Chapter 56
Diana let out a scoffing laugh, as if she had expected it all along. Catherine had no other options.
She had deliberately kept Catherine occupied so that Aicel and Sawyer could spend more time together. Meanwhile, Aicel must have approached Sawyer in a way different from other noble young ladies.
The two had similar personalities, so it was obvious they’d quickly grow close.
And naturally, watching that would have made Catherine feel anxious.
That anxiety must have led to that foolish decision—to sing with that strained voice.
“Oh my, Lady Catherine of Ernst has raised her hand.”
Serena widened her eyes in surprise and quickly glanced at Diana’s expression.
She couldn’t risk making her perform and embarrassing Ernst’s young lady due to lack of skill.
But Diana was smiling as brightly as if she were admiring a beautiful flower.
Serena took that expression as Diana being confident in Catherine’s abilities.
“Come forward.”
The duchess gestured for Catherine to come up. Catherine walked forward, visibly nervous.
She had said she wanted to learn singing from Diana, but due to her punishment, she hadn’t actually had a chance to learn.
Still, how hard could singing be? You just needed to make sound with your voice to the music.
Besides, this was her only chance to redeem herself for the earlier blunder. Winning Sawyer’s heart was already out of reach—her new goal was to win over the duchess with her singing.
“Shall we begin the accompaniment?”
The noble musicians whispered among themselves and chose a basic song—one every noble should know. Catherine was familiar with it too.
The piano began the prelude, followed by the violin and cello weaving a beautiful harmony.
It was now Catherine’s turn. With her heart pounding, she opened her mouth.
“Starlight fluttering down…”
Her singing echoed across the terrace—but the expressions of Serena and the other nobles grew darker.
Her voice was incredibly hoarse.
“The moon whispers…”
The piece was called “The Moon”, a song filled with beautiful words and the innocence of a young girl.
Even if Catherine’s singing wasn’t good, if her voice had been as clear as before, the reaction wouldn’t have been this bad.
But her voice and the song were a terrible mismatch.
Naturally, the nobles watching her couldn’t help but look awkward and uncomfortable.
Only Diana and Aicel were watching with satisfaction.
“~Beautiful moon…”
Catherine’s song ended in a cold, heavy silence. The accompaniment stopped, and the nobles exchanged uneasy glances before giving awkward applause.
Catherine returned to her seat with a proud expression. From her look, it was clear she hadn’t seen the duchess’s face.
Serena turned to Diana with an incredulous look. Diana merely shrugged, feigning embarrassment.
“Ah… Thank you. It was a lovely song.”
The duchess forced herself to speak the most insincere praise imaginable.
Serena offered a strained smile and tried to shift the atmosphere by instructing the maids to bring in the gifts.
Just then, rustling came from the garden bushes.
“Hm?”
Serena turned toward the sound—and her face turned pale.
The strange look on her face caused the nobles to also glance in that direction.
“Kyaa!”
A high-pitched scream rang out from Serena.
What burst from the bushes was none other than a pack of small monsters—at least a dozen Sabina Cats. They weren’t life-threateningly dangerous, but their long claws and sharp teeth were more than enough to ruin a party.
Soon the monsters began attacking the guests.
“No!”
“Mother!”
Chaos erupted in an instant. Serena had once almost been killed by a large monster when she was young, so she trembled and screamed in terror at the mere sight of any monster.
She wasn’t only afraid of large monsters—she feared monsters themselves. Seeing the Sabina Cats sent her into a frenzy, and the party quickly fell into disarray as they jumped on tables and guests.
Sawyer shielded his mother, helplessly watching his party collapse before his eyes.
“Kyaa! Someone, do something!”
The nobles were frozen in fear, too afraid to act in case a monster targeted them. The duchy’s knights were dispatched, but the quick-moving Sabina Cats were hard to catch.
Watching the chaos with amused detachment, Diana turned to Aicel.
“It’s your turn now, Aicel.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Aicel, who had been observing the absurd scene beside Diana, stepped forward.
She summoned her magical energy—and began forming ice prisons around the fleeing monsters one by one.
Rising from the ground, the ice cages trapped the Sabina Cats instantly.
Thanks to Aicel’s quick response and powerful magic, the chaos subsided rapidly.
Still sneezing uncontrollably, Serena approached Aicel in awe.
“Magic…?”
“Yes. Our Aicel is a mage. One with incredible potential.”
It wasn’t just Serena who was shocked. The other nobles now looked at Aicel with completely different eyes.
Mages were rare, and for a high-ranking noble to wield such powerful magic was even rarer.
“Incredible… Thanks to you, we were able to stop the monsters. Truly, thank you.”
“It was nothing.”
Aicel blushed modestly, acting humbly.
And once again, the spotlight belonged to Aicel.
Even after singing her heart out, why was it always Aicel?! Catherine fumed with jealousy.
“But how did monsters appear here so suddenly?”
Diana asked the still-shaking Serena. Serena clenched her fists and scowled.
“Exactly. I hate monsters. If it hadn’t been for the young lady, I don’t know what would’ve happened…”
“Monsters don’t just appear for no reason.”
Diana rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
“Oh my, could it be…?”
“Do you suspect something?”
“Maybe someone had an item or scent that attracted monsters?”
“What? Who would do such a thing…? Most nobles know I’m terrified of monsters.”
Serena scowled in disgust.
The duchess’s trauma was well known in noble circles.
She didn’t even attend the Empire’s major hunting festivals because of her fear of monsters. Once, she fainted during a royal tea party because a flying beast appeared.
This was why Serena disliked outdoor tea parties.
But today was a special occasion. Her beloved son’s birthday had to be celebrated on the terrace with elegant music.
She had never imagined monsters would attack like this.
It was almost as if someone had planned it—an utterly unpleasant thought.
“Strange. For this many to appear at once…”
While comforting Serena, Diana suddenly sniffed the air.
“Could it be… Monstroteiran?”
“You mean that plant monsters are drawn to? The one with the minty scent?”
“Yes. More precisely, it’s closer to peppermint.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Diana at Serena’s startled reaction. When she said peppermint, one person came to mind. But Serena didn’t voice it. It was too early to openly suspect Lady Catherine of Ernst.
Just then, Alicia—watching from the back—flinched. Horror spread across her face.
The scent was like peppermint, but Monstroteiran was a known monster-attracting herb.
No way… Was the perfume she gave Catherine…?
Alicia’s thoughts raced. Diana had said it was peppermint, but the bottle was clearly labeled Monstroteiran.
Sweat beaded on her forehead.
She had no idea Serena was this afraid of monsters—or that Monstroteiran was such a dangerous scent.
She had to fix this, fast. If it was discovered that Catherine was wearing Monstroteiran, her chances with Sawyer would be zero.
Even if she gave excuses and somehow talked her way out, Catherine would never forgive her.
“Yes. Many confuse it with peppermint… Let me find the source.”
“How?”
Diana already knew where the scent came from. But she planned to put on a little show.
Blue mana swirled around her, gathering into the shape of a glowing wolf or dog.
Of course, this magical creature had no actual tracking abilities. It simply followed Diana’s will.
She glanced toward Alicia—her face was ghostly pale.
Alicia, seeing the magic, rushed over to Catherine.
“Catherine, give me your necklace.”
“Huh?”
“Quick, your necklace—”
“Oh my, Alicia, Catherine?”
But the magical dog had already reached them, sniffing the air.
Could it be? Serena glanced at Diana.
The magical dog circled Catherine once, then gestured at her necklace—before vanishing into blue mist.
Diana covered her mouth and pretended to tremble in shock. Carefully, she removed the necklace.
The scent from it was unmistakable—Monstroteiran.
“Unbelievable. Catherine, why would you…?”
Diana trailed off, feigning disbelief.
Catherine stood frozen, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Everyone was now looking at her like she had intentionally brought the scent to torment Serena.
“Huh? What do you mean? It was just peppermint…”
A memory flashed in her mind. She turned sharply toward Alicia, whose face was pale enough to faint.
Only then did she understand.
That foolish mother had given her Monstroteiran, not peppermint.
“I didn’t know it was Monstroteiran!”
Catherine shouted at the judgmental stares.
“Not knowing doesn’t excuse everything. The duchess has passed out from seeing monsters before.”
Diana rebuked her coldly.
“Apologize immediately.”
Catherine’s eyes widened in horror. Everything was ruined. Because of that idiot mother.
No—she would no longer acknowledge her as her mother.
Furious, she glared at Alicia, who couldn’t even lift her head out of guilt. Her mind spun, trying to think of a solution—but nothing came.
While Alicia panicked, everyone waited for Catherine to speak.
Then Catherine opened her mouth in a firm voice.
“I’m sorry, Madam. But actually… this wasn’t something I prepared.”
She slowly raised her hand and pointed to Alicia.
“The doctor gave it to me as a gift.”
Alicia’s eyes trembled in shock.
Alicia, your daughter just threw you away. How does it feel?
In the midst of the stunned crowd, Diana smiled wickedly, like a fallen angel who had lost all innocence.
