Surviving As An Obsessive Servant Chapter 172 - Side Story Chapter 7

This debutante ball was held grandly in the imperial city’s grand hall.

Because Lobel tended to have a cold impression when expressionless, she tried to maintain a calm, gentle smile as usual.

As she exchanged glances and greetings with other noble ladies, Edric instinctively tried to block her from view with his large frame.

He knew she was making an effort, so he tried not to do that—but whenever someone looked at her, his body just moved on its own.

Normally, Lobel would have noticed, but she seemed too nervous this time to realize it.

No, it felt like her attention was elsewhere.

“…Darling. I really do seem like the oldest one here, don’t I?”

She looked a little embarrassed.

Edric held her hand, still smiling, though he seemed a bit fidgety too.

Just like how Lobel used to do for him whenever he was nervous.

And then he told her what was clearly the truth.

“Lobelia Denkart. You are the oldest one here—but also the most beautiful.”

“…You say cheesy things so easily now, huh?”

She gave a small laugh, and the tension in her stiff shoulders eased noticeably.

Now she seemed to feel just as good as Edric did.

As time passed, the once-hostile stares from noble girls softened.

Not everyone, of course—but even that little change gave Lobel a quiet sense of relief.

“Good thing we didn’t change the entrance and opening dance order, right?”

At Terua debutante balls, the order of entrance is based on rank and honor.

Usually, a baron’s daughter enters first, and the most noble family enters last and opens the dance.

When Princess Delilah attended the debutante, of course she was the last to enter and led the opening dance.

Given the Denkart family’s prestige, Edric had assumed Lobel would enjoy the same privilege.

But she had firmly shaken her head.

[ This debutante was planned since last winter. There’s probably already a young lady selected to be the lead. ]

She’d said that as long as she took a fitting spot for a duchess, there was no need to insist on being the star.

A debutante was about everyone debuting into society together, after all.

She said that, as someone born a commoner, following their traditions and blending in smoothly would be the real mark of a successful debut.

Seeing her say this had genuinely surprised Edric.

‘…!’

He was amazed that someone like him—rough and guarded—could keep falling, deeper and deeper, for one person again and again.

Edric hoped the other nobles could see the sincerity in Lobel.

But at the same time… he kind of didn’t want them to.

‘If they knew… they wouldn’t leave her alone.’

He grew uneasy.

No matter how old or young, high-born or not, everyone would want to be close to Lobel.

And sure enough—

“Um, Duchess Denkart.”

A young heir of a baronial family approached, greeting her properly.

He greeted Edric too, of course, but Edric barely registered it.

‘Why is he looking at Lobel like that…?’

The boy had a gentle expression and soft eyes.

…And he looked at least three or four years younger than Edric.

He had all the qualities someone like Lobel might like, so Edric couldn’t let his guard down.

With his arms crossed and a fierce smirk, Edric stared daggers at him—enough to make most men retreat.

Under that intense and intimidating pressure, the baron’s son flinched.

But still, he didn’t leave, and a crease formed on Edric’s brow.

‘…He came fully prepared, huh.’

Even as Edric grew more irritated, the two continued talking.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, my younger sibling got better.”

“…Does your sibling know me?”

“No.”

“…”

Then why thank me for that?

As Lobel gave him a puzzled look, the boy smiled brightly and said,

“My sibling got better after taking LB-206.”

Recently, the secret backer of the Elkatan Trading Company had been revealed to be operating within Terua.

It turned out the Denkart dukedom had been behind it all along, secretly doing good for a long time.

While not entirely true, given Elkatan’s recent activities, it wasn’t entirely false either.

People believed that even the imperial family supported these efforts, strengthening the perception.

Edric had even coordinated with Crown Prince Louis, anticipating the day his involvement would come to light.

But the fact that Elkatan had invested in new drug development, and the initial “LB,” made everyone think of one name:

Lobelia Denkart.

Since the duke was famously in love with his wife, it was widely assumed her ideas had influenced him.

“That’s far too much credit. It’s my husband and the trading company doing that work.”

“It’s not too much at all. I only started it because it was your dream. Without you, no one would be taking that medicine.”

My husband always… insists on saying these things in public, doesn’t he?

Lobel gave him a slightly awkward smile, trying to signal him with her eyes, and Edric finally stopped bragging.

Behind the bickering couple, the boy who had stayed behind muttered to himself in a daze.

“…So it really was true.”

He looked deeply moved, placing a hand on his chest and gazing at the two.

The nearby nobles, who had been watching closely, also seemed moved and began whispering among themselves.

Thanks to this little incident, word of Duchess Lobelia Denkart’s growing influence spread even more.

There were now rumors she had great sway over the duke’s business affairs.

And Edric Denkart, the duke, was praised even more for his discerning eye.

A woman born a commoner, yet able to uphold the dignity and traditions of the nobility—she was the perfect duchess.

“Also, it’s said she’s showing remarkable skill at the Empress’s regular card games and other social gatherings…”

Edric lowered his gaze from the sketch he was working on.

Lobel, who had been reading the newspaper aloud, chuckled happily.

“For a latecomer to the debutante scene, I think I’ve done pretty well, don’t you?”

“Yeah. But, Lobel.”

“…?”

“You’re… winning just enough, right?”

As Edric asked, he added details down to the creases in the newspaper she was holding.

Maybe couples really do become alike.

Lobel had always been naturally skilled with her hands, and lately, thanks to her Diph bloodline, her eyesight had improved dramatically, and she could control the wind freely.

If she put her mind to it, she’d never lose at those card games she just mentioned.

And Edric knew that Lobel could be surprisingly competitive at times.

There were probably still some bold nobles out there who looked down on her because of her background, so she might lose her temper at any moment.

Lobel could never tolerate insults toward her husband more than toward herself.

And she didn’t try to.

Edric liked that about her—but it worried him, too.

Perhaps reading that worry in his expression, Lobel grinned.

“Don’t worry. I’m only winning enough not to make the others cry.”

“…”

Looks like even in high society, not everything’s pure and sweet—her slightly twisted tone said as much.

Edric, who had been jealous of the nobles at those gatherings just a moment ago, could only offer silent sympathy now.