Sarah Fog bit her lip tightly.

She glared at me for a moment, then her eyebrows drooped again.

“I don’t know why you misunderstood, but you don’t have to worry about it. More than that, I’m really glad you came first—”

When she started acting kind again, I quickly cut her off.

“That’s a relief. I was really worried because I heard you cried at the banquet tea party because of me.”

“...What?”

“I heard you were very upset because I didn’t bring the young ladies.”

“...”

Sarah hesitated for a moment.

‘There’s no way those words didn’t get around.’

The brothers and sisters of the girls attended the tea party too.

Of course, siblings at this age tend to be lifelong rivals, so they might side with Sarah.

But there was no way they wouldn’t talk about this between siblings.

It was perfect ammunition for attacking each other.

For example, “You’re so mean that you exclude that poor young lady.”

‘No one thinks about future consequences when talking behind others’ backs.’

It’s common even among close groups.

Adults gossip behind colleagues’ backs too.

Especially in middle and high school, it’s very common.

Many people ended up with serious consequences.

At the moment, personal feelings mattered more than future outcomes.

‘Anyway, I never miss an opportunity.’

I looked at Sarah with a sullen expression.

“I didn’t know Miss Fog asked you to bring the other young ladies.”

“That’s—!”

“Because all you said was ‘Erilot, we’ll be waiting for you?’”

The princes murmured.

Really?

At that level, it was understandable not to realize she wanted them to bring others.

—That was their expression.

The atmosphere grew awkward, and Sarah was flustered.

“Well, they didn’t come, right? I asked you!”

“It wasn’t a formal invitation... Besides, I was a bit upset too.”

At that, Sarah’s face brightened.

She looked like she’d found something to attack.

“So you didn’t come to the banquet because you were upset with me?”

“That could be...”

Sarah put on her usual ‘tearful expression.’

“I don’t know why you’re upset with me, but please cheer up...”

At that, I swallowed a laugh inside.

‘She really took the bait.’

I expected it, but her immediate reaction was almost amusing.

I smiled innocently like Sarah and chuckled softly.

Then I grabbed her hand firmly.

“I’m glad you say that.”

“Eh? ...Yes.”

“I hope we can clear up misunderstandings and build a good relationship.”

“Yes, well...”

“Oh, I disturbed your tea time, didn’t I? Sorry for taking your time.”

I said that and gave the heirs a slight bow.

When I smiled brightly, their faces flushed.

Of course, I didn’t forget to make sure Sarah saw this scene well.

Her expression toward me grew sharp.

Sarah Fog wasn’t very clever.

From the moment she made a whole group her enemy like this, she could never be considered smart.

She seemed to think she was very clever.

‘If I leave now, probably...’

I chuckled inside.

“Then.”

I bowed slightly and left the garden.

I saw three young ladies passing by.

“Lady of the Astra Marquis House?”

“Yes, hello.”

“Nice to meet you. We were thinking of taking a walk in the garden; would you like to join us?”

Garden?

‘No way.’

I skillfully turned the three around.

“We’ve been to the garden a lot; how about a walk around the outer castle?”

“Oh, shall we?”

“Good.”

“Me too!”

That was a relief.

‘I have to leave Sarah alone in that group.’

The bait had taken it.

Now it was time to let her struggle alone until her strength drained.

“Lady of the Astra Marquis House, your dress is especially beautiful today.”

“Wow, I’m glad the lady with such exquisite taste likes it. I should reward the maids who picked it out.”

“Oh my, how kind your words are!”

“Lady Astra, please visit my studio next time. I’d love for you to be my model!”

“Then please invite me too, lady! I’ll go with Lady Astra!”

We laughed and enjoyed our walk.

In the garden Erilot had left, Sarah frowned.

As usual, she looked around the heirs and spoke.

“Isn’t Lady Erilot really too much?”

Until then, the heirs had been giggling about other things, but their eyes widened.

“What?”

“She didn’t come to the banquet tea party because she felt bad? I’m really upset...”

Sarah sighed and continued.

“In the end, because of me, you made a mistake with the princes. It’s strange to bring it up here.”

“...”

“...”

“It feels like you came just to blame me...”

Sarah shrugged and met the heirs’ eyes one by one.

“Don’t you think so?”

But it was strange.

The heirs’ expressions grew subtle.

“That’s a bit of a leap. I think she just came to apologize.”

“What?”

“Since Lady of the Astra Marquis House reached out first, it’d be good to get along.”

Sarah’s face crumpled.

Biting her lip, she said,

“How can you say that?”

“What did I say...?”

“A leap. It’s too hurtful, prince.”

“...”

“Weren’t you on my side, prince? I liked how kind you were...”

Tears began to well in Sarah’s eyes, and the heirs flinched.

They quickly moved to comfort her.

“Yes, saying it was a leap might have been too harsh.”

“Apologize.”

The prince who had been attacked looked sullen.

‘What’s with that? Why get hurt by this?’

It wasn’t a big deal.

“Prince, are you going to apologize?”

“...Ah, yes.”

“You really are kind!”

Sarah clapped her hands joyfully.

Then she smiled shyly.

“Apologizing is actually a brave thing. I’m glad to be friends ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) with a kind and brave person.”

“...”

“Since everyone is so considerate, I’ll forget about what Lady Erilot did.”

It sounded like ‘I’m so considerate I’m forgiving Erilot.’

The prince’s expression soured.

But Sarah just smiled brightly.

As always, she took center stage and began telling her story.

“Anyway, where was I? Oh, I was telling you about the bloodline of the winner of the royal competition four years ago. My name is Tiarain—”

“...”

“...”

The heirs looked displeased.

‘Why is it so tiring when I’m with Miss Fog?’

‘I want to go swing my wooden sword or something...’

Sarah never lets go once she starts talking.

It was really annoying.

I headed to the conference hall with the young ladies.

The Marquis seemed about to start talking about the opening ceremony.

We sat down, and the heirs entered.

The atmosphere between the two groups was cold.

The young ladies snapped their heads sharply, and seeing this, the heirs frowned.

Then I spoke.

“Miss Oshron.”

“Yes?”

“You’re participating in the swordsmanship competition?”

“It’s the one where the winner of a sparring match with their older brother goes. Only one per family.”

“You must like swords.”

“Yes! I like swordsmanship itself, and collecting swords is a hobby too.”

“What kind of swords do you have?”

“It’s the sword of the 12th Central Knight Commander, called Elosode—!”

The Oshron young lady’s eyes sparkled.

Then one of the heirs said,

“Elosode! Do you have that, young lady?”

“...Yes.”

“Whoa! Whoa—!”

The heir excitedly approached.

“Can you show it to me? I really respect the 12th Central Knight Commander!”

“Well... what swords do you have, prince?”

“Not a sword, but a lancer. Fluyder!”

“Fluyder?!”

With the ice broken, the two who shared tastes talked well.

I then looked at Miss Mishar.

“I heard your hobby is violin playing.”

“No, it’s cello. I don’t like violin much... As I said before, the recent string music group always features violins. I don’t like that. The deep sound of the cello is so good—”

“That’s what I’m saying! We understand each other!”

The prince, who was skilled at cello, eagerly agreed.

Miss Mishar cleared her throat.

“You do have a good ear.”

“I wanted to try a duet. If you have time, please come to our music group...!”

That was settled too.

‘Shared hobbies really make people click.’

I matched friends one by one.

Of course, I owed that to Michelan and Conrad’s thorough research on the noble minors.

Ladies and heirs with investment hobbies.

Ladies and heirs with similar sensibilities.

Ladies and heirs who like model building.

The conference hall grew lively.

Then,

“Princes~”

Sarah came in with a group of princes just as the meeting room filled.

Seeing the other princes happily talking with the young ladies, they froze stiff.

“We were wondering where you were... Princes, we’ll sit at that table.”

They said that, but the princes were already deep in cheerful conversation.

They’d been listening to boring Sarah’s stories for days and clearly enjoyed this.

I approached Sarah.

“The princes seem to be enjoying their conversation; young lady, sit with me.”

“...No thanks.”

I held Sarah’s hand.

“Please don’t—”

“I said no!”

Sarah pulled her hand away sharply, offended.

Just then,

“Ah!”

I stumbled back, losing my balance.

I deliberately leaned noisily against a chair.

Clatter, creak—!

The startled children’s gazes all focused on me.

Rumelisa, excitedly talking about investments with the princes, jumped up.

“What are you doing!”

“I—I just tried to pull my hand away a little! Right, Lady Erilot?!”

“That’s right...”

Still, I hugged my hands and made a sorrowful face.

Then I looked around and shrugged.

The Oshron young lady frowned.

“How far do you think you’re going?”

She was the most aggressive among the young ladies here.

Her father was a former Knight Commander, and her mother also a Knight Commander, so she was sensitive to violence.

“I put up with the backstabbing, but this is too much!”

“That’s not true! Lady Erilot, say something!”

“I’m fine, Miss Oshron...”

Even if you say you’re fine, drooping eyebrows make you look like you’re not.

The children glared sharply at Sarah.

Sarah, looking very flustered, stumbled and glared back at me.

‘It’s what you always do, so you’re mad now?’

Sorry, but this kind of thing is my specialty.

Before coming to Hwangdo, Sarah Fog was the most famous lady in the region.

Overflowing wealth.

Connections with great nobles based on wealth.

Though a marquis family, it was wealthier than many great noble families.

Just a year ago, Sarah thought so.

Besides, she was the most beautiful girl among the ladies.

“I envy Miss Fog. Such a wonderful family and outstanding looks... Even the ladies of Hwangdo can’t match her.”

“Of course! Who else is like Miss Fog? There’s no one like her in Hwangdo.”

“Even Erilot Astra, the Rose of Astra, probably isn’t as beautiful as Miss Fog.”

“Wise, beautiful, and from a great family... Miss Fog must be a child blessed by the gods.”

Sarah was an object of admiration in her hometown.

At parties, and even at the region’s largest academy, she was the center.

Everyone envied Sarah, and she naturally became the leader of the group.

When the Fog family entered Hwangdo, she was confident.

But...

“Fog Marquis House? What family is that again?”

Young ladies who didn’t know the Fog family.

They wore luxurious dresses that one would expect only as birthday gifts.

No one was seen wearing the same dress twice.

There were countless nobles who never even showed their faces, even when the Fog Marquis ran until his feet were burning.

Besides...

“Sarah, you have to get along with Catherine Trang.”

“No! Do you know how annoying Catherine is? She acts like a queen!”

“That’s because Catherine Trang has been in Hwangdo a long time. If the others knew how kind and cute Sarah is, they’d follow you rather than Catherine.”

“Still...!”

“Just endure until Father enters the Central Tower, okay?”

My parents said it was only a little longer.

At worst, this year. Or next year for sure.

Then she wouldn’t lose to the proud great nobles.

Until then, it wouldn’t be difficult.

Hwangdo nobles had a certain naivety.

See.

Me leading all the noble heirs around.

‘How much do the heirs like me?’

But then.

“Miss Fog, I’m really fine. Please don’t worry too much!”

Erilot Astra’s words made Sarah’s expression completely stiffen.

‘What? Why is everyone looking at me like this?’

She was the bad one!

Sarah didn’t know.

Whose nose hair she had just touched.

Erilot Astra.

In her previous life, she was the main villain.

She didn’t know that having provoked the sleeping main villain, she wouldn’t get away with it so easily.