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Chapter 9
“Vulgar, you say? Then are you so refined, Madam, deceiving the Empire while secretly stealing and using my power? Isn’t the truly vulgar thing tricking people? So from now on, don’t speak carelessly to me. I’ll return every word right back to you.”
The duchess glared at me as though she wanted to kill me on the spot.
What’s she going to do if she’s angry? No, aside from calling me here in private to yell at me, what can she even do?
I smiled leisurely again, calmly flipping through the receipts as I spoke softly.
“Madam, are you really that upset about the money I’m spending? If it pains you so much, then think of it as payment for all the water you’ve taken from me until now. Though honestly, even the entire fortune of House Lewin wouldn’t be enough. I’m simply very generous and kindhearted. I’m even offering a discount on a one-of-a-kind limited edition.”
“What? Payment for water? Did you truly just describe the power of water like that? What vulgar logic. The power of water belongs to House Lewin. Not to you.”
“Exactly. And since I’m part of the family, it’s only natural I use the family fortune too, right? Let’s not be stingy over family spending money on family. If you keep drawing lines between us, then I’ll have no choice but to draw lines regarding my power as well. What if I decide to start charging real fees for water?”
I stood and scattered the neatly stacked receipts across the table in front of her.
“I’ll repay exactly what I’ve received, so be more careful with your actions from now on. Try not to upset me.”
* * *
Three months later.
After that day, Cecilia stopped provoking me.
Of course, I knew it wasn’t because she accepted me. She was simply preparing for some greater scheme.
Still, thanks to that, I was able to completely renovate my room without interference. The duchess was clearly furious about it too, though she didn’t show it openly.
Every morning, I jogged through the garden, stretched and did strength training in my room, and followed my diet and cheat days with absolute discipline, devoting all my efforts to restoring my health and beauty.
Since it had been my routine in my previous life, it wasn’t difficult at all. If anything, being able to focus solely on recovery without working allowed me to recover even faster.
After finishing my workout, I dressed my hair and makeup before heading down for breakfast. Eva looked at me with admiration.
“Miss, you’re so beautiful.”
“Even I can tell I’m finally looking better.”
My rough skin now glowed with moisture. My complexion looked lively, and my once-brittle hair shone with softness.
The body that had once looked like skin stretched over bones had become firm with healthy muscle, and my stamina had improved considerably.
Overall, I radiated a bright, healthy, beautiful aura.
As expected, effort never betrays you.
Eva stared at my reflection in the mirror, hesitated briefly, then spoke carefully.
“I don’t know if this is the right way to put it, but unlike the other noble ladies, your beauty looks… healthy.”
The noble ladies and married women here didn’t exercise, so naturally they lacked that kind of vitality.
Until now, everyone probably thought that was normal, but my appearance would change the standards of the Empire.
The thought of creating an entirely new trend delighted me.
Then Eva glanced around cautiously before lowering her voice.
“One of the maids serving Miss Rosalyn asked me to teach her how to make the facial packs you use every night, but I refused immediately.”
“Really? Good job, Eva.”
I handed her a small ruby hairpin from the vanity table.
“Thank you, Miss.”
A blush of happiness spread across Eva’s face.
After rewarding and disciplining her in proper balance, Eva had become completely loyal to me. She reported even the smallest matters without fail.
At this point, some of the other maids were even jealous of her position, so her loyalty only continued to deepen.
Rosalyn, who used to do nothing but lash out at me, had recently become obsessed with uncovering everything I did.
Well, she’s been watching my transformation closer than anyone.
She would observe me from dawn like a stalker, then occasionally throw comments at me.
“You really aren’t a noble at all, are you? What kind of noble lady runs around a garden? I suppose vulgar blood can’t help itself.”
So you do acknowledge me as a noble lady after all.
Whenever I answered with a grin, Rosalyn would tremble in rage, which was rather entertaining.
She mocked and sneered at me every day, yet still stubbornly followed me around to spy on me.
At first, she probably did it purely to ridicule me, but as she watched me gradually change, her feelings must have become complicated.
In the end, Rosalyn insulted me openly while secretly trying to learn all my secrets behind my back.
Naturally, I never told her anything and only teased her further.
Anyway, I felt this was enough preparation for my social debut.
Of course, part of me wanted to become even more perfect first, but there was too much to do, and I needed to move quickly.
Right now, House Lewin and I were in a temporary truce, but once I truly began moving, they would definitely retaliate.
And when that happened, no one could predict what those people—with money, power, and ruthless cruelty—might do.
Beauty maintenance could continue while I built wealth and connections. For now, my debut came first.
“Today I should visit Aurora’s dress shop. It’s time to choose my debutante gown.”
The warm spring that bloomed after the long winter marked the beginning of the social season in the Perlin Empire.
The first party signaling the opening of the social season was the debutante ball for noble sons and daughters.
The nobles, who had practically forgotten my existence, were shocked to see my name listed among the debutantes.
Within noble society, I had merely been known as the illegitimate child quietly living in Lewin territory.
Unfortunately, most illegitimate children avoided participating openly in society because of discrimination.
In the Empire, the social position of illegitimate children was little more than a tool used according to the needs of their family.
Most people looked at me through prejudiced eyes because I was a bastard stepping into the spotlight.
But I didn’t care.
I was confident I could captivate them all.
And I was prepared.
When I entered the first-floor dining room, I saw Rosalyn eating breakfast.
Her persistent gaze slowly swept over me from head to toe.
That look no longer contained only anger. There was envy and admiration mixed in as well.
At first, she mocked me for insisting on styles different from current Imperial trends, but at some point, I began noticing her subtly imitating my style.
It was obvious she was being influenced by someone like me, who had honed her fashion sense as a luxury brand ambassador and muse for world-famous designers.
If even Rosalyn—who hated me more than anyone—wanted to imitate me, then everyone else would fall for it even more easily.
Rosalyn’s gradual changes only strengthened my confidence in my plans.
Without sparing Rosalyn even a glance, I elegantly finished my meal and headed to the dress shop.
“Lady Arabella, welcome.”
Aurora temporarily closed the shop and brought out the dresses I had commissioned.
Though different from Imperial styles, they were undeniably sophisticated and possessed a restrained elegance.
“Now that they’re complete, they’re even more beautiful than I imagined. Have you studied fashion formally?”
Aurora and I had grown fairly close during this time, so our conversations had become comfortable.
I smiled and shook my head.
“How could a bastard have had the opportunity to study? I taught myself everything.”
“You must be a genius, my lady! It’s such an honor to be responsible for your wardrobe.”
Aurora clasped her hands together and looked at me with eyes full of admiration.
I thoroughly enjoyed receiving such admiring gazes again after so long.
I tried on every dress Aurora had prepared before choosing the one I would wear to the debutante ball.
“Send the red and black dresses to the manor. The others still need some alterations.”
I took only the two completed gowns and left the rest for adjustments.
“Yes, my lady.”
“Oh, and one more thing.”
I gave her a few additional requests before returning home.
And then, three weeks later, the day of my very first Imperial debut finally arrived.
Perhaps because it was such an important day, I woke earlier than usual.
I immediately rose from bed and began stretching and meditating.
But today, my thoughts were too complicated to focus on meditation properly.
By tomorrow evening, Duke Isco—my biological father—will arrive.
What kind of reaction would that coldly calculating and selfish man, who considered me a disgrace to the family, have toward all these changes?
I was curious.
He had been spending the winter in the western territory and was scheduled to return before the party.
However, because he apparently hated the idea of escorting me to the debutante ball, he delayed his arrival.
That was why I still hadn’t seen his face yet.
I can’t wait to see him. I wonder what expression he’ll make.
The nobles who had spent the winter in their territories had now returned to the capital for the social season.
As a result, the capital had transformed from the quietness of winter into a lively and bustling city.
Most nobles of the Empire spent winters in their territories.
Only House Lewin and House Courtois were exceptions—the heads of the families alone went to their territories, while the rest remained in the capital.
After all, no one knew when something involving water or fire might occur.
