#067. This Was Truly Sincere
Paniya was willing to look up information for me, but I couldn’t just order her around like a subordinate. The situation was best if Paniya herself wanted to provide the information voluntarily.
So, before my debutante ball, I put on an act of anxiety.
“This is different from the parties I’ve been to so far, where only people my age showed up. I’m worried about how the adults will see me.”
Of course, that was a lie. I’ve always gotten along better with older people than with my peers or younger ones. It was almost a blessing that I fit in well with the academic crowd.
But Paniya, who didn’t know this about me, innocently believed my words.
“Oh, I know how that feels. Your sister and parents say you did well welcoming the adults visiting your family, but they’re all friendly toward us, right? You’re worried some might not see you kindly?”
That was it. I took the opportunity to put on a sad expression.
“Yes, yes. Just recently, I went out with His Grace the Grand Duke and met a man called the Marquis Chase.”
“Marquis Chase?” Paniya’s eyes widened.
Ah, that was definitely someone she knew.
“You know him too, Paniya?”
“Hmm, just the name.”
That was a good sign. I never expected Paniya to give me an answer on the spot when I brought up Marquis Chase. I only hoped she would offer to look into it for me out of concern.
Surprisingly, it seemed like it wouldn’t be hard to get information. I was relieved.
“I see. It was my first time meeting him that day, but I must have made some mistake. He didn’t look at me kindly at all.”
“Well, maybe that’s because…” Paniya hesitated, unsure whether to say it.
If that was the case, I had a simple way to end her worries.
“I have no idea what I did wrong. When I asked His Grace, he just told me not to worry about it… but he also said I shouldn’t make the same mistake again at the hunting festival…”
As expected, Paniya fidgeted, trying to comfort me.
“Well, His Grace said that because it probably wasn’t Blanche’s fault.”
Of course. I hadn’t done anything against etiquette.
To be precise, I didn’t even have the chance to break etiquette. The Grand Duke hadn’t introduced me properly, so how could I speak?
But instead of saying that, I smiled sadly and said:
“Thanks for comforting me, Paniya.”
That sentence became the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“It’s no empty praise, Blanche. The Marquis Chase you met openly shows hostility toward His Grace the Grand Duke. That’s probably why he treated you like that.”
“Openly?” I widened my eyes. This wasn’t an act — I was genuinely shocked.
What? Openly? Does he have nine lives or something? Or is he some founding noble so powerful that no one dares oppose him, even the imperial family?
No, that couldn’t be. If that were true, the Grand Duke wouldn’t act so meekly, unable to say anything even when a fifteen-year-old girl scolds him to his face, yet having to be petty behind his back?
I blinked in disbelief, and Paniya chose her words more carefully.
“Hmm, openly might be an exaggeration… but he has expressed dissatisfaction with His Grace being the heir to the Emperor. I remember your sister saying he was presumptuous and too sentimental.”
My head spun. Expressed dissatisfaction with the heir? Isn’t that treasonous?
“Is Marquis Chase some collateral royal? Or is his wife from the royal family?”
“No, I don’t think so. He apparently resents that his daughter didn’t become Crown Princess, so he probably isn’t connected to the royal family.”
“Ah.”
Hearing that, I roughly guessed Marquis Chase’s thoughts, even from this flimsy information.
The one Marquis Chase truly hates isn’t the Grand Duke — it’s Riana.
I understand the Emperor and Riana were betrothed when they were young, so perhaps Marquis Chase had hoped for their engagement to break off during that troubled time.
Infertility is a serious disqualification for becoming Crown Princess, so he must have seen a rare opportunity. But since the engagement wasn’t broken off…
So the Marquis is just nitpicking the current heir. The Grand Duke became the heir because Riana is infertile.
Is his daughter still unmarried? Or even if Riana gets kicked out now, his daughter can’t become Empress, so he’s just bitter?
I still didn’t understand why the Marquis wasn’t already imprisoned, but at least I had achieved half my goal.
Among those hostile to me, I confirmed there were those who coveted the Grand Duchess position, those wary of the Grand Duke, and others who blamed the Grand Duchess for their dissatisfaction with the Empress.
“So don’t worry. If His Grace says you’re fine, then you really haven’t done anything wrong.”
Paniya tried to soothe me, and I forced a smile — a very forced one.
“Hmm, I see… Are there many people like that? It’s unsettling not knowing whether the bad looks I get are because of my mistakes…”
When seeking sympathy, I made sure to look as timid and meek as possible.
In my past life, I might have bitten my tongue and died rather than seek pity, but many wanted to sympathize with me, so I knew how to appear pitiable.
And I seemed to have a bit more facial expression than before.
Sure enough, my acting worked well; Paniya wrapped her arm around my shoulder.
“It’s okay! I’ll ask around if there’s anyone who might dislike you. Knowing about those people in advance might help you worry less, right?”
Most of my contacts are in academia and not socially skilled. Regardless of family prestige, they’re weak to gossip and political matters.
So Paniya, who’s interested in society, gathering information for me was a big help.
“Really? Thank you, Paniya. You’re the only one I can trust.”
This was truly sincere. Even if I could go out, as an outsider, I couldn’t possibly know the tangled state of imperial power struggles. The Grand Duke didn’t seem inclined to tell me.
So at the end of this conversation, stained with leading questions and lies, I showed my honest sincerity.
Very rarely.
Though Paniya said she would find out, of course gathering information takes time.
While I busied myself with other preparations, waiting for Paniya to call me back after collecting the information, a matter I thought was out of my hands came back to me.
“Princess Starte has sent someone saying she wishes to see you.”
“Suddenly?”
I truly thought that after I warned her, I could ignore Princess Starte.
She wouldn’t suddenly listen now after stubbornly refusing before; she wouldn’t apologize after threatening to drag up things from ten years ago to accuse me. She’d at least be cautious.
Maybe she wanted something now? But since I had no reason to help her, I replied curtly:
“Check her schedule and tell her I will answer later.”
Of course, I could make time today if needed. It’s not far from Spinelle Palace.
But her attitude was really disrespectful. She ignored me when I gave unwanted advice, but now she suddenly changes her tune when she needs something.
It’s a mistake to think she can use me comfortably whenever she wants. I need to make it clear who holds the upper hand.
“Yes, understood. I’ll tell her.”
I watched with satisfaction as Tulla, standing a little away, called the court official to deliver the message. Yes. My right hand, Tulla, didn’t have to meet every messenger. It was enough that she managed overall.
Seeing Tulla handle even a simple message to my liking made me feel confident that even if I had to be away for the academy, she’d take good care of the palace.
After leaving Princess Starte aside, I tried to exchange information disguised as a report to the Grand Duke.
If the princess was desperate enough to ask for my help, something must have happened. Naturally, I needed to find out what.
The Grand Duke surely knew the problem, so if I asked, he’d tell me.
“Don’t meet Princess Starte again. Say you’re too busy to make time, and cut it off.”
The answer I received went beyond my expectations.
