Chapter 15: Annual Mounting for the Banquet

“Well, well, what a surprise! Did you come to the banquet alone?”

Juliette said it with a provocative smile as her opening remark.

She couldn’t have missed seeing Rosa enter with her brother.

It was Juliette’s usual provocation tactic, likely teasing Rosa for not being escorted by Alex, whom Rosa is infatuated with.

“(I wonder if she ever thinks of changing her pattern occasionally?)”

Rosa would have played along in the past, but the present Rosa is different.

“No, I came with my brother. Didn’t you notice? Today’s dress was tailored at Madame’s shop, but perhaps it was a bit plain?”

She replied with a composed smile.

It wasn’t a plain outfit by any means, but for Rosa, who loves red, it was unusual to wear a dress with a navy base. However, the dress featured intricate silver-thread embroidery and sparkling gemstones, resembling a night sky.

“Well, with your brother? I was sure it was His Highness Alex. After all, Lady Rosa, you were thrown off a horse defending him, weren’t you? You must still have scars. Couldn’t you secure an engagement even after going to such lengths?”

Juliette exaggeratedly widened her eyes, making bold remarks.

Rosa had forgotten, but at that moment, she had instinctively protected Alex. It seemed there was a romantic feeling back then, but now, recalling her past life, it has withered away.

(Even if I felt so strongly about His Highness, he’s already close to Ellen. Besides, I’ll be poisoned and my family will be ruined. It’s not the time to be in love with someone.)

When reading manga, she had never thought about the supporting role. Rosa felt a bit sorry for herself.

It seemed Rosa intended to be a support for Alex. Lost in sympathy for her past self, Juliette scrutinized Rosa.

She was trying to provoke Rosa somehow, exposing her embarrassment. All of Rosa’s entourage had gathered, seemingly ready to intervene.

(Oh my, it has become quite a spectacle.)

Rosa clapped her fan and smiled enchantingly.

If this were Rosa from before, she would have gotten angry and shouted. But now she had the resilience and patience honed in her past life’s corporate grind.

She wouldn’t easily fall for Juliette’s scheme.

“Hohoho, what an amusing thing to say. Of course, there was talk of engagement from His Highness, who said he wanted to take responsibility. However, I declined. Thanks to His Excellency Griffith’s treatment, there are hardly any scars left. There’s no need for His Highness to take responsibility for anything.”

With emphasis on Lord Griffith’s name, Juliette seemed to hesitate for a moment.

“He’s a skilled healer, and having him examine my wounds is considered an honor, almost like being the exclusive healer for the royal family.”

“Well, even if that’s the case, you did get a scar on your face, didn’t you? Isn’t it unnatural not to engage in an engagement despite that? Or perhaps you had a dream of being proposed to by His Highness?”

Juliette said with a twisted smile, seemingly making fun of Rosa.

Rosa seemed to have been looked down upon by lower-ranking nobles.

Well, even though the Ips family is considered prestigious and influential, they are still lower-ranking nobles.

“What is the intention behind your statement? Are you suggesting I’m a coward who would use my body’s scars to press for an engagement? Or perhaps you’re implying that if someone doesn’t take responsibility, I can’t get married? I doubt it, but is the daughter of the Ips family insulting me in public? You’re not intending to insult me, are you?”

Rosa smiled confidently and responded.

Juliette, seeing Rosa not react with anger as usual, became anxious, and her entourage also hesitated.

“No, I didn’t say anything like that. It’s a misunderstanding. And Rosa-sama, you always follow behind His Highness, don’t you? So I just thought maybe you admire His Highness…”

Even though it seemed like the game was already decided, Juliette, out of frustration, tried to bite back.

Love makes people foolish. Rosa must have seemed like a foolish and malicious woman in the eyes of those around her.

“So, you’re saying I engaged because of my scars? Well, that’s a terrible misunderstanding. Or do you think my current face with scars is ugly?”

Rosa smiled and approached Juliette.

“No, not ugly at all…”

Juliette’s words trailed off.

“I’ll ask you again. Is it true that I, the daughter of the Marquis of Croitzer, cannot marry unless someone takes responsibility for me? Depending on your answer, I may interpret it as an insult to my family. Oh, but when I think about it, are you insulting His Highness Alex, a member of the royal family?”

With a composed voice, Rosa asserted herself and took another step closer to Juliette.

At this, Juliette’s entourage turned pale and scattered like spiders, sensing that Rosa’s villainous role had worked.

“No, that’s absolutely not the case!”

In the midst of the attention from the surroundings, Juliette, feeling isolated and flustered, tried to leave hastily.

“Wait a moment! Aren’t you forgetting something? After saying such rude things in public, shouldn’t you at least offer an apology?”

She spoke with dignity without getting angry, intending to make Juliette apologize. She had to establish who was superior.

(Seems like a monkey’s mount. But I have to do it properly.)

Because she always threw tantrums, it seemed that Juliette, the daughter of a wealthy anti-Croitzer family mogul, had completely underestimated Rosa. However, things would not be the same in the future.

Juliette bit her lip, looking momentarily regretful, but being familiar with the world of nobility, she deeply bowed in apology and quickly left the venue. It seemed that she was already heading home for the day.

“Well, Lady Rosa, that was refreshing.”

“Truly impressive.”

Her entourage, showing signs of surprise, praised Rosa while also heaving a sigh of relief.

They must have been anxious about when Rosa would lose her temper and make a scene, especially since Juliette, with her eloquent tongue, always managed to outwit them. This time, however, they had preserved their honor.

(Power and the responsibilities that come with it. Being a celebrity carries quite a burden.)

While elegantly tilting the champagne she received from a servant, Rosa reflected on these thoughts once again.