At the doubtful question, Deneb clicked his tongue and continued speaking.
“They say House Delphoi sent the proposal to House Paneschula first, but just as they were desperately trying to ignore and delay it in order to protect the honor of both the knightly house and House Ginevra, the oath happened.”
“What? Why would Delphoi ever—”
“If you insist on asking for a reason, isn’t it simply the heart of a man?”
The current head of House Delphoi, Ansen Delphoi, was an extremely strict man who valued honor above all else.
Even after the Emperor reduced him to nothing more than a ceremonial knight by refusing him audiences and barring him from the Imperial Palace, he had never once abandoned his loyalty.
Everyone knew that rather than allow the honor of knighthood or the Delphoi name to be stained, he would cast aside—even kill—his own child if necessary.
“Is that even possible?”
“In truth, one can’t ignore the influence of outward beauty. There’s a reason people call her one of the most beautiful women in the Empire.”
So the implication was that Jade had become bewitched by Lillian’s beauty and recklessly sent her a proposal on his own.
A rumor so flimsy that anyone hearing it in passing should have laughed and forgotten it immediately.
“Then who do you think is more beautiful—Lady Lillian or Lady Hayley?”
“What? Why would you suddenly ask something like that? That’s incredibly rude to the ladies.”
Yet despite his protest, Ethan’s voice rose slightly in surprise.
And even as he objected, the thought unconsciously formed in his mind.
Which of the two was more beautiful?
Both women possessed entirely different charms.
Not that he had ever once imagined either of them as someone he could propose to or even casually converse with.
He did not even realize how insulting the very thought process itself was.
“You thought about it too, didn’t you? If someone forced you to choose one, it wouldn’t be easy. That’s exactly my point. Even deep love can waver.”
Deneb snickered smugly as though proving his argument.
Disgusted by the man’s vulgar attitude, Ethan sighed and decided he no longer wished to continue the conversation.
“I spent enough money at the auction already, so I should head back to my carriage. I have quite a long journey ahead.”
“Did I ask something too difficult to answer? Well, I suppose it could become troublesome if repeated.”
So he knew perfectly well his words could cause problems, yet still spoke so arrogantly.
“But don’t worry. Lady Ginevra wasn’t invited here.”
“What?”
House Ginevra had long been considered an influential family consistently invited to events like this.
There were not many noble houses connected to the Mage Tower to begin with, so openly excluding them like this could not possibly be wise.
‘Has House Paneschula’s influence truly grown this powerful? Then why? Should I reconsider which side I support, even now?’
Natural doubts and unresolved worries began filling Ethan’s mind.
He had believed Vincent Edvain was not someone easily swayed by others.
But if House Paneschula had already seized control over the Crown Prince’s faction—
‘Then what house could possibly restrain them?’
If such a house existed, there was only one answer.
Rosena.
Always silent, yet never once hiding its overwhelming presence.
“The voices of the gentlemen seem to carry quite far beyond the doors.”
At that moment, a voice as cold as ice cut through the darkness of the night.
Both men startled and turned toward the sound.
Bathed in moonlight, a lady brushed back her dazzling silver hair and raised her chin proudly.
“I heard this was a place where precious belongings are auctioned. Yet it seems the honor of others is bought and devalued just as carelessly.”
“L-Lady Rosena, I—”
With Hayley Ginevra standing behind her, Flotie Rosena stared coldly at the two men.
“Then I shall purchase the honor of you gentlemen as well. How much will it cost? I believe I possess considerably more money than either of you.”
* * *
‘When you’re angry, the best thing to say is always: “How much?”’
‘How much?’
‘Yes. Your family is rich, isn’t it?’
‘…We are, indeed.’
Minabel claimed that where she came from, this was the ultimate way to dominate someone psychologically.
In fact, while listening to their conversation, I had nearly stormed in several times already, only for Hayley herself to stop me.
“Lady, please calm yourself a little. We agreed we would listen to everything first.”
Serphina unni had even acquired a magical tool capable of recording other people’s voices for us.
I had heard obtaining magical artifacts from the Mage Tower was extremely difficult, so what method had my sister possibly used?
“Hayley’s honor is being insulted right now—how can I stay still?”
I was so agitated that I failed to realize I had dropped formalities entirely and called her simply by name.
Hayley’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
Only after the words left my mouth did I realize something had gone wrong, but there was no taking it back now.
“I’m sorry. I became too emotional for a moment.”
“No, it’s alright. You may call me Hayley. It was always alright—you were simply being considerate toward me.”
Of course, the position of Rosena’s youngest daughter meant I technically could call others by name without permission.
It would merely make me seem somewhat rude.
Still, if I suddenly told Hayley, ‘Then you may call me Flotie as well!’ she would probably feel burdened instead.
“It wasn’t really consideration. In any case, you should be the angriest one here, yet I’m the one losing my composure. It’s embarrassing.”
“No, I’m not particularly angry.”
“What?”
“It’s true that I’m not as beautiful as Lillian. And I already know people compare us over such things.”
Her face remained calm, as though she had heard such comments so often she had long grown used to them.
“At first, I tried hard to imitate that beauty. I paid attention to every detail and made all sorts of efforts. But at some point, the harder I tried, the more pathetic and strange I began to feel.”
I found myself unable to say anything.
The fact that she had endured that anxiety and the gradual destruction of her self-esteem felt remarkable in itself.
“So eventually I stopped. Beauty is subjective in the end, and Jade told me he would love me no matter what face I wore. Besides, whether or not I possess his love or beauty, it doesn’t change the fact that I am still Hayley Ginevra.”
As she listened quietly to the voices drifting from the terrace, she continued speaking.
The more she tried to imitate Minabel—who always led fashion trends—or the beautiful Lillian, the more she felt herself disappearing.
“It truly felt as though I was losing confidence in myself. Once I realized that, I decided to live as the old me again. Though now… well, it’s still difficult not to care about rumors entirely.”
Effort and results do not always correspond equally, do they?
The way she asked the question sounded cautious, almost as though seeking my agreement.
At the same moment flames rose inside my chest, the men’s conversation finally came to an end.
“I’ll settle this with money.”
“What?”
I would punish those shameless men with the infinite power of wealth.
And now—
I had boldly stormed onto the terrace.
Yet after their initial shock, it seemed they had already decided which side to cling to.
“Lady Rosena, it is an honor to meet you. I am Deneb, second son of House Raud. I was invited here thanks to the great kindness of Lady Paneschula.”
So this one was flaunting his connection to Paneschula.
“I am Ethan Rocks of the Imperial Knights.”
And that one was deliberately distancing himself from the situation entirely.
As though hoping I would understand that he and Deneb were complete strangers.
“A pleasure to meet you, Young Lord Raud. Sir Rocks. I am Flotie, second daughter of House Rosena. My father and elder sister are currently occupied with many pressing matters, so though I am lacking, I have come in their stead.”
I accepted their greetings with perfect formality.
Generally speaking, when someone of far higher status behaves with excessive humility, people become flustered.
Because they immediately begin wondering:
‘If that person is acting so politely, then what attitude am I supposed to take?’
The two men likewise began anxiously reading the atmosphere.
“My lady, why are you lingering in a place such as this? To my knowledge, Your Ladyship did not receive an invitation—”
“I believe you are mistaken, Young Lord. I most certainly received an invitation personally handwritten by the Imperial Family.”
