Chapter 8
“Your Grace, I’ll be honest. I need a place to stay until the charity party—and money to buy a dress.”
I spoke quickly so he wouldn’t have time to think too much.
“If it’s hard to put a price on the item, then please solve these two things instead. Wouldn’t that be better for you as well?”
[Big sister! Ask him to invite you as a guest to his mansion!]
Lili understood my intention and added to my argument.
“Ah! If you invite me to your mansion, it would be more convenient, right? You must have many empty rooms.”
“…If I let an unmarried lady stay at my mansion, rumors might spread.”
He wasn’t easy to convince.
Luckily, I had already planted a seed earlier.
I didn’t expect to use it like this, though.
“Then how about inviting me under the reason of protecting me?”
“What? Protecting you?”
“Soon, rumors will spread in the capital. That Lady Rize, despite being the Count’s only bloodline, might be driven out because of Lady Lorraine’s abuse.”
“…Is that true?”
“Well, let’s leave the truth aside for now. Anyway, if you say you invited me to protect me, wouldn’t that create a good image?”
The Young Duke thought for a moment, then finally nodded.
“I will send a carriage to the front gate of this mansion at dawn.”
“Good. I’ll give you the item after I meet the Crown Prince.”
“Hah… I never thought the first lady I invite would be you. Life is truly unpredictable.”
“That’s what makes it interesting, isn’t it?”
Satisfied with the deal, I reached out my hand for a handshake.
“What does this mean?”
“It means it was a good deal.”
“You are as interesting as life itself, Lady.”
“That’s a compliment, right?”
“…Haha.”
After shaking hands, the Young Duke left through my window.
After confirming he was gone, I quietly called out,
“Lili.”
[Hmm? Why did you call me?!]
“If we leave now, we might not return to this mansion for a long time.”
[Umm…]
“Are you okay with that?”
[Yes! I like being with you more! And I need to help you attend the party!]
“Alright.”
That’s good then.
Maybe from the moment I took over your body, we became one.
So Lili… your sadness and pain are now mine as well.
* * *
It was dawn, and cold air wrapped around the mansion.
From far away, I could clearly hear the sound of horse hooves.
After reaching a higher level, my hearing had improved.
I could even hear the front gate from my bedroom.
“Lili, let’s go now.”
[Okay…]
Before leaving, I spread my senses throughout the mansion.
Lady Lorraine and Layla were sleeping peacefully, unaware of what would happen next.
I want to break that peace as soon as possible.
With no luggage to pack, I quietly left through the window.
Next time, I will walk through the front gate proudly—and take my revenge properly.
Lili followed me, still looking back at the mansion.
Even I had grown attached to it.
But leaving is leaving.
“…You may get in.”
As I approached, the coachman opened the carriage door.
The guard at the gate didn’t stop me—he must have already been told it was from the Duke’s house.
Good for me.
Though he might suffer later when Lady Lorraine finds out.
Not my concern.
“We will depart.”
“Let’s go.”
The carriage began to move.
After some time—
It slowed down.
Outside the window, a massive mansion came into view.
The garden alone was so large, it was hard to believe it belonged to a single person.
[Woooow! It’s amazing!]
Lili pressed her face against the window, excited.
This was the Valentier Duke family’s mansion in the capital.
It was on a completely different level from the Count’s mansion.
The carriage stopped.
“We have arrived.”
As I stepped out, the servants lined up and greeted me together.
“Welcome!”
I nodded slightly and was about to walk forward when—
“Are you tired?”
The Young Duke, standing at the entrance, stopped me.
Today, he looked much neater than last night.
“On such a good day? Of course not.”
“I’m glad. I hope you like the mansion.”
He extended his hand.
I hesitated for a moment, then placed mine on his.
He gently held it—and kissed the back of my hand.
Why is he suddenly using his lips?
Startled, I almost pulled my hand away—
[Big sister! It’s a greeting! Male nobles greet female guests like this!]
Ah… right.
Even though I had heard of it, I wasn’t used to it.
While resting after training, Lili had taught me noble etiquette quickly—
But there were still many things I couldn’t understand.
Especially this.
In my world, strength itself was respect.
Still, I could see the Young Duke’s status.
Until I get what I want, it’s better to stay on good terms.
“I’ll show you your room. You may go anywhere freely, so please make yourself comfortable.”
“You’re treating me very well.”
“I want my first guest to be comfortable.”
He emphasized “first.”
That made me slightly uneasy.
So I changed the topic.
“What about the dress?”
“Haha, I remember. I’ve invited a designer. She will arrive this morning.”
“That was fast. It’s not something cheap, right?”
“Of course not. Do you doubt the Duke family’s finances?”
Well, they do seem rich.
I just hope the designer agrees to make something comfortable.
The last time maids dressed me, I thought it was a new form of torture.
Why expose the chest?
Why tighten the waist until I can’t breathe?
And why are the skirts so heavy?
“Your Grace, about the dress—”
“Before that.”
He smiled and interrupted me.
“Let’s see your room first.”
“…Right. I was too impatient.”
The guest room was far better than Rize’s old room.
[Woooow! Big sister, can we live here forever?!]
‘Ahem. No, Lili.’
Though I secretly thought the same.
* * *
While resting, I was later called to the reception room.
“Lady Rize.”
“Yes.”
“You may do anything you wish here.”
He opened the door.
Inside sat a woman, younger than I expected.
Her hair was tightly tied, and she wore a simple dress.
“I am Sailor Clo.”
She stood and greeted me directly.
The Young Duke nodded.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation.”
“How many people can refuse you, Your Grace?”
“Some can.”
He glanced at me and smiled.
“This is my guest. As written in the contract, please take good care of her.”
“The Soner Count family’s…?”
“Yes.”
“Ah! The most talked-about lady recently! Don’t worry, I’ll keep everything confidential.”
So that was the family name—Soner.
“Your Grace, may I speak with her now?”
“I’ll step back.”
He didn’t leave, just moved aside.
Sailor looked me over carefully.
“Lady, you are too thin. I recommend a style that hides your figure—”
“Wait.”
I stopped her.
“I want clothes that allow me to swing a sword freely.”
“…What?”
“I want something comfortable. The design doesn’t matter.”
“Lady… please don’t misunderstand. A noble lady with a sword? You may be laughed at in high society!”
I remembered what the Young Duke said.
I could do anything I wanted.
Etiquette didn’t matter.
First, I need to be comfortable.
“I’ll handle the consequences. The party is in two days, right? Please reflect my request.”
Sailor looked at the Young Duke.
He only smiled.
So he approved.
“Understood… I’ll make the most comfortable dress possible for you!”
* * *
Two days later, at the Valentier mansion in the capital.
As the sunset dyed the garden red—
Carriages of nobles began to arrive one by one.
Counts, marquises, dukes—
All famous families were present.
Everyone knew—
This was not just a charity party.
It was a stage to determine—
Who is worthy of becoming the next Crown Princess.
At the center of it all stood the Young Duke Valentier.
As his entrance was delayed, the tension grew.
“Are we all waiting for the same person? When will he come?”
“The host doesn’t need to hurry. I’m waiting for the Crown Prince.”
“Stop arguing. Who will be their partners?”
At that moment—
A servant shouted loudly at the entrance.
Everyone turned at once.
“The Young Master of the Valentier Duke family, Lord Raiden—and the only daughter of the Soner Count family—have arrived!”
