HSML 34

Chapter 34

Once I found my motivation, all that remained was to ride the momentum.

By now, the barbs and sneers around me were going in one ear and out the other.
At times, the box was even struck, but things like that no longer mattered to me.

“E-excuse me…!”

The voice I raised, summoning my courage, seemed to come out louder than I’d expected. Everyone froze in surprise.

This is my chance.
I can’t let it slip.

Even if I’m still just a “box,” I can’t afford to fall behind people who so blatantly look down on me.

“D-do you all… um… know who I… am?”

In a way, it was the same way Prince Siphon had questioned me at the coming-of-age gathering. Because of the timing of that question, I’d had no choice but to give my name myself back then.

So then—what about now?

It’s the same as before. Whether they actually know who I am isn’t the issue; the real issue is how they answer the question.

Perhaps because I’d raised my voice once already, my head felt much clearer.
Of course I was still scared, and speaking or even raising my voice felt difficult—but even so, if I was going to get through this situation, I had to make my thoughts and my tongue move smoothly.

The suffocating feeling had eased.
Once it’s begun, there’s nothing to do but run it through to the end.

I’ll do everything I can.

Collapsing from this breathless mix of tension, fear, discomfort, and impatience can wait until after I’ve gotten through this.

After repeatedly taking deep breaths without letting anyone notice, I secretly observed the surroundings. Everyone seemed troubled, unsure how to answer.

Even so, there appeared to be someone who couldn’t read the give-and-take of the situation.

“We are well aware of who you are.”

One of the people surrounding me answered confidently.
Lady Lutzura narrowed her eyes at that person—but did nothing more.

“So then… you knew… who I was… and still… attacked me?”

If they answer that they know me, then it means they were surrounding and bullying a member of the Dripps ducal house. Since some of them had even struck the box, it wouldn’t be strange for it to be taken as an act of violence.

“Then… prepare yourselves.
Our house does not… show mercy… to those who openly… make enemies of us.
Even from inside the box… I can see your faces… you know.
I’m quite confident… in my memory.”

I stated that firmly.

Judging by the situation, there were no royals present at this tea party, nor anyone of equal rank to my family. Which meant that, in this setting, I was the one of the highest status.

In that case, those who answered that they knew who I was—and those who agreed with them—would be people who, without understanding their own standing, directly attacked a superior simply according to their own whims.

“Eh?”

“Knowing the other party’s status… and still attacking them openly… without hesitation.
There’s no way… we would leave such… dangerous people—such a house… alone, is there?”

Those who could read that far would naturally realize how bad this was for them.

Then what if they answered that they didn’t know me?

“By the way… the rest of you… didn’t know who I was… right?”

This, too, would be a problem.

Because that would mean—

“So, in other words… you are a group who… makes snide remarks toward… and at times even… commits violence against… a woman whose identity you don’t even know… is that… correct?”

Of course, I would report this to Mother and the others.
I even have a tea gathering with Her Majesty the Queen coming up, so it might be nice to report it there while I’m at it.

They clearly lack any awareness that attacking someone always carries the risk of retaliation.

After all, since someone among them had even said, “Don’t you think we don’t understand what’s going on?”, it means that regardless of who I am, they were striking a box containing a woman who was confused because she didn’t understand the situation.

“And besides… rumors were… going around, weren’t they?
About me… and His Highness… And surely… the information that it was… a woman inside a box… was also part of those rumors.”

Depending on how widespread the rumors were, the engagement was certainly being talked about…
And thinking back to what I overheard before, the story that I’m a “boxed-in (literally) young lady” should have spread to some extent.

“…To be so out of touch with rumors… that you can’t even imagine… who I might be… Do you all really think… you can survive… in noblewomen’s society?”

Noble society—especially among women—requires a keen sensitivity to trends and rumors. And yet they claimed not to know who I was, so it’s only natural they’d be seen that way.

So personally, it didn’t really matter to me which way they answered.

“To be less informed about rumors… than someone like me… who basically lives… inside a box in her own room… that’s honestly… a bit much, don’t you think?”

It may sound odd coming from someone who actually stays shut inside a box, but don’t these people lack just a bit too much awareness that they’re members of noble society who’ve already come of age?

I’m not particularly good at making snide or sarcastic remarks, but if that’s considered part of a noble’s refinement, then I’ll do my best.

If you’re going to do it, do it thoroughly. Strip your opponent of their will to fight completely—that’s what Mother and Catrina taught me.

I have, at least, been taught how nobles are supposed to fight and conduct themselves.

“A moment ago… you all said to the bewildered me, ‘Why don’t you… say something?’
This doesn’t seem… very like you.
Those of you who won’t answer… do you… know who I am? Or… do you not know?
It’s just that simple a question… so why are you… agonizing over it so much?
Could it be… because you understand… and therefore… can’t answer?”

I pressed the point.

With that, it became: “If you understand but can’t answer, then silence will be taken as affirmation.”
In other words, if they said nothing, it would be confirmed that they knew who I was and still harassed me.

I really don’t like cornering people like this, but that doesn’t mean I can just let myself be bullied without response—so I have no choice.

As someone who shut herself away precisely because I don’t like this kind of maneuvering, this is exhausting…

But not doing it would only make things worse, so if I’m going to do it, I’ll see it through.

“…!”

The people closest to me had gone pale, or were gritting their teeth.
Those watching from a distance—huh? They seemed to be backing away slightly.

I-it’s fine, you know?
I’m not a scary box, you know?

Well, setting that aside—Lady Lutzura…

You’re standing firmly one step back.
Is that so you can claim you “only brought her here”?

As positioning goes, it’s not bad—but that only works if you can remain a complete bystander.

That’s something I have no intention of allowing. Since we’re here anyway, it wouldn’t be so bad to settle the grudge from the magic-stone ceremony book incident.

“You do know who I am, don’t you?

Lady Lutzura Kishika Mentsarl?”

I managed to say it with the smoothest, clearest, most flawless pronunciation I’ve achieved since becoming a shut-in—without stumbling or hesitation.

Now then, Lady Lutzura?

Having been named directly, you’ll have to respond.
Playing ignorant won’t work here.