Chapter 135

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 135

Chapter Title: The Young Ladies' Stand

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"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Elizabeth scowled fiercely, and the young ladies flinched, quickly averting their eyes.

Zachary, assigned to party security today, approached me and whispered.

"The young ladies are more restrained than expected. They won't move the way you predicted."

"Why?"

"You planned to isolate Lady Nodelri through this party, right?"

"That's true, but they won't isolate her over a man."

I shrugged.

The young ladies weren't the type to harm Elizabeth or gossip because of the brothers.

There were no petty sorts who would spew vulgar jealousy just because she had a high chance of marrying the man they loved.

"Lady Nodelri, please have a seat here. The young ladies' table is this way."

They hadn't averted their eyes out of fear from Elizabeth's words.

It was simply embarrassing that they'd unconsciously let their gloom show toward the girl who might end up with the one they liked.

"Lady Nodelri. Please sit over here. This is the young ladies' table."

"We met before, didn't we? I hope you've been well."

Kind people far outnumbered the rest here. They'd reached out first, worried the girl might have been startled by all the eyes on her.

Elizabeth huffed and turned her head away. Then she hovered around Yohan, pouting her lips.

"Um..."

"Speak."

"Everyone seems uncomfortable with Elizabeth at the party."

"Who knows."

Yohan replied coyly as he walked to the opposite side. Elizabeth trailed after him, whining like a spoiled child.

"The young ladies don't like Elizabeth for some reason. Mother says they're jealous because I'm so cute."

Yohan lifted a drink glass and glanced back at her. "So?"

She chattered on with a shy face.

"It's scary without Mother, so please stay by my side, Lord Yohan."

"Nothing frightening will happen."

"If I go to that table, they'll subtly upset me."

The young ladies' faces hardened as the courtesy before them twisted into open resentment.

Yohan approached me with his drink in hand.

"Your cheeks are flushed."

Things were unfolding perfectly, thrilling me to no end, but I smoothly hid my excitement and pressed my cheeks with my fingers.

"Must be nerves from my first party!"

"Drink."

"Yes."

"I'll stay in the hall until the end of Part 1."

'Perfect for me!'

Part 1 was just for the young ladies, but Part 2 would expand with the madames arriving.

'Even without Yohan, the madames will keep things in check.'

I beamed, and Yohan returned a faint smile.

Elizabeth pressed close to Yohan's back like a clingy shadow, glaring daggers at me. But when Yohan turned away again, she pattered after him.

Zachary stifled a chuckle.

"What you see is all that exists."

"Since I'm the jealous type, she assumes everyone envies her. Even if the young ladies do nothing."

She'd surely wail elsewhere about being criticized by them. That would push even the kindest young ladies over the edge, unleashing all they'd bottled up.

I smirked slyly and sipped the drink Yohan had given me.

The party had been splendid from the start and brimmed with delight throughout. The catering was exquisite, beautifully presented, and delicious. Leblain had prepared small games for everyone to mingle, keeping the mood cheerful and lively.

"Lady Hadelloro takes first place again."

"I love games. We play with family after weekend dinners—chess too."

"Oh my, next time I want to play chess with you, Lady Hadelloro."

Leblain beamed at Henri.

"Lady Hadelloro's great at games! And chess is Henri's specialty too!"

"I like it. Our hobbies match well."

"R-Really? I-I'm so glad..."

"Brother's better at chess than me. Right, Brother?"

It was then that Yohan nodded lightly.

"Elizabeth likes blue, so His Majesty changed all the festival flags to blue! He grants me anything I want."

To reiterate, the atmosphere was cheerful. If only Elizabeth Nodelri weren't there.

Elizabeth never let the three young masters converse with the young ladies.

"Lord Henri, Lord Henri. Come to our mansion next time. We have an incredibly beautiful chessboard and pieces. A gift from a foreign envoy to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager—she gave them to me when I asked."

"If there's a chance."

"Lord Ishak, teach Elizabeth swordsmanship. I have a treasured sword—the hero's blade. His Imperial Majesty gave it to me. He adores me so much."

"Please, just shut up."

"You're mean! But I'll forgive you this once! Ah, Lord Yohan! Where are you going? You're not leaving me alone, right? A place full of just young ladies is scary."

The young ladies, who'd hoped to meet the three young masters, wore gloomy expressions.

The three rarely appeared at private parties or informal gatherings, so days like this were their only chance to talk.

Elizabeth stuck to them like she was already the Lady of Duvered.

"Young Master!"

One young lady mustered her courage and called out to Henri.

"Um, th-thank you for catching me when I nearly fell at the last hunt. I-I'm—!"

"Lady Hera Dimitri."

"Y-You remember me?"

"Of course. Your uncle is the cardinal."

"Elizabeth knows Lady Dimitri too!"

Elizabeth cut in with an innocent smile and continued.

"I heard you ranked last at the theology academy."

"N-Not last... Second to last..."

"Same thing. Right, Lord Henri? To smart people like us, last or second last looks just as foolish."

Lady Dimitri bowed her head, her face crumpling.

Whenever the three young masters began talking to someone else, Elizabeth dredged up real or fabricated embarrassments to shame them—driving them to abandon the conversation themselves.

The Yohan fan club young ladies frowned.

"Lady Nodelri is especially over the top today."

Lady Sevigne rolled the dice for the board game while eyeing Elizabeth, who kept embarrassing the young ladies one after another.

Most debuted in society around nine or ten, making Elizabeth the baby of the bunch.

They'd tolerated her outrageous behavior not just because she was the emperor's niece, but out of leniency for the newbie maknae.

"Are you just going to watch, Lady Sevigne?"

Alexandra Sevigne watched Elizabeth shriek that the young ladies were glaring at her whenever the three approached Leblain.

"...Can't just watch anymore."

Another young lady scowled and picked up some finger food.

"Let it go. She'll twist it into us being jealous. 'A woman's enemy is another woman' will come up in the club again."

Alexandra set the dice down with a sharp clack and smiled brightly.

"If I feared maggots, I never could've debuted in society. You know my background. Protecting my comrades comes before petty gossip."

Alexandra joked, "Comrades who love the three young masters," prompting the others to giggle and prop their chins.

"The youngest inductee to the White Knights—who protect women—is something else."

Alexandra downed her tea in one gulp and flipped her empty cup.

The other young ladies soon followed, one by one flipping theirs.

Leblain, watching from afar, curled her lip in a smirk.

'It's starting.'

The classic way to express displeasure at a party.

Ishak's followers flipped theirs too.

Henri's followers, generally mild and kind, hesitated. But...

"Wh-What? Why are you doing that? You are jealous of Elizabeth! See, young masters? I'm so scared..."

As Elizabeth tearfully scolded the young ladies, even Henri's followers flipped their cups.

In an instant, every table's teacups were overturned—a sign they wouldn't continue the party until the displeasure was addressed.

Leblain seized the moment and stepped forward.

"Lady Nodelri—"

Alexandra cut in.

"My apologies, Lady Duvered. May I have the chance to speak this time?"

"Pardon?"

Alexandra positioned herself to shield Leblain and fixed Elizabeth with a stare.

"As a senior in society, I politely request: please leave so we don't cause Lady Duvered any undue harm today."

"What?! How dare a mere young lady tell me..."

"I won't tolerate any more disruption at Lady Duvered's debut party. Leave before I throw down my glove."

"This is outrageous! How can you humiliate Elizabeth like this!!"

"Enough!"

Click, click. Low heels echoed through the hushed hall.

Alexandra approached Elizabeth and smiled coolly.

"Don't make me say it three times. This is the last leniency for society's maknae."

"......!"

Elizabeth bit her lip hard, trembling as she looked around for help.

But those fed up with her antics offered no defense.

Humiliated right in front of Yohan, Elizabeth burst into tears and fled the party hall.

Leblain cheered inwardly.

'Now the floodgates are open.'

Children's squabbles always escalate to adult battles.

Marquis Nodelri, who doted on his daughter, wouldn't stay silent after this.

Then the parents of these young ladies would step up for their own.

The other young ladies looked at Alexandra with drooping brows.

"Thank you for standing up for us. But Princess Ingrid will arrive soon—is that alright?"

Leblain stepped forward with a bright smile.

"Lady Sevigne."

"Yes?"

"You stood up for my party, so now I want to do something for you."

"...?"

Right then, music signaling the end of Part 1 began to play.

The madames started entering the hall from the waiting room.

Leblain politely seated Alexandra and greeted the madames. Princess Ingrid appeared among the group.

And at that moment.

"Daddy..."

Dad, who'd arrived in the garden at my request, turned to me.

"...Why the dark look?"

"Well..."

I glanced at Princess Ingrid and told him firmly—

"Lady Nodelri made a mistake at the party. The young ladies stood up for my debut, and I'm worried they might face backlash."

Dad's gaze shifted to Princess Ingrid.

His first love scowled, and Ingrid—who was already flustered by my words—went pale as a ghost.

'Embarrassed, aren't you?'

Then go rein in Elizabeth before she runs crying to the Empress Dowager and Emperor.

'Meanwhile, I'll secure the water source and build ties with these young ladies to make Dad the overseer of Ballua territory.'