IRGS 38

Chapter 38

Through the experiences of my previous life, I learned one important lesson:

When you’re at a disadvantage, act even more shamelessly. People pay more attention to attitude than substance.

Instead of answering Lady Enika’s remark, I lifted my chin haughtily and asked,

“Lady Enika, have we ever properly met before?”

And the attack worked.

The girl hesitated before lowering her head.

“My apologies to both of you…”

Lady Enika was the daughter of a count’s family, while I was the daughter of a marquis house. My rank was higher, so originally, Enika could not speak to me so casually.

Of course, her behavior wasn’t entirely incomprehensible. Even if we had never formally greeted each other, we both naturally knew of the other’s existence.

Besides, Enika was close friends with my younger sister, Leoni. In a sense, I was like the older sister of her friend. She may have developed a feeling of familiarity and spoken to me because of that. And seeing me together with Owen must have surprised her even more.

Though I still wondered how she recognized Owen.

In any case, I did not view Enika favorably.

Right now she wasn’t bothering me, but once time passed and Leoni became empress, that would be when Lady Enika truly began to shine.

Leoni excelled at creating her image. She acted lovable and lively, capturing people’s hearts and earning everyone’s support as she rose to the position of empress.

However, contrary to public expectations, my sister was not merely a warm and approachable empress.

Within the Empire’s political structure, the empress possessed considerable authority and responsibility. Leoni used that power more aggressively than anyone else.

Naturally, I had expected that. But for the citizens of the Empire, it must have felt like a betrayal severe enough to hit them in the back of the head.

Just as public backlash against Leoni began to grow, the one who stepped up to defend her was Lady Enika.

And the thing Enika used at that time… was me.

“She’s still better than Sophia becoming empress.”

That was the kind of public opinion she spread.

And the strategy worked quite well. I became increasingly isolated.

After I lost my eyesight from Leoni’s poison and wasted away to skin and bone, Enika called me “the blind withered branch.”

After that, it became my nickname throughout high society.

Lady Enika—even if she was only seventeen right now—was not someone to underestimate.

When you gained momentum against someone like her, you had to press the advantage.

In an arrogant tone, I asked,

“By the way… what brings Lady Enika all the way to Kantalice alone? Could it be some business you wouldn’t want others to discover?”

“T-that’s not it!”

“Oh my, really? Then perhaps you can explain to me why Lady Enika came all the way to distant Kantalice by herself, without a guardian.”

“Th-that’s…”

Enika stammered and lowered her head.

Since the social season hadn’t even begun yet, she probably never expected to run into anyone here and hadn’t prepared a convincing lie beforehand.

Well, that would be a problem for her.

Let’s see… why would the future countess be here?

I quickly organized my thoughts.

The places where I had encountered Lady Enika in Kantalice:

An expensive restaurant far beyond her family’s means.

And here.

A tiny pottery workshop known only to those in the know.

…Ah.

I understood.

‘So you were the one preparing Her Majesty the Empress’s birthday banquet in the previous timeline.’

Lady Enika’s mother had once served as the empress’s lady-in-waiting before marriage and remained extremely close to her. Like Enika, she was also famous in high society.

The Empress must have entrusted the banquet preparations to Enika’s mother.

And then her mother sent Enika on errands. After all, Lady Enika was renowned for her refined aesthetic sense.

Only now did the puzzle pieces fit together.

Still, this was only speculation for now.

Acting unconcerned, I turned toward Owen and said,

“Owen, you told me to say whatever I wanted to buy, didn’t you?”

When I called him “Owen” instead of “Grand Duke Glentino,” Enika’s eyes widened.

“Of course, Sophia.”

“Then I’ll take this.”

Naturally, what I pointed at was the very teacup set that would be used at the Empress’s birthday tea party.

The price was… let’s just say it was expensive enough that even my monthly allowance from the marquis household would barely cover it.

For reference, my allowance alone was enough to support a commoner family of four for three months.

“W-wait…!”

Enika cried out urgently.

As expected, she had her eyes on it too.

But Owen noticed my intentions and gave Enika no chance to continue.

“Will one set be enough?”

“Hmm, of course not. My family will use them too, and I might host tea parties myself…”

I pretended to hesitate for a moment before speaking innocently.

“About two hundred?”

Enika’s mouth fell open silently.

Honestly, even I regretted the number the moment I said it.

But Owen didn’t show the slightest change in expression. He simply nodded quickly, turning my order into an established fact.

At that moment, the elderly artisan woman glanced over at me, Owen, and Lady Enika in quick succession.

Her eyes clearly said she had grasped the entire situation.

Before I could say anything, the old woman readily answered,

“Well, if I don’t take any other orders for about a month, it’s possible.”

Owen immediately turned and bowed politely.

“Thank you, ma’am. We look forward to working with you.”

“Of course.”

The two of them worked together suspiciously well.

The old woman had seemed blunt at first glance, but now she looked secretly entertained by the juicy drama unfolding before her.

Unexpected.

Meanwhile, Enika’s face had turned completely pale.

“A month?!”

Startled, she raised her voice before quickly covering her mouth.

Thanks to my order, Enika would no longer be able to use this workshop for the next month.

Not only had the teacups she wanted been snatched away right before her eyes, but her path to placing an additional order had been completely blocked.

After fidgeting nervously, Enika grabbed the hem of my dress with both hands.

“Lady Bartoli…”

“What is it, Lady Enika?”

“C-could we speak for a moment…?”

Lowering her voice, the young lady repeatedly gestured toward a corner.

She wanted to talk privately.

It was the first time I had ever seen this prideful girl wear such a desperate expression.

I obediently allowed myself to be dragged to a secluded corner of the workshop.

Enika pleaded,

“Lady Bartoli, please show mercy.”

“Hm? About what?”

Even to my own ears, my voice sounded annoyingly smug.

Completely unaware, Enika hurriedly explained herself.

“I picked out those teacups this morning. I don’t even need two hundred. Please… just sell me seven. I’ll pay double—no, triple the price if you want.”

I quickly thought things over.

Seven cups.

As expected.

That perfectly matched the number of guests invited to the Empress’s birthday tea party in my previous life.

Six guests, plus the Empress herself.

First, I feigned ignorance.

“I never knew Lady Enika was the sort of person to make such unreasonable demands. If you need teacups that badly, why not order a different set now? And if you dislike that idea, you can simply go to another workshop.”

“Lady Bartoli, I arrived in Kantalice this morning and visited no fewer than eight pottery workshops already… Yet I couldn’t find anything as suitable as this for Her Ma— no, for my tastes. Truly.”

Enika looked close to tears.

And I fell into thought.

Considering what Enika did to me in my previous life, I should resent her.

Especially that cursed nickname.

“The blind withered branch.”

It had wounded me deeply.

But thinking about it again, Enika had merely sided with Leoni. She held no personal grudge against me.

And from Enika’s perspective, using that nickname to frame me had simply been an effective strategy—and a successful one at that.

As the queen bee of high society, her abilities were exceptional.

Most importantly, the version of Enika harming me belonged to a future that had not happened yet…

…and likely never would.

Besides, it wouldn’t hurt to make someone as influential as Enika owe me a favor.

In that case, perhaps I should show some mercy here.

“Fine.”

“Y-you… what?”

Enika jerked her head upward.

“Really?”

“You said seven would be enough, didn’t you? What, do you not want them?”

I pretended to turn away.

Enika immediately grabbed my hand.

“No! No! Thank you so much! How much should I pay you? Just name the amount!”

“It’s fine. Just pay the owner the original price. I’m not some broker.”

“My goodness…”

The young lady’s mouth fell open in shock.

Acting as if it were nothing, I turned to leave.

But Enika still wouldn’t let go of my hand.

When I looked back again, she was staring at me with sparkling eyes.

What now?

“What is it?”

“Lady Bartoli, there’s something I absolutely must say. …The dress you’re wearing is truly beautiful.”

What?

Why was she suddenly talking about my dress?

But Enika looked completely sincere.

“I’m not saying that because you gave me the teacups. I truly thought so from the moment I saw you. It feels fresh and eye-catching.”

“Ah… I see.”

I answered indifferently.

Lady Enika liked people with good taste.

Come to think of it, there was no way she would have liked the old me, who only wore modest clothing designed not to stand out.

‘Honestly… we really were incompatible in every possible way.’

But the current me had lived through trends that changed over and over again after regressing through time.

Naturally, that made the current fashion styles seem a little outdated to me now.