Chapter 10
Countess Yotley lifted her chin proudly.
“How could that possibly be, Your Grace? The South welcomes its Duchess.”
Roana answered with a pleasant smile.
As Countess Yotley’s gaze traveled down to examine Roana’s attire…
Her expression froze.
The necklace hanging around Roana’s neck was far too familiar.
It had once belonged to Erkana, the late Duchess and the birth mother of the current Duke.
Even now, it remained one of the most famous heirloom jewels ever discussed in Southern noble society.
Wasn’t she supposed to be completely unacknowledged?
Then how is she wearing that necklace?
It was also the necklace Diane had coveted more than anything else.
Without permission, Diane had often wandered through the mansion, secretly admiring the belongings of the previous Duchesses.
Among them…
The sapphire necklace had always been her favorite.
Against Roana’s soft hazel hair…
Her pale blue eyes almost seemed mystical.
The eyes of House Hezest.
And yet…
No one could deny that the sapphire necklace suited those eyes perfectly.
The corners of Countess Yotley’s eyes stiffened.
She deliberately wore that necklace…
This is a declaration of war.
Of course…
She had no intention of being intimidated by a mere piece of jewelry.
She didn’t know what kind of influence the inexperienced young Duke and House Hezest might create together.
But…
The daughter of House Hezest will never be accepted by Southern society.
Not without the help of someone like her.
Countess Yotley bit her lip.
She couldn’t afford to lose anything she possessed.
Her influence over Southern noble society.
The respect the nobles showed her.
And the strings she secretly controlled behind the scenes.
If Roana established herself here…
She would lose most of it.
Countess Yotley’s heart tightened with anxiety.
After personally escorting Roana into the conservatory where the gathering was being held, she hurriedly summoned a maid.
“While our guests are here…”
“Do not let Diane come downstairs under any circumstances.”
“She must not be seen by anyone.”
“Do you understand?”
“Yes, Countess.”
Only after taking every precaution against the worst possible disaster did Countess Yotley return to greeting her guests.
Just as I thought.
She wasn’t going to mention it herself.
The moment I saw Countess Yotley…
I understood.
She had the eyes of someone with a guilty conscience.
Just my presence…
Wearing this necklace…
Was enough to make her nervous.
Even so, she couldn’t back down.
She probably felt like someone forced to balance on one foot atop a tiny scrap of paper.
As soon as the gathering began…
I saw exactly how much influence this necklace carried.
One of the women who’d been glaring at me with open hostility finally couldn’t contain herself.
“Did His Grace personally give you that necklace?”
“Yes.”
“When he heard I would be attending today’s gathering, he had it prepared for me.”
I answered casually.
Technically, Cheres hadn’t taken it out himself.
But…
He had given permission.
Still…
Everyone recognizes this necklace.
Then a soft, somewhat delicate voice spoke.
“Your Grace…”
“Do you happen to know the history behind that necklace?”
I turned toward the speaker.
She was breathtakingly beautiful.
Soft golden hair.
Sky-blue eyes.
I understood immediately.
So this is the greatest beauty in the South…
Wow.
She’s gorgeous.
Her moist-looking eyes…
Her graceful bearing…
She resembled a single pure white lily.
How could anyone possibly look like that?
“I’m afraid I don’t know much about its history.”
“That isn’t surprising.”
“You’re an outsider, after all.”
“You came from House Hezest…”
Several noblewomen replied with undisguised coldness.
As expected.
No matter where you went in the South…
Everyone hated House Hezest.
Honestly…
So did I.
May House Hezest go bankrupt.
“The necklace originally belonged to Lady Erkana, the current Duke’s birth mother.”
“It was part of the dowry she brought when she married into House Beredan.”
“I’ve heard she treasured it deeply and wore it often while she was alive.”
“That’s why it remains so famous throughout the South.”
The young woman explained gently.
Her voice was beautiful.
Every word was pleasant to hear.
She looked exactly like the delicate, fragile heroine of a romance novel.
But…
Wait.
A keepsake?
His late mother’s keepsake?
If it breaks, it’ll be the jeweler’s fault.
Or maybe it’s just old.
You don’t need to worry.
…What a scam!
My mind instantly cleared.
I almost reached up to touch the necklace…
Then quickly lowered my hand.
This wasn’t something an ordinary person like me had any business handling.
I absolutely cannot lose this.
I could feel my shoulders stiffen with tension.
“I had no idea it carried such meaning.”
“Thank you for telling me.”
“Oh!”
“I’m Chloe of House Maleit.”
“Please, just call me Chloe.”
“I’ve known Cheres since we were children, so…”
“Oh!”
She lightly covered her mouth as she laughed.
Then she added apologetically,
“I still make little mistakes like that sometimes.”
“I suppose it’s because we’ve known each other for so long.”
“Please forgive my rudeness.”
“If you’re childhood friends, that’s only natural.”
“Thank you for sharing such precious history with me.”
“So…”
“I can keep calling him Cheres then?”
I gave a brief nod.
Whether she called him Cheres or not wasn’t any of my concern.
My attention remained fixed entirely on the necklace.
Keeping such an important heirloom outside for too long felt disrespectful.
I needed to return it safely as soon as possible.
Filled with that sense of duty…
I turned my head and searched for today’s target once again.
Countess Yotley sat diagonally across the room, carefully avoiding my direct line of sight.
Whew…
Mrs. Urein’s words echoed in my mind.
“That gathering is a battlefield for noblewomen, Your Grace.”
“You’ll be entering it fully armed.”
“Countess Yotley cares deeply about appearances.”
“That is exactly why she’ll be easier to corner in front of everyone.”
I’m a warrior.
“Now that I think about it…”
“Countess Yotley.”
“I heard your niece has been staying here recently.”
“It seems she isn’t attending today’s gathering.”
Countess Yotley stared at me with unmistakable tension.
Even from across the room, I could see her hand trembling as she set down her teacup.
If she doesn’t bring it up first…
You bring it up.
Mrs. Urein had advised me not to hesitate.
My opponent would already be frightened.
“May I meet your niece?”
“Th-That child…”
By now…
House Beredan had already uncovered the truth.
Diane wasn’t simply an experienced nanny with an impressive résumé.
She was Countess Yotley’s own niece.
Of course…
The Countess had no idea we already knew.
“Oh my.”
“You’ve been hosting your niece?”
“I had no idea, Countess.”
“She’s unwell.”
“She’s here to recover.”
“That’s why I’ve kept her away from everyone.”
“She’s ill?”
I joined the conversation with an expression of concern.
“As the Duchess of the South…”
“I cannot simply overlook that.”
“I’d like to prepare a gift to wish our guest a speedy recovery before she returns home.”
“I’d also like to offer my personal encouragement.”
“May I meet her?”
“W-Well, that’s…!”
The moment Countess Yotley shrank back in panic…
The noblewomen who had always harbored some resentment toward her suddenly straightened in their seats.
One after another…
They began supporting me.
“Countess Yotley…”
“Her Grace has already gone so far as to ask personally…”
The sapphire necklace around my neck undoubtedly played a part in winning them over.
Countess Yotley’s wrinkled face turned deathly pale.
This is exactly why you shouldn’t spend your life doing terrible things.
Eventually…
It all comes back to you.
“Th-This is incredibly rude!”
“The host has already refused!”
“Why do you insist on pressing the matter?”
“Perhaps such behavior was acceptable in House Hezest, but—!”
Her face flushed bright red as she protested.
But honestly…
Her reputation was already in ruins.
What difference would sinking a little lower make?
Besides…
Everything was about to come crashing down anyway.
I wasn’t afraid.
After all…
I had Cheres behind me.
“Then I suppose I have even more right to insist here.”
“I’m the Duchess.”
I beckoned to one of the maids waiting nearby.
“Go.”
“Bring me the young lady staying in this house.”
“Tell her the Duchess wishes to see her face.”
“Y-Yes!”
“Right away, Your Grace!”
Countess Yotley looked utterly despairing.
She had realized there was no stopping this anymore.
She had never imagined I would make such a direct move.
You really have to catch people completely off guard.
