The Second Night of the Banquet
A grand banquet was being held to celebrate the marriage of the Third Imperial Princess. Hosted directly by the Imperial Palace, the festivities did not end after a single day but stretched across a full three days. On the final evening, the princess herself would attend, raising a toast for the empire’s peace and prosperity to bring the celebration to a close.
Gifted talents of the empire like Viviana could afford to make only a brief appearance on the first day without suffering any real loss. But a powerless baron’s daughter like me had no choice but to attend all three days if I wanted to avoid consequences.
So what else could I do?
Even if I was exhausted, I had to show my face.
“Tina.”
“Lady Versha!”
Versha Edelweiss.
The Edelweiss countship had achieved dazzling success through their confectionery business and now enjoyed widespread renown. Their shop, Eden’s Apple, was so famous that not knowing it marked one as hopelessly uncultured; the family was beloved by countless nobles.
Like Mardian and Shari-one, Versha held considerable influence in high society. Thanks to growing close to her, I had been able to gorge myself to bursting on all the sweets I had always craved.
I ran straight into her arms as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Versha let out a pleased little laugh, stroked my hair, and handed me an elegantly wrapped box.
“These are the new pastries our shop will be releasing soon. I prepared them especially for you, Tina.”
“Really? I’m so happy! Thank you, Lady Versha.”
I should give some to Mother as a snack, I thought. She was always buried in paperwork at her desk; I worried her blood sugar might crash. Perfect timing.
And so the second night of the banquet unfolded much like any other.
I sat on a sofa, basking in Versha’s affectionate gaze and letting time drift by in leisure. Perhaps because of her reputation, young ladies soon began gathering around her of their own accord.
At first the conversation blazed with interest in the new menu items from Eden’s Apple. After that came light chatter centered on Versha, until at last the young ladies turned to the topic that always held their greatest fascination.
“Have you heard about Lady Bedarlin? Apparently she tried to expand the salt business and completely failed.”
“Oh my, so we won’t have to look at that uselessly high nose of hers anymore. Ohoho.”
Gossip. Pure, vicious gossip. One thing I had learned in high society was that women seemed to genuinely enjoy tearing others down. The truly astonishing part was how often those same women would later laugh and chat with the very people they had just shredded. The world of women really was complicated and baffling.
Bedarlin, though…
The name felt familiar. Who was she again?
Ah.
I remembered.
Rosee Bedarlin.
She had been the very first person I encountered when I debuted in high society. The moment she heard I was a daughter of the Bland barony, she had looked me up and down as if I were some sort of insect.
Back then she had radiated an aura that felt utterly beyond my reach. Now that I mixed with heavyweights like Mardian and Shari-one, she barely registered.
“A mere viscount’s daughter putting on such airs. The way she tried to square her shoulders even in front of Lady Versha was so repulsive, don’t you agree, Lady Versha?”
Versha glanced at the young lady who was flattering her and let out a soft snort of laughter. Even knowing the words were empty praise, she seemed rather pleased.
“Well, she simply got what her station deserved.”
“Exactly. Now she can finally live within her means.”
Words sharp as daggers mercilessly carved one young lady down. One might think it excessively cruel, but in high society this was simply daily life.
High society was a merciless battlefield where the weak were weeded out. Act above your station and the words would cut deeper than any blade, leaving you in ruins.
Hm?
A prickling sensation at the back of my neck made me glance around. For a moment I thought it was my imagination, but looking closer I spotted a red-haired young lady in a far corner, casting sidelong glances our way.
…Rosee?
So she had come to the banquet today.
More importantly—had she been listening to us?
Unlike our first meeting, Rosee’s face looked heavily worn. Her cheeks were flushed, and the wine glass in her hand trembled as if an earthquake were shaking it.
Poor Rosee.
She clearly lacked the generous nature needed to simply let other people’s words wash over her. I smiled quietly and rested my head against Versha’s shoulder. A faint blush rose on her cheeks as she gently stroked my hair.
“What are you thinking about that makes you smile so prettily, Tina?”
“Ah, Lady Bedarlin’s name came up and it reminded me of something from before.”
“Something from before?”
“Oh, it’s nothing Lady Versha needs to worry about, hehe…”
I gave an awkward little laugh. Versha’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
“If it’s about you, Tina, I’m curious. Will you tell me?”
“Yes, I’m curious too! Please tell us.”
“Now I’m intrigued as well.”
Versha’s curiosity pulled the other young ladies along; they all turned to me with expectant stares. Under their piercing gazes I hemmed and hawed for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Um… well, when I first entered high society, the very first person I met was Lady Bedarlin. But at the time she said some rather unkind things…”
“Unkind things?”
One of Versha’s eyebrows drew together. I lowered my eyes in a faintly dejected look and murmured as if to myself.
“She asked what a daughter of a collapsing house was doing showing her face, and said it was pitiful how I was thrashing about. Of course she was right, so I couldn’t really argue, hehe…”
“Wh-what did you say?”
The gentle expression Versha had worn until that moment twisted in an instant. Her eyes blazed with fury as she turned them toward the corner where Rosee stood, fixing her with a fiery glare.
“That insolent little bitch who doesn’t know her place.”
The way she immediately looked toward Rosee told me she had already known the girl was eavesdropping. It was a rather ruthless side of her, but I didn’t particularly mind.
“I can’t let this stand. I’m going to give her a piece of my mind.”
“Ah—no, please don’t be angry, Lady Versha.”
“How am I supposed to not be angry? She insulted you like that! Insulting Tina is the same as insulting us.”
Versha’s voice had risen so high she looked ready to charge at Rosee that very second. I hurriedly looped my arm through hers and looked up at her.
“Lady Versha… I don’t want you getting so upset on my account. And she’s not even someone worth your attention.”
“But Tina—”
At my restraint the other young ladies chimed in with pleasant smiles, helping to soothe her.
“She’s right, Lady Versha. She’s not a girl you need to bother yourself with.”
“I agree. Judging by her character, she’ll ruin herself without any help from you.”
“Truly. Not a shred of humility. Looking down on Tina over status—what arrogant overreaching.”
As if any of the people here didn’t judge others by status. Double standards at their finest. Of course I kept that thought to myself and simply gazed up at Versha.
“I’ll go speak with her.”
“What? You’re going to step in, Tina?”
“Yes. I’m sure Lady Rosee is still bothered by what happened back then. I don’t want a fight breaking out because of me. I’d like to go over and gently tell her it’s all right.”
“There’s no need for you to go to any trouble over a girl like that.”
“I don’t want to be the reason fine wrinkles appear between your lovely brows, Lady Versha. Your beautiful face should be preserved forever!”
My bright, lively words made Versha’s eyes go round; then she chuckled softly and stroked my hair. The faint flush on her face no longer held any anger.
“Tina, really… are you sure you’ll be all right going alone?”
“Of course! I’ll be right back.”
Encouraged by Versha’s gentle caress, I rose from my seat. As I slowly walked toward Rosee, her hollow red eyes turned to me.
The situation was quite different from our first meeting. I offered her a bright smile and held out my hand.
“Hello, Lady Rosee. We’re already acquainted, aren’t we?”
“…You.”
Rosee looked me up and down, then clicked her tongue with a thoroughly crumpled expression and turned her head away.
“Get lost. Our house isn’t so weak that we need a pitying hand from the daughter of a collapsing family.”
Of course not. If a single failed business venture could topple a viscountship, half the nobles in this world would have had their names erased. More importantly, Rosee was still the daughter of a higher house than mine—that fact hadn’t changed.
No one nearby, right?
It was a secluded corner where even the lively noise of the banquet sounded faint; not a single presence could be felt. I regarded her with a soft smile.
“Pity? I came to receive an apology.”
“…What did you just say?”
She stared at me with an expression of pure disbelief. From the position of a collapsing baron’s daughter demanding an apology, it must have seemed absurd to her.
“You insulted my family before. I’ve come to receive an apology for that.”
“Did I ever do such a thing?”
“Yes. I thought you might apologize for it now.”
“No, I don’t believe I said anything incorrect. I have no idea what I’m supposed to apologize for. Pet young lady who goes around licking other people’s feet?”
“…Ah.”
Those red eyes full of contempt. Even with her family reeling from a heavy blow, she still clung to the lofty pride unique to the nobility.
Yes, of course.
A person’s true nature doesn’t change easily.
And for that, I was grateful.
Lately Mardian had been hitting me hard enough to leave me irritated.
This would make a perfect outlet for my frustration.
“Lady Rosee.”
I approached her slowly. My hand settled around her slender waist and pulled her firmly into my embrace. The young lady who suddenly found herself in my arms trembled in shock.
“Hik?! Wh-what do you think you’re doing?!”
“Lady Rosee, who has nothing but pride that doesn’t match her station. Your voice is needlessly loud.”
My cold mockery froze her body solid. She stared at me blankly with violently trembling eyes.
“Wh-what did you say?”
“People ought to act according to their station, yet you seem incapable of that, don’t you? How pitiful.”
A clear vein stood out on Rosee’s pretty forehead. She had every right to doubt her ears. A baron’s daughter from a collapsing house was insulting a viscount’s daughter.
“You—what did you just—”
“Don’t frown. Your already unattractive face only becomes more unpleasant to look at. At least I’m pretty, whereas you, Lady Rosee, are ugly even in the face, aren’t you?”
“Y-you insolent little whore!”
Those words became the final spark that snapped her reason. Face flushed crimson, she shoved me back and raised her right hand high.
Crack—!
A sharp sound. Stinging pain exploded across my cheek and my head snapped to the side. With my frail body, the inside of my mouth must have split; a faint metallic taste of blood bloomed near the right corner of my lips.
“Pfft. You’re needlessly strong.”
“Y-you’ve been acting like a whore all this time and now you’ve finally lost your mind! Just you wait—someone like you will—”
Heavy footsteps of heeled shoes approached me. Judging by the rhythm, she was coming at a rather quick pace. I kept the smile that wanted to spread across my lips locked inside and instead let a single tear well at the corner of my eye as I sank to the floor.
“Hic… I’m sorry, Lady Rosee…. I only wanted to apologize…”
“What…?”
Rosee’s face was painted with pure bewilderment; she looked ready to say more, but unfortunately her voice never got the chance to continue.
Slaaap—!
A sharp sound of flesh splitting rang out as her cheek burst open.
“You worthless bitch dared to lay a hand on our Tina!”
Versha’s piercing scream tore through the banquet hall. Rosee’s eyes, cradling the rising red bruise, looked as though she could not believe what had just happened.
Watching that expression on Rosee’s face, I—
could barely suppress the smile twitching at the corners of my lips and covered my mouth as I laughed.
Giggle—