Chapter 20
The girl who had requested to be Theodore’s partner by presenting the Emperor’s letter was rejected.
Her name was Laura Blanc.
‘How dare some bastard take my place and become the Crown Prince’s partner?’
Laura seethed with anger.
Although her family had pushed her to apply as Theodore’s partner, she secretly harbored feelings for him.
To a young noblewoman, the handsome Crown Prince was nothing short of a dashing male protagonist from a romance novel.
Yet Theodore had coldly rejected her and instead brought along a bastard with a somewhat decent face.
From Laura’s perspective, it was a humiliating blow to her pride, and she could not tolerate it.
Anyone would agree she was the more suitable partner for Theodore, and the thought that she lost purely due to appearances only fueled her indignation.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“I simply thought I’d offer some advice since this must be your first time in high society, Miss Claire.”
Laura smirked, deliberately using an overly casual tone to address Claire in an attempt to belittle her.
Claire silently observed her opponent. Laura was flanked by three other young noblewomen, all standing behind her.
‘How familiar.’
After becoming the Duchess of Muton at a young age, Claire had been forced into a life of isolation in the social world.
Mature noblewomen resented her for her youth and higher rank, while younger noblewomen avoided her, purposefully excluding her from their circles.
The reasons varied.
They hated her status as a duchess, found her presence uncomfortable, or disliked her refusal to comply with their demands.
In particular, a few noblewomen from high-ranking families would deliberately provoke her and spread rumors about her.
Thus, Claire had become far too accustomed to the experience of being ganged up on by a group of noblewomen.
Laura, crossing her arms arrogantly, spoke.
“You may not know this, but high society despises vulgar behavior. Don’t display the begging habits you must have picked up as a commoner.”
“…”
“Sure, you may bask in the attention now because of your slightly attractive face. But mark my words, people like you—pretty and insignificant—always end up where they belong.”
“…”
“So don’t delude yourself. Treat today as the highlight of your life and quietly disappear. Do you understand?”
Claire sighed lightly.
Considering her true age, she found it absurd to endure such remarks from a naïve young girl.
She gazed at Laura calmly. Despite her soft features, a peculiar charisma radiated from her.
“What is your name?”
“Laura Blanc.”
“And your age?”
“I’m eighteen, but why do you ask?”
If she were still a minor, Claire had intended to let it slide.
But since eighteen was considered an adult by law, there was no need to be lenient.
Raising her chin slightly and lowering her gaze, Claire replied.
“Miss Blanc, please mind your manners. High society disapproves of those lacking etiquette. Don’t make it so obvious your family’s education on decorum was subpar.”
“W-What did you say?”
Laura’s face turned bright red with indignation at having her words thrown back at her.
“Every word you’ve used is crude and vulgar. It’s hard to tell who the real lowlife is here.”
“Have you said your piece?!”
“I’m not done. Clearly, this is all because of the Crown Prince, isn’t it? But don’t project your delusions onto me.”
“That’s not true! The Crown Prince was supposed to choose me! If you hadn’t snatched him away—!”
Laura raised her voice in frustration, but Claire responded calmly.
“The Crown Prince was the one who first asked me to be his partner. Does this shift your grievances slightly?”
“…!”
Laura was momentarily speechless. Claire regarded her with faint pity.
“Can’t bring yourself to blame him, can you? Strange, isn’t it? It wasn’t me who rejected you, yet you come to vent your anger at me.”
“That’s because you don’t know your place, and—!”
“My place isn’t for you to decide.”
Claire interrupted firmly, her voice cold.
A mysterious dignity and authority emanated from her, causing Laura and her companions to flinch.
It almost felt like they were being scolded by someone much older and more experienced.
“I decide that for myself.”
“…”
“And even if I had asked to be his partner, that wouldn’t have been my fault either. Ultimately, it was the Crown Prince’s choice.”
Laura bit her lower lip hard.
She knew, deep down, that she had no right to confront Claire like this. As Claire said, it was Theodore’s decision.
But unwilling to accept that she had not been chosen, Laura lashed out in frustration.
“How dare a mere bastard lecture me!”
“Watch your tongue. I am formally registered under my father’s family. There is no reason for me to endure insults about my birth.”
If Claire had been born from Franz’s affair while he already had a wife and children, there might have been shame. But as things stood, she had nothing to be ashamed of.
Looking down at the silenced Laura, Claire sighed softly.
“How old are you? At eighteen, you’re an adult now. Surely, you should have the sense to discern right from wrong.”
“…”
“Hurting innocent people while saying nothing to those you’re truly upset with—how long do you think cowardice like that will be excused?”
Claire’s voice was stern, her expression severe. Laura had no retort and simply stood there, enduring the reprimand.
How strange. Why did it feel like being scolded by her mother or aunt?
Laura, who was only a year younger, now felt worlds apart.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, Lady Blanc.”
“…”
“Will you always blame the other party when someone rejects you? Do you realize how pathetic that makes you look?”
Placing her hands on her hips, Claire stared Laura down. Laura lowered her head in embarrassment, her face burning too hot to meet Claire’s gaze.
The onlookers around them began whispering among themselves.
“For your own sake, don’t act like this again. It’s not as though behaving this way will make His Highness see you favorably.”
“…”
“Blaming others will only hurt you in the end.”
Laura’s neck and face were red with shame, but she remained silent. Whether she had come to her senses or not, Claire couldn’t tell.
Still, Claire decided to let the matter drop.
There was no point in pressing further—she had other matters to attend to.
Breaking her gaze from Laura, Claire turned to the crowd.
“Does anyone else have anything they’d like to say to me? Speak now, and I’ll hear you out.”
But unlike earlier, no one met Claire’s gaze. The crowd averted their eyes, feigning disinterest.
With no one stepping forward, Claire turned decisively on her heel.
‘Looks like no one else will bother me tonight.’
Having put an end to the initial confrontation, she anticipated a relatively peaceful party from here on out.
But her assumption was short-lived.
“Ah, Duke Muton has arrived!”
The arrival of Brian Muton and his new wife shattered her hopes.
It had been a year since she last saw him, and Brian looked plumper and healthier than before.
Even his wig seemed more natural, making it less obvious that it was fake.
‘That scoundrel…’
Claire’s grip on her glass tightened.
From the time she lived with Franz in a secluded cottage, tirelessly saving money to return to the capital, to her recent reunions with old acquaintances—
Her ultimate goal had always been revenge against Brian.
The man who had betrayed her after she devoted nearly half her life to him, the man who had mercilessly pushed her off the proverbial cliff.
It was because of him that Priscilla had effectively died.
She could barely contain her anger as she stared at the man who had robbed her of her life, youth, and everything else.
She wanted to rip off that wig.
But then, Brian turned his head toward her.
“…”
His previously indifferent gaze sharpened as his eyes widened.
What must it feel like to see the young image of the wife you murdered?
“My dear…? What’s wrong?”
Claire almost laughed as she watched him shake off Charlotte’s hand and stride toward her.
Seeing him draw closer, Claire grabbed the hem of her dress tightly.
“Priscilla…?”
Reaching out, Brian called his deceased wife’s name.
“How rude of you, Duke.”
A firm hand rested on Claire’s shoulder, shielding her.
It was Theodore, his cold gaze directed at Brian.
“Do not touch Lady Ravello so carelessly.”
“Lady Ravello…?”
Brian snapped out of his daze, narrowing his eyes as he scrutinized Claire.
—
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