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The Faraway Duke’s Family.
Soft music floated through the banquet hall, and people’s conversations continued in gentle murmurs.
Edith, wearing a creamy yellow dress, approached Nox.
Nox wore a striking blue jacket, and together, the blonde pair drew the attention of the people around them.
However, their conversation was quiet enough that no one else could overhear it.
“Nox. How could you leave the villa’s interior to Whitehouse?”
Edith spoke casually, as if she were talking to a long-time friend.
When Nox looked around, seemingly embarrassed, Edith quickly continued.
“Some people are whispering that because you entrusted the interior to that rookie, it makes it seem like I’m a step below Whitehouse!”
“It’s not like that… I just… felt sorry for Marianne, and I wanted to help her a little.”
“You did it even though you knew my skills were superior?”
Edith’s eyes flashed for a moment.
Then, as if realizing something, she nodded.
“It’s because of the Duke of Bloodstone!”
“What?”
“Nox. You’re always coveting what the Duke of Bloodstone has. Do you think that just because he wants her, she’ll like him?”
“…That’s not true. It’s not like that.”
“No, I’m right. But what if Whitehouse actually starts liking you because of it? Will you ignore her like you did with me?”
“Edith, that’s going too far.”
Edith glared at Nox.
“Too far? Am I wrong? You pursued me passionately too. You pretended to like me, but it was all fake.”
“Fake? My feelings were genuine at the time.”
“Lies again! Then why didn’t you propose to me?”
For a moment, surprise crossed Nox’s face.
But feeling wronged, he quietly countered Edith.
“Back then, weren’t we both just enjoying ourselves? And we parted on good terms, didn’t we?”
For a moment, Edith’s beautiful face flushed red.
She knew Nox was a womanizer, but she hadn’t expected him to lose interest so quickly after being involved.
“…You bastard.”
“Edith. I genuinely hope things go well for you.”
When Edith didn’t respond, Nox awkwardly excused himself.
“See you next time.”
“……”
Edith stared into the empty air for a long while.
‘Why Whitehouse? It’s already irritating enough that she’s meddling in the interior industry, but why does she have to get involved with the Duke of Bloodstone!’
The reason she chose the Duke of Bloodstone as a potential husband wasn’t just about money.
She didn’t trust men, and she trusted handsome men even less.
She had already experienced betrayal by men more than once.
A handsome man loses interest the moment a woman falls for his charms.
Is there anything cheaper than a man’s love?
In the end, the only thing she could truly rely on wasn’t a man’s love—it was the status and wealth a husband could provide.
“Just wait. Nox. When you see the Duke of Bloodstone clinging to me, the one you’re so desperate to beat, you’ll regret it too.”
Clenching her teeth, Edith quickly softened her gaze.
Marianne Whitehouse, with whom she had recently been introduced, was nearby.
“…Miss Whitehouse.”
Edith forced a smile and approached her.
“How’s the party? Isn’t the banquet hall’s interior a bit old-fashioned?”
“Ah, rather than old-fashioned… it’s traditional. Everyone seems satisfied, though.”
“Tsk tsk. Miss Whitehouse, you’re new to the world of interior design, so you don’t know much yet.”
“Huh?”
“This style, where the walls and ceilings are covered with sculptures and decorations like this, is called Genua Robo. It’s now considered outdated.”
“Oh.”
Marianne neither refuted nor disagreed.
The main reason was that she simply didn’t know the names of the interior styles in this world.
But criticizing the banquet hall’s interior would feel disrespectful to Mrs. Faraway, who had invited them.
“Arcen’s interior now emphasizes more modern aspects and clean lines. This trend is called Nouveau Artistic. In Leonhard too, Nouveau Artistic will become mainstream. I studied in Arcen, so I know this trend well.”
“You studied in Arcen?”
“Yes. If you ever don’t know something about interior design, ask me. I’ll teach you. Nouveau Artistic started from the Arcen Academy’s artistic movement…”
Yet, perhaps because she was in the same industry, she faced considerable scrutiny from the start.
Reciting the flow of interior trends, she seemed very confident in her skills.
Could she get information about the threats Henry had received?
“Did your time studying abroad overlap with my brother Henry?”
“Henry? Why are you asking that?”
When Marianne mentioned Henry’s name, Edith’s expression changed suddenly.
She instinctively became defensive, and Marianne was slightly taken aback.
She only wanted to figure out why Henry had suddenly interfered with the trading ship, but Edith looked as if she had been accused of misbehavior.
“Do you know that Henry was conducting some investigation?”
“Investigation…?”
Edith’s complexion changed in an instant.
Her expression quickly turned unpleasant.
“Investigation? Does that mean Henry had some secret to investigate secretly?”
Her tone became accusatory.
“Eh? No, that’s not what I meant…”
“If it’s about that, why don’t you ask the Information Guild instead of me?”
“Information Guild?”
“Yes. The Black Rabbit Information Guild in Arcen? I heard you’re close to the guild master.”
Marianne was puzzled but didn’t say much.
However, knowing the guild’s name suggested she knew more than just being in the same industry.
‘She’s hiding something…’
Edith’s face clearly showed displeasure.
Recalling how people had praised the cloud wallpaper, she became even more irritated.
‘When it comes to wallpaper design, I’m the best in the world! There’s no one in Arcen with a better sense than me!’
She couldn’t stand anyone praising another designer’s wallpaper in front of her.
Moreover, Marianne Whitehouse wasn’t a secluded recluse who hadn’t received proper education.
‘And now she suddenly wants to start an interior business? Does she think anyone can do interior design?’
The desperation that gave her courage to leave home was understandable, but watching an ignorant woman underestimate interior design and start a business made her furious.
‘I don’t know if it’s glow-in-the-dark stars or cloud wallpaper… but Henry must have prepared it in advance.’
By some stroke of luck, she had found her brother’s work and turned it into a business.
Even without training, she clearly had a keen eye for slyly stealing techniques.
‘But if she thinks she can continue interior work just with the sketches Henry left behind, she’s mistaken!’
Edith met Marianne’s gaze again.
That innocent expression only fueled Edith’s anger.
‘With no skill, and yet she dares to challenge my position using my brother’s reputation? Unforgivable!’
Edith casually spoke as if passing a comment.
“Good thing, isn’t it? Sometimes misfortune can be helpful.”
“Oh? What good thing might that be?”
“Oh? Miss Whitehouse, you’re amusing. I wasn’t talking about myself—it’s about you. Henry is gone, the family has passed into others’ hands, yet sometimes that’s useful.”
“…What do you mean?”
In a tone seemingly generous and kind.
“Bankrupt, and forced into marriage with Baron Beret, how pitiful. Thankfully, good people give you work, right? Save some money, and maybe you won’t have to marry Baron Beret.”
“……”
Marianne held Edith’s gaze steadily.
“Interior design might feel hard since you don’t know much, but just do it casually. People aren’t expecting too much anyway.”
Edith whispered with a meaningful expression.
Marianne had no reason to listen to such nonsense further.
“Miss Ferridan, you speak too far. How can you say someone’s misfortune can be helpful? I don’t know how to take that.”
Marianne retorted, and for a moment, surprise flashed in Edith’s eyes.
The girl who had once been a flower on the wall was now talking back clearly.
But that meant Edith needed to firmly put her in her place.
“People will feel sorry for you, right? So they give you work even if you lack skill.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, you didn’t know? Lady Brian has a kind heart and wanted to help a bankrupt young lady. So she let us hand over the contract for good. Did you know that even the Earl of Wetherwood wanted to contract with us? He told me the same thing—that Miss Whitehouse’s situation was pitiful, and even if she lacked skill, she deserved a chance to earn money.”
Marianne paused slightly but didn’t avert her gaze from Edith.
“Oh my, who’s that? Isn’t that the disease-ridden Countess? She killed her parents with her illness, right?”
“Exactly. I’ve never seen a noble lady so rude and uncultured.”
Indeed, Edith hadn’t changed from the image of Marianne in her childhood memories.
Even without knowing someone well, she mercilessly tramples anyone she sees as weaker.
But Marianne was no longer the one who fled the banquet without making eye contact.
“Lady Brian praised my interior work… Are you saying that she furnished her house with the interior of someone with no skill?”
Edith’s eyes rolled slightly.
It couldn’t end with the conclusion that Lady Brian’s interior was inferior.
That would insult not only Marianne Whitehouse but also Lady Brian herself.
Moreover, Lady Brian held strong influence among noblewomen in the interior world.
“That is…”
