Why Is Everyone Hiding Everything? - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Even fairly prestigious noble houses often ended up bowing repeatedly before them and retreating into seclusion within their own territories.

If there was any family they could not touch, it would probably be House Rosena—the one currently keeping its doors closed and refusing to react to anything.

After losing his wife to an epidemic, there was a devoted father who would do absolutely anything to indulge his wild only daughter, and there was Lillian herself, who had grown up healthy, spoiled, and entirely unchecked in response to those expectations.

Once Hayley realized that all of this began with Lillian’s secretive book club, she decided to enter it personally.

“Oh, Lady Ginevra? Of course you’re welcome!”

Lillian, unable to hide the mockery in her smile as though she had expected Hayley to come all along, seated her beside her and chatted shamelessly about reading romance novels and wanting to marry quickly herself.

At the same time, she demonstrated firsthand how easily she could toy with countless people through words alone—and how Hayley could become one of them too.

Until Minabel appeared as Lillian’s first true variable, slipping elegantly through every trap Lillian laid while smiling brightly the entire time, Hayley’s mind had gradually been worn down little by little.

“Even if I drag this out, what can I possibly do? If we both miss our marriageable years and end up with nothing anyway… perhaps Jade would actually be happier becoming Paneschula’s son-in-law instead.”

Yet every time Minabel returned home after neatly humiliating Lillian with her polished way of speaking, she would hold Hayley’s hand and encourage her.

“I’ll definitely bring someone who can finally give you some satisfying revenge!”

“Revenge…?”

How long had such ridiculous promises continued?

Then someone appeared whom Hayley had never imagined would come there.

Flotie Rosena.

The hidden daughter of House Rosena, said to be frail and constantly protected because of her weak health.

The moment she lowered the fan covering her face, Hayley felt every condition she had once associated with beauty completely collapse.

Her dress was light and simple—far too modest for a duke’s daughter, as though only its weight had mattered—but despite that, she effortlessly overwhelmed even the heavily adorned Lillian.

Even Lillian herself, of all people, seemed wary of provoking House Rosena directly and treated her with notable caution.

“What are your thoughts on this, my lady…?”

“Your insight is truly admirable, my lady.”

“You flatter me.”

And yet there was not the slightest trace of arrogance or oppressive dominance in Flotie Rosena.

“Ah, ah, I’m terribly sorry, Lady Rosena! I made a mistake!”

Even when she looked as though she fully understood the malice behind someone’s actions, she merely smiled softly and let it pass.

“My, how can you look beautiful even in a dress like that? No matter how much I decorate myself, I could never compare.”

Even when Lillian disguised criticism of her dress as praise tinged with jealousy, Flotie accepted it with the same calm expression.

“It’s only because my health is poor. Being unwell is inconvenient in many ways.”

She rarely smiled, and spoke little, but that only made her seem even more mysterious.

Without realizing it, Hayley found herself constantly glancing toward Flotie and had to struggle to stop herself.

“Coming here despite my period was worth it.”

It happened to be her second day, and the pain had been bad enough that she had considered resting as an excuse. Yet she had attended the book club almost as though guided by divine revelation, and now she was witnessing something extraordinary.

Eventually, when an irritated Lillian redirected her target toward the youngest girl present, Flotie finally spoke in a firm voice for the first time.

“Lady Paneschula, it seems you have quite an interest in the Mage Tower.”

“What? Lady April was the one asking questions, so why are you addressing me…?”

As Lillian widened her eyes innocently, Flotie smiled faintly and continued.

“Today there were seven questions regarding the Mage Tower. Six of them were brought up by you, Lady Paneschula. Personally, I interpreted this novel as the story of someone stubbornly clinging to the romance of the Mage Tower in a world where magi-science has already been fully established. It seems you interpreted it rather differently from me.”

Lightly brushing her fingers across the book’s cover, Flotie turned toward April.

“On the other hand, Lady Rency, you referred to it as the Mage Tower where the heroine lives, did you not? Yet if I recall correctly, didn’t the protagonist use teleportation magic every time she traveled there? Unless I alone was given a different edition of the book, I may feel rather hurt.”

“L-Lady Rosena! That’s not what’s important right now…! I was asking Lady Violet—”

“Ah, so in a book club, matters unrelated to the book are more important. How enlightening. Yes, you mean the phrase about the sun rising incorrectly.”

After deliberately repeating the exact phrase, Flotie turned toward the maid standing neatly beside her.

“Elian, did you hear it as well? Was what I just said identical to what Lady Rency said?”

“Yes, my lady. It was.”

“Lady Violet is still young, so I doubt she fully understands the meaning of such words, unlike ladies as insightful as Lady Rency or Lady Paneschula. Fortunately, however, I believe I understand the implication. Could you tell me precisely where this rumor originated? I suspect I could obtain answers from where the sun itself rises.”

Flotie’s voice remained soft and gentle, but everyone present understood how sharply honed it truly was.

House Rosena had never concealed its power and had remained in the position of the strong for generations. Even in silence, its presence had never faded.

And at this moment, Flotie’s words proved that power still remained intact.

I will confirm it directly with the Imperial Family, so provide evidence that you truly heard such rumors from the Mage Tower.

That was the meaning hidden beneath her words.

The color drained from Lillian and April’s faces, making the implication painfully obvious.

“L-Lady Rosena…”

“Please don’t worry. I’m willing to wait as long as necessary for your letter to arrive. Ah, and since I too am interested in the Mage Tower, may I correspond with Lady Violet as well?”

Before anyone could even complain about being interrupted, color bloomed across the young girl’s face.

Reading Violet’s delighted expression, Flotie smiled softly and rose from her seat.

“My health is a little poor, so although it is rude of me, I will excuse myself first.”

Even those who would normally never tolerate someone standing before them could only politely see her off without daring to object.

The once-overwhelming Lillian suddenly appeared absurdly small.

Hayley trembled slightly as the reality fully struck her—that the woman before her truly belonged to the ducal House Rosena.

Then, while being supported by Minabel and her maid, Flotie slowly turned her head as though recalling something.

“Lady Ginevra, if you do not mind, would you accompany me to my carriage? There is something regarding our families that I would like to discuss briefly.”

Hayley’s heart pounded rapidly.

Why was Flotie suddenly calling for her? Was she about to question her mistakes? About all the times she had stood by and watched silently?

Well, she had no excuse.

Perhaps she truly had been lumped together with Lillian after all.

“Did I ruin everything? Both Delphoi and Ginevra?”

Forcing herself to nod, Hayley followed after her. She could barely even remember how she climbed into that luxurious carriage.

But the very first thing Flotie did was place a small pouch into Hayley’s hands.

“T-This is…”

Money? Hush money, perhaps?

“It’s a painkiller I occasionally take. It works well for menstrual pain too, so try dissolving it in warm water and drinking it. It’s safe even on an empty stomach.”

“…Pardon?”

“Tie, this stuff is incredibly expensive!”

Ignoring Minabel’s horrified outburst, Flotie continued calmly.

“You seemed unwell earlier because of your period. It looked as though you would have difficulty leaving that place unless I forcibly gave you an excuse to do so.”

“Ah, I-I didn’t realize… I’m terribly sorry for causing you concern, my lady.”

“As women, how could I not understand and sympathize with such pain? That is why I acted rather forcefully. Rumors will likely spread claiming House Rosena and House Ginevra exchanged secret discussions, but if I invite you to our estate soon afterward, the gossip will die down quickly, so please don’t worry.”

Hayley felt dizzy.

She had only occasionally shifted her posture or pressed lightly against her lower abdomen, yet Flotie had noticed even those tiny movements.

And an invitation to Rosena?

As Hayley looked ready to faint, Flotie smiled gently and spoke in a calm voice.

“I heard the rough details. It seems there are complications involving your fiancé.”