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Chapter 61
“Move Lady Ikel to her room.”
At my command, the maids of House Ikel carried Merina back to her chambers.
“Have the family’s physician examine her. If you can’t reach Count Ikel by tonight, or if the physician cannot handle the matter, send word to me — to Marquis Revian at Royal Street No. 3.”
“Yes, my lady.”
I made sure to sound gracious to the end, implying that if there were no reliable adults in the household, I’d be willing to help.
“Since Lady Ikel has collapsed, it seems difficult to continue the party. What do you all think?”
At my question, everyone snapped back to their senses and began to leave the Ikel estate in small groups.
Fortunately, Count Ikel himself wasn’t home.
Had he been present, he would’ve tried to smooth things over somehow, but instead, he’ll receive a formal letter of protest later on.
It’ll be like lightning out of a clear sky.
“Roa, take care. See you next time.”
“Thank you for today.”
Rexian gave me a rather satisfied smile as he took his leave — unusually, in a carriage instead of on horseback.
At the sound of him calling me “Roa,” both Stella and Pony stared straight at me. Their gazes clearly demanded an explanation, but I pretended not to notice.
“Well then, shall we go? Lady Silla, you’re leaving now too, right?”
“It was an entertaining party.”
“Indeed. It’s been a while since something this amusing happened.”
Their expressions showed they were restraining their glee — clearly, they were enjoying Merina’s humiliation too much to hide it.
My friends left in a carriage sent from the Meritney family, and I climbed into ours with Silla.
“Thanking Duke Rishiansius just now — was that your way of repaying him for the thing you have hidden in your coat?”
“And you, Silla — did you enjoy your time with Lady Ikel?”
“Good heavens, enjoy? Call it absurd, not enjoyable. Though, I’ll admit, what she did at the end was funny in its own way.”
Silla told me what Merina had done when she burst open the door earlier.
In exchange, I took out the small pouch I’d kept tucked inside my coat and showed her The Snow Queen.
“The Snow Queen? You mean this was at the Ikel estate?”
“I knew you’d recognize it, Silla.”
The Snow Queen, a pure, high-grade mana stone, was quite famous.
“It was said to be lost from the kingdom… I can’t believe it ended up in the Empire. No wonder no one could find it even after searching the whole kingdom.”
“You’re not planning to take it from me, are you?”
“If I’d known it was at the Ikel estate, I’d have taken it long ago. But since it’s in your hands now, I’ll back off.”
Silla admired how the Ikel family must have had a mana-blocking safe — she said she hadn’t felt any strong magical presence when she first entered the mansion.
“You’ll let me take a look, won’t you?”
“As long as you return it after looking — and only inside the carriage.”
“Haha! Fair enough.”
Silla examined the Snow Queen carefully, turning it in her hands and even balancing it on her palm before handing it back.
“It looks like a naturally formed mana stone — not one that was artificially made.”
“Is that even possible?”
“If it weren’t, we wouldn’t be seeing it right now, would we?”
Silla laughed softly and crossed her arms.
“There’s nothing in this world that’s truly impossible, Roa. The world holds countless secrets no one can fathom.”
“Even secrets you don’t know?”
“Mm-hmm.”
I’d asked lightly, but her answer carried unexpected weight.
“Recently, I learned a secret of the world — something I could never have imagined. And even within that secret, there were things I still didn’t understand.”
“May I ask what it is?”
“You’re unusual, Roa, but still… it’s better you don’t know. If I told you, you’d think I’ve gone mad.”
You already don’t look too sane to me.
“I’m really curious about that secret.”
I could hear her mumbling — “I’d do anything to find it out.”
What on earth could it be? If I could learn that secret, I might finally have Silla’s weakness in my grasp.
I wanted to have Ted investigate it, but the risk was too great — if Silla took offense and killed him, the loss would be serious.
Regrettable, but I’d have to back off for now.
“Will the Mage Tower be filing a formal complaint about Lady Merina Ikel’s behavior?”
“Yes.”
“Then instead of sending it to House Ikel, will you send it directly to the Empress?”
“I don’t mind, but why?”
“Because that’ll make it blow up into a bigger issue.”
Silla’s sky-blue eyes sparkled, and she readily agreed.
“Oh my, Roa. I thought you’d be late, but you’re home earlier than expected.”
“Ha ha, my dear daughter. You’ve been quite diligent about attending social gatherings lately. Was today’s party enjoyable?”
Father had also returned home.
“Mother, Father — I need your help.”
I pretended to be weary as I recounted everything that had happened at Merina’s party — adding in the incident at the embassy too. My parents’ faces flushed red with anger.
“How dare she insult my daughter!”
Father slammed his hand on the parlor table, splashing tea everywhere.
“I thought it was just a simple rivalry between peers. I didn’t want to meddle, but this time she’s gone too far.”
“We must send a letter of protest to Her Majesty the Empress immediately,” Mother added.
Although the Empress had changed her family name to Ligrid after marriage, she was still the highest-ranking member of House Ikel, so holding her responsible for Merina’s behavior was proper.
Of course, Rexian — who knew imperial etiquette inside and out — would also be sending a letter of protest.
It had been wise to give Silla a heads-up too.
If the Empress were held accountable, the matter would surely reach the Emperor’s ears.
Now that would be entertaining.
This was the biggest scandal Merina had ever caused — I couldn’t help feeling grateful to Silla for it.
“I’ll make sure House Ikel is held fully accountable for this. You needn’t worry, Roa.”
Father’s tone softened, thinking I might feel intimidated by the incident.
“Yes, Father. I’ll trust you. And thankfully, my friends stood up for me, so I wasn’t too embarrassed.”
“Stella and Pony, you mean?”
“Exactly.”
“They’re from sensible households,” he said approvingly.
“You must be tired, Roa. Go wash up and rest,” Mother suggested gently.
Cassie, who’d been waiting nearby, led me to the bath.
“Why is that Lady Ikel always so desperate to bring you down, my lady?”
“Oh? Did you hear something?”
“I went to the market on my day off and ran into a friend from the Model estate. She said her lady was wondering the same thing — ‘Why does Lady Merina Ikel always pick fights with Lady Rosia?’”
“Well, Lady Ikel does hate me. I never knew why before, but now I think I understand.”
“Really?” Cassie’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.
“It’s probably because of Silla. I think Lady Ikel’s fallen for him.”
Cassie was so startled that she squeezed the sponge in her hand until it dripped.
“Why go after someone else’s man— oh, I’m sorry, my lady.”
She clamped her lips shut, though her cheeks were still puffed with indignation.
“Haha, well, Lady Ikel is quite popular. But since Silla seems to prefer me, I suppose she got jealous.”
“That woman always dates men of lower quality— I mean— ahem! Shall I bring the rose-scented lotion, my lady?”
Cassie quickly changed the subject after badmouthing Merina, and I pretended not to notice.
“Sure. After you dry me off first.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Through Cassie’s gossip, the rumor that Merina was infatuated with men would spread even further.
Merina might be the heroine, but that only made it easier for her to twist situations in her favor.
If both of us looked pitiable, people would side with her.
So it was best to build up multiple layers of circumstances that she couldn’t easily escape.
I soaked in the warm water, savoring the heat in quiet satisfaction.
By the next morning, Father was already fuming as he set out for the Imperial Palace.
Rexian had sent his protest to the Empress and planned to raise the matter again with the Emperor.
As for Silla — when would his letter go out? The sooner, the better — the bigger the scandal, the better.
That evening, when I saw Father again, he brought news.
“Once our house, Duke Rishiansius, and the Mage Tower all lodged their protests, His Majesty himself recognized the gravity of the matter.”
Apparently, the Emperor, unable to overlook Merina’s insult to the Empress’s name, had ordered her to be confined.
She was to remain at the Ikel estate for a month of reflection, and even afterward, she was forbidden from attending any parties or gatherings — including hosting her own — for the rest of the season.
So basically, “stay home until the social season ends.”
Typical. Even her punishment is gentle — perks of being the heroine.
“And House Ikel has agreed to offer compensation.”
Probably jewels or gold, I thought.
“Our family — meaning you, Roa — will receive land owned by the count’s estate.”
Wait.
That changes everything.
