Episode 53
“What an impressive young lady. Disappears for years and then comes back and immediately takes back her position.”
Why did she have to hear this everywhere she went? No—more accurately, people were probably saying these things everywhere *she wasn’t*.
Nothing about this place had changed. In the past, they said such things openly because Regios ignored her; now they whispered them behind her back.
And how did Ephelia feel, listening to it?
It didn’t matter at all. Whether they praised her or mocked her, it made no difference.
“She looks innocent, but she’s anything but. A real fox, that one.”
“Since her hair turned white, does that make her a *white fox*?”
Finding their own joke hilarious, the young ladies burst into giggles. The wind blew through Ephelia’s white hair. Even her hair, drained of color, was a source of amusement for others.
“Anyway, that means Lady Seluna’s efforts were all for nothing.”
Their sing–song voices were filled with delight. They clearly didn’t like Seluna.
Ephelia could guess why they had come all the way to such a dark, secluded spot to gossip. After what happened to Irene—publicly punished by Regios—they probably chose a place with even the lights off, just in case.
At least she had Taye with her, which meant Regios wouldn’t overhear. And even Taye had stepped away for a moment.
The problem was that the *person being talked about* was the one hearing it. Ephelia didn’t have the strength to get angry or confront them. She simply wished they would leave.
“She paraded around with her nose in the air, thinking she’d be the Crown Princess, only to be completely crushed.”
“If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed to even show up to tonight’s banquet.”
“Oh right—did you see her face when she saw the tiara the Lady wore today?”
“I know, right? She couldn’t even control her expression. I thought I’d burst out laughing.”
“But seriously, that tiara was stunning.”
“You could instantly tell it was *the Queen’s Little Star*. Can you imagine? A pink diamond that large.”
“It was a bit too beautiful for someone so plain.”
“Well, she’ll be the queen of the social scene soon enough, and eventually the Empress. We should stay on her good side.”
Should she move somewhere else? But Taye wasn’t back yet. Even if she was slightly better, she might faint again if she moved alone.
All Ephelia cared about was that her rare place of rest had turned noisy.
“They say she didn’t have close friends before she disappeared, and still doesn’t. So if we’re just a little nice to her, maybe she’ll open up.”
“Exactly. Today’s our chance.”
“Then shall we go back?”
Ephelia was wondering if she should intervene before Taye returned. Fortunately, it seemed they were about to leave.
*Finally, some peace.*
More than their insults, their chirping voices irritated her.
“Listening to you, I must say—you’re being very rude.”
A new voice—someone who hadn’t spoken until now.
“Wh–who are you?”
The gossiping girls’ voices trembled with fear. They knew full well how dangerous it was if someone overheard them.
“Did Lady Ephelia *forcefully take* that position? No. She simply reclaimed what was rightfully hers.”
The frightened young ladies relaxed once they recognized who it was.
“Oh, Lady Hayes of the barony. Don’t you know you shouldn’t eavesdrop?”
Once they realized she was from a lower-ranking family, their arrogance returned. Their fathers clearly outranked the baron’s family.
“Is it because you have no friends that you don’t even know proper etiquette between ladies?”
“Exactly.”
They snickered behind their fans.
“Th–that’s…”
Eavesdropping wasn’t proper etiquette, true—but gossiping about someone behind their back was far worse. She had stepped in bravely, but with her lack of eloquence, Lady Hayes faltered. If she had listened for entertainment, she should have ignored it—so why step in? And strangely, it sounded like she was defending *Ephelia*.
“Eavesdropping? How creepy. I refuse to associate with someone like that.”
“Apologize. Now.”
“If… If I apologize, will you apologize to Lady Ephelia as well?”
*That’s not what you should have said.* Ephelia felt frustrated. She should have said she overheard *by coincidence*, and that *they* were the ones who owed an apology.
“What did we say that requires an apology?”
“You were talking about Lady Ephelia and Lady Seluna.”
“Do you have proof?”
“Or witnesses?”
There was no proof, and if they all denied it, the baron’s daughter could do nothing. They could even accuse *her* of spreading rumors.
“Apologize.”
Ephelia sighed and stepped forward.
“Then should *I* apologize as well?”
At the soft voice, the young ladies turned. Their faces went pale.
“L–Lady Ephelia.”
She didn’t step in to protect the baron’s daughter, but because Taye stood there shaking with rage, water glass trembling in his hand. If these had been men, he would have already thrown down a glove for a duel. Ephelia signaled for him to stay calm and faced the girls.
“H–how are you here?”
She was the star of tonight’s banquet. They couldn’t understand why she’d be here, in such a secluded place.
“I was here first.”
“Did you…”
They couldn’t continue. Ephelia already knew what they wanted to ask.
“If you’re wondering how much I heard—‘In the end, Lady Seluna lost,’ from that part.”
Which meant she had heard *everything*.
Everyone had seen what happened to Irene. The baron’s family couldn’t even enter the palace afterward. The girls frantically looked around. The Crown Prince was nowhere in sight.
If he ever learned about this…
“W–what we said was…”
“Did I ask for an explanation?”
“S–sorry?”
“I asked if *I* should apologize as well. For eavesdropping.”
“N–no! Of course not!”
“Is that so? Thank you. Then—should she apologize?”
“O–of course not!”
Naturally, they didn’t have the courage.
“Then why did you demand an apology just a moment ago?”
Silence.
They had no problem trampling someone beneath them, yet had no voice when standing before someone above them.
…but why had that baron’s daughter defended her? She hadn’t known Ephelia was there, so it wasn’t to curry favor.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself.”
“P–pardon?”
“You know me, but I don’t know you. And since you said you wanted to become close friends…”
She had heard that too. The girls’ faces twisted, on the verge of tears. They couldn’t answer.
“I guess you don’t actually want to be friendly. So that was a lie?”
Ephelia sighed.
“T–that’s not—”
“Regardless, there’s something you should do.”
“What…?”
“Apologize.”
“…What?”
They looked stunned. They hadn’t even realized an apology was required.
“W–we’re sorry, my lady. Truly.”
One girl nudged the others with her fan until they reluctantly muttered apologies.
“And what about her?”
“We have no reason to apologize to *her*.”
They apologized to Ephelia only because of her status—never to the girl they mocked.
“I see. Perhaps I misunderstood.”
They relaxed—until Ephelia continued.
“In that case, I’ll have to ask someone else what the proper etiquette is.”
“T–to whom…?”
“The Empress. She is the only elder I know in the palace, and the most knowledgeable about etiquette—especially since, according to you, I have no friends.”
*The Empress.*
Everyone knew how much the Empress adored Ephelia.
“You’re right. We should apologize.”
“We’re sorry, Lady Hayes.”
“We were wrong.”
Lady Hayes stood there with her mouth open, stunned.
“Leave.”
“A–are you going to tell His Highness the Crown Prince?”
Ephelia gave a wry smile. In the end, all they cared about was whether Regios would hear of this. Their eyes darted to Taye—as if asking him not to speak.
“Leave.”
Her voice turned cold.
They fled.
There was nowhere Ephelia could rest.
Only one person remained. Ephelia turned around. Lady Hayes flinched so hard she shook.
