needs most right now?”
That answer was what helped us choose our target.
“The person you need to focus on today is Lady Hayley Ginevra. Her family owns the empire’s largest magic stone mine, so they have strong ties with the magic tower. They’ve also maintained marriage alliances with knight families for generations, so they’re deeply involved in military business too. And as for Lillian Panesula… just be careful around her. She’s… skilled.”
Judging by Minabel’s uncertain expression, even she wasn’t sure “skilled” was the right word.
Honestly, I could already imagine the kind of person she was without further explanation.
Was attending this gathering really the right choice?
I suddenly felt nervous, but it was too late to back out now.
Let’s trust Minabel!
“Don’t worry. Tie, if you just stay expressionless, people will create stories on their own anyway!”
“Um… what exactly does that mean?”
“It’s fine. Honestly, it’s probably better for you not to know! Yes, exactly that expression. If things go badly, just make that face. The elegant look of noble displeasure.”
“I was just making a face that said I had absolutely no idea what you were talking about, Minabel.”
***
“Lady Rosena, thank you so much for honoring us with your presence. I was worried our humble family might not be worthy.”
Lillian Panesula was clearly a beautiful girl at first glance.
So beautiful that it was hard to believe countless noble houses had fallen because of the rumors and gossip born from those lips.
But hadn’t I learned better than anyone, through my sister’s life and suffering, that appearances meant nothing?
“If House Peninsula’s hospitality falls short in any way, I sincerely beg for your forgiveness. Ah, Lady Cherita! Thank you so much for bringing Lady Rosena here!”
Lillian was excessively attentive toward me.
Was it to deliberately show everyone how respectfully she treated me?
Or was she trying to create the impression that I was the one putting pressure on her?
“You naturally look proud and cold when you stay quiet.”
I had heard that criticism ever since childhood.
So I softened my expression as much as possible.
“I heard this was a difficult gathering to join, so I’m truly grateful you willingly made room for me. It’s been such a long time since I attended social events, so I hope I won’t become a burden.”
“A burden? Not at all! Simply having Lady Rosena visit us is already an honor. There are countless people who couldn’t even receive a reply from you no matter how much they wanted to meet you!”
Ah.
So that was it.
She wanted to paint me as some cold woman who rejected everyone.
And yet, at the same time, she still couldn’t stop cautiously watching my reaction.
In reality, my wrists were simply weak. I once collapsed after trying to write five reply letters in a row.
Of course, a count’s daughter couldn’t treat the daughter of a duke carelessly, but even so, there was no need for her to lower herself this much either.
“May glory bless House Panesula. It isn’t much, but I prepared a small gift to thank you for the invitation.”
Even the fact that the host herself had personally come to greet me felt suspicious somehow, but I chose not to show it and quietly followed her inside.
“Everyone, this is Lady Flotie of House Rosena. She has graced us with her precious presence today.”
“It’s lovely to meet you all. I’m honored to join such a wonderful gathering. It’s all thanks to Lady Cherita here.”
Lillian showed no sign of properly introducing Minabel’s “achievement,” so I deliberately highlighted Minabel myself.
“I never would’ve dared come here without Minabel.”
In other words:
Don’t ignore my friend.
Ignoring the emotional look Minabel sent me afterward, I sat down, and the reading club began with light refreshments.
At first, it seemed no different from any ordinary reading group.
We simply discussed books.
I had even prepared in advance by reading the selected book in case people tried to test or corner me with questions, but perhaps they found it difficult to question me directly because they only responded lightly before moving on.
I didn’t even need to use any of the signals Minabel had taught me.
Honestly, that made things easier.
“Ah, speaking of the Magic Tower from the story’s setting… Lady Violet, there’s a Magic Tower branch near your territory, isn’t there? I heard you interact with them quite often.”
“Huh? Ah, yes.”
Right.
If only things had stayed this simple.
With April’s comment, the conversation subtly shifted direction.
The young lady sitting furthest in the corner, who had been secretly glancing at me the whole time, lifted her head in surprise.
Her voice sounded both nervous and strangely happy to have been addressed.
She looked incredibly young.
At most thirteen years old.
She probably hadn’t even had her debut yet.
Why had they dragged a child like that into this place?
Now that I thought about it, she also hadn’t been allowed much chance to speak, just like me.
In my case, perhaps they simply didn’t dare question me directly.
But with this girl, they didn’t even give her a chance to answer properly.
That bothered me.
“Yes, yes, there are relatively more magical tools there, and naturally…”
“I recently heard that there are people within the Magic Tower claiming the sun has risen incorrectly. But my understanding is limited, so I couldn’t quite grasp what they meant.”
A chill ran down my spine.
“The sun has risen incorrectly?”
April’s exaggerated reaction.
Lillian’s innocent agreement.
The young Violet.
And between them, Hayley looked visibly uncomfortable.
It felt like a cheap third-rate play.
The “sun” symbolized the imperial family, specifically the Crown Prince.
Anyone old enough would understand that this was criticism aimed at the current Crown Prince.
But the young lady clearly didn’t fully understand the meaning.
I didn’t necessarily need to help her.
Still, there was no reason to silently watch a child get cornered either.
“Lady Panesula, you seem quite interested in the Magic Tower.”
The Magic Tower was currently one of the factions not supporting Crown Prince Vincent.
It would be troublesome if nobles got dragged into false accusations because of it.
Besides…
Since my sister had once belonged there in her previous life, I couldn’t help feeling a strange sense of closeness toward it.
***
Hayley was the third daughter of Count Ginevra’s family.
She had grown up deeply loved, becoming independent and mature, and received admiring gazes from young noblemen almost every day.
Most of that admiration came from her family’s status, but many were genuinely drawn to her wisdom and excellent character too.
Without exaggeration, until recently, Hayley had absolutely no intention of joining such a low-class reading club.
But everything started going wrong when a marriage proposal from House Panesula arrived for her childhood friend and fiancé.
“I already met with Lady Panesula personally and rejected her. I told her our engagement ceremony was already completed and couldn’t be broken. But now threatening letters keep arriving, saying they know House Delphoi’s secret.”
“A secret?”
“I don’t even know what it is. Father doesn’t seem to have any idea either. At this point, it feels like they’ll invent a secret if one doesn’t exist.”
Her fiancé, Jade Delphoi, comforted her, saying he would somehow resolve things and that she shouldn’t worry too much.
That House Delphoi, descended from an honorable line of knights, would never collapse because of threats like that.
But Hayley knew better.
She knew exactly how many people had already been destroyed by Peninsula’s schemes.
