Chapter 14
“Huh? Did you just speak informally to me?”
“Why would I use honorifics? Who are you?”
Fleury fanned herself with her hand. “Wow, seriously.”
“Are you saying you don’t know who I am?”
“Yeah. I don’t.”
“Ha!”
As if she’d been gravely insulted, Fleury began fanning herself faster.
“That shameless attitude! Not knowing me in the capital? Does that make sense? Ladies, do you think that makes sense?”
When Fleury whipped her head around to ask, the girls standing behind her hurried to chime in.
“Of course it doesn’t! Not knowing Lady Fleury!”
“There isn’t a single citizen of the Empire who doesn’t know that Her Majesty the Empress dotes on Lady Fleury!”
Pleased with their answers, Fleury lifted her chin proudly.
“You hear that. Are you still going to pretend you don’t know me?”
Ah, how childish.
Well, they were children.
I don’t even know how I’m supposed to react.
When your mental ages don’t match, that’s a problem too. I didn’t know what rhythm I was supposed to play along with.
Should I just apologize for not recognizing her and end this?
The situation was uncomfortable enough already.
Everyone’s attention was on us, and I didn’t want to create more noise with a bratty kid like her.
If I bowed and apologized now, it would probably settle things. Then I could leave and rest.
Yeah. Let’s just apologize.
Just as I opened my mouth to do so, Fleury couldn’t wait and pressed me.
“Well? Are you really going to keep pretending you don’t know? Or perhaps…”
She twisted one corner of her lips upward.
“Do you simply not know anything?”
Oh?
A chill ran down my spine at her uncanny accuracy.
How did she know?
I really didn’t know anything.
This class system was unfamiliar. I’d never had time to properly learn etiquette. Formal greetings like this were completely new to me.
I’ve been living way too comfortably in the estate.
I suddenly felt grateful to House Tanzerik’s considerate staff.
“As expected. If you’ve learned nothing, your behavior can only be vulgar.”
The soft murmur in the surroundings vanished into silence.
Someone even forgot their noble decorum and gaped openly in shock.
Does she have some personal grudge against Roxina?
No. That couldn’t be.
This was Roxina’s first time leaving the estate, let alone attending a banquet.
Then there was only one reason Fleury was humiliating me in front of everyone.
Territorial behavior.
She was trying to crush the spirit of a newcomer stepping into high society for the first time.
“Vulgar….”
Such a subjective word. Defining someone’s worth by her own arbitrary standards.
“You say I’m vulgar.”
“Yes! That’s why even the Duke—”
“Then how noble are you?”
“What?!”
She’d caught my muttering and snapped.
“I am the daughter of Count Akarinz, the elder brother of Her Majesty the Empress! You cannot even be compared to—”
“I think I’m better.”
Isn’t a duke higher than a count?
I was the daughter of a duke, and she was the daughter of a count. Socially, that should put me above her.
“The Duke outranks a Count, doesn’t he? Then why can’t I be compared to you?”
Wait… since Count Akarinz is the Empress’s brother, does that make him effectively higher than Heinox despite being a count?
Tilting my head sincerely in confusion, I watched Fleury’s face flush red—white no longer.
“W-what?!”
She stammered, repeating, “Wow, seriously!” as she fanned herself again.
What’s with her?
Did she actually not know either? Was she flustered because I’d pointed out something she herself wasn’t sure about?
If that’s the case, I kind of feel bad….
The thought that I might be publicly embarrassing a young girl stirred guilt in me.
It’s not wrong not to know something. Mocking someone for that is awful!
If I pushed the point here, I might ruin her social standing.
Then she’d resent me forever, and I’d live burdened with guilt for destroying someone’s happy life.
Let’s apologize now.
Better to end it here than suffer lifelong remorse.
“I’m sowwy.”
“F-for what, exactly?”
Though startled by my sudden apology, Fleury quickly adjusted her tone under the watching eyes around us.
“Be specific about what you’re apologizing for!”
Even when I try to help you….
“Um… first, I’m sorry for not greeting you, and for not knowing you were Her Majesty the Empress’s niece, and also—”
“What is going on here?”
I’m apologizing. Who’s interrupting—
Annoyed, I looked up at whoever had cut me off—and froze.
“Renzard?!”
Why were you here?
Unlike his earlier vacant stare, Renzard’s eyes now burned as he glared at Fleury.
“Y-Young Master!”
Fleury hurriedly bowed.
“I greet the young master of House Tanzerik.”
Oh? She greets Renzard first? Then the Duke really does outrank a Count.
My lingering guilt vanished, and I straightened my back.
“Enough with the greeting. I asked what’s going on.”
Ohhh, Renzard!
Though shorter than Fleury, his presence was sharp.
“T-the Lady insulted me and was in the middle of apologizing—”
“What insult?”
“She didn’t greet me, and—”
“Greeting?”
Renzard let out a derisive laugh.
“What? She didn’t greet you?”
“Y-yes.”
“Why would Roxina greet you?”
“B-because it’s proper etiquette—”
“You seem to be under a major misunderstanding.”
“Huh?”
He stepped closer.
“Roxina doesn’t need to greet you. She’s the daughter of House Tanzerik.”
Fleury’s face filled with confusion.
“You’re the one who should greet her. Right?”
He sneered.
“I don’t see why some commonplace count’s daughter should receive a greeting from a Tanzerik.”
Wow….
Kids these days fight viciously.
Renzard, you’re scary.
At the estate, he’d only thrown tantrums. Now I saw his sharp edge.
Maybe I should slip away.
But when I glanced around, I realized my plan was shattered.
Why is everyone watching?
The nobles who had retreated earlier were now gathered again, eager to watch the confrontation.
Damn it.
They looked thoroughly entertained.
You shameless nobles!
Aren’t you supposed to live and die by decorum?
Please stop paying attention….
But my wish went unanswered. Renzard pressed harder.
“Apologize.”
“…….”
Fleury kept her mouth shut.
“I told you to apologize.”
“W-why should I?”
Gasps echoed.
Why is she so stubborn?!
She could just give a token apology and end it.
Does she enjoy this attention?
Pink-devoted Fleury might.
But I don’t!
If I couldn’t stop her, I’d have to calm Renzard—
Before I could grab his sleeve, Fleury launched her final firework.
“For someone who killed her own mother! Do you think you’re something just because the Young Master stepped in?”
“Ah….”
She’d crossed a river she couldn’t return from.
“You just—”
Renzard’s fury surged far beyond before.
“What did you just say?”
Fleury, please stop talking!
But her mouth, straight from hell, wouldn’t stop.
“Even though the Lady caused the Duchess’s death, are you fine with that? Everyone here knows it!”
She was insane. Youth was no excuse.
Mentioning Priscilla in front of Renzard.
Within House Tanzerik, Priscilla’s name was an unspoken taboo.
And yet she’d crossed that line.
“She’s lost her mind,” a noble muttered behind me.
Exactly.
Even the girls backing Fleury stepped back, pale.
“I-I didn’t say anything wrong—!”
“Fleury Akarinz.”
Renzard cut her off.
“You are incredibly stupid.”
“What did you just—!”
“You dare mention Mother in front of a Tanzerik?”
Realization dawned too late. She clapped her hands over her mouth.
“What right do you have to say that? What do you even know? Who do you think you are?!”
At that moment, I was relieved there was no sword at Renzard’s side.
If he’d even had a wooden practice blade, this banquet hall would’ve been chaos.
What do I do?
It was too late to stop him. Things had spiraled.
I suddenly felt exhausted.
I want to go home. I want to lie on my bed. Bury myself in blankets….
Just as I longed for the comfort of my room, a voice rang out nearby.
“What is the meaning of this disturbance?”
Heinox!
