Elodie didn’t know exactly what had happened between Odette and Walter.

She could only vaguely guess that Odette had chosen Count Clovis, Louis, from Walter’s reaction.

And according to Elodie’s thinking, there could be no reason to choose Louis over the handsome Walter, except for love.

So she naturally thought that Odette would love Louis.

“Does she make that face to Duke Ertman, too?”

It was, perhaps, a face like that of a person who had realized they were played by a flirt.

A facial expression that could not be made if there was no intention in the first place.

Of course, she didn’t seem to notice, and neither did Walter.

And that was a great fortune for Elodie.

“Hasn’t he noticed yet?”

And since neither side was eager to talk, it didn’t seem like they were on good terms.

Elodie’s tearful eyes quickly passed between the two people.

And she spoke to Odette even before anyone opened their mouth.

“Is this gentleman with the Duke? I’ve been rude to your partner. Will you forgive me?”

“No, I am…….”

Odette hesitated for a moment.

To say “I’m not Walter’s partner” would feel rather demeaning, recognizing that Elodie had singled her out.

‘There’s already a rumor going around, so if I mess up, who knows how this will turn out.’

She really didn’t want to, but now that it had come to this, she had to mediate this situation.

“I’m not Duke Ertman’s partner, but it’s not nice to trouble someone for a long time over one mistake. Duke Ertman, do you have anything to say to this person?”

“……No. But I hope the same mistake doesn’t happen twice.”

“I, I will never do that again! I swear!”

As Elodie whimpered, Odette comforted her and spoke.

“Your sincerity has been conveyed enough. Right, Duke?”

“…….”

Walter did not answer, but at least at this moment, silence could also be interpreted as an affirmative.

Even though a proper apology was not exchanged, if words have come this far, it practically means that this issue is settled here.

Around that time, Louis stepped forward to help Odette.

“It seems like the two of you are at odds, so we can talk separately about the rest. Then we shall go[Dash].”

“Wait!”

At the moment Louis was trying to take Odette away, Elodie grabbed Odette’s hand tightly.

Elodie’s moist eyes looked purely, and desperately, at Odette.

“It’s fate, and I want to know the name of the person who helped me. Will it be difficult?”

(This is the time separator.)

Odette couldn’t refuse Elodie in the end.

‘I couldn’t help it. If I refused there, I would be the only bad person.’

She intended to just give her name and leave, but the problem was that Elodie didn’t think of parting at that moment.

[Dash]My, I didn’t recognize Princess! My name is Elodie Montuar. I will never forget your grace for helping me!

Along with these words, Elodie really clung to Odette persistently.

It could be seen as the cute behavior of a debutante girl, but Odette was quite uncomfortable with Elodie.

‘Could Elodie Montuar and Duke Ertman really have such a…… relationship?’

As time passed since she entered the banquet hall, Odette was able to roughly understand the rumors circulating in the banquet hall.

She had felt something strange from the oddly awkward glances toward her and Elodie.

‘But I never thought there would be talk that Duke Ertman was seeing a woman.’

No, in such a case, the expression of “seeing” would be rather lacking.

From what she heard, it was almost as if he had settled a woman in his house.

Thus, what Odette heard in the banquet hall was as follows.

[Dash]Duke Ertman cherishes Lady Montuar so much that he’s given her an entire annex.
[Dash] The dress she wore today was from the most famous designer in the capital, and Duke Ertman generously gifted her with an expensive dress.

[Dash] It was even said that he personally picked out the dress she wore today.

These stories were somewhat frivolous, but they were somewhat accepted as true since the person she came with was the mistress of Duchess Grimuar.

‘If it’s Duchess Grimuar… She’s famous for having been close to the previous Duke Ertman.’

At that time, the previous Duke Ertman being referred to was Arnold, Balter’s grandfather.

And the friendship between the Grimuar Ducal family and the Ertman Ducal family, spanning three generations, was wellknown even to Odette, who was unfamiliar with social news.

Since she had come with the Grimuar Ducal family, no one dared think she would make up lies.

Odette felt the same way.

As a result, Odette’s mind was in disarray.

‘To openly make a lover like this, what on earth is he thinking?’

Putting aside whether Balter’s proposal was real or fake.

‘Didn’t Duke Ertman… have feelings for Lizeina?’

In order to marry Lizeina smoothly, and to fuel her jealousy, Odette alone would have been enough. There was no need to involve other women.

She was confused by Balter’s incomprehensible actions, and at the same time, she was uncomfortable as the scene she had seen earlier stuck in her mind.

[Dash] Your Grace!! I see you here again!