In the Hall of Echoes
The splendid return of the Klein ducal daughter, missing since childhood, escorted by the Crown Prince—that part had been perfect. No matter how lavishly the other debutantes dressed alongside Dot, adorned in jewels and flowers, the narrative would have overshadowed them all.
But then they had to drag Lady Russell’s return into it as well?
Dot could already picture how the gossip would split between the two young ladies starting tomorrow.
The Klein daughter, presumed dead, had only just reappeared. The Russell daughter, who had broken off her engagement to the Crown Prince without warning and hidden away for years before finally showing her face again. Between the two, the latter was far more likely to dominate conversation.
The thought made her seethe. Of all days, why today? How dare they erase her like she didn’t even exist…!
Creak—
“What is it!”
Dot snapped, unable to contain her emotions. She clamped her lips shut a moment too late, only to see that the head peeking through the door did not belong to a lady’s maid or servant.
It was Pay.
You again?
“Hello, Dot.”
……
Instead of answering, Dot glared with bloodshot eyes. Pay stepped inside without waiting for a reply and quietly closed the door behind her.
Dot studied the impudent intruder with reddened eyes. Pay wore a simple white dress accented only with black ribbons, her hair falling naturally without any extravagant jewels. Though Dot’s own gown was far closer to a swan’s pristine white, Pay showed no sign of intimidation.
No pride, no sense. How dare you!
Pay spoke with cheerful ease.
“How have you been? It’s nice to see you again.”
If Pay had been the only one Dot encountered today, her suspicions would have flared instantly. Does she know something? But with Lady Russell’s unexpected appearance still rattling her, even that natural wariness had no chance to surface.
Dot asked in a voice thick with barely suppressed rage, “Is that so? You seem to be in a good mood. Bold of you to attend the imperial ball without a shred of fear.”
“Yes! Even if I can’t see you often because you’re a ducal daughter, it’s still wonderful to catch glimpses of you here at the palace. I heard you’d be attending today and simply had to come.”
Dot’s sarcastic reply came at once. “Ah, so you followed me in here after seeing me enter?”
“Yes. Are you doing well, Dot? I spend most of my time at the Magic Tower, though I do visit the palace occasionally. Oh! I read something recently that left quite an impression. Would you like to hear it?”
……
“Those who sleep atop their rights receive no protection. It made me reflect a little, so from now on, no matter where I am, I intend to do my very best. How about it? Am I doing well?”
Dot stared at the woman she had once wished dead. Pay stood there in her pure white dress without the slightest trace of deference. There was nothing overtly wrong with her appearance, yet she wore a gown far too plain for her station and spouted meaningless platitudes—the same tiresome habit she’d had back at the monastery, bringing dull books from the library and reading one passage aloud each day.
She never changes. No wonder she has no friends, then or now.
Still seething over her clash with Lady Russell, Dot had no patience for Pay. Drakan rider? Water mage? Look at her, everyone. This girl is nothing but a fool, a pathetic creature dressed in yawn-inducing clothes. Even serving as the Crown Prince’s subordinate won’t change what she truly is.
Count Quasar, I promise I’ll sever her head before your son comes of age.
Dot straightened her shoulders and spoke with all the dignity she could muster. “You do know who I am, don’t you?”
“Of course! We’re friends, after all.”
Expecting to be addressed as “Your Ladyship,” Dot was caught off guard. She forced strength into her tongue. “Tiana Marietta, daughter of the Klein ducal house—that is who I am. One of only two ducal daughters in the entire empire. Do you understand?”
“I know your name.”
Pay’s deliberate provocation made a muscle twitch at the corner of Dot’s mouth. “The name I used at the monastery was merely a temporary alias. Forget it. Addressing me as anything less than ‘Lady’ is the bare minimum of courtesy owed to an imperial ducal daughter. Do not call me Dotricia, and do not address me so casually as Tiana!”
Manuela’s honorary title means nothing. The only true ducal daughter of the empire is me—and the only one fit to stand beside the Crown Prince is also me!
Pay tilted her head, pink hair swaying. “Oh, is it because you have to live as a proper lady from now on?”
“Exactly. I’m relieved you understand at least that much.”
Dot’s eyes gleamed with arrogance. Pay smiled faintly. “Understood. Then from now on, I’ll treat you as Lady Klein and think of you that way.”
“What?”
Dot was stunned. She had tried to assert her superiority as a ducal daughter, only for Pay to flip the script. “After all, you became a lady after serving as an eina at the Klein estate, while I became Lady Morgana after serving the Crown Prince between the Magic Tower and the palace.”
“Do you even realize what you’re saying?”
“Of course. The stories of Dot and Morgana both ended here today. Isn’t that right, Lady Klein?”
The words sounded like what Dot had wanted, yet the nuance felt like a final, irrevocable line drawn between them.
You… surely not?
Pay’s expression remained unchanged, but the corner of her mouth curved upward. “Still, I won’t let your decision sadden me. This must be what growth looks like for a person. The abbess used to say that once we left the monastery, we should live with our heads held high, proud and honorable. Only now do I truly understand what she meant. I’m sure you feel the same, my lady.”
This…!
Dot trembled with indescribable fury. How dare you… How dare someone like you lecture me?
“Well then, farewell, my one and only friend Dotricia. From now on, I’ll treat you exactly as the lady you wished to be. May fortune smile upon you.”
Having said her piece, Pay turned and left without a backward glance.
That little…!
Only after Pay was gone did Dot remember where she stood—the Hall of Echoes. No one was allowed to enter or disturb those inside without permission. Only noble ladies and gentlewomen of high standing could step foot here. She had missed the perfect chance to put Pay in her place!
The guards outside must have let her in simply because she was “Lady Morgana.” Useless fools!
Dot was on the verge of losing her mind from sheer rage. How dare she…! Fine. Just wait. Once I finish what must be done first, you’re next. Manuela can wait.
On what should have been the happiest day of her life, Dot was seething so badly she felt ready to faint.
She could endure no more.
Upon returning from the Spring Ball, Dot greeted the duke and duchess with a bright smile. “Thank you so much. Tonight has given me memories I’ll never forget. His Highness the Crown Prince was kind throughout the escort, and we even shared the first dance. I’m so happy that your care made such a day possible.”
“Yes, yes. You did well too, Tiana.”
The duchess, surprised to see her daughter in such good spirits instead of the expected fury, patted Dot’s hand fondly. “I’d like to rest comfortably for the next few days. Perhaps go out a little. That’s all right, isn’t it?”
“Of course! Do as you wish. We can adjust the next tea party or schedule to whatever date you prefer. For now, forget everything and rest easy. Sleep in, take outings—whatever you like.”
“Yes.”
The duchess, sensing Dot’s desire to leave the estate with a few attendants as she once had, gave her permission in a roundabout way. In other households, a debutante would immediately begin investigating rival families, but this situation was different.
I thought Lady Russell’s appearance had upset her, but she truly is our daughter—composed and capable. I expected tears and tantrums, yet she endured it all. Blood of true nobility is indeed special.
The duchess’s blind affection showed no sign of fading anytime soon.
The next day, lightly disguised, Dot slipped out of the estate and summoned the contact she had arranged in advance: Gilton of the Mercenary Guild.
At least there’s still someone willing to move for money.
On the surface, he was an ordinary mercenary of a legitimate guild, but he secretly had one foot in the underworld syndicate. When direct contact with the dark guild proved difficult, one could pay Gilton a fee and entrust him with a request.
It had taken this long just to approach him naturally.
Dot hid her impatience behind a composed expression. “I’m counting on you, Sir Gilton.”
“Ah, understood. The details of the request are… oh my, highly confidential. Even after years as a mercenary, I still get excited before accepting a job.”
“Hehe, yes. I’ll be waiting.”
Gilton struck an exaggerated pose.
Hmph.
There was no need to worry about the knights and maid following her from the ducal estate. They would naturally try to discover what commission Gilton had received, but the thick paper inside the letter was specially layered. On the surface, it appeared to be a simple order for out-of-season high-grade fruit and local specialties from another territory. Yet when the hidden sheet was retrieved and burned, an entirely different request emerged.
— Investigate the area near the northern estates of Sionel. Confirm whether anything unusual has occurred, including the recent activities of influential noble houses and renowned knights in the vicinity.
To prepare for the possibility of discovery despite her caution, Dot had deliberately omitted the true order to eliminate the Caris viscount’s family. She had to be careful. One mistake here, and she would fall completely. Even if it cost twice as much, she would knock on every stone before crossing the bridge.
After entrusting the request to Gilton, Dot prayed fervently for swift results.
Dot’s hometown was filled with insignificant people, so there had been no reason to exclude the Caris viscount from her investigation. Even if they had fallen into beggary, she would still check! And if they had grown even poorer than before, that itself would be noteworthy enough to warrant a report.
So all she had to do was wait…
Time passed. The first basket of oranges Gilton sent contained nothing. Then, at last, the second delivery arrived—a basket of sultanas and dried apricots.
“Oh dear, we could obtain such things of the highest quality anytime.”
“Watch your tongue. This is the young lady’s special amusement. If you ruin her hobby, you’ll have to face the duchess’s wrath.”
Ignoring the servants’ whispers behind the door, Dot carefully removed the fruit one by one.