96

The date of the social gathering was decided earlier than expected. Since it was a social gathering of Madame de Flanrose, the invited noblewomen actively expressed their intention to attend. It was not well received that Elena's chosen ladies who she wanted to invite to the meeting did not have a very good social reputation. Some were promiscuous, some were ignorant, and some were extravagant.

Madame de Flanrose was dying. It was insulting that she had to invite such noblewomen, who had no foundations, into her mansion and have a social gathering. But she couldn't undo it now, so she wanted to get it over with rather quickly.

"Thank you for inviting me, Madame."

"I can't believe Madame invited me. I really don't think I'll have any regrets when I die."

"Isn't this what the glory of the family is all about? I have brought you a fox scarf from the northern region to give to Madame."

The three ladies were Stella, Aria, and Leah. They greeted each other with their skirts raised. Madame's eyebrows wiggled at the sloppy and poor manners.

'If it weren't for the deal, these lousy girls wouldn't have crossed the gate.'

Madame de Flanrose hid her feelings inside with a smile.

"Actually, I've invited another special guest instead of the three of you. If you don't mind, I'd like to invite them to this table, is that okay?"

"It's alright."

"Since it's Madam's invitation, of course they should be welcomed."

"Then I'll welcome them."

The door opened shortly after.

When Madame de Flanrose rose from the sofa, the three ladies, who were following her sensibly, were frightened to see the guest in the drawing room.

"Y-Your Highness the Princess?"

Her identity popped out of Stella's mouth. Since she had attended the birthday banquet, she clearly remembered Elena's appearance. With that, the other two ladies' eyes also rolled.

"Come on in. Sit this way."

"Thank you, madame."

Elena sat at the top of the sofa under the guidance of Madame de Flanrose. The three ladies, who had never imagined that Princess Veronica would come here, were puzzled.

"I think there are some ladies who already know me, but I think it's polite to introduce myself. I'm Veronica von Friedrich."

The three ladies, who were temporarily dazed by the authority of the surname Friedrich, came to their senses and quickly introduced themselves.

"I'm Stella Medici."

"I'm Aria Louise."

"I'm Leah Baden."

"Nice to meet you. I came to see Madame by chance and was introduced to these ladies. I think today is a very meaningful day."

Disappointed by Elena's exaggerated lie, Madame de Flanrose's lips twitched. After forcing herself to stay long enough for a cup of tea out of courtesy, Madame de Flanrose rose from her seat.

"I have some business to attend to, so I'm afraid I have to leave my seat. Please stay and chat."

"Yes, Madame."

"I'll see you later!"

When Madame de Flanrose left, there was a rather awkward silence in the room. Princess Veronica was a difficult conversation partner for the three young ladies of humble families.

"Do you like tea or dessert? I brought it for Madame, but I thought I'd enjoy it with you ladies."

"I-I'd love to!"

"Me, too."

Elena nodded and asked May to bring the new refreshments. Soon after, May brought a five-tier dessert tray containing cookies, cakes, and macaroons.

"Wow, I've never seen anything like this."

The three young ladies were surprised by the size of the dessert tray they had never seen before. And they were surprised twice by the deep sweetness that spread through their mouths. It is said that if the mouth is happy, the heart is happy. As they talked about the common topic of dessert, the awkwardness disappeared and the friendly atmosphere continued.

Rather than leading the conversation, Elena focused on building intimacy by asking and listening to interests that the three ladies would like. For the promiscuous Stella, she focused on the need for free love; for the extravagant Leah, she gave information about a newly opened jewelry store; for the short-learned Aria, she praised her intuitive looks…. Elena's skillful use of the art of storytelling won the three ladies' favor.

"Have you guys seen the mermaid dress? The first time I saw it, I couldn't breathe. Wasn't it like there was a legendary mermaid standing there?"

"I saw it. I thought it was too revealing, but it was also very attractive."

"I was going to order one, but they're all booked up. I don't know what to do because I can't get it until next year at the earliest."

Elena smiled happily and drank the black tea.

'Christina should listen to this.'

Although the opinions of the three ladies could not represent the absolute majority, it was clear that among the young ladies, the mermaid dress was in the limelight as a dress that emphasized the beauty of women with sophistication rather than vulgarity and erotica.

"Have you heard the rumor about L?"

"Rumor?"

"Yes, I heard from the salon staff that L's wearing a mask because she has burns on her face. It's a very ugly scar."

"Oh my!"

Leah and Stella opened their eyes wide at Aria's comments, who enjoyed gossiping. Then, one by one, they joined in and concurred.

"I don't know about that, but the sirs said L was the kind of beauty who would attack an empire."

"I find it very disgraceful to be called the 'modern woman' because L is an intelligent person, for what it's worth."

"That's right. A lady's virtues are first and foremost."

Elena was thrilled to see the three ladies gossiping about L. Just by looking at the insubstantial rumors and unfounded criticism, she could tell what level of education and character they had. That's why she invited them. She invited them because they were familiar with the secret gatherings and meetings of the aristocracy that did not appear in the public eye, as in the phrase playing with friends.

Elena hid her ridicule and smiled.

"If you look at it, isn't Her Highness the Princess here more noble than L?"

"That's right. Modern woman? I think it's perfect for Her Highness. Her Highness is full of dignity."

As Elena felt continually alienated from the conversation, Stella deliberately brought her in.

"Thank you. I think you three ladies are full of life. You're well-versed in the capital. I've been thinking a lot about something lately, and I think I can get some help from you ladies."

"Thinking?"

As soon as Elena was in line, the three ladies' eyes lit up. The measure of fellowship in social circles begins with the sharing of concerns. Asking for advice in itself seemed to be a sign of trust in the other person. And what's more, it was Princess Veronica's problem. They didn't want to pass up the opportunity to give discipline disguised as advice to Princess Veronica, who was too highborn to look at anything more interesting.

"You can't talk about it anywhere else. Can you promise me that?"

"Of course. I swear to Goddess Gaia."

"As a believer, I promise to name the goddess."

Only then did Elena, who had a look of relief, bring up her words.

"I don't want to live these days. I have no motivation. It's the same life, the same day over and over again. I'm just bored and suffocating."

Elena's face had darkened. Her face as she looked on the ground was tired and worried with a sighing expression.

"Your Highness seems to be having a hard time these days."

Elena nodded at Leah, who was sympathetic.

"I feel down and depressed. My life is boring. I sometimes wonder why I live at all."

Stella jumped in.

"Why don't you find a new stimulation?"

"Stimulation?"

Elena snapped at her words as if she had been waiting. Then she acted as if she was really frustrated.

"What is it? Anything is fine, so let me know."

"It's a late-night masquerade."

Elena's eyes took on a different look for a moment. That was it. Elena had spent time with the ignorant and vain ladies, trying to uncover the backstory of the social scene that she in her previous life had not been familiar with.

"What's that?"

Elena opened her eyes wide and asked again. Like an innocent young woman who knew nothing.

"It's a ball that only starts when the sun sets. It's a very private ball."

"How do you keep it a secret? Tell me more about it."

Aria stuck in and whispered her head.

"It's a little intimate."

"What? What does that mean?"

When Aria, who was famous for being empty-headed, didn't understand at all, Lady Stella looked around a bit before explaining.

"It's like a ball where something taboo is allowed. It is an unwritten rule that the identity and name of the person wearing the mask is not asked. As soon as you ask, you are thrown out."

"What? What do you do when you can't even talk?"

"You know what they say. Talk with your body? Oh, I'm so embarrassed. I can't believe I'm saying this with my own mouth."

"Oh, my!"

When Stella wrapped both cheeks with her hands, the two young ladies were at a loss. Elena suppressed the urge to wipe behind her ears right now with superhuman patience. She was sick of the level at which she was throwing herself into mere lust and pleasure.

"Everyone, get close. Let me tell you another fascinating story."

As the two young ladies approached closely, Elena hid her displeasure and bowed down just like them.

"Do you happen to know the 'heavenly powder'?"

"What's that?"

"What do I call it, once you inhale it, it's the overwhelming powder of the world? The more tired you get, the fuzzier you get… but oh, the ecstasy of it is unimaginable."

The look in Elena's eyes was cold and somber. Elena remembered the man who had died in front of the Great House. Just as she was about to say something sluggishly, the image of the man killed by Lorentz still stuck in her mind.

'The heavenly powder must be opium.'

It was clear that the night-long masquerade would handle it.

'I need to look into it.'

She decided to use Stella to get a clear clue.

"Lady Stella."

"Yes?"

Stella looked at Elena, erasing her dreamy expression.

"I want to go. How can I get there?"

"It requires an invitation…"

Although she brought up the subject, Stella couldn't speak easily. This is because it was not easy to invite someone because it was operated so secretly.

"Please get one for me. Please."

When Elena asked for a favor close to her entreaty, Stella held her shaking eyes and nodded.

"I'll get the invitation."

"Thank you!"

Stella's lips twitched as Elena held her hand. It was worth asking for an invitation by just being able to debt and get close to Princess Veronica, not anyone else.

Ten days later, an invitation for the late-night masquerade arrived.