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Chapter 14
“The Marchioness of Rausen—do you have a moment?”
“…If it’s just a moment, then I suppose that’s fine.”
The Marchioness kept glancing toward the temple’s outer gates, as if she had somewhere else to be.
Helene could tell: there was another meeting of the Solar Society scheduled for after worship.
Even when they reached the empty courtyard behind the temple, the Marchioness looked around again, checking to make sure no one was nearby before finally turning to Helene.
“There’s a Solar Society meeting today, isn’t there?”
“Well…”
Though she was a noblewoman, the Marchioness of Rausen was gentle by nature and a terrible liar.
Seeing her anxious, apologetic expression, Helene immediately understood: she had been rejected.
Helene felt sorry for putting the woman on the spot, but she had to know why.
“Does this mean I’m no longer invited to the Solar Society?”
“I’m sorry, Countess Emeldia. Truly. We all wanted you to join, but… if she feels that way…”
“…‘She’?”
Helene’s thoughts tangled.
The Marchioness had said that everyone else supported her membership.
Everyone—except that one person.
There was only one woman in the Solar Society with that much influence.
Even if all the others objected, a single word from her in Helene’s favor would have secured her entry.
The Marchioness couldn’t bring herself to speak the name, only referring to her as “that lady.”
But Helene had to know the reason, even if it meant pushing further.
“The Grand Duchess—what did she find fault with?”
“…Please don’t be too upset. It’s not what I think at all.”
After hesitating for a long moment, the Marchioness leaned close and whispered:
“She said… the Countess didn’t seem sincere.”
Helene stood frozen even after the Marchioness had finished speaking.
How could she tell? My act was flawless.
No—she had chosen the wrong opponent.
To think she could deceive the Grand Duchess, a woman steeped in the politics and intrigue of the aristocracy—that had been her mistake.
Helene had managed to impress her once with an act, but instead of gaining her favor, she had left her with the impression of insincerity.
She blamed her own arrogance.
“…I—I should go,” murmured the Marchioness, uneasy at Helene’s silence, before hurrying away.
✦
“Stepmother?”
On their way home, Liriana’s voice snapped Helene out of her daze.
“…Hmm?”
“What did you talk about with the Marchioness of Rausen?”
Liriana had wanted to ask the entire way back. Her stepmother’s face had been so dark since the conversation that it worried her.
She had thought things were finally going well—her stepmother’s repentance before the Sun God, her growing circle of friends… but now?
“It’s nothing. Just something private,” Helene replied, forcing a smile.
“I see… It seems you’ve been making a lot of friends lately, Stepmother.”
Liriana meant to cheer her up, but to Helene, the words sounded more like:
‘So, how’s that plan to marry me to the Grand Duke coming along?’
She felt a sting of guilt.
To think I was completely cast out of the Solar Society…
Her sigh caught in her throat.
How foolish—to think she could deceive the Grand Duchess.
Blinded by ambition, she had lost her caution.
Even with her memories from her past life, her luck hadn’t changed at all.
If she couldn’t win at life, she certainly shouldn’t be gambling.
But investing… that was different.
In her past life, she had survived thanks to small, steady stock investments; without those, she’d never have graduated college.
And the first rule of investment was diversification.
“By the way, Liriana, do you still have some time?”
“Ah—yes, I do.”
Liriana felt a strange sense of unease.
She hadn’t mentioned it, but she had an important appointment soon.
Could her stepmother somehow know about it?
As she thought of the person she was supposed to meet, a soft blush crept up Liriana’s cheeks.
✦
“Your Grace, please—try to calm yourself.”
The Grand Duke’s chief aide finally spoke, unable to bear it any longer.
For the past ten years, he had rarely seen his master so restless—this was only the second time.
The first had been when Lady Angelina had replied to his letter, agreeing to come to the capital, Lefia.
The second was now—as he waited for Lady Liriana’s arrival.
It was only then that Siegahrt realized just how anxious he was.
He glanced at the clock. Only five minutes left until the appointed time.
And suddenly, he remembered something from a few days ago.
It had been early dawn, and Siegahrt was enjoying his morning walk through Lefia’s park.
He inhaled the cool air and admired the stillness of nature—a daily routine since coming to the capital.
The sky was still dim blue when he noticed a figure in red ahead of him.
Normally, Siegahrt had a poor memory for faces, but this one he recognized immediately.
Her striking beauty aside, she was the new Countess of Emeldia—Liriana’s stepmother.
He had met her once before, enough for him, a man of higher rank, to initiate a polite greeting.
“What a coincidence, Countess Emeldia.”
Later, he had learned from his aides that this Helene woman once had a terrible reputation—
but had supposedly repented before the Sun God and become an entirely new person.
Intriguing, to say the least.
“Oh, Your Grace! I never expected to meet you here…”
Helene clutched her chest in visible surprise.
It made sense—running into someone she knew during such an early walk was unexpected.
After composing herself, she began to chat lightly.
“The lakes of Herbiant are even lovelier than those of Lefia, aren’t they?”
Siegahrt’s eyes widened.
He walked the park every dawn because it reminded him of his days studying in Herbiant—
when he would watch the sunrise over the lake, a sight like the most breathtaking painting.
Herbiant’s lake was a hidden gem, known only to locals.
“You’ve been to Herbiant, then?”
“For a short while. Life there was wonderful. And the young Lady of Herbiant—she governs her lands so well, even at her age.”
She knew of Lady Angelina, too.
Pleased, Siegahrt found himself talking more than usual.
“You must mean Lady Angelina. As it happens, she’ll be arriving in Lefia next month to stay at the palace.”
“I see… though, won’t it be lonely for her? Without any friends her own age…”
Helene smiled, but her expression softened with motherly concern.
“Oh—please forgive me. It’s just… the heart of a mother. My daughter Liriana has always seemed lonely too—
always the elder sister among her peers, never quite having a true friend.”
Siegahrt thought of Angelina’s lonely face before he and the Crown Prince had come into her life.
And now that he considered it, Helene was right—despite the number of young noblewomen in the temple,
Liriana never seemed close to any of them.
“Oh, look—the sun’s rising!”
Helene exclaimed softly as the first light crept over the horizon.
But Siegahrt barely noticed the sunrise.
His mind was elsewhere.
Angelina had always been alone.
Though she had him and the Crown Prince, that wasn’t the same as having a friend her own age.
Neither of them were particularly attentive, and she often scolded them for it.
The palace maids were countless, yes—but none could truly be called a friend.
A friend…
Siegahrt thought of Liriana—the kindest friend he’d ever had.
When he’d been at his lowest, she had comforted him.
If anyone could be a good friend to Angelina, it would be Liriana.
