Walter, having composed his expression, was about to speak to Odette again.

“Your Highness, you were here. I apologize. There are too many people…….”

“Ah, Count Clovis.”

Odette’s face flushed as she saw the hastily approaching Louis.

“You were popular. You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s my shame. Your Highness, are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I got some help.”

She had no intention of saying from whom she received help, but suddenly a thought crossed Odette’s mind.

‘What if I put Walter and Louis together?’

Maybe then she could find out information about Walter and Louis’s relationship?

After all, Odette had visited Belpore Academy several times since meeting Louis.

And in vain, she had not been able to gather any significant information.

[Dash] They were classmates at the same time, but it seems that Duke Ertman didn’t mingle deeply with others. No rumors of discord.

[Dash] I asked people in the magic hall, but they don’t seem to know? I heard Count Clovis was quite a diligent student!

The information AnneSophie found out was equally insignificant.

So she was inwardly disappointed, but this was fortunate.

‘Being with Walter might make people talk loudly, but…….’

As Walter said, that part seemed to have already been settled.

Odette turned her body toward Walter.

“Here, Duke Ertman helped me…….”

And then.

“Duke!”

A lively voice rang out from somewhere, and a girl with a fresh look and a yellow ribbon ran towards Walter with a wide smile.

Then she embraced Walter tightly.

“I see you again here! I was scared since I don’t know anyone. I didn’t know you were coming!”

Walter’s face suddenly contorted, but to others, it looked like he was merely taken aback by the sudden display of affection.

Even pushing her away immediately, though not so rudely that it felt uncomfortable.

“Elodie Montuare. Didn’t I tell you not to do this?”

“I’m sorry…… but I was just so happy.”

Moreover, the subsequent conversation seemed less a proof that Walter and Elodie were not close, and more evidence that they were acquaintances and that this happened frequently.

At least…… to Odette, who was watching.

[This is a time divider.]

‘As expected, I knew you wouldn’t fend me off so openly in a crowded place.’

Elodie chuckled pleasantly to herself.

Walter must have quietly warned the attendants not to announce his presence, but Elodie had been watching Odette’s side from the beginning, so it wasn’t difficult to notice Walter coming in.
And, the fact that Balter was conversing quite intimately with Odette as well.

Given that they were already the center of rumors, the repercussions were significant.

All the more so due to the words that Elodie had been spreading just before they arrived.

“Oh my, Her Highness the 4th Princess and Duke Ertman are together. They look really close.”

“Does Miss Elodie know something? She said she’s close to Duke Ertman, didn’t she? She’s staying at Duke Ertman’s estate, and even the dress she wore today was picked out by the Duke. If they are that close, she must have heard something.”

The young lady who picked up on someone’s remark and subtly bragged about what Elodie had boasted was Leia Denzel, who attended the ball with Elodie.

The debutante who was given the title of Chapron by Duke Ertman for Elodie, and, like Elodie, had recently made her debut.

And also someone who inwardly found Elodie, who kept subtly hinting at some sort of relationship with Duke Ertman, distasteful.

So, the intention behind speaking to Elodie upon seeing that scene was clear.

‘I’ve caught her at it.’

Her eyes had not looked good from earlier; I knew this would happen.

If I had known that the 4th Princess would attend this party, I would have been more careful with what I said.

Unable to hold back because I was itching to quickly mention my first debut in the capital and the support of Duke Ertman, I couldn’t help myself.

‘There’s nothing to be done about it now.’

If I carelessly hold back, I might be falsely accused of spreading baseless rumors.

Elodie, with an innocent smile, extricated herself from the crowd.

“I don’t know much… but since the Duke is here, I should go and greet him. I’ll be going now!”

And she immediately ran to Balter and hugged him tightly.

Naturally, Balter’s face twisted in shock.

“I just didn’t know anyone here, so I was just glad… If it was rude, I’m really sorry. Please forgive me…”

Elodie, with a defeated look, whimpered in a frightened voice.

Thanks to deliberately calling out to Balter loudly, she felt the attention focusing on her.

Especially the frozen expression on Odette’s face, it was the highlight.

‘Why is she making that face?’

The man standing next to her looked like Louis Clovis from the portrait.

Why does she have the face of a woman who has lost her man after choosing him?

Elodie, while pretending to whimper, scrutinized Odette’s face.

‘Could it be, that woman… Does she like Duke Ertman rather than Count Clovis?’