“What kind of person is Lord Duke of Lanchester?”

The young lady, who introduced herself as Martina, began the conversation with great interest. From what Avril gathered, she was a young lady of the Count Ronsard family. They had little connection with the Duke of Lancester family.

She had beautifully curled blonde hair and her makeup was applied with distinct colors. Her glamorous appearance gave a sense of confidence, it was dazzling. The fact that she had been able to intrude into this place without prior notice likely meant that she, and the standing of her house, was not someone whom Alexandra could ignore even after considering the position of the next king. 

Even so, Alexandra made no attempt to hide her displeasure.

“You supposedly barged in because you wanted to have tea with Lady Avril, yet now you ask about her husband.  You are quite the interesting person.”

“T-that is… I am not yet married, but you, Lady Alexandra, and the Duchess of Lancester are here. Considering the circumstances, shouldn’t the topic mostly be that sort of thing? I-I mean, it’s only natural to be curious about the circumstance of such a glamorous ducal house.”

Avril’s impression of her changed immediately upon seeing her speak. Contrary to Martina’s overly confident appearance, she was somehow stumbling over her words.

Nevertheless, Alexandra showed no mercy. Even while displaying a graceful smile, she spoke in a voice that sent a chill down the spine.

“Actually, there’s a rumor going around. Apparently, some families might try to approach the Duke of Lancester in anticipation to the outcome of the upcoming crown prince designation. Some insolent people will, rather than by proper means, try to worm their way into the bosom of His Excellency Duke Dylan Lanchester by using romance and amorous entanglements.”

“I-I would never…”

Martina was struck speechless.

Avril was also struck speechless.

Only Alexandra, behaving as if it was none of her concern, continued to sip her tea.

Using romance to approach Lord Dylan…!

While that was not something commendable in this country, there was nothing unusual for a head of household to have a concubine.

The reason Dylan’s father ended up an infamous womanizer wasn’t just because he kept too many mistresses, but because of all the scandals he spread.

Also, from the atmosphere within the royal palace and from the fact that visitors to the Duke Lanchester household had been increasing lately, she knew that people were whispering about the possibility of Dylan being a candidate for the next Crown Prince.

Until now, only paying attention to Lawrence and the royal family had been enough for deepening connection to the royal family. However, the direction of the wind seemed to have suddenly changed.

Some families probably felt a need to ingratiate themselves with the Duke Lanchester family, now headed by Dylan, and who might become the Crown Prince in the future, due to the social and political positions they officially occupied.

The strongest form of connection is marriage.  As Dylan was already married, these families would next consider making their daughters a concubine instead.  There wasn’t anything strange about such a line of thinking.  Then, if someday the child borne by their daughter and Dylan the Crown Prince were to ascend the throne, that would be the best outcome possible.

It seems that maneuvering and bargaining has already begun in various places

Avril looked at Martina again. She was trembling, and she couldn’t exactly be said to not be acting suspiciously.

Now that I think of it…

She noticed that the dress Martina wore was quite revealing.  Also, their was her makeup, which she had only recognized as being bold with its color.  Could she be intending to evoke a villainous woman with this?

Her eyeliner was drawn in a long and narrow shape, extending far beyond the outer corners of her eyes. The lower eyelids were unnaturally black while her lips were plump red. To be honest, it doesn’t quite suit her modest features.

She looked at the maid waiting nearby and saw that she seemed rather flustered. It was clearly the demeanor of someone worried about their lady. Avril understood.

I see. Perhaps she was ordered by her family to become Lord Dylan’s mistress and now needs to gather information for that purpose…?

Avril had experienced that herself. She remembered the confusion of the day when she suddenly had to play the role of a villainous woman as though it had happened yesterday.  As such sympathizing with her was only natural.

“Um, well…”

At any rate, Avril tried to speak to Martina so as to uncover her circumstances. Martina, however, was slightly faster.

Apparently confusing herself, she desperately strung together her words.

“How does one participate in a masquerade ball…?”

“…”

Avril, not knowing the answer, was struck speechless.

This time, Alexandra was also struck speechless.

By masquerade ball, she probably means that masquerade ball…

The masquerade ball that her stepsister Corinna had willingly attended to find a playmate, and which ultimately led to the downfall of her family.

Avril had also participated in such a ball once on a mission, but while shaking off one of Corinna’s playmates whom she had accidentally run into and taking part in a chess tournament, the ball had ended.

In other words, she ended up never learning the full picture. With her level of knowledge only amounting to that, there was no way she would know something like how to participate in one.

That… Corinna got wind of the schedule from somewhere and attended.

“…If one were to follow Lord Dylan’s connections, would it be possible to obtain something like an invitation?”

While she was silent and seriously considering an answer along the lines of what Martina seemed to be asking, Alexandra’s face twitched as though in exasperation.

“Lady Avril, there is no need to think about this seriously.”

“Ah, yes.”

Alexandra accepted the situation with a, “So that’s how it is?” and continued. 

“Lady Martina, the information regarding the kind of masquerade ball you’re imagining is something that’s naturally shared among those who are appropriate for that sort of place and circulates as rumors. However, even if you come across such a rumor, you are still left in a situation where you cannot truly know if it is real until you actually go to the mansion.”

““I see…””

Avril and Martina nodded in unison. From beside her, Martina’s eyes had widened in admiration of Alexandra’s knowledge.

“You two are making the same expression.”

Alexandra spoke with a listless voice. Then, with a wry smile, she continued.

“I don’t know what orders you were given by your family, but I don’t believe the Duke of Lancester would accept that kind of invitation. He’s completely infatuated by Lady Avril, after all.”

Completely infatuated…

Hearing it so plainly stated made her feel embarrassed.

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