23

The same was true of these nobles, who were now blocking her way. Elena smiled passionately at the young people.

"That's a… oh!"

The ladies, passionately flattering, only opened their mouths, but could not continue with the next words. For some reason, when they faced Elena's secretive smile, they lost the confidence to speak to her. A smile that could not be resisted. It was an emotion that not only them, but all the other young men felt in common.

Clear.

As Elena proceeded to walk with impeccable grace, all the ladies who had surrounded her in layers dodged. She stopped in front of a lady.

"I was hoping I could say hello sometime… but it looks like it's today. Nice to meet you. Madame de Flanrose."

Elena lifted her skirt very gracefully and slightly lowered her head and waist. It was such a perfect greeting that it would not be insufficient even if it was a sample of etiquette.

"I also waited for the day to say hello, Your Highness."

Without expressing embarrassment at Elena's sudden greeting, Madame de Flanrose greeted her with dignified words and deeds.

"Oh my."

They only exchanged greetings, but they were amazed at the courage they could not dare to follow. The movements that were not just learned and followed, but all the virtues that the aristocrats should possess, were so noble that they wanted to be a model of etiquette.

"Perhaps the reputation of Madame… Who is so graceful in her hand gestures, is not a myth."

"That's too much. Your Highness, despite your young age, is full of grace."

"I still have a long way to go. I want to ask you to teach me."

Elena expressed the sincerity of her words with polite courtesy. Madame de Flanrose, who had been watching her movements with eagle eyes, was surprised. From the way she handled her gaze, to the way her arms followed her neck, to the way her fingers curved, to the way her hips curved and wrinkled as her dress gripped her, the whole movement was so perfect that she wanted to set an example.

"How can I ignore Your Highness's request? It's just that I don't seem to have anything to teach you, so here's what I have to say."

"Is politeness the only virtue of nobility? I would like to learn and discuss with Madame about the moderation of the nobility."

Elena spoke the word sobriety with great emphasis. It was a very subtle emphasis, but Madame de Planrose, who knew that etiquette emphasized tone of voice, intensity, and pronunciation, could not have missed it.

"Integrity and chastity. The princess has a neat mind as well as conduct."

"I'm not even up to Madame's toes. You're the one who regards integrity and chastity as the yardstick of aristocracy, don't you? Isn't that right?"

"... Her Highness has been excessive in painting my face with gold."

As Elena kept falling over with her integrity and chastity, Madame de Franrose's gaze wavered faintly. Being such a socialite as "Madame" was, she was good at hiding her emotions, but she couldn't hide all the urges that came from within.

'Why are you so nervous? The person who is called the symbol of integrity and chastity.'

Elena tried hard to hold back her laughter. The story of Madame de Flanrose and her husband Count Rondo was so romantic that no one in the country didn't know.

When Madame de Flanrose received news of the death of Count Rondo, who had fought in the war against the western steppe tribes, she visited the Order of Gaia and vowed to mourn her husband's death for the rest of her life without remarrying. This was a rare notion of chasity in an empire that was so generous with remarriage.

However, a few years later, Count Rondo, who was thought to be dead, was crippled and miraculously returned to life. He had lost both his legs and, according to the doctor who treated him. Nevertheless, Madame de Flanrose still lived with her husband, saying she was grateful that he had come back alive.

She was hailed as the lady among ladies because of her sacrifice. Even the imperial family directly gave her the title of "Madame" in praise of her chastity and integrity.

But who would have known? Who knew that there was a man she would meet in secret, a person said to be the symbol of chastity and integrity. The scandal of Madame de Flanrose would cause an uproar in the empire three years from now. The fact that Madame de Flanrose, a specimen of aristocracy and the epitome of elegance, had been fornicating with a coachman for decades was now known. And by a certain maid.

As it is now, it is common for aristocrats to exchange women and servants. Among them, the servants that Madame de Flanrose taught were popular among the nobility for their good manners and deep insight into their masters. It was very meaningful for the nobles to receive her maids as gifts.

Two years from now, Madame de Flanrose sent her most cherished maid to celebrate the birthday of Grand Duke Friedrich.

The girl's name is May.

Elena thought of her face in her memory. May, whose short, short hair suited her well, was particularly memorable for her alien mood and atmosphere for a maid. She had a bright charm to her, and she soon became a maid directly under Grand Duke Friedrich and served his entourage.

Yes, she was not a big story so far. The problem arose when she tried to assassinate Grand Duke Friedrich. It was revealed that she had systematically approached Madame de Flanrose, built her trust, and used it as an excuse to come into the Grand Duchy and meticulously prepare to kill Grand Duke Friedrich.

'Vengeance is a marvelous thing. A naive aristocrat girl took it upon herself to live as a servant to avenge her family."

After the assassination failed, and she was tortured, May was said to have been the only daughter of Viscount Carl who followed the imperial family. Viscount Karl was an aristocrat who cried out for stronger imperial authority and confronted Grand Duke Friedrich, but was eventually framed, driven into treason and killed, it was said.

May, who miraculously escaped while her family was being destroyed, hid in a merchant guild. There, she changed her name and identity to avenge her parents, who had led her to the bottom of the pyramid, and eventually succeeded in joining the Grand Duchy after serving as Madame de Flanrose's maid. She even won the favor of Grand Duke Friedrich and arrived at his bedchamber, but the assassination ultimately failed.

'It's praiseworthy for her to have gotten there. But she failed.'

The process is unimportant. The world is all about results.

'If May helps me, won't the results change?'

Elena wanted her maid of honor, May, by her side. She needed her to be a limb in Elena's place, as she was not free to move around due to Leabrick's surveillance and her external status as Princess Veronica.

In that vein, May was the right person for the job. With her previous experience in a guild, it was highly likely that she knew a lot about the world that Elena had not experienced.

It was necessary to coordinate inside and outside to bring the Grand Duke to ruin. It may be hard to break the rock all at once, but if you put out small cracks and aim relentlessly inside and outside, the cracks would be the starting point and the rock could be broken roughly.

'The enemy is a comrade.'

That was why Elena wanted to keep May under her thumb. Elena felt a strong sense of homogeneity with May, who only ran for revenge. It felt like she was facing a mirror.

She also felt sorry for her. She felt sorry for a life lived only for revenge, stripped of the opportunity and right to live happily, and a life where even that had failed. That's why she was going to bring May here as soon as possible and keep her by her side.

"It's a shame that I haven't had this opportunity before, because I'm chatting with Madame like this. There's so much more I want to talk about…"

"Don't be sorry, Your Highness."

Madame de Flanrose wanted to avoid this position. Throughout the conversation with Elena, she felt uncomfortable as if she had a sore throat. It was the same with Elena. She was not interested in such a woman. Punishing or persecuting with the same sense of justice, whether she committed adultery or not, did not suit her taste. She just wanted to have May by her side ahead of the original history.

"Huh! Uh? Madame, please stay still for a moment."

Elena opened her eyes wide and performed a surprise show.

"What's wrong?"

"Just a minute."

Elena sought unilateral understanding and took out a handkerchief from her sleeve with a large-sized seal.

Slowly.

Pulling herself, Elena reached out her hand, who narrowed the distance with her. Madame De Flanrose's shoulders were wiped with a handkerchief, and she lowered her upper body while performing a visual performance. Elena, who faced her with about a snake of her hands, spoke in a small voice that only she could understand.

"Aren't people so innocent? Complimenting and praising a woman who plays around with a horseman. Right?"

"…!"

Madame de Flanrose was whiter than a blank sheet of paper. The fear of exposing a shameful part of her body that should never have been revealed jolted her keen reason. A sense of dread came over her that she had not known when she had committed adultery. She shuddered at the frustration and despair that she could lose everything she had built up for a moment's pleasure.

Elena watched the reaction and whispered like a devil.

"Oh, my. Why are you so surprised? Did you think it was an eternal secret?"

"P-Princess."

It has been a long time since the dogs took away her solitary and unbreakable aristocracy. Madame de Flanrose had lost her self-respect, her pride, and even her beliefs that sustained her, and she has chosen to be servility and just live.

'All the nobles are rotten.'

When she saw Madame De Flanrose, who was wrapped in hypocrisy and pretentiousness and was praised for her life, she was overwhelmed by contempt. She wanted to make this disgusting woman feel guilty more, but there were too many eyes and ears to see and hear.

"Why are you so nervous? You think I threatened you? I'm not that kind of girl."

"…"

"Make some time to stop by the Great House. There's so much I want to say."

"W-whatever you want."

Madame de Flanrose shook her head with eagerness not to say anything because she would do what she was told, small enough for Elena to see. Elena smiled and took a step back.

"You had something on your shoulder, so I'm sorry… It's not polite."

"N-no. It's all because you're considerate of others."

It was funny to see her trying to maintain her aristocracy on the subject of a face that would not be strange even if she fell down right away.

"It was really meaningful to meet Madame today. I'm sure I'll have another opportunity, right?"

Elena looked at Madame de Flanrose with an elegant smile. Madame de Flanrose smiled with a contemplated face.

"O-of course."

"I'm already looking forward to that time. Oh! Take this."

Elena politely handed over the handkerchief she was holding. Madame de Flanrose received it in a state of panic.

"It's a sign that promises the next meeting. I embroidered it by hand, so look at it and tell me how it is."

"I-I will."

"Then, I'll leave you alone. May you have a glorious night."

Elena said goodbye gracefully and stepped aside. Since there was another person's attention, further conversation was too much, and Madame de Flanrose's condition was not good enough to collapse immediately.

'You'd understand if I told you this much.'

Humans are resilient in a crisis. A person like Madame de Flanrose was great enough to go to any lengths to protect their own and survive in the muck. Maybe she would take a peek at the handkerchief Elena had given her on the carriage ride back to her house. And she would do as she was told, trying to find her way in life.

'Leabrick's coming.'

She just happened to see Leabrick coming like crazy her way. She was only away for a while, but she seemed tired.

"Liv, are you here?"

Elena treated her face with a smile.

"Princess, are you all right?"

"As you can see, I was a little surprised, but I calmed down when I saw Liv."

"I'm relieved to hear that."

Leabrick's lips twitched. Perhaps there was a lot to ask about Ren. But she couldn't ask because there were a lot of eyes to see, so she just swallowed inside.

"Can you stay longer?"

"Of course."

When Elena smiled and replied, Leabrick stopped talking and stepped back. Then the nobles, who had only been looking for an opportunity to say something, approached Elena and continued to flatter and cajole her.

"I'm surprised you're getting prettier day by day even though you're already so beautiful."

"Thank you."

Princess Veronica had appeared in society for the first time in two years. Her return was a success.

***

"It was a night so fascinating that I can't speak, Liv."

Elena, who left the annex and was returning to the main building, couldn't hide her excitement and chatted.

"You've done a great job that's not easy."

Leabrick, who followed suit, unexpectedly agreed with Elena. Elena did well in Princess Veronica's role more than she feared. She wasn't perfect yet, but it was clear that it was a remarkable achievement.

'Except for being with Sir Ren.'

Leabrick had no idea what the conversation was about, even though she was in the same position and couldn't stop him, even though she was looking at them with both eyes open. The question tormented Leabrick to the point of driving her crazy in her pursuit of perfection. All she wanted to do was track down Elena right away and ask her what he had said at that moment.

"I know you're tired, but let's talk for a while."

"Should we?"

They moved to the drawing room located in the main building. Even before the tea and cookies that had been asked to be served to the maid of honor, Leabrick asked about what had happened earlier.

"Sir Ren is a dangerous man. He was hostile again. What the hell happened?"

"Where should I start….? Ah! He came to my room just before the banquet."

"What?"

Leabrick's eyes grew fierce. Emotions were exposed to the surface. That's because Ren's unexpected behavior exceeded her expectations.

"He came into the room without permission, and suddenly said hello."

"And? Tell me everything he did."

"There's nothing to talk about. It wasn't a conversation in the first place. He unilaterally asked me how I was doing, then he stared at me and left."

"That's it?"

"Yes, that's it."

Leabrick's eyes deepened. It is to find meaning in the series of actions that Ren has shown.

"Tell me what he said in the hall."

"At that time, it was too scary, and I was confused… Ah! He said he hated me."

"Hate?"

Elena nodded.

'Yes, he didn't like it when I asked him why he was doing this, but he had to have a reason. Liv, the look on that person's face as he told me that story was so scary that it choked me up."

"I know it's hard. But you did a good job, princess."

Leabrick patted Elena on the shoulder to console her. It was a consolation without sincerity. Her mind was focused on figuring out why Ren had done this.

'Did he notice she was a substitute?'

Leabrick posed the question. Even though they were blood related, the two had never met during the past year. Two years of growing up was a period of much physical and mental development. And even if they were cousins, they were not familiar with each other. Even if Elena was a little inept and made some mistakes, she was never suspected of being a greedy substitute.

Leabrick looked up and stared at Elena.

The perfect role. Looking at her appearance alone, she was not much different from Princess Veronica by anyone's standards. With her skillful use of etiquette and adornment with dresses and trinkets, earrings that were not there before flowed quite well.