At the Noble Banquet, Nola changed into a long gown, her hair elegantly pinned up, exuding an air of noble grace.
Close behind her, her maid Jenny followed dutifully.
“Noble Lady Nola, it’s been so many years. You’re just as beautiful as ever. Would you care to dance with me?”
A noble lady approached her, extending her hand in invitation.
Nola merely gave her a slight smile and brushed past, leaving the other woman standing awkwardly alone.
“Many years?”
Who was that? She didn’t recognize her.
And she had no interest in getting to know her.
Only after Jenny introduced her did she learn that the noble lady was Beline, whom she had met once before at a birthday banquet several years ago.
After the failed attempt with Beline, other noble ladies were undeterred; instead, they tried even harder to gather around her, all hoping to be the first to dance with her.
At first, Nola calmly refused them, but as time passed, she lost her patience.
She bluntly admitted she was tired and escaped from the throng of noble ladies, bringing Jenny to a corner of the hall.
There were some unspoken rules at the Noble Banquet—nobody invited the nobles seated in the corners.
After all, sitting there meant they didn’t want to be disturbed.
Reluctantly, the ladies who had hoped to dance with her dispersed.
Pouring herself a glass of red wine, Nola took a sip and sighed.
“Jenny, do you know why I hate occasions like this?”
“Why?”
“Because they’re insincere.”
She continued:
“They want to befriend me only because of my looks, my status, and the family behind me. In their eyes, I’m nothing more than a tool to elevate themselves.”
“I don’t like friendships built solely on interests.”
Jenny said nothing.
She thought her Mistress stood out awkwardly among the nobles, but it was precisely this distinctness that had led to her current achievements, becoming the Empire’s Honorary Duke.
“Marquess Vanessa has arrived.”
The voice came from somewhere nearby, and Nola’s brows involuntarily furrowed.
She had long heard of Marquess Vanessa’s notorious name; the public’s opinion of her was extremely poor.
Now, it seemed entirely justified. The banquet had been going on for over ten minutes, and she had only just arrived.
Anyone who didn’t know would have thought she was the most distinguished guest here.
Thinking this, Nola looked toward the hall’s entrance, searching for the Marquess Vanessa mentioned.
Her eyes widened in shock; her breath and heartbeat skipped simultaneously.
She—she was Marquess Vanessa?!
Silver hair, delicate ears, and a flawless face that left an unforgettable impression at a mere glance.
Everything about the girl before her confirmed she was the same person she had seen at the Market.
She was Vanessa?
Wasn’t the legendary Vanessa supposed to be arrogant and ruthless?
But this girl had recklessly saved a little girl at the Market—how could she possibly have that reputation?
…Could she be mistaken?
Looking closer, Nola noticed the girl wore a different dress than the one at the Market, and the tear-drop earrings were gone.
Could this girl be Vanessa’s sister or elder sister?
Although she had never heard of any siblings of the Marquess, it was possible.
There were many illegitimate children among nobles after all.
With this thought, although she saw the girl sitting silently in the corner, clearly not wanting to be disturbed, Nola still chose to stand up and walk over.
“Eh? Noble Lady.”
Her sudden movement drew the attention of many nobles, including Beline, who had invited her to dance earlier.
Stopping in front of the girl, Nola took a deep breath, her voice tinged with excitement: “Vanessa? Did we meet at the Market?”
The girl blinked, thought for three seconds, then shook her head.
“No, this is our first meeting.”
“Is that so?”
From afar, Nola hadn’t been able to clearly see her face, which was why she doubted.
But now she was one hundred percent certain the girl before her was the one from the Market.
She just couldn’t understand why the girl would deny it.
Was there some hidden reason?
Bowing slightly, she reached out her hand and invited:
“Then may I have this dance?”
The gathered noble ladies were stunned at first, then their gazes filled with hostility.
They had all been rejected when they invited her earlier; now Nola personally invited her to dance…
But what none of them expected was that the girl didn’t react with joy to the invitation.
Instead, she retracted her hand, stepping back with hesitation.
This only ignited the jealousy in many noble ladies.
Beline, especially, snorted coldly, stepping forward with a mocking hand extended:
“What’s the matter? Marquess Vanessa so proud that even the Honorary Duke’s invitation doesn’t please you? Or are you not interested in the Duke, wanting to dance with us instead?”
The next moment, her hand was clasped by the girl.
“Let’s go.”
“Eh?”
Beline was stunned, unable to react as the girl pulled her into the dance floor, moving to the elegant melody.
Realizing what had happened, Beline sneered and deliberately stepped on the girl’s foot, whispering mockingly:
“So this is how you get back at me?”
The girl seemed oblivious to the step, replying calmly:
“Get back at you? I just think that Duke is very rude.”
“What do you mean?”
“You put so much effort into this banquet, haven’t you? The practiced, instinctive dance steps, the perfect etiquette, the meticulous dressing—all of it for that Duke, right?”
The girl stared into Beline’s eyes and continued:
“If I were her, no matter how indifferent, I’d still dance with you once, so your efforts wouldn’t be wasted.”
Those words seemed to sting Beline sharply. Her smile vanished, and she clenched the girl’s hands tightly, gritting her teeth:
“…Are you pitying me?”
“Of course not. I know you don’t actually like that Duke either, right?”
Beline froze.
The girl went on:
“Girls born into great families often have no freedom. To avoid becoming tools in political marriages, they strive desperately to improve themselves.”
“All they do is for a better life. People who take life seriously and work hard like that deserve respect, don’t they?”
Her words silenced Beline.
She knew the girl had seen the moment when she was ignored by Nola earlier.
She was standing up for her.
“Hmph, I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting here. How I live my life has nothing to do with you. And you, aren’t you also born into such a noble family? Marquess Vanessa?”
Though she said this, Beline’s dance steps, seemingly to accommodate the girl who struggled to keep up, unexpectedly slowed down.
But soon, her brow furrowed, sensing something amiss.
“Marquess Vanessa, your dancing… doesn’t quite seem like that of a noble.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.