Why Is Everyone Hiding Everything? - Chapter 09

Chapter 9

While receiving a brief explanation about a young lady who had recently become a victim, I was also given more information about the book club.

“The regular members are the host, Lillian Paneschula, Hayley Ginevra, April Rency, and me. Then depending on the choices of those three, another two or three people get added each time.”

“The fixed group sounds incredibly small. How did you manage to get into a place like that?”

“I happen to know a few tricks for winning over younger girls.”

Minabel answered in a strangely weary voice, almost like someone far older than us, before quickly changing her expression.

Apparently, the topic of age was sensitive for her.

“You’re a daughter of House Rosena. When I asked whether I could bring you along after they sent an invitation, everyone was shocked and started begging me to bring you.”

“I’m not exactly someone who deserves to be ‘begged’ to attend…”

“What are you talking about? Did you already forget that if you want connections, you have to deliberately place yourself at the center of attention?”

Minabel stayed up through the night until her eyes were bloodshot, explaining the relationships between noble houses, the personalities of the ladies involved, and the tendencies of each family.

I don’t know why the emperor in this world has to possess red eyes. I still don’t fully understand why you’re so obsessed with this, or what the nobles are truly thinking. But I do know that Paneschula envies anything she herself can’t possess. And House Rosena happens to have every possible trait capable of provoking her.

Oh dear.

So once you get what you need, you can stop attending the book club. Tie, what do you think the prince needs most right now?

That answer had determined our target.

“The person you need to focus on today is Lady Hayley Ginevra. Her family owns the Empire’s largest mana stone mine, so they have ties with the Mage Tower. They’ve also arranged marriages with knightly families for generations, so they’re deeply involved in military affairs too. And as for Lillian Paneschula… well, just be careful. She’s skilled.”

Judging from Minabel’s uncertain expression, even she wasn’t sure whether skilled was truly the right word.

I could already guess what kind of person Lillian was without further explanation.

Was this gathering really the correct choice?

I suddenly felt a little afraid, but there was no turning back now.

Let’s trust Minabel!

“Don’t worry. Tie, even if you just sit there expressionless, people will create their own stories about you!”

“…What exactly does that mean?”

“It’s fine. Honestly, it’ll help you more if you don’t understand! Right, that expression just now—that one. If things go badly, just make that face. The noble look of elegant displeasure.”

“I was only making a face that meant I had absolutely no idea what you were talking about, Minabel.”

* * *

“Lady Rosena, thank you so much for honoring us with your visit. I was worried our humble house might fail to satisfy you.”

At first glance, Lillian Paneschula was undeniably beautiful.

So beautiful that it was difficult to believe countless noble houses had collapsed because of the rumors and gossip born from those lips.

But hadn’t my sister’s life and suffering already taught me better than anyone that people could be completely different beneath their outward appearances?

“If House Paneschula’s hospitality proves lacking in any way, I beg your generous forgiveness. Ah, Lady Cherita! Thank you ever so much for escorting Lady Rosena here!”

Lillian was excessively attentive toward me.

Was she deliberately displaying that attitude for the sake of the others around us?

Or perhaps trying to create an atmosphere where I seemed to be pressuring her?

You naturally look cold and aloof even when you’re doing nothing.

It was something I’d heard since childhood.

I softened my expression as gently as possible.

“I heard this was a difficult gathering to join, so I’m truly grateful you willingly made room for me. It has been so long since I last attended social functions, so I only hope I won’t become a burden.”

“A burden? Never! Merely having Lady Rosena visit us is already an honor. Do you know how many people long to see you yet cannot even receive a reply to their letters?”

Ah. So that was her angle.

She wanted to paint me as some cold woman who rejected everyone.

Yet even while doing so, she couldn’t stop cautiously watching my reaction.

In reality, my wrists were simply weak enough that I collapsed sick after replying to five letters in a row.

Of course, a count’s daughter could not openly treat a duke’s daughter carelessly, but even so, there was no reason for her to lower herself this much.

“May glory bless House Paneschula. Though it is modest, I prepared a small gift in gratitude for your invitation.”

Even the fact that the host herself had personally come out alone to greet me felt suspicious, but I chose not to show it and simply followed her inside.

“Everyone, this is Lady Flotie of House Rosena. She has graciously blessed us with her presence today.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you all. I’m honored to participate in such a lovely gathering. It’s all thanks to Lady Cherita here.”

Lillian showed no signs of properly acknowledging Minabel’s contribution, so I deliberately highlighted Minabel myself.

“If not for Minabel, I never would have dared attend.”

In other words: don’t ignore my friend.

Ignoring Minabel’s touched gaze, I took my seat, and the book club began alongside light refreshments.

At first, it resembled any ordinary book club.

People discussed books and little else.

I had prepared by reading the selected material in advance, expecting possible hazing or endless questions, but perhaps they found it difficult to question me directly. Instead, they merely sought occasional brief responses from me before moving on.

Ironically, it made things easier since I didn’t even need to use the signals Minabel taught me.

“Ah, speaking of the Mage Tower mentioned in this heroine’s story—Lady Violet, isn’t there a Mage Tower branch near your territory? I heard you interact with them often.”

“Hm? Ah, yes.”

Right. If only it had remained harmless chatter like that.

With April’s comment, the conversation gradually shifted.

The young lady sitting furthest in the corner—who had been glancing at me repeatedly—lifted her head in surprise.

Her answering voice sounded both nervous and oddly pleased to have finally been addressed.

She looked terribly young. Perhaps thirteen at most.

She probably hadn’t even had her debutante yet.

Why had they dragged such a young girl into a place like this?

Come to think of it, just like me, she hadn’t really been given a chance to speak earlier either.

Perhaps they were too intimidated to question me, but the fact that they barely even allowed her to answer bothered me.

“Y-Yes. There are relatively many magical artifacts there, and naturally…”

“I recently heard that some people within the Mage Tower are claiming the sun has risen incorrectly. But my understanding is limited, so I can’t quite grasp what that means.”

A chill ran down my spine.

“The sun has risen incorrectly?”

April’s exaggerated reaction. Lillian pretending to know nothing while encouraging the conversation. The young Violet.

And between them, Hayley wearing a deeply uncomfortable expression.

It felt like a third-rate play with no entertainment value whatsoever.

The sun symbolized the Imperial Family—in this context, the Crown Prince.

Anyone old enough would understand that the phrase implied opposition to the current Crown Prince.

But the young noble girl clearly did not fully grasp its meaning.

I didn’t necessarily need to intervene, but neither did I feel like silently watching a child be cornered.

“Lady Paneschula, you seem quite interested in the Mage Tower.”

The Mage Tower currently stood among the factions refusing to support Crown Prince Vincent, so if a noble became entangled in such discussions carelessly, they could easily end up falsely accused.

Besides, my sister had once belonged there in her previous life.

Perhaps that was why it felt strangely personal to me.

* * *

Hayley was the third daughter of Count Ginevra’s family.

She had grown up showered in affection, becoming remarkably independent and mature, and received admiring glances from young noblemen almost daily.

Most of those admirers were likely interested because of her family’s influence, but many were genuinely drawn to her wisdom and admirable character as well.

Without question, until recently, Hayley had never once intended to participate in such a low-class book club.

However, everything began to unravel when a marriage proposal from Paneschula arrived for her childhood friend and fiancé.

We’ve already completed our engagement ceremony, and I even met Lady Paneschula personally to refuse her. But now letters keep arriving threatening that they know a secret about House Delphoi.

A secret?

I don’t even know what secret they mean. Father seems equally clueless. At this point, it feels like they’re willing to invent one if none exists.

Her fiancé, Jade Delphoi, had comforted her, insisting he would somehow resolve the issue and telling her not to worry too much.

The Delphoi family, descended from steadfast knights, would never collapse beneath such threats.

But Hayley knew better.

She knew exactly how many people had already fallen because of Paneschula’s schemes.