Chapter 5 - 5

"I'm so delighted that the Countess has returned from her long journey!"

"That's right, that's right!"

"Hahaha, the Empire will have vitality again."

Looking at the gender ratio, there were more women, but the commonality among them, regardless of gender, was their extremely lavish attire.

'Oh, just looking at the dresses, I can estimate the price. That's from the Empire's best dressmaker, a designer you have to wait at least three months for, even if you have money.'

One young lord was proudly taking out his pocket watch.

'That watch... is a pocket watch that requires a hundred million gold and a 50-year artisan to order.'

I think my maternal grandfather also had the highest-end line among those.

Somehow, just by scanning, the estimates kept popping into my head.

How much did this sister spend on luxury goods that I can just instantly see the price just by looking?

It's like a barcode.

"Hahaha, so you see. Lord Avaron kissed my foot, can you believe it?"

"And then?"

"I poured alcohol over his head!"

The table was filled with alcohol. Those bottles also cost a fortune, worth a handful of silver coins each.

One young lady was excitedly sharing her tale of exploits.

All this, less than 20 minutes after the table was set.

'I can't even imagine how much they acted like tyrants.'

None of them outrank me.

However, although not as much as Charlize, there were quite a few high-ranking children mixed in.

That young lady gleefully bragging about her own bad behavior was one of them.

While they were laughing and playing among themselves, they'd slyly glance at me.

'They're probably wondering why I'm not joining in.'

Of course, I wasn't joining, just observing.

You could call it observation.

"So, again, it was a complete sell-out? It's so unfair! I want it so badly!"

"You mean the bag by designer Pashala?"

Perhaps feeling I wasn't interested in their stories, they changed the subject.

Interestingly enough, this Empire also has luxury goods similar to reality, and the recent trend was a very small, one-hand bag.

And the one who started this trend was none other than Charlize.

'That makes sense. She's pretty and does whatever she wants. And no one has the power to stop her. Actually, while people badmouth her, she also becomes an object of subtle admiration.'

They say a superstar needs both haters and fans, and in that sense, Charlize was a social superstar.

"Oh, don't even mention it. I want one so badly too... but I gave up because the waiting list is 4 months."

"Come to think of it, I heard a new color came out recently."

A pretty young lady, who was chattering at the center, glanced at me.

Hmm, was her name Cleria? Or maybe her family is Cleria.

Anyway, she was the daughter of a nouveau riche family that struck it big with a trading company, so although their title is low (baron), they have a lot of money.

She had an inferiority complex towards Charlize, and Charlize knew it... but she didn't seem to care either way.

"Countess, about the new bag... I really want one, but the wait is too long, right? Have you already purchased it?"

"Yes, I'm really curious."

I didn't particularly dislike the sight of the young ladies honestly revealing their desires.

It felt a bit incongruous, like they were baby birds looking at food.

"I don't really need to buy it."

I shrugged.

"I received a gift from them, and I think that's probably the color."

Pretending to look down at my nails, I spoke like the usual Charlize.

"I'll give one to the Baron's daughter."

"Gasp, really? Kya, as expected, the Countess is so generous!"

Then the nearby young ladies looked at the Baron's daughter in surprise. Some with envious gazes. Wow, is this a jungle? Everyone is so true to their desires.

"With such good news, you must have a drink!"

"That's right, that's right."

"I'm so happy myself. Countess, have a drink as usual."

Seeing them eagerly starting a drinking party, I inwardly winced but held back.

The reason I participated in this gathering and even offered to give the young lady a gift like Charlize would was because I had something to find out.

However, it was certain that this would be the last of these meetings.

I sipped my drink.

The reason I confidently raised my glass was that I wanted them to get more drunk and chatter more. I intended to let them get drunk and spill everything.

Moreover, although Charlize was the Empire's biggest violent drunkard and alcoholic, she also had a very high tolerance.

Conversely, that means she was a tyrant who, despite high tolerance, drank like crazy and caused incidents.

'If I live like the real Charlize, I'll die of alcoholism before I return to my original world.'

There's a restriction that I must not be discovered as not being Charlize, so I'll try my best to keep it, but at this point, I think it would be much better to just change Charlize's image.

"Hmmph, Countess, you really drink well again today!"

And as time passed, everyone except me got drunk, and their speech started slurring.

The first to speak was the Baron Cleria's daughter, whom I had promised to give a gift.

"Oh, our Countess! You're so pretty, and so rich! So pretty...!"

"Right, right! Kya-ruru, I'm jealous! So jealous!"

One young lady, drunk and glassy-eyed, spat out.

"The Countess is too good for the Duke of Lemut!"

"Right, right. I heard his family is completely ruined? How bad must he be at managing a family..."

"I heard all that's left is a barren territory."

A nasty smile appeared in their eyes as they looked at me.

"Right, monsters even appear there constantly! What would they do if he couldn't even use a sword!"

"Conversely, without the sword, he's nothing! The only thing he has going for him is... his face?"

"He's handsome, but not good enough for our Countess!"

"That's right, that's right, kekekeke!"

I pretended to bring my glass to my lips, not missing a word.

As I sat there smiling, the young ladies chattered even more excitedly.

"The Countess deserves to meet a more wonderful and capable man!"

"But haven't you already hit on all the men like that, Countess?"

"No, no, I heard the prince of the neighboring Roman Empire is really handsome! He should be at least that level!"

"Right, right, the Duke of Lemut hasn't appeared in public for a long time, right? Actually, the rumors about his looks might be exaggerated!"

"Maybe he's ugly?"

"Kekeke!"

They were busy bashing my fiance.

Listening quietly, I felt like they were bashing my fiance because they couldn't bash me directly.

No, I wasn't mishearing.

I swirled my glass gently.

'As far as I know, my fiance hasn't done anything wrong to warrant being bashed like this... He's taking the insults on my behalf.'

I stood up.

Hmm, but the world seemed to sway a little, which surprised me.

What is this? I drank less than half of Charlize's usual capacity? Why do I feel drunk?

As I checked my body's condition, I flinched in surprise.

'Could it be... did my alcohol tolerance change when I possessed? No way?'

It's not like my body changed, so I thought 'no way', but judging by the state, it seemed to be true.

I was dumbfounded.

How could you take away the alcohol tolerance from a violent, alcoholic tyrant?

What am I supposed to do when acting as Charlize in the future? No, is this God's will to improve Charlize's image?

I suppressed my frustration and regained my balance.

"It's because an inadequate man caught the Countess's eye. What a pity... You could have met a much more wonderful person."

"What can we do? Our Countess's fiance is such an i-inadequate person..."

"He must be ugly for sure. Ugly and just bulging with muscles. Isn't it just that rumors spread falsely calling him handsome?"

The Baron's daughter, who met my eyes, smiled brightly.

"Our poor Countess, what should we do...!"

Even as the drunkenness consumed me, I could tell.

"Having such a pathetic fiance... Kyaaak!"

The Baron's daughter couldn't finish her sentence and screamed.

Because I had poured wine directly over her head.

Watching the wine drip down the young lady's face, I smiled brightly.

"How strange. It seems like you're bashing my fiance... but it feels like you're insulting my taste?"

"A-ah, C-Countess? That's not..."

"Or is it? Are you refusing the drink I'm offering?"

The Baron's daughter, coughing as she tried to catch the wine flowing down her cheeks, couldn't answer. Her desperate attempt to drink it and avoid my displeasure was starkly evident.

My smile deepened.

Anyway, I intended to end this gathering today.

This meeting is unnecessary for my upcoming year.

"I love my fiance... and you just insulted the man I love?"

"Ah, th-that-uh,"

Above all, Charlize's karma is too great.

But these people, if anything, only increased Charlize's karma; they were never helpful.

The glass I released fell to the floor.

Crash. The sharp sound was also the signal to end this gathering.

"Everyone go back."

"..."

I felt no guilt.