Chapter 7. Rabbit Pattern Lace

At Grace’s question, Elizabeth nodded and softly replied.

“Toto… same.”

“You mean Toto is Your Highness’s friend?”

Grace pointed to the stuffed rabbit, and Elizabeth eagerly nodded. Now that she looked closely, the tiny cutouts in her lace did resemble rabbits.

Elizabeth tugged at Grace’s dress more insistently. If this continued, the fabric would surely tear.

“Give Toto. Give it to me.”

The princess boldly demanded the dress as if it were the most natural thing in the world. For anyone else, such forceful behavior might have been irritating.

But Grace simply smiled and said, “Your Highness, just a moment.”

She calmly unfastened the twilly scarf around her neck and held it up.

“Doesn’t this look like Toto as well?”

By luck, the twilly she had coordinated with her dress had the same lace pattern. She decided to make the best of the situation. Fortunately, Elizabeth seemed satisfied.

“Toto!”

Relieved, Grace gently offered the twilly and asked,

“May I give this to Toto myself?”

Elizabeth hesitated, her expression suddenly wary. After a moment of consideration, she carefully handed over the rabbit.

With practiced hands, Grace tied the twilly around Toto’s neck, shaping it into a neat ribbon.

“Tada! How does it look?”

“Pretty! Hehehe!”

The princess giggled as she hugged Toto, completely forgetting her earlier demands.

Watching the entire exchange, the Empress turned to Grace with an appraising look.

“You’re good with children. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Liza talk this much with someone new before.”

“I suppose I’ve gotten used to it, having cared for my younger siblings since childhood.”

“That’s impressive. From what I see, the age gap between you and your siblings isn’t very large. Your mother must have felt reassured having you around.”

This response was far warmer than the formal pleasantries she had exchanged earlier.

It was clear the Empress appreciated Grace’s patience with Elizabeth’s demanding nature.

Grace simply responded with a smile.

There was a quiet warmth in her heart, as if her efforts had finally been recognized. And just as she was feeling that warmth, the Empress unexpectedly extended a special invitation.

“Lady Helio, would you visit the Imperial Palace sometime to see Liza?”

An invitation—from the Empress herself.

Grace blinked in surprise before quickly lowering her head in gratitude.

“Then, I shall see you again, Lady Helio.”

With that, the audience ended, and Grace and Valentina quietly stepped back.

The moment they returned, Frederick and Anthony, who had been watching from a distance, hurried over.

“Sis, that’s incredible! The Empress herself invited you!”

“You did well, Grace.”

Both of them looked elated as they showered her with praise.

Valentina, however, looked deeply upset. Her face was flushed red as she muttered under her breath,

“She didn’t say a single word to me… If only that little princess hadn’t interrupted…!”

Her voice grew sharp, and Frederick quickly intervened, worried that someone might overhear.

“Letty, calm yourself. There will be other opportunities. Since your sister received an invitation from the Empress, your time will come as well.”

“But she didn’t invite me.”

“Well… that’s true, but…”

Frederick hesitated. The truth was, the invitation had only been for Grace. No matter how much Valentina sulked, she couldn’t simply invite herself to the palace.

And Valentina knew that.

She had been certain that coming to the capital would be the start of a dazzling future. After all, she was considered one of the most beautiful women in Helio.

But now, only Grace had been chosen. Her pride was wounded.

She shouldn’t have brought her sister here today.

Her mood darkened, and frustration welled up inside her. Finally, unable to hold it in, she shouted in anger.

“I don’t care anymore!”

Then, before anyone could stop her, she ran out of the banquet hall.

Anthony sighed.

“Tch, what a temper.”

“Go after her and calm her down.”

“Oh, I see. So Uncle only brought me along to babysit her, huh?”

Anthony grumbled, clearly unwilling to move. Just as their uncle was about to scold him, Grace spoke up.

“I’ll go.”

“Oh, as expected of my amazing sister!”

Anthony flashed her a thumbs-up and immediately stepped aside. Their uncle frowned at his laziness but didn’t stop Grace from leaving.

“Very well. You may go, Grace. We’ve already accomplished everything we needed at this banquet.”

“I’ll bring her back soon.”

Grace smiled reassuringly before hurrying in the direction Valentina had run off.

Beyond the banquet hall, there was a large rose greenhouse for guests to admire.

However, the vast grounds made it difficult to find Valentina. She was nowhere to be seen—not even a glimpse of her fleeing figure.

After searching for a while, Grace finally sat on a bench, catching her breath. In front of her, a marble angel statue poured water into the fountain.

With the sky dyed in the soft hues of sunset, the sight of the blooming roses and the glistening fountain was breathtaking.

She had nearly forgotten about looking for Valentina, lost in the scenery—until a sharp scream echoed in the distance.

“Valentina?”

Grace gasped and turned toward the sound.

It was definitely Valentina’s voice.

The peaceful moment vanished as panic gripped her. She sprinted toward the source of the scream.

This part of the greenhouse was isolated—what if she had run into someone dangerous?

Her heart pounded with fear at the thought.

Just then, she collided hard into someone. She nearly stumbled, but the person caught her before she could fall.

“A-Ah, thank y—”

Grace looked up, ready to express her gratitude—only to meet Alexis’s indifferent gaze.

Behind him, Valentina sat on the ground, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Grace’s breath caught in her throat.

She turned a sharp glare toward Alexis, who immediately spoke, his tone dry.

“I didn’t do anything.”

“…What?”

“You were looking at me like I was some kind of criminal, so I figured I should clarify.”

With that, Alexis released his hold on her and stepped back.

Grace, belatedly realizing how close they had been, instinctively retreated, putting distance between them.

Her body tensed in caution, but her violet eyes remained unwavering, locked onto his.

Alexis met her gaze and muttered under his breath,

“Still ignoring my advice, I see.”

“If I offended you, I apologize,” Grace replied, bowing her head. “I was in a hurry after hearing my sister scream and—”

Alexis simply shrugged.

“Now that her sister is here, I suppose I can leave.”

“…What?”

“I don’t have to watch her act anymore.”

At that, he glanced coldly at Valentina—and she flinched.

Grace’s confusion only deepened.

Valentina was on the ground, looking shaken. Alexis was trying to leave.

From an outsider’s perspective, it might seem like a dangerous situation, but Alexis’s reaction suggested otherwise.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

Without another word, Alexis turned and walked away, not bothering to look back.

As soon as he was gone, Grace hurried to Valentina’s side.

“Can you stand?”

She reached out to help, but Valentina slapped her hand away.

Her teary eyes were now filled with resentment.

“You ruined everything.”

“…What?”

“If you hadn’t shown up, that gentleman would have escorted me back to the banquet!”

“…Wait, don’t tell me—”

Grace’s expression stiffened.

“Did you fall on purpose?”

Valentina huffed, refusing to answer.

It was then that Grace fully understood Alexis’s words.

She had falsely accused him, thinking he had harmed her sister—when in reality, Valentina had staged the entire scene.

And now, instead of admitting it, she was blaming Grace.

“Valentina, answer me.”

“Ugh, I don’t care anymore!”

Instead of responding, Valentina turned sharply on her heel and stormed back toward the banquet hall, as if Grace had ruined everything.

* * *

Throughout the banquet, Valentina continued to stir up trouble.

Despite being told not to drink, she got completely drunk.

Anthony, tasked with supporting his intoxicated sister, was exhausted.

The real trouble began when they returned home.

At that very moment, their father, Count Helio, arrived from a business gathering.

The instant he saw Valentina, his face twisted in shock.

“You—you—what on earth is this disgraceful sight?”

“Hehe, Daddy!”

Valentina slurred her words, staggering toward him in an attempt to hug him.

She would have collapsed if Anthony hadn’t been holding her upright.

“Father, she was a complete disaster.”

Anthony groaned, practically shoving Valentina into their father’s arms.

“Next time, you take her with you. I’m never doing this again.”

With that, he stormed off to his room, clearly done with the night.

Count Helio looked at his drunken daughter, then shifted his gaze to Grace, who was standing at a distance.

His expression hardened, and anger swiftly turned toward her.

“Grace, explain this.”

“I’m sorry, Father. I should have stopped Retty from drinking—”

Grace tried to explain the situation calmly, but before she could finish, her father’s booming voice interrupted.

“Why is Valentina wearing your dress?”

Grace froze.

That… was not the question she had expected.