Chapter 67

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 67

Chapter Title: The Dress Scandal Backfires

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Evangeline's voice was incredibly loud, her pronunciation crystal clear.

She seemed worried that someone in the hall might not hear her.

Thanks to that, a slight ripple of unrest spread through the nobles gathered in the hall.

"Did you just hear that?"

"The lady-in-waiting next to Her Highness the Crown Princess and the Ruth Marquis's Daughter's dresses do look awfully similar..."

"No way, did she really copy it?"

Seeing her words gaining some traction, Evangeline promptly collapsed to the floor and burst into loud sobs.

"To dress a mere maid in the same outfit as me on purpose! It's like she's dragging me down to the level of a servant—it's so unfair!"

At those words, the noblewoman who had just referred to Annie as a lady-in-waiting flinched.

Evangeline had openly contradicted her.

At that moment, I innocently tilted my head.

"A maid? Annieka Loren here recently received a junior barony, and she's my close lady-in-waiting."

Evangeline's eyes widened in shock.

I had anticipated that Evangeline would attack over Annie wearing a similar dress to hers.

As preparation for that—and using it as an excuse—I had granted Annie a title.

Technically, it had been issued in Arpad's name, but still.

A title without attached lands, like a junior barony, was well within the Crown Prince's authority to bestow.

'I had planned to give one to Sir Beltein too, but he refused. Annie would have turned it down if not for this incident.'

They were truly loyal and grateful people.

So now, Annie was no longer a maid but held the status of a lady-in-waiting.

Evangeline scowled and shouted.

"It's still the same! You did it to insult and humiliate me!"

She seemed to have forgotten her earlier flood of tears, her face twisted in fury.

"As I said, I had nothing to do with it, Ruth Marquis's Daughter."

"Then why is that maid wearing the exact same dress as me?!"

"No idea."

I chuckled and added,

"Looks like it wasn't as insulting as you thought. You're not crying anymore, after all. Good to know."

"!!!"

While she raged at me, Evangeline had momentarily forgotten her pitiful tears.

She bit her lip.

Her furious glare seemed ready to kill.

I just snorted in response.

Perhaps deciding that pitiful tears suited her better, Evangeline soon stopped glaring.

Forced tears and sobs followed once more.

But the atmosphere in Artanus Hall was different from the central social circles she was used to.

Someone boldly spoke up despite her tears.

"Isn't it common enough for dresses to coincidentally match?"

"Exactly. I've seen it happen before. The two ladies just laughed it off as a funny coincidence."

Meaning they hadn't thrown a petty fit like Evangeline was doing now.

"Besides, the Ruth Marquis's Daughter seems distant enough from Her Highness the Crown Princess to mistake her lady-in-waiting for a maid."

The hall was filled mostly with western nobles.

They were all favorable toward the Grand Duchess Axion, Arpad, and by extension, me.

It was only natural that Evangeline's claims and protests wouldn't get positive responses here.

Perhaps anticipating this, Evangeline tearfully dragged Viscountess Philerun into it.

"Sob! Viscountess Philerun, please testify! Just like you confessed to me earlier!"

"L-Lady Evangeline!"

Viscountess Philerun's face had gone deathly pale.

It was only natural—she had to bear witness against me in front of Arpad, the western grand nobles, and me.

I knew exactly what claim Evangeline would make.

'She'll use Viscountess Philerun as a witness to accuse me of copying her dress design.'

Projecting her own schemes onto me.

It was so predictable it was almost boring.

'Cliché as hell.'

I had prepared for it, of course.

Viscountess Philerun hesitated but ultimately gave testimony for Evangeline.

"Everyone knows I've been close to that lady while frequenting the Crown Prince's Palace. She... commanded me to find out Lady Evangeline's dress design."

She must have thought I wouldn't know she hadn't come here today but had stuck by Evangeline in the Empress's Palace instead.

'But when she saw me wearing a different dress and the hall filled with western nobles, she already realized I'd used her.'

That was the difference between Evangeline and Viscountess Philerun.

Evangeline was furious at being played, while Viscountess Philerun was terrified.

But her dependence and fear of Evangeline outweighed it.

Viscountess Philerun's absurd tale grew more embellished as she went on.

"She was so envious and jealous of Lady Evangeline, saying she'd do anything to humiliate her. She threatened me to get the design—no matter what. Or else... she wouldn't let me off easy."

At that, Evangeline's entourage jumped in as if on cue.

"How could you stoop so low!"

"Even if you envied Lady Evangeline, the flower of the social world!"

"Did you think dragging her down would get you recognition?"

One of the surrounding western nobles asked incredulously,

"Why would Her Highness the Crown Princess bother paying that much attention to the Ruth Marquis's Daughter?"

One of the ladies who'd come with Evangeline snapped back with venom,

"Of course she would! You westerners wouldn't know, but Lady Evangeline is the flower of the capital's social scene—everyone admires her!"

"And she's the Empress's only daughter! Even His Majesty the Emperor dotes on her—she's practically royalty...!"

That was when it happened.

A displeased voice cut in.

"Since when was the House of Ruth incorporated into the imperial family?"

As the elderly noblewoman stepped forward, the western nobles around her parted like the sea and bowed deeply in respect.

It was, of course, Grand Duchess Axion.

"Your Grace."

"We greet Your Grace."

A true imperial had appeared before those claiming Evangeline was "practically royalty."

"Speak, child. Just when did the House of Ruth ascend to imperial rank?"

"Th-That..."

She had merely parroted the florid flattery commonly used among Evangeline's circle.

Evangeline's mother was the Empress, she resided in the Empress's Palace, and the Emperor doted on her like a daughter—so she was practically royalty.

They'd just repeated the praise they used when fawning over Evangeline among themselves.

But they'd picked the wrong opponent.

Standing before them was a true imperial whom even Empress Isabel couldn't bend.

The young lady couldn't handle it.

As she stammered, the Grand Duchess clicked her tongue and spoke in a low voice—loud enough for all to hear.

"It seems the social world's discipline has completely collapsed while I was in seclusion. I can hardly blame you when those at the top set such a poor example."

Suddenly, even Evangeline's mother, Empress Isabel, was painted as incompetent.

Evangeline burned with anger at the Grand Duchess's words but couldn't muster the nerve to confront the dignified elder directly.

Instead, she lashed out at her blundering entourage.

"Lady Isilia of the Marquisate, shut your mouth and step back."

"L-Lady Evangeline!"

The young noble lady in her late teens shrank under the Grand Duchess's sharp gaze and Evangeline's misplaced anger.

Grand Duchess Axion let out a hollow chuckle and said,

"It seems the capital's social circles don't properly teach etiquette anymore. The first thing one does upon arriving at a gathering is to pay respects to the highest noble present. To slander others before that..."

She tsked softly, the sound echoing.

Evangeline looked up at the Grand Duchess with tear-filled eyes and pleaded,

"If I failed in etiquette, it's only because I've endured such shocking hardship, Your Grace. Please understand."

"Understanding one's circumstances comes after mastering basic etiquette. You and your entourage clearly haven't learned properly."

The Grand Duchess smirked and added, loud enough for all,

"Well, a daughter's failings are ultimately the parents' responsibility..."

Everyone knew who that barb was aimed at.

The mood had clearly turned against Evangeline, far from what she'd hoped.

I smiled leisurely and approached her, deliberately leaving Arpad behind.

The western nobles surrounding Evangeline's group, who had been eyeing them negatively, stepped back in perfect unison.

Visibly deferring to and accommodating me.

Sparks flew in Evangeline's tear-streaked eyes.

'Either cry or glare—just pick one.'

Unlike her expectations, I ignored it.

I turned sharply and addressed Grand Duchess Axion first.

"Thank you so much for coming all this way for me, Your Grace."

What happened next left even Evangeline's group stunned, eyes wide.

Grand Duchess Axion bowed deeply before me in formal courtesy.

"On the contrary, I thank Your Highness for remembering this old woman and summoning me. Your Highness the Crown Princess."

She even lightly kissed the back of my hand.

This was the woman who, a decade ago, had turned the imperial palace upside down by refusing to bow to Empress Isabel.

And now she had shown me the utmost respect.

It meant one thing.

'Not some empress—I'm the true first lady of the empire.'

And to me, it also signified,

'Evangeline isn't even a rival.'

It was a stark performance, right in front of Evangeline.

And fortunately, she got it immediately.

Her face, smeared with tears and fury, froze in shock.