I’m Not the One Who Seduced the Grand Duke – Chapter 20

Author: isuzuuy

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“Countess Oscar! I thought you wouldn’t be able to make it today!”

So that was why there had been an empty seat all this time.

At the appearance of one particular woman, everyone welcomed her.

Sylvia Oscar naturally took the empty seat directly across from me.

‘Of course. There was no way you’d miss a gathering like this.’

I had wondered if I might run into her if I came here. And sure enough.

‘Still as extravagant as ever.’

I quietly sipped my tea as I glanced at Sylvia.

Dressed in a deep pink gown that would be difficult for most women to pull off, she looked just like a single blooming rose.

Layers of translucent lace were draped over a corset that emphasized her waist, while the thick pearl necklace hanging along her neckline sparkled like foam atop crashing waves.

The floral ornament made of artificial flowers atop her head could easily have looked excessive, but Sylvia managed to pull even that off perfectly.

She truly was the flower of high society.

“My goodness, Countess. You look even more beautiful today.”

“Indeed. I thought a flower was walking toward us.”

“You’re all too kind.”

Ho ho ho. Ha ha ha.

The typical pleasantries of high society were exchanged.

At the awkward greetings, I could only smile faintly.

‘Wow…… I really want to go home.’

***

It wasn’t as though I had come here without any preparation.

How to win over the ladies of high society.

First step.

“Ah, come to think of it, Countess Brunhild. I heard your husband is planning to build a large resort in his territory this time. You must have quite a lot to worry about with the rainy season approaching.”

“Ah. I don’t really know much about what my husband does……”

“Your county is famous for its beautiful scenery, isn’t it? Once it’s completed, you should be able to make quite a profit from all the tourists.”

“Oh, my. Is that so?”

The countess’s eyes sparkled at the prospect of accumulating a great deal of wealth.

“Hehehe. Then if it’s completed, I’ll invite everyone here~”

“Wow, I’m already looking forward to it!”

Encouraged by the other ladies, the countess puffed out her chest proudly.

Now, the second step.

“Oh, dear. I’m sorry. I ended up talking about business again. The others must find it boring.”

“What? No, no. It’s actually very useful and interesting. Where else would we hear things like this if not from the Marquess?”

“That’s right.”

As I subtly backed off, the countess who had been feeling so pleased with herself quickly shook her head.

Another lady chimed in agreement.

“Still, rather than listening to me talk, I’d like to hear about all of you as well. What’s fashionable these days, and what rumors are making the rounds. When it comes to high society, you’re all much more experienced than I am.”

And to finish it off, I added a little sweetener.

As I naturally handed the conversation over to them, the ladies perked up.

“It’s not difficult~ Let’s see. Ah, have you heard that story? Apparently, the second daughter of Count Brigel……”

“That’s nothing compared to this story. You know the Baroness of Janet, right? Well, her wife……”

Please teach me well, I said humbly, and the noblewomen came rushing in with gleaming eyes.

They even began competing with one another over whose story was more entertaining.

Just when it seemed like things might end on a rather pleasant note—

“Oh, right. I heard that you and Countess Oscar are quite close, Your Excellency?”

“What? Ah, yes. Well……”

That Sylvia and I were friends.

I wondered if our relationship could really be called friendship, but I glossed over it vaguely.

‘There’s no point denying it here. It’ll only cause another controversy.’

I was handling things fairly flexibly when……

Drip.

“C-Countess? What’s wrong?!”

Sylvia, who had been sitting across from me, suddenly bit her lip, and tears began to fall from her golden eyes.

Soon, her delicate shoulders began to tremble as she sobbed.

What the hell? Why is she suddenly doing that?

“Ah…… no. I’m sorry. I suddenly…… I really don’t know what came over me.”

She pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at the corners of her eyes, giving an awkward smile. She then told everyone not to mind her and to continue their conversation……

No, as if that were possible.

“To be honest, I spent a long time wondering whether I should come today. Because I was worried that…… the Marquess might feel uncomfortable around me. But fortunately, it seems you welcomed me……”

“……I did?”

Well, of course I was uncomfortable around her.

‘But I’m not stupid enough to make it blatantly obvious that I dislike her.’

“Why would I feel uncomfortable around you, Countess?”

“Because…… I know the Marquess’s secret. I was afraid I might upset you for no reason.”

“Did you just say the Marquess’s secret?”

At the intriguing words, the noblewomen perked up their ears.

Of course, so did I.

My secret?

What, that an outsider had entered my body and then left?

That the outsider had caused such an outrageous incident that my life had been thrown into chaos?

Or that it wasn’t me who had seduced Leon Obsidian, but that woman?

‘……There are too many possibilities. I can’t even guess.’

“I know I should keep my mouth shut for the Marquess’s sake, but I found the courage to come here for my brother’s honor. Still…… we might have become family, after all.”

“Become family? Countess, what exactly do you mean……”

Seriously. What on earth had she been babbling about this whole time?

I stared at her in disbelief, and Sylvia, who had been staring right back at me, narrowed her eyes into a gentle smile.

Then—

“The Marquess…… was once very close to my brother.”

“What? Is that really true?!”

“Yes. Until recently, the two of them were lovers who had promised each other a future.”

Sylvia’s bombshell caused an uproar.

Some froze with their mouths hanging open in shock.

Some refused to believe such an absurd claim.

Some of the young ladies were moved by the hope they had discovered in the depths of despair.

And then……

There was Sylvia Oscar, whose lips curled ever so slightly as she looked at me.

‘Has she actually gone insane?’

“Come to think of it, there were rumors about them before. That the two of them were in a relationship.”

“Wasn’t that something Young Master Valentine went around saying on his own? That’s what I heard.”

“I heard that rumor too! I already thought the Marquess and Young Master Valentine were a very good match. I never imagined they were actually in that kind of relationship!”

As if they had already decided to believe it, the young ladies came rushing in with their eyes blazing.

“Come to think of it, was it during the Holy Light Festival last year? I think I saw the two of them together. The way they looked at each other was so affectionate that I couldn’t believe—”

“I didn’t attend that year.”

“……Oh. I-I see. Then I must have seen you somewhere else.”

The young lady caught in her fabrication glared at me as if to say, So what? It’s true anyway, and snapped back.

Wow. She really had no shame.

“Y-Your Excellency…… Is what Countess Oscar said true?”

“Of course not.”

I had remained silent until then, but now I shook my head.

“I was so taken aback that I couldn’t even speak for a moment. Hmm. So, Countess Oscar? What exactly are you thinking, making up such a story? And right in front of the person involved, no less.”

At my firm tone, those around us reacted as though to say, Well, of course.

Of course, there were still some who refused to believe that Countess Oscar would lie.

“You’re being so cruel, Your Excellency. My brother truly loved you. How could your feelings change overnight like this? Ahh!”

Sylvia’s eyes welled with tears as she placed a hand over her chest and cried out.

She looked exactly like the tragic heroine who had been betrayed by the person she loved.

‘No, but seriously, what is she relying on to go this far?’

She couldn’t possibly be acting like this without having something to back her up.

“Of course, I know His Grace is an incomparable match. But…… How could you treat my brother so coldly? When the two of you truly loved each other.”

“Countess. I’m sorry, but I can’t listen to this any longer. If you continue making false statements, I will have no choice but to send a formal letter of protest to House Oscar……”

“You’re the one lying, not me, Your Excellency! You even…… gave my brother a ring and proposed to him!”

Huh? A ring?

“Did you just say you proposed? And a ring, too?”

“If that isn’t true, then Countess Oscar must be delusional.”

People looked at Sylvia and me with fascinated expressions, saying either way, it would be entertaining.

I, on the other hand, frowned.

I had a bad feeling about this.

‘She said ring just now, didn’t she?’

[I did pawn the ring you were wearing at the pawnshop, though?]

Unfortunately, there was a ring I had recently lost.

And now, a ring had appeared at exactly this moment.

‘No way…….’