"Darling, send Neris Trude away immediately!"
The Duke looked puzzled at his wife's determined words.
"What are you talking about? I've already explained that we need to keep her, and you agreed."
"That was before we knew how arrogant that thing is! I have a bad feeling about her. Do you know what Valentin just said when he came over?"
The Duchess had just relayed a slightly distorted and exaggerated version of Valentin's story to the Duke.
Roughly, it was about Neris venting her anger on Delma because she disliked Valentin, as if she had already been adopted into the household and even mistreated the Duchess's maid, Delma, to the point of shock, leaving her lying ill. That was the gist of it.
Knowing both his wife's and daughter's personalities well, the Duke sighed.
"I told Valentin not to interfere with her, but it seems he couldn't resist."
"Why blame Valentin for staying quiet?"
"Of course, Valentin must have asked Delma to step in. Or maybe Delma did it for Valentin. Do you not know our daughter's character? Do you doubt Delma's loyalty?"
The couple was aware that Delma sometimes acted excessively in favor of Valentin. The Duchess chuckled.
"I don't care about politics or whatever. I don't want to live in this house with that. If you must keep her, then find her another place."
"That's not possible."
The Duke's expression hardened.
"I received reports that the Grand Duke visited the palace. If his target is her, we can't make it easy for him to approach. And politics aside? It's about jewels. It's about Nelucian explaining the situation, and you're not foolish, so why do you keep repeating old stories?"
The Duchess was no fool. She knew all these details. Bringing Neris into the family would bring no conditional losses and many benefits.
However, she still disliked it. Ever since a few years ago when her precious daughter, Valentin, had sent tearful letters saying she was upset and heartbroken by that reckless person, the scales in the Duchess's heart had clearly tipped.
And she couldn't believe that the Duke's scales weren't equally tipped.
"Valentin is disliked, that disgusting girl is disliked! Our precious daughter, the sole heiress of the Eldrandria Duke, has been tormented to the point of breakdown, and you insist on bringing that girl into this house to cater to her whims?"
"What whims did I cater to? Yes, how do you know what really happened, did you only listen to Valentin's words?"
The story told by the Duchess seemed strange to the Duke.
Neris was clearly not a foolish child. And if she wasn't foolish, there was no reason for her to behave as the Duchess described without cause.
"Would my daughter lie to me?"
"Valentin wouldn't do that. But Delma could exaggerate feeling wronged."
In the Duke's view, now was not the time to upset the delicate balance of power in the jewel box just because Delma, who was causing trouble by acting arrogantly, had done so. It was rather the time to seduce her with the utmost care.
"Leave it be, my dear."
The Duke honestly expressed his annoyance. The Duchess glanced at her husband.
"Am I like this because I pity Delma? My daughter is upset. Doesn't your heart ache?"
"Of course, it does."
"And what about freely ordering my maid around? Since Delma was the target, my maid obediently took the blame. Who knows who else she will provoke in the future? It's because she's fundamentally twisted. Children who didn't receive their father's love show it so clearly. Just thinking about how that girl will soar in society is dreadful!"
The Duchess knew that her maid had indeed done her best to strike Delma. Because the Duchess's maids all disliked Delma very much.
In this house, only the Duke and Duchess and their two children could ignore Delma. But that didn't mean everyone liked Delma."
"Especially the Duchess's maids disliked Delma, who, despite being of lower status, acted arrogantly. However, because Delma was not one to back down easily, the maids loyal to the Duchess, centered around Delma, and the maids loyal to the Duchess's chief maid, were divided into factions.
In the midst of this, Neris provided an opportunity by even saying, 'Don't expect mercy,' prompting the Duchess's chief maid to strike Delma hard, fueled by long-standing resentment.
This was an incident. The peace among the lower ranks that had been delicately balanced was now on the verge of collapse.
"Yes, my lady."
The Duke sighed unavoidably. Then he looked affectionately at his wife.
"A lady raised with love like you is pure and lovely. Our Valentin should grow up happily like that."
Understanding the reason for the change of subject, the Duchess couldn't help but feel her anger dissipate under her husband's warm gaze.
As the Duke said, she had been raised with abundant love. Her maternal family, the Wells Marquis, was so wealthy that they held one of the top three positions in the empire, and she already had two older brothers as heirs. Moreover, her birth was perfect, as her brothers were born when her parents were considerably older.
A daughter who was a joy to behold. A cute youngest sibling.
The Duchess had received an overwhelming amount of love that not everyone could experience, and she believed her children deserved the same. Fortunately, her husband shared the same values. Especially in the belief that nothing was more precious than family.
The Wells family's funds were invested in many of the Duke's ventures. She had pressured her brothers and father with the idea that the Duke's success meant the family's success.
As long as her children excelled, she had nothing more to wish for. And if there were any obstacles on that path that made her children uncomfortable.
'I'll remove them.'
"The Duchess was truly displeased with Neris. A weak and insignificant commoner daring to raise her voice and cause turmoil in this household.
Yet, if it could truly be of help to her precious two children.
'She must be taught to listen obediently.'
The Duchess was confident in taming the unruly lower ranks. She smiled broadly at her husband.
"This time, I'll let it go. Since it was my maid who directly struck Delma. Instead, to make up for Valentin's hurt feelings, let's buy her the ruby she wanted, how about that?"
The ruby the Duchess mentioned was a highly valued item that had garnered attention in Felena this winter. An unusually dark and large gemstone expertly crafted by a renowned jeweler.
Valentin already had plenty of gems that could be considered heirlooms in most noble families. The Duke knew that if it caught his daughter's eye, he would habitually purchase it, and he didn't feel inclined to dwell on that fact. However, the ruby was too expensive, especially since the Duke had faced financial difficulties due to recent issues in Princess Camille's silver mine venture, in which he had invested.
As the Duke hesitated to respond, the Duchess's face darkened. Catching onto this fact, the Duke chuckled bitterly and said, "Understood."
After all, the Wells family would provide the money.
***
Valentin was not in a good mood. And everyone in her circle could tell.
It was none other than Madame Puyi's dressing room, currently the most famous in high society. Only esteemed members of noble families were seated around, ready to be received anywhere they went.
While no one at this gathering outranked Valentin, there were those who held a position to speak freely with her. Natasha Grunehal's daughter, Natasha Grunehal, approached Valentin with a playful remark.
"Why, Valentin. Is the ruby around your neck too heavy?"
It meant, 'Are you upset because I didn't praise the grand jewel you proudly brought today?' It wasn't meant in a positive way. Natasha occasionally teased Valentin because she believed flaunting large jewels was unbecoming of true nobility.
Valentin shot Natasha a sharp look.
Not long ago, when she had rushed to her mother to confess and apologize for Neris's misdeeds, Valentin had believed that the vile creature would be promptly dismissed. After all, her parents always granted her wishes.
Yet, Neris was still at the Eldrandria Duke's residence. She appeared nonchalantly at meal times every day.
Although her mother had tried to appease her by buying the pretty ruby, Valentin's mood didn't improve.
"Don't talk nonsense, Natasha. If you have something to say, say it quickly and leave."
When Valentin glared, typical noble maidens would quickly avert their gaze. However, Natasha met that gaze confidently with a seductive smile, as if she were surpassing it.
In Natasha's eyes, she had no inferiority to Valentin. Being of the same noble lineage and older, she was even on the verge of becoming a princess consort. Thus, it seemed Valentin should be more polite to her.
'How arrogant.'
"It's my business. Valentin Eldrandria. I know why you're upset."
"What?"
Valentin's eyes narrowed. Natasha revealed a sly smile, a chillingly cold grin.
"They say that creature is staying at your house? Rumor has it your brother is quite taken with her. And it seems she's close to the Mainland Duke. A murderer? Quite impressive to bring home."
"Speaking as if discussing a funeral, Natasha lowered her voice blatantly. Valentin's face flushed red with anger and shame in an instant.
If there was something recent in Valentin's life that she didn't want anyone to know, it was undoubtedly related to Neris. While she was upset about what happened to Delma, she hadn't openly complained to her friends for that reason.
Who told you? Are the lower ranks mocking you behind your back? Seeing Valentin's eyes roll, Natasha felt a cruel satisfaction and spoke.
"No need to rack your brains, Valentin. It's what His Highness told me. I'll soon know what happened in the palace too."
"What does it matter?"
"Well? Certainly, a distant relative's child from your family is of no value to me. But there might be someone who would be pleased to hear this news."
Someone who would delight in Valentin's humiliation. Someone who would spread the rumor immediately upon hearing it. Valentin immediately understood who Natasha was referring to.
Since the last graduation ball, the tension between Valentin and Megara had escalated. Valentin was ready to humiliate Megara without hesitation, and Megara would likely do the same.
"What do you want?"
Seeing Valentin's pale face, Natasha chuckled.
"Don't be too surprised, Valentin. After all, I've been like an older sister to you since you were a baby, right? Should I go around talking about things you dislike? I simply mentioned that I understand why you're upset, isn't that right?"
Valentin was irritated by the beating around the bush without getting to the point. She glared at Natasha.
Soon, Natasha stopped laughing, lifted her chin gracefully and arrogantly.
"Valentin. Let me tell you, I've realized something recently. It seems like as you age, you're not as cute in front of me. 'Respected Natasha sister'... I think I used to call you that when you were young."
Valentin had never called Natasha that, even when she was young, despite her swearing to the sky.
But now was not the time to assert her pride. After a long pause, Valentin spat out, "...Respected Natasha sister."
"Well, our adorable Valentin. Let's see each other more often, okay?"
Satisfied, Natasha chuckled.
Soon, the skilled designer, Madame Puyi, arrived to consult on dress designs. Natasha smoothly brought up her own dress story first.
Normally, Valentin would have insisted that she be consulted before Natasha, but today she remained silent.
Perhaps Valentin's concession to Natasha today would become a topic of discussion in high society for a while. And the interpretation that even 'that' Valentin acknowledged Natasha as the next princess consort and treated her with respect would likely spread.
Knowing this well, Valentin was angry. So, after Natasha left, she needlessly vented her frustration at Madame Puyi.
"Is this all there is to it!"
For Madame Puyi, who had only brought in the finest items that even the top families in high society would acknowledge, it was an unjust situation.