Chapter 173

“Oh, you don’t have to move. I can sit on the side. It’s fine, really.”

Catherine quickly stopped Siervian from moving as soon as she finished speaking.

Then, she looked at Irvita, not bothering to hide her displeasure.

It was because Irvita was standing on Siervian’s right side.

[Catherine Greenwood]
Thoughts: Why is she standing over there? How inconsiderate.

“…Thank you, Lady Greenwood.”

“You’re welcome.”

Irvita was also a lady from a countess family, so there was no problem with her giving up her seat. However, noticing the mood, her expression wasn’t good either.

[Irvita Hardouin]
Thoughts: Still, I want to sit next to the princess. …I may not have a chance if it’s not today, when I have the privilege.

‘As expected, the Hardouin family is a noble faction, so they’re being careful.’

The Hardouin family was a typical noble faction.

In particular, it was a family that had maintained a close relationship with the Empress’ Pacour ducal family.

‘Of course, the noble faction is now just a name.’

The younger the children were the more sensitive they were to the power relations of adults.

Siervian knew this better than anyone and deliberately sat Irvita on her right side with an even warmer attitude.

‘It’s a future that changed because of me.’

“I’ve heard a lot about Your Highness’ wonderful reputation. That’s why I’ve always wanted to meet you.”

Come to think of it, Siervian’s table was mostly made up of families that were classified as orthodox imperialists.

Perhaps that was why those who should have been chiming in were all keeping their mouths shut.

‘It’s just like looking at my past life.’

Siervian felt strangely uncomfortable in this cruel atmosphere.

“Thank you. I’ve heard that Irvita is also very skilled in embroidery.”

“It’s a small talent.”

Now that Irvita was sitting next to her, Siervian realized one thing.

She had too much to talk about with Irvita, even though she didn’t want to.

Since she had been treated as a rival for so long, she knew Irvita’s skills, personality, and hobbies, whether she liked it or not.

‘Actually, I was envious of the people who received Irvita’s embroidery as gifts.’

Irvita’s pale lemon-colored eyelashes were shyly smiling, drawing crescents.

It was true that it was hard to adjust to seeing her face so close for the first time.

“W-well, I’ve heard that your magic skills are also outstanding…! I heard that you even interfered with forgotten magic not long ago!”

Irvita, whose expression had been subdued, exclaimed as Siervian gently responded.

It seemed that she was very impressed by Siervian’s skills, which she had heard about through rumors.

When she started to praise Siervian, the other ladies couldn’t just sit there and started to join in.

“Oh, I heard that rumor, too.”

“The fountain fairy showed the miracle of going around the princess once!”

“Amazing! I heard that interfering with forgotten magic is not something you can do with just any skill!”

She hadn’t expected that something she had done some time ago would be remembered for so long.

Therefore, Siervian tried to change the subject with a polite smile.

“Ah… It was just something that happened by chance. Please don’t praise me too much.”

It was a bit of an awkward situation, so Siervian responded appropriately while not forgetting to compliment the others.

[Irvita Hardouin]
Thoughts: She’s so cool……! Would it be rude to ask to hold her hand just once later? It would be rude, wouldn’t it? How can it not be?

Next to her, Irvita was looking at Siervian with eyes that sparkled to an embarrassing degree.

It was as if her pale hair was shimmering even more than usual.

‘Huh… Come to think of it, isn’t it a little strange?’

Suddenly, Siervian remembered Irvita from her previous life.

‘Was Irvita this interested in my magic skills?’

They weren’t on good terms, sometimes bad mouthing each other and sometimes spouting venom. Even if they didn’t particularly want to, the surrounding circumstances sometimes drove the two of them to do so.

However, even at those times, Siervian had never heard Irvita belittle her for not having magical abilities.

‘Thinking about it, that’s right. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Irvita insult me like that, even when other people kept grumbling.’

“Do you have anything you’d like to say, Your Highness?”

Before she knew it, she was staring blankly at Irvita’s face, and Irvita asked with a bright smile.

[Irvita Hardouin]
Thoughts: She looked at me! The princess looked at me! Me! Look! Ed!

Her true feelings were revealed even though it might be rude.

‘I’ll have to find out over time.’

Just as she had misunderstood her family when she returned, there might be something else going on with Irvita in this life.

“No, it’s just that Lady Irvita’s pretty hair is a little out of place.”

Siervian smiled brightly as well, trying to change the subject, and reached toward Irvita’s ear.

The lemon-colored hair that had been slightly disheveled was neatly arranged again.

“Oh my…!”

[Irvita Hardouin]
Favorability: +50
Favorability: +50

‘Huh? Does she like me fixing her hair?’

Irvita even blushed shyly. It was a color that contrasted sharply with her pale skin.

‘Well, even in her previous life, Irvita was known for her neat appearance.’

Seeing her happy expression, Siervian found her own answer.

Anyway, she was glad that she would be able to maintain a good relationship with Irvita in this life.

‘Maybe I should ask her to do some embroidery with me next time….’

Just as Siervian was about to bring up another appropriate topic before the lively table,

“My, my brooch is gone!”

Catherine had moved one seat over earlier and now suddenly exclaimed in dismay.

The room fell silent as everyone’s eyes turned toward the missing brooch on Catherine’s dress.

‘What? Why so soon?’ Siervian thought, surprised by the brooch’s disappearance happening much earlier than in her previous life.

“Oh no, what should I do? It’s a precious brooch that my grandmother gave me!”

The young ladies had been cautiously observing the situation then began to frantically search beneath the table for the missing brooch.

“Perhaps you left it at home?”

“No, I saw Catherine wearing it just a moment ago.”

Noticing the tension rising, Siervian decided to take action.

“Let’s expand our search a little further.”

Despite the claim that Catherine had been wearing the brooch moments ago, the young ladies readily dispersed throughout the hall. It wasn’t uncommon for small items to be carried around in the voluminous skirts of their dresses.

‘Good. Now I can naturally move closer to Lady Navij.’

“May I join you, Your Highness?” Irvita asked eagerly, her eyes pleading.

“Of course.”

Irvita followed Siervian with a bright smile, her relief evident.

‘Although it’s a bit earlier than in my previous life, the brooch must be with her.’

She knew that the brooch wasn’t simply lost. It was more than that.

‘How do I reveal that this is due to forgotten magic?’

The red brooch was, in fact, a magical item enchanted with a rare forgotten spell.

‘In my previous life, Catherine’s brooch was definitely in Lady Navij’s handbag. It must have moved there again.’

There was even a witness who had seen it being taken. As a result, Lady Navij suffered greatly, though the incident surprisingly took a new turn later.

One day after their official debut, Catherine’s brooch disappeared again.

“My brooch again..!” Catherine cried in dismay, naturally suspecting Lady Navij first.

However, this second time, the brooch wasn’t found with her. It was discovered pinned to the dress of another young lady, as if it belonged there.

‘Aaaaah!’

The young lady who had been chosen by the brooch screamed in surprise.

Unlike the pre-debutante table rounds, young ladies typically didn’t carry handbags during balls. So the brooch appeared as if it had teleported out of thin air.

‘There were more than ten witnesses who saw it.’

Thanks to the witnesses, the innocence of the young lady who had received Catherine’s brooch was proven.

Eventually, the Tower Lord, sensing magical energy, intervened and revealed the astonishing truth.

“It shall return to the owner of the red hair.”

The brooch was enchanted with this unique and rare forgotten spell.

“Huh?”

Lady Navij, feeling the sudden weight in her handbag, unconsciously let out a surprised sound.

All eyes turned toward her in an instant.

‘No, not again. I have to move quickly.’

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