IWAPUF 43

“The more I learn about you, the more I’m left in awe,” Countess Rustine declared, her voice
carrying genuine admiration.
“Thank you, Marchioness Engrail, Baroness Bizdel,” I replied with a gracious nod.
“My goodness!” Baroness Bizdel’s eyes widened as she stared at me, clearly stunned that I
knew her name. It was as if she hadn’t imagined I’d be aware of her at all.
“I’ve heard Baroness Bizdel is quite knowledgeable about music,” I said warmly. “If you have
the time, I’d love to discuss it with you. Would that be alright?”
“Of course!” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with delight. “It’s I who should be asking
You!”
The young baroness, newly married and still finding her footing in high society, hadn’t been
invited to my coming-of-age ceremony. My recognition of her clearly took her by surprise. If I
hadn’t retained memories from my past, I likely wouldn’t have known her either. Her family was
modest, and her presence in society was barely notable. But back then, she had been a rising star,
her name known even to someone as dismissive of lesser noble houses as I’d been.
She wasn’t the only one caught off guard. Marchioness Engrail, seated beside her, gazed at me
with a look of disbelief. As a former princess who had left the palace upon marriage, Marchioness
Engrail’s presence was the only reason someone from a minor baronial family like Baroness
Bizdel could attend an event as exclusive as the Imperial Hunting Tournament. The two were
known to be close friends.
“I can see why the Crown Prince is so smitten with you,” Marchioness Engrail said with a
playful smile.
I dipped my head slightly, as if embarrassed, and she burst into laughter. “I think I’m falling for
Your charm myself.”
“I feel the same,” Countess Rustine added. “The more I know you, Lady Eliont, the more
captivating you become.”
Their warm laughter filled the air, creating a convivial atmosphere. But a sharp, mocking voice cut
through the warmth like a blade.
“Captivating enough to spark *those* rumors about Lady Eliont, it seems,” Bin sneered.
The lively mood froze, as if doused with cold water. All eyes turned to Bin, whose face lit up with
smug satisfaction. A woman beside her, clearly one of her followers, fluttered her fan and chimed
in.
“Indeed. Speaking of which, isn’t Luia’sha owned by the Pison merchant guild?”
“Oh my, could this ‘friend’ she mentioned be *that* man from the rumors?” another young
woman gasped, feigning shock with exaggerated theatrics.
“Goodness, did she just introduce her lover as a ‘friend’?” another added with a mocking
laugh.
Bin cut in with a firm tone. “Lady Melin, Lady Eliont isn’t married, so ‘lover’ isn’t quite
accurate. Apologize to her.”
Despite her call for an apology, Bin’s face was alight with mockery, her eyes gleaming with
derision. Her actions were a blatant provocation, and everyone could see it.
“Oh, my mistake,” Lady Melin said with a laugh. “I’m sorry, Lady Eliont.”
“Lady Melin isn’t as seasoned in society as Lady Eliont,” Bin added, fanning herself with a coy
smile. “Perhaps you could forgive her?”
Her face radiated warmth, but her eyes were cold with barely concealed hostility. She had clearly
marked me as her enemy. While it was a nuisance, this was a chance to put her in her place once
and for all—and to quash the malicious rumors still swirling around me.
“I forgive you, Lady Melin,” I said calmly. “But you might want to brush up on your choice of
words.”
“Indeed,” a noblewoman from the upper seats interjected, frowning at Lady Melin. “You’d do
well to refine your vocabulary before stepping into society again. For a lady who’s come of age,
your manners leave much to be desired.”
Under the disapproving gazes of the senior noblewomen, Lady Melin’s face flushed a deep
crimson. Though she and Bin had orchestrated this attack together, she was too young to withstand
the sharp scrutiny of so many seasoned matrons.
“It’s not entirely Lady Melin’s fault,” Bin said, her tone provocative. “Lady Eliont bears some
responsibility for the rumors about her and that man, doesn’t she?”
A young woman at Bin’s side eagerly picked up the thread. “Exactly. If she’d conducted herself
properly, such rumors wouldn’t have started.”
“As they say, there’s no smoke without fire,” another added. “If Lady Eliont hadn’t acted
suspiciously, these rumors wouldn’t exist.”
Bin was relentless, her determination to drag me down unmistakable. Her persistence was
admirable, but she’d chosen the wrong topic to weaponize.
I turned to the First Imperial Consort. As expected, her face was a mask of rigid displeasure. When
our eyes met, I adopted an expression of deep regret.
“Now I understand how you must have felt, Your Highness,” I said softly.
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Bin snapped, her voice rising sharply.
“Were you in the same position as I am now, Your Highness?” I asked, addressing the First
Imperial Consort directly.
“Bi—” Bin began, but the First Imperial Consort cut her off.
“Be quiet, Bin,” she commanded, her voice like ice. Her piercing gaze shifted from Bin to me.
The room fell silent, the whispers about my rumors dying as my standoff with the First Imperial
Consort resumed.
I let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t understand why these rumors about me persist. I can’t lay my
heart bare for all to see, and it’s truly frustrating and unjust.”
Rising from my seat, I bowed deeply to the gathered crowd. “I’m sorry for causing concern with
the rumors surrounding me. I sincerely apologize to everyone here.”
“It’s hardly Lady Eliont’s fault,” Countess Rustine said, her voice calm but pointed as she
addressed the First Imperial Consort. “The blame lies with those who spread false rumors as if
they were truth. Wouldn’t you agree, Your Highness?”
The scandal surrounding the First Imperial Consort was over thirty years old, known only to those
of her generation. While most of the gathered nobles looked on in confusion at the exchange
between the countess and the consort, the older noblewomen, aware of their history, watched with
tense expressions, their faces rigid.
If the First Imperial Consort’s old scandal resurfaced, it would spark a messy feud that would
benefit neither side. The consort, in particular, had far more to lose. A heavy silence hung in the air
until, at last, she spoke.
“Countess Rustine is correct,” the First Imperial Consort said, her tone measured. “Groundless
rumors must have caused Lady Eliont great distress. It’s truly unfortunate. Bin and the other
ladies who slandered Lady Eliont without evidence should apologize and reflect on their actions
for a time.”
“Your Highness!” Bin’s voice rose in a shrill protest.
The First Imperial Consort’s gaze, colder than ice, turned to her. Bin flinched visibly under its
weight, her body shrinking back.
“Your conduct as a lady of rank has been utterly disappointing, Bin,” the consort said sharply.
“You are barred from high society for one year.”
“Your Highness!” Bin cried out again, her voice desperate.
Ignoring her pleas, the First Imperial Consort signaled to the attendants waiting nearby. “Bin
appears exhausted. Escort her out.”
“I was wrong, Your Highness!” Bin pleaded as the attendants led her away, but no one dared
intervene. The consort’s presence was as sharp as a blade, silencing any who might have
considered defending Bin.
Even after Bin’s departure, the room remained hushed. Those who had joined her in mocking me
now trembled, caught off guard by the sudden shift in atmosphere. The First Imperial Consort’s
gaze swept over them.
“You will offer Lady Eliont a formal apology,” she commanded.
“I’m sorry, Lady Eliont,” one said, her voice quivering.
“Please forgive us, Lady Eliont,” another added.
They stood abruptly, bowing deeply to me as soon as the consort’s words fell. Her icy gaze then
turned to me. I met it steadily, unfurling my fan with a deliberate flick.
“I forgive you,” I said, my tone even. “But I hope you’ll take care not to be swayed by baseless
rumors in the future.”
“We’ll remember that,” one replied.
“Thank you,” another said fervently. “We won’t be fooled by idle gossip again!”
They bowed once more, their heads lowered. From now on, no one would dare mention the
rumors about me without solid evidence—not unless they wanted to face the First Imperial
Consort’s wrath first. This applied to the Crown Prince’s faction, the neutrals, and even the noble
faction.
Buuu—Buuu—
Two loud blasts of a trumpet echoed through the air, signaling the Emperor’s return to the rest
area from the hunt. The sun had shifted slightly westward from its zenith. It was time for the
Emperor and the hunting party to gather for lunch and rest.
At the sound of the trumpets, the attendants sprang into action, bustling to prepare everything
before the Emperor’s arrival. Yet the noblewomen seated around me hesitated to move, their eyes
fixed on the First Imperial Consort. She continued to glare at me, her expression unrelenting.
Unhurried, I leisurely fanned myself, savoring her scrutiny.
Buuuu—
Another trumpet sounded, this time a single, prolonged note, indicating the Emperor was nearly at
the rest area. The First Imperial Consort, who had been sitting as still as a statue, finally snapped
her fan shut with a sharp clack, the sound betraying her irritation.
“We should rise,” she said curtly.
“Let’s all stand!” the Empress added quickly, her face brightening with relief as she hurried to
her feet, clearly eager to escape the tension.
As the Empress and the First Imperial Consort stood, the noblewomen followed suit, their
movements hurried. Some let out discreet sighs of relief. I rose as well, blending into the crowd.
The First Imperial Consort approached me slowly.
She was, after all, a woman who had survived at the pinnacle of power for years. In that brief
moment, she seemed to have mastered her emotions. A practiced smile curved her lips, but her
eyes remained cold and piercing, like a blade poised to strike.
“I underestimated you, Lady Eliont,” she said, her voice low.
“You flatter me, Your Highness,” I replied, placing a hand over my heart and offering a slight
bow, as if graciously accepting her praise. Though her face remained impassive, her eyebrow
twitched faintly—she couldn’t quite hide her irritation.
“There’s an old saying,” she said, her tone deceptively soft. “A stone that stands out gets struck
by the hammer. I hope you don’t find yourself fitting that proverb, Lady Eliont.”
“Whether I become the stone or the hammer remains to be seen,” I replied smoothly. “But I’
ll keep your advice close to my heart, Your Highness.”
Her eyebrow twitched more noticeably this time, and her lips, adorned with delicate red rouge,
twisted into a grimace.
“We’ll see,” she said, her voice laced with venom, sharp enough to cut if words could wound.
From her perspective, I had dragged a scandal she’d buried long ago back into the light. My
actions had stirred memories among the noblewomen of her generation, rekindling a past they’d
nearly forgotten.
She turned abruptly, brushing past me, her voluminous skirts flaring with the force of her
movement. The Empress and the women loyal to the First Imperial Consort hurried after her.
“Well, I’ve lived long enough to witness quite a spectacle,” Countess Rustine said, approaching
me as the consort’s figure receded. Her wrinkled face was alight with amusement.
Buuu—
Before she could say more, another trumpet blast rang out, signaling the Emperor’s arrival at the
rest area. A flicker of regret crossed Countess Rustine’s face.
“I’d love to continue our conversation, but this isn’t the place,” she said with a sigh.
“Indeed,” I replied, mirroring her tone. “I’m disappointed as well.”