Chapter 10. The Irritating Woman

“You’ve already arranged for an escort?”

Count Helio’s eyes widened in surprise. It was unexpected for the Empress to make such arrangements when extending an invitation.

Typically, it was customary for the invited guest to bring an immediate family member, such as a sibling. However, the fact that the Empress had personally designated an escort meant she wanted to ensure Grace received special treatment.

‘What an unexpected stroke of luck.’

A glint of greed flickered across Count Helio’s face.

He had only ever considered his daughter as a mere bargaining piece in a marriage alliance. But it seemed she had proven unexpectedly useful at the banquet.

Imagining the benefits he could reap from this, he quickly masked his true thoughts and spoke with practiced humility.

“I can only be grateful that Her Majesty thinks so highly of my lacking daughter. My dear, you are truly fortunate.”

He then gently patted Grace’s shoulder, playing the part of a doting father.

The amusing part was that his daughter found the gesture incredibly awkward.

“She is my most cherished child, so I may have acted too hastily out of concern. I hope I haven’t caused any trouble.”

“There is no need to worry.”

Bestie responded with a light smile, though she had already made her assessment of Count Helio.

‘She doesn’t seem close to her father.’

Even from a single glance, it was clear. Grace’s shoulders had tensed the moment he touched her, a reaction unlikely from a child accustomed to affectionate gestures.

Bestie studied Grace silently.

Unlike her greedy father, the girl seemed deeply uncomfortable with the situation.

And yet, she maintained her composure. That alone was admirable.

‘From what I heard, Count Helio and his son have practically lived in the capital for the past year.’

That meant the management of their territory had been left to his daughters.

Bestie’s sharp gaze flickered between Grace and Valentina before reaching a swift conclusion.

Grace Helio had been the one managing House Helio’s affairs.

Her younger sister, Valentina, clearly had no interest in such responsibilities.

She had been unable to take her eyes off the necklace set Grace received, completely oblivious to the ongoing conversation.

That kind of unguarded behavior meant she had never needed to be wary of others’ opinions.

It spoke volumes about how pampered she must have been at home.

That wasn’t all. Even inside her own mansion, Valentina was dressed in ostentatious attire, suggesting a tendency for extravagance.

No one in high society was as dangerous as a vain young noblewoman.

‘If she causes trouble, it could become a problem.’

Just as Bestie was contemplating this concern, Grace lifted her gaze and met hers head-on.

A smirk played on Bestie’s lips.

This was no naïve girl.

At the very least, Grace understood the weight of what was happening.

“What time should I arrive?”

Grace asked calmly.

Bestie chuckled lightly.

“I will send a carriage at two o’clock tomorrow. Just be ready by then.”

With that, she stood, deciding to reserve her final judgment on Grace Helio for another time.

* * *

As soon as the Duchess Amalie left, the mansion became even more chaotic.

Count Helio, his face flushed with excitement, shouted,

“Grace, what on earth did you do? What exactly did you say to Princess Elizabeth for the Empress to treat you so favorably?”

“We just had a brief conversation, nothing more.”

“As if a mere conversation would warrant sending the head lady-in-waiting! Never mind that—things are finally starting to go our way.”

Clapping his hands in excitement, Count Helio beamed, while Valentina pouted in displeasure.

She had been irked by the way everyone’s attention had been focused on Grace since earlier.

“Isn’t this a bit much over something as trivial as entertaining a child?”

Anthony, who had just returned from an outing, snorted.

“Trivial? You stood there frozen like a fool and got dismissed. And now you’re trying to act all high and mighty?”

“Hey! Watch your mouth!”

Valentina shrieked at Anthony’s remark.

She was already in a sour mood about what had happened, and now, having it brought up again only fueled her irritation.

Normally, their father would have taken her side.

But today, his focus was solely on Grace.

Just hours ago, he had been furious with her, yet now, all it had taken was a visit from the Empress’s aide for him to change his tune completely, showering her with praise.

Count Helio grabbed Grace’s shoulders, his expression earnest.

“The future of our family depends on you.”

“Father…”

“No matter what happens, you must win Her Majesty’s favor. That is the only way you, your father, and your siblings will all secure a prosperous future.”

Grace felt uneasy with her father’s sudden change in attitude, but she didn’t want to ruin the moment.

For the first time in a long while, he was smiling at her, and the household staff were brimming with excitement.

She hadn’t done anything with the intent of gaining something in return, but there was no denying that things were turning in their favor.

It was disappointing to know her father had merely seen her as a tool for marriage negotiations.

But this changed everything.

No matter how much he wanted to sell her off, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to marry off a lady favored by the Empress to some aging noble as a second wife.

Grace knew this was her chance.

She refused to let her father dictate her marriage.

At the very least, she wanted to choose her own future.

“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best.”

At Grace’s firm response, Count Helio’s face split into a wide grin.

Watching the entire exchange unfold, Valentina quickly tried to shift the attention elsewhere.

“Sister, sister! Can I try this on just once?”

It was a desperate attempt to redirect the focus away from Grace.

But before Grace could respond, Count Helio snatched the jewelry away.

“This is a personal gift from Her Majesty herself. We can’t handle it carelessly. If the wrong person sees it, everything could go up in smoke.”

“But I just wanted to try it on at home… It’s not like it’ll wear out or anything…”

Valentina mumbled dejectedly, but Count Helio remained firm.

“Now is not the time for such trivial matters. We need to book a salon appointment immediately. We don’t know who your escort will be tomorrow, so we must make sure you look your absolute best.”

Valentina’s face twisted in shock.

Her father, who had always spoiled her, wasn’t paying her the slightest bit of attention.

“I want to go too.”

She muttered her last resort.

But her family’s focus remained solely on how to make Grace look perfect for tomorrow.

‘This is so frustrating.’

Feeling like she had lost before she even had a chance to compete, Valentina stormed out of the room.

Ever since the Summer Rose Banquet, everything had been going wrong for her.

* * *

Alexis tightened his cravat with an irritated expression as he skimmed through the Empress’s letter.

[An important guest will be coming. Escort them to the palace properly.]

As always, his sister had no qualms about bossing him around. She hadn’t even bothered to mention who the guest was. That was just like her—always playing coy.

He wished she would stop with her ridiculous obsession with romance.

She was just as invested in her brother’s love life as she was in her own.

Which was why, when she acted like this, it was best to go along with it.

Resisting her whims only provoked her into retaliating with something even worse.

Of course, that didn’t mean he had any intention of falling in love just because she wished it.

Who was she trying to push on him this time?

With a knowing smirk, Alexis looked as if he were heading into battle.

Whoever it was didn’t matter.

He was confident he could make them lose interest within a week.

It had happened before—time and time again.

Countless scandals had erupted because of the young noblewomen the Empress had forced upon him.

And most of the time, Alexis had ensured the women left of their own accord, after suffering enough humiliation.

Some had been persistent, but none had lasted beyond a month.

By then, they would all curse his name and avoid him entirely.

Given the Empress’s relentless efforts, he supposed he could at least humor her.

But marriage? That was never going to happen.

His dream was to drift through life until he met an unceremonious death.

Of course, ever since his sister’s health had worsened, leaving the continent was no longer an option for him.

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Alexis’s carriage rolled through the central plaza.

Absentmindedly glancing out the window, he suddenly recalled a particular woman.

A pair of violet eyes, staring at him intently, with her golden-blonde hair neatly braided.

The memory resurfaced, likely triggered by that foolish expression of hers.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

That ridiculous look on her face had been laughable even in hindsight.

He had assumed they would never cross paths again.

Yet, at the Summer Rose Banquet, he had been momentarily taken aback.

First, by the striking contrast between her plain attire in the plaza and the splendor of her gown at the banquet.

Second, by the fact that her eyes still regarded him without a shred of prejudice.

After the way he had treated her in the plaza, he had expected her to avoid his gaze entirely.

Women tended to be especially ruthless toward men who had embarrassed them.

But she? She had worn that same vacant expression, and somehow, that had irritated him.

She was the last person he expected to see at such an event.

He had pegged her as the kind of woman one would find buried in books at the library, not at a ball filled with alcohol and indulgence.

She must have been dragged there against her will.

Amongst the elaborately adorned women who had dressed to impress, her attire had stood out for the opposite reason.

The lace ribbon fastened neatly at her throat was impeccable, as if she were a nun ensuring her modesty.

Her gloves stretched all the way to her wrists, covering her skin like armor.

It was clear she didn’t belong there.

Yet, her pale, delicate features drew attention regardless.

To Alexis, she had looked like a knight in full plate armor—determined to resist any entanglements.

Perhaps that was why he had approached her in the first place.

He could have ignored her, but instead, he had chosen to provoke her.

Looking back, it had been a foolish impulse.

One he had come to regret the next morning, after seeing his name in the newspaper.

Just then, his carriage came to a halt in front of a mansion.

And when he stepped out, he came face to face with the very woman who had just been on his mind.