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Chapter 05
“Excuse me?”
“Apologize. For looking down on people with that condescending attitude. It’s quite despicable to wound someone’s heart and then use that as a weakness against them.”
Then, to Yudith:
“They say the devil approaches with sweet words, but don’t worry. I’ve heard him speak, and it wasn’t particularly sweet nor clever. If anything, he’s so transparent you can see his dark intentions right through him. A transparent person is all the easier to stain black. Just think of him as a man who’s become murky, my lady.”
“……Lady Odellia……”
“I don’t know the full details of what happened, but a man who betrays someone once will keep doing it. You came to stop me because you were worried I might make a wrong choice, being unfamiliar with a man’s seduction. Thank you for your help.”
Without hesitation, Odellia spoke plainly, then calmly gazed at Roxion.
His face flushed crimson, trembling with humiliation, Roxion raised his hand toward Odellia.
“H-ha ha…… How dare you—!”
He had clearly intended to strike her, but his hand was cleanly intercepted by Odellia’s long arm. A thought briefly crossed his mind—something he had momentarily forgotten. This woman was one of those butcher’s daughters who had worn armor several times her own weight and swung a greatsword on the battlefield.
“Are you going to let go or not?!”
“……”
“Let go!”
At that, Odellia released him as if letting go of a taut rope. As he stumbled backward, Roxion reflexively grabbed at something—and what he caught was the tablecloth.
*Crash! Clatter!* The silverware and dishes from the table tumbled down onto Roxion’s body. Champagne, cake, and everything else made a mess of him as he stared up at Odellia with a dumbfounded expression.
Realizing that everyone in the ballroom was staring at him in his ruined state, he let out a strange cry—*Kyaaaah!*—and fled.
“I’m sorry for drawing so much attention to you, Lady Herdel.”
“……No, I should thank you, Odellia. This is the first time something like this has happened to me, so I…… feel strange.”
Yudith murmured with a dazed expression. She had never been protected by another woman like this before.
But whether Yudith felt strange or not, Odellia was slightly worried. She’d made quite a mess—had she overstepped?
*’Damn it. If they blame me and make me pay for all this, how much will that cost?’*
That coward Roxion had caused the accident and then fled, leaving her to potentially take the fall. Maybe she should slip away too. Lady Herdel was wealthy and from a good family—surely this kind of compensation would be nothing to her.
Just as she was about to sneak away, as if mocking her thoughts, a servant appeared at precisely the right moment and whispered to Odellia:
“Her Grace the Duchess wishes to see you for a moment.”
Ah, *damn it*. Odellia nodded reluctantly, like a child forced to eat mustard.
Following the servant, Odellia left the ballroom and entered the mansion. With a heavy heart after causing that chaos, she stepped into the room the servant guided her to.
Inside, she found the Duchess of Hortensia seated with elegant poise, sipping tea.
Just sitting there, the refinement she exuded was not the kind that could be imitated. Though well past middle age and wearing a heavy wig piled thick upon her head, her upright posture revealed how noble a person she was.
Still seated, she tapped the long cane made of onyx and pure silver against the floor. Then she gave a gentle smile.
“The empire’s hero, Odellia. It is an honor to meet you.”
Somewhat flustered, Odellia hastily bowed. She was struck by how beautiful a person could be, and at the same time, she felt overwhelmed by the Duchess—a woman who embodied what it meant to have lived with grace.
“The reason I invited you is not to test you, but because I already hold your abilities in high regard.”
Speaking with a gentle smile, her expression then grew slightly more serious.
“This world is harsh on everyone, but especially on an older woman with neither status nor backing.”
It seemed unlikely that the Duchess herself would have called her all the way here just to level the same criticisms as everyone else. Odellia clasped her hands behind her back, stood at attention, and waited for the Duchess to continue speaking.
“……Do you know why you were commanded to make your debut?”
“Yes, Your Grace. Based on Article 145, Clause 3 of the law… I understand it is due to the restrictions placed on women.”
*Of course, they only set that condition because they thought marriage would be impossible for me.*
“That is merely a pretext. A dusty old clause over a hundred years old. It is used whenever convenient and revised for convenience. The current imperial law is practically nonexistent—highly mutable. Do you know what kind of land the Talamand territory is, and which house it once belonged to?”
Whether she could not answer or chose not to, Odellia simply kept her mouth shut.
Seeing her like that, the Duchess let out a sigh filled not with mockery or disdain, but with genuine concern.
Then, this time, Odellia asked:
“Why did Your Grace send me an invitation, and why are you guiding me to distinguish between pretext and truth?”
“I wish for you to become the lord of that land.”
“……”
“Was that too blunt?”
“Yes.”
“I dislike roundabout speech. That’s why I can’t enjoy my own banquets and end up holed up here like this.”
“……”
“Anyway, back to the main point. The reason I called you here today is… because I saw hope in you.”
“Hope, you say……”
“Hope that you won’t simply be mocked at the debutante ball and then flee to the edge of the provinces. You need to see the bigger picture. When men approach you, do not assume it is merely out of curiosity—always be cautious. That land behind you, the master of that land. You must learn about them.”
“You mean I should investigate the House of Rubis.”
“Indeed. And do not forget the etiquette needed for the debutante ball either. You must move more busily than anyone else this social season. Since we shall see each other often, let us end today’s meeting here. At my age, just sitting takes the energy out of me.”
At those words, Odellia released her hands from behind her back and bowed deeply.
Her angle was so precise that the Duchess’s expression shifted subtly—whether she was stifling a laugh or a sigh was unclear.
After Odellia left the room, the Duchess called out toward the inner chamber:
“What an intriguing woman.”
The Duchess seemed quite taken with Odellia.
“Her posture is correct, and she can read. I’m truly curious to see what else she can do. Swordsmanship, well, she learned that and went to the battlefield to become a hero… But she seems far too well-educated to be of common birth. What exactly is that woman’s true identity?”
At that, Kalix slowly walked out and settled leisurely onto the sofa opposite her.
“She’s a hero of troubled times, isn’t she?”
“You seem to be hiding something.”
“How could I hide anything from you while borrowing your help, Duchess?”
“You’ve nurtured a great serpent in your heart for three years. Well, it doesn’t matter if you hide it. Secrets are meant to be unearthed.”
At the Duchess’s words, Kalix let out a soft chuckle.
“So, are you willing to cultivate her?”
“I shall do as Your Highness commands. But if you’re asking about her potential… well, she doesn’t seem to be a lost cause. Her unflinching eyes are not bad. Or rather, one might call them eyes that draw people in. It seems I’ll be just as busy as Lady Odellia. Do you intend to squeeze this old woman dry?”
Even as she said that, the Duchess’s face was brimming with interest.
—
***
“Extra! Extra! The Daily Social Gazette has published an article about the Golden Lion Hero Odellia! For just one shilling, you can learn everything that happened at the Duchess’s banquet!”
It seemed someone had spread word about Odellia’s exploits overnight. With a weary face, not even bothering to wash, Odellia flung open the door and went out, her long legs trudging over to stand before the boy.
“Whoa! You’re the Golden Lion Hero, right! Odellia! I’m a huge fan!”
“Give me one.”
“……It-it’s one shilling!”
Odellia took a shilling from Cedric, who had followed her with a bewildered look, and handed it over. The boy took the money, hesitated for a moment, then said:
“I’m completely on Odellia’s side! Don’t lose heart!”
And with that, he dashed off.
Lose heart? What was that about? Odellia scoffed—but soon learned why the boy had said such a thing.
—
**【Golden Lion Hero! Spits Éclair at the Heir of House Montegue!】**
—
Odellia read the headline, shook her head, and tossed the paper over her shoulder. It fluttered through the air and landed directly in Cedric’s hands.
After staring at it intently for a long while, Cedric burst out laughing.
“Funny?”
“Did you really mistake the tablecloth for a napkin and flip the whole table?”
At that, passersby cast glances at Odellia. Some recognized her and whispered among themselves; others pointed at her and snickered.
“I didn’t flip it, and I didn’t do it. I just got swept up in the situation.”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t see it with my own eyes.”
She wondered if he was really her friend or her nemesis.
“Shut up.”
“Well, if you can’t find a partner, I can always go with you. There’s plenty of time to watch the show.”
“You talk as if I’m definitely going to fail to find a partner.”
At that, Cedric shrugged.
“If all else fails, just settle for me. I may not be a duke or a marquis, but I am a baron. A noble is still a noble, you know? Of course…… a rural noble, but still.”
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“If you know, then why do you keep pushing me away?”
“Who’s pushing you away?”
“You are. Just marry me, that’s all.”
“Get lost, seriously.”
“Oho, if you talk like that, the men will run away, Lady Odellia?”
Cedric grinned as he trotted along behind Odellia. She shoved him aside, bickering with him as they returned to the townhouse.
“Leaving the door open like that—what if someone gets in, Odellia?”
“So what? There’s nothing worth stealing anyway.”
Odellia pushed the half-open door wider and stepped inside—then stopped. Cedric, following behind, bumped into her.
“What’s wrong?”
Someone was standing inside the house.
A towering figure, broad shoulders, and most notably—jet-black hair brushed carelessly back. It was a silhouette impossible not to recognize.
