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Chapter 10
Even fairly prestigious noble families often ended up kneeling before House Panesula, one of the empire’s few count families, then retreating into isolation within their territories.
If there was any family they couldn’t touch, it was probably House Rosena, who currently kept their doors shut and refused to react to anything.
After losing his wife to a plague, Count Panesula became a devoted father willing to grant every wish of his wild only daughter.
And Lillian herself had grown up healthy, spoiled, and completely used to getting what she wanted.
Once Hayley realized that all these schemes began from Lillian’s secret reading club, she decided to enter it personally.
“Oh, if it’s Lady Ginevra, then of course you’re welcome!”
Lillian didn’t even bother hiding her mocking smile, as though she had expected Hayley to come all along.
Then she sat Hayley beside her and shamelessly talked about how many romance novels she had read and how she wanted to get married soon herself.
At the same time, she casually showed Hayley how easily she could toy with people through words alone.
And how Hayley herself could become the next victim.
Until Minabel appeared and effortlessly escaped every single trap Lillian laid while smiling sweetly the entire time, Hayley’s mind had slowly been worn down day by day.
“What can I even accomplish by dragging this out? If we both miss our marriageable age and end up with nothing anyway… maybe Jade would actually be happier becoming Panesula’s son-in-law.”
But every time Minabel skillfully cornered Lillian with elegant words and prepared to leave, she would grab Hayley’s hand and encourage her.
“I’ll definitely bring a character who can finally give everyone proper catharsis!”
“Catharsis…?”
How long had that ridiculous promise continued?
Then, someone appeared whom Hayley had never imagined would show up there.
Flotie Rosena.
The hidden daughter of House Rosena, said to be so frail and overprotected that she remained shrouded in mystery.
The moment she lowered the fan covering her face, Hayley felt every standard she had ever associated with beauty collapse.
Her dress was simple and light for a duke’s daughter, as though its only purpose was to avoid weighing down her weak body.
And yet, she effortlessly overwhelmed even the heavily dressed Lillian.
Even Lillian herself seemed cautious about provoking House Rosena directly and treated Flotie carefully.
“What do you think, my lady…?”
“I’m impressed by your insight, my lady.”
“You flatter me.”
And yet despite that, there was not even the slightest trace of arrogance or oppression in Flotie Rosena.
“Ah, ah, I’m so sorry, Lady Rosena! I made a mistake!”
Even when she looked as though she clearly understood someone’s malicious intentions, she simply smiled gently and let it pass.
“My lady, how do you look beautiful even in such a dress? No matter how much I dress up, I can never compare.”
Even when Lillian disguised criticism of Flotie’s dress as jealousy-filled praise, Flotie responded calmly.
“It’s only because my health is poor. Being unhealthy is inconvenient in many ways.”
She rarely smiled.
She barely spoke.
But somehow, that only made her seem even more mysterious.
Hayley constantly found herself sneaking glances toward Flotie without realizing it.
“Coming here despite my period pain was worth it after all.”
Of all days, it had to be the second day, when the pain was strongest.
She had almost used that as an excuse not to attend.
But somehow, it felt like she had been guided there by fate itself.
And now she was witnessing something extraordinary.
Eventually, after growing irritated, Lillian redirected her attack toward the youngest girl present.
That was when Flotie spoke firmly for the first time.
“Lady Panesula, you seem very interested in the Magic Tower.”
“Huh? But April was the one asking the questions. Why are you speaking to me…?”
Lillian widened her eyes innocently, and Flotie smiled faintly before continuing.
“Today, there were seven questions related to the Magic Tower. Out of those seven, Lady Panesula brought up six herself. Personally, I thought this book was about the romance of someone stubbornly clinging to the Magic Tower in a world ruled by magical science. It seems your interpretation differs greatly from mine.”
Flotie lightly brushed the book’s cover before turning toward April.
“Meanwhile, Lady Rency, you described it as the Magic Tower where the heroine lives, didn’t you? But as far as I remember, the protagonist used teleportation magic every time she traveled there. If you were reading a different book from the one I received, then I feel rather disappointed.”
“L-Lady Rosena! That’s not the important thing… I was asking Lady Violet about—”
“Ah, so at a reading club, something other than the book itself is more important. What a fascinating perspective. Yes, you mean the phrase about the sun rising incorrectly.”
Flotie deliberately repeated the exact phrase before turning toward the maid standing neatly beside her.
“Elian, did you hear it too? Were my words just now the same as Lady Rency’s?”
“Yes, my lady. They were.”
“Lady Violet is still young, so she likely doesn’t fully understand the meaning behind words that even refined ladies like Lady Rency and Lady Panesula seem unable to explain properly. Fortunately, however, I think I understand their meaning quite well. So would you kindly tell me exactly where that rumor originated? I believe I could find the answer at the place where the sun rises.”
Flotie’s voice remained gentle and soft.
But everyone there understood that her words were razor sharp.
House Rosena had never hidden its strength.
It had stood at the top for generations and never once lost its overwhelming presence, even while remaining silent.
And Flotie’s words proved that strength still remained intact.
“I’ll find the answer where the sun rises.”
The meaning behind that statement was obvious from the way the color drained from Lillian and April’s faces.
In other words:
I’ll ask the imperial family directly, so provide proof that the Magic Tower is truly spreading such rumors.
“M-My lady Rosena…”
“Don’t worry. I can wait however long it takes for your letter to arrive. Ah, and since I’m personally interested in the Magic Tower as well, may I correspond with Lady Violet too?”
Before anyone could even react to being interrupted, the young girl’s face lit up brightly.
Reading the obvious excitement in Violet’s expression, Flotie smiled softly and rose from her seat.
“My health is a little poor, so though it’s rude of me, I’ll take my leave first.”
Not a single person dared complain even though she rose before the host herself.
Instead, they politely escorted her out.
The once-overwhelming Lillian suddenly looked absurdly small.
For the first time, Hayley truly felt in her bones that the person before her belonged to House Rosena.
She trembled slightly.
Then, while being supported by her maid and Minabel, Flotie suddenly turned back as though recalling something.
“Lady Ginevra, if you don’t mind, would you accompany me to the carriage? There’s something regarding your family I’d like to discuss briefly.”
Hayley’s heart began pounding rapidly.
Why was Flotie suddenly calling for her?
Was she about to question her mistakes?
About all the times she silently stood by and watched?
Then again, Hayley had no defense for herself.
Maybe she had already been grouped together with Lillian in Flotie’s eyes.
“Did I ruin everything? Both House Delphoi and House Ginevra?”
Hayley forced herself to nod and walk forward.
She couldn’t even remember how she ended up climbing into such a luxurious carriage.
But the very first thing Flotie did was place a small pouch into Hayley’s hands.
“T-This is…”
Money? Hush money?
“It’s a painkiller I personally use sometimes. It works well for menstrual pain too, so dissolve it in warm water and drink it. It’s safe even on an empty stomach.”
“…What?”
“Tie, this stuff is ridiculously expensive!”
Ignoring Minabel’s horrified voice entirely, Flotie continued calmly.
“You seemed to be feeling unwell earlier because of your period. Honestly, if I hadn’t forced the situation a bit, it didn’t seem like you would’ve been able to leave there easily.”
“Ah… I-I see. I’m terribly sorry for making Your Ladyship worry unnecessarily.”
“As fellow women, why would you apologize for a pain I naturally understand and sympathize with? That’s why I acted rather strongly earlier. Rumors will probably spread that House Rosena and House Ginevra exchanged secret discussions, but once I formally invite you to the duchy, those rumors will quickly disappear, so please don’t worry.”
Hayley felt dizzy.
All she had done was occasionally hold her stomach or shift her posture slightly.
Yet Flotie had noticed even those tiny details.
And an invitation to Rosena itself?
As Hayley sat there feeling like she might faint, Flotie smiled softly and spoke calmly.
“I’ve heard the rough details already. It seems your fiancé is involved in some kind of problem.”
