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When the young Marquis Spencer appeared, the others began to sneak out of the room, leaving Archduke Richard and me alone in the study room.
The Archduke frowned, looking upset.
“These days, the etiquette of the capital’s nobles has worsened.”
“Since when do you care about noble etiquette?
Don’t you hate this pretense?”
“I didn't like complaining about the number of cutlery needed for a meal.
But that doesn't mean I approve of guests walking by unannounced.”
The young Marquis Spencer shrugged his shoulders at the Archduke's sarcastic response.
“Today, I am not a guest, but an investor in the workshop.”
“The business plan is quite good.
Even as an investor, I don’t think you need to talk to me.”
I turned my head toward the Archduke, who was speaking unexpectedly rudely.
His eyes met mine, and he looked away with a look of disapproval.
I smiled.
You always had an expression of dissatisfaction on your face, but deep down, you thought my plan was perfect.
“Of course, I am not saying that I will interfere in your affairs.
It seems that your wife has come up with a very good plan.”
“Then what?”
The Archduke raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat concerned.
Then the Marquis smiled carefully, took a piece of paper from his pocket, and waved it.
It was clearly a luxury circumstance.
“I came to ask you if you would like to receive another payment for the investment.”
The Archduke frowned, as if he did not understand.
I answered him quickly.
“But I didn’t receive anything.”
“Are you saying you didn't get an invitation to the summer party?”
The Marquis frowned slightly.
I nodded.
“I check my inbox every day, but I haven't received any such invitation.”
“Oh my God...”
The Marquis touched his forehead, as if he had finally realized it.
No longer able to hold back his curiosity, the Archduke raised his voice.
“What's going on between you two?”
The Marquis answered coldly to the Archduke, who frowned.
“I said I wanted to be the Archduchess’s first dance partner.”
"What …?"
At that moment, the Archduke's body trembled and froze, as if he had heard a shocking story.
I nodded, as if I expected that.
Frankly, being offered a large sum of money for a single dance was so unfavorable to Marquis Spencer that it seemed like he had been scammed.
“Yes, it's nothing really, is it?”
“….”
I expected the Archduke to look with pity at this extravagant offer.
Contrary to my expectations, the Archduke's expression turned into a look of anger.
The young Marquis also clenched his jaw with a strange expression before smiling at me.
“The summer ball is an event that most of the imperial nobles are invited to.
The imperial family is also attending.
So, I naturally assumed that the Archduke’s family would receive an invitation as well.”
“If it’s the Imperial Family…does that mean Crown Prince Lawrence will attend?”
This was a remark that caught his attention.
The Marquis nodded and sighed at the Archduke.
“They send out invitations to last year’s first… I ignored the fact that you have never attended an Imperial Summer Ball before.”
“I am not free enough to attend such an event.”
The Archduke's voice rose as he answered.
It seemed like he was secretly welcoming the fact that he wouldn’t be able to attend the summer party.
The young Marquis shook his head helplessly.
“I know it's not your style, but it's nice to be seen on such grand occasions.
It's time for your wife to make her first appearance in society.”
"I understand, but as you can see, I'm busy right now.
Elena doesn't want to attend a pointless event—"
"No, I want to come!
I want to attend the summer party!"
I quickly raised my hand.
“...!”
The Grand Duke looked at me as if I were a traitor.
“The Crown Prince will attend, you know that.”
I winked at the Archduke with a slight hint of humour.
This was a golden opportunity to investigate the main suspect.
I had been putting off finding the real culprit for my preoccupations, and now it was time to resume the investigation.
“…Do whatever you want.”
The Archduke replied grimly.
After I got his approval, my eyes sparkled with excitement.
“How can I attend the Summer Ball?”
“It will be simple if you come as my partner.”
Marquis Spencer replied with a look of complete satisfaction.
“Oh, that's impossible.
I can't attend a ball as someone else's date, leaving the Archduke alone.”
But I flatly rejected his offer.
It is one thing to attend a ball as someone else's companion, leaving the Archduke behind, and quite another to simply dance with the Marquis's son.
How will I appear in front of the audience, especially at a party where the royal family is also attending!
The young Marquis answered in a calmer voice than before.
“…It makes sense like that.
So, there’s only one way left.”
“What is that method?”
The Archduke, who had been passive until a moment ago, showed a sudden interest in how to obtain an invitation to the summer ball.
Fortunately, he seemed to have joined the cause of investigating the Crown Prince.
Young Marquis Spencer shrugged helplessly.
“The way to get an invitation to the Duchess of Bovary’s party is from the Duchess of Bovary herself, the host of the summer party.”
Duchess Claire Bovary.
When her name was mentioned, information about her from the original novel and newspapers came to mind.
In her youth, she was considered the flower of high society, and even now, in her middle age, she was a central figure in society, influencing the nobility of the empire.
In fact, she was arguably the second most influential person in imperial society, just after the Empress.
The young Marquis smiled slightly and furrowed his eyebrows.
“It won't be easy for you both.
I'm nervous talking to her, too.”
The original novel's heroine, Vivienne, also enters high society, and is humiliated by the demanding Duchess Bovary.
Of course, with the help of the protagonist, Lawrence, Duchess Bovary eventually confesses to her.
“Social niceties are based on momentum.
There's nothing I can't do.”
I looked at the young Marquis confidently.
No tree falls after ten blows.
In my past life, I would have gone with any client and won his case, whether he was right or wrong.
∗ ∗ ∗
After a few days, I learned that some trees in this world do not fall after ten blows.
“No, I shouldn't have met you!”
The Duchess Bovary whom I have met these past few days has been a truly stubborn opponent.
“…I want to see you out of respect for your noble person.”
Naturally, my friendship letter, filled with all kinds of flowery language, fell on deaf ears.
“I'm sorry, but unplanned guests are not allowed to enter the Duke's residence.”
I went to the Duchess's quarters, but was immediately rejected by a servant.
“I am Archduchess Richard!
Why not?
Why!
How dare you be so rude!”
“Even Her Majesty the Empress cannot attend.”
Even using the title of 'Archduchess' to pressure him was useless against the Duchess, who was as successful as the Empress.
Archduke Richard's current situation in the empire was not good, and I was born a commoner, a lowly person.
“This is my chance to catch the real culprit, and I can’t back out now.”
I gritted my teeth in front of a luxurious pastry shop in the bustling heart of the capital.
According to Victor's information, Duchess Bovary and noble ladies from distinguished families were holding a party there today.
As I opened the door and was about to enter, the arm of a store employee blocked my way.
“Excuse me, do you have a reservation?”
“Certainly.
I am with Duchess Bovary.”
I smiled innocently.
Then the employee looked at me from head to toe with great respect.
Then she said with a faint smile.
“I'm sorry, but the precision escorts have all entered.”
Bam!
I was thrown out into the street.
I stared at the tightly closed door of the sweet shop with a look of dissatisfaction.
“If you're so sorry, why don't you let me in?”
But I couldn't back down like that.
Today is decision day.
I quickly moved to plan B.
According to Victor, who knew all about the mastermind, there was a hidden back door opposite the main entrance of this sweet shop, allowing me to enter without being noticed.
“So, I have no choice but to sneak out.”
In contrast to the impressive front entrance, the back alley was dark, and I hid in the shadows as if I were conducting a covert operation.
With a clanging sound, I saw a store employee come out the back door to take out the trash.
As soon as I decided to seize the opportunity, I bent down and ran towards the door...
“Heck, heck...”
A sad woman's sobs echoed through the dense shadows, and I stopped in my tracks.
'What is this?'
The sound was too haunting to ignore.
I turned my head towards the sound.
I saw a noble woman sitting on the outside steps of the store, wiping her tears.
A gorgeous dress studded with jewels, and her hair styled in a red bun.
Finally, I realized who she was, and my eyes widened.
“Could it be… Duchess Bovary?”