The Grand Duchess's Daughter: The Empire's Social Season Begins
As the announcement from the Maechert Duchy came through, my shoulders gave a little jolt.
At last, the trial period was over, and the real story of this life was about to begin.
Adam had told me that my debut in high society would be the first sign that the Maila Marquisate era was about to awaken once more.
From there, I might even make friends with one of the people I needed to meet.
“His Imperial Majesty will be present as well, and you’ve already entered the Marquisate residence,” Adam continued with a gentle smile. “So it’s time for you to take your first step into the Empire’s upper circles. It seems quite a few people have been curious about you lately.”
“The Albreon social scene is no joke,” he added, “so brace yourself.”
……Pretty. The prettiest among the older sisters who went in.
Allie! Shh! Please, Your Highness, show us mercy.
When I stepped down from the carriage and into the Maechert Duchy residence, a five-year-old servant child clinging to her mother’s hand suddenly lit up with sparkling eyes at the sight of me.
The servant looked mortified, quickly pulling the child behind her while bowing deeply toward me.
I offered a small smile and reached into my clutch purse, handing the child a few candies.
“Here’s a little gift.”
A bright smile bloomed on the child’s lips.
“Waaah, thank you, unnie!”
“I’m grateful too. Thank you for letting me relax a little.”
Watching the child beam with pure joy over just a few candies, I couldn’t help feeling a little lighter myself.
The servant, clearly startled by my words of gratitude, paused briefly before bowing again.
I smiled once more and stepped forward, my facial muscles loosening just a touch from our little exchange with the child.
Indeed, when I’d checked myself in the mirror earlier, I’d looked radiant.
My small, chubby-cheeked face, with its straight nose, fresh lips, and emerald-green eyes, was already quite pretty on its own.
Paired with the voluminous blonde waves styled by the veteran maids and the matching sky-blue gown, I looked every inch the graceful noble daughter.
That’s it. Don’t let yourself get intimidated, Arinell Maila.
The moment I entered, the gazes of the noble guests all turned toward me.
I recalled the warning Adam had given me.
“The Maechert Duchy ranks among the Empire’s greatest noble houses, alongside Zikfreit and Gernant. They were once a family that supported another prince, only to swiftly change sides the moment he ascended the throne.”
“And today’s party host is Lady Lariel Maechert. She may not be kindly disposed toward you, Your Highness.”
……
Since it was the birthday ball of a noble girl my own age, the gathering was filled with peers and debutantes as numerous as the noble ladies themselves.
Among them, several wore expressions that looked almost like they were sizing me up.
More precisely, it wasn’t hostility exactly, but a faint, territorial glint in their eyes.
Clearly, this was going to be a difficult place, just as Adam had warned.
“Why? Because the Maechert lady has admired His Imperial Highness since before she was born.”
At the center of the hall, a young woman stood out as if she were the very heart of the event.
Her wavy red hair and black eyes made her undeniably beautiful, yet there was a cold, distant aura about her.
Surrounding her were a cluster of women in lavish gowns, the kind that screamed “mainstream group of my generation.”
……
In truth, when I’d first heard that the princess had always favored the Crown Prince, I’d been hesitant to attend this ball.
A debut ball hosted by someone who might look at me as a rival. How cruel.
But Adam had insisted I come, saying the “Madame” had received my invitation and accepted.
“The Madame…?”
“Precisely. The formidable ‘Palace Affairs Chancellor’ herself.”
She had been the Emperor’s cousin and his wife, but the union lasted less than a year before he passed away. Now a widow, she had devoted herself entirely to educating the ladies of the court.
Over the past twenty years, few women had risen to the peak of the Empire’s social circles without her passing on her wisdom.
Every noble mother with a daughter dreamed of having her daughter become her pupil, but the Madame was notoriously selective, demanding only the finest raw talent from among the noble girls.
Her eye had proven impeccable. Through her guidance, the young lady had become the Empire’s most precious jewel, dazzling the entire social world.
“There’s a strong chance she’ll select a new jewel today. Given that she’s hosting the party, I’d bet on her choosing you. But even so, it’s still a gamble.”
According to Adam, the invitation to today’s ball had even become a form of currency, trading hands among lesser noble families in hopes of catching the “Madame’s” gaze.
“……”
I had no intention of becoming the Madame’s student, no matter how grand the dress or the honor. Still, I decided this was the perfect chance to at least make her acquaintance.
It would be my first step toward the goals I’d set for myself.
“Happy birthday to you, Lady Lariel Maechert. My name is……”
Deciding I should deliver my gift first, I approached the host.
Lady Lariel’s black eyes were fixed on me, and the corners of her lips curved ever so slightly.
“Arinell Maila. Nice to meet you.”
For a few seconds, the space between us seemed frozen, like time itself had stopped.
From behind her, the elegant women burst into giggles, exchanging amused glances.
Lady Lariel slowly reached out and accepted my gift.
Then, in a soft, low voice, she murmured, “Thank you. Mariel Lila.”
Perfectly straight brows and a gentle smile, yet she deliberately mispronounced my name.
From behind her, a few more suppressed giggles echoed.
……
Guiltily, I had hoped this would be the kind of reversal where the arrogant villainess turns out to be secretly nice, but it seemed my usual luck didn’t extend to this story.
Adam’s earlier words came back to me.
“Because you were with His Majesty in Galnem, people might see you as a target for impure forces, so we spread the word that you came from a rural foster family.”
In other words, this was undoubtedly…… a thinly veiled mockery.
Exactly like how elementary-school kids teased a new transfer student who’d moved from the countryside for her accent.
My own pronunciation was flawless among the capital’s nobility, yet I still felt the sting of that childish jab.
“……”
Pfft—
The moment my lips curved into a smile, Lady Lariel’s perfectly arched brows twitched ever so faintly.
Her eyes sparkled with something that looked suspiciously like amusement.
If I’d been an ordinary child, my face would probably have flushed red with anger.
And drawing attention to myself like this in such a place would quickly earn me a bad reputation in high society.
So for someone like me, still considered a newcomer from the countryside, the obvious intent of this girl’s trap was clear.
It’s retaliation for Parme tagging me as the Crown Prince’s fiancéée, a man I’d never even met.
“As for the gift……”
I looked calmly at Lady Lariel and opened my lips.
“It’s a room freshener made with the herb Pomphur. It helps soothe the mind and body.”
Lady Lariel’s lips twisted into a crooked smile, as if to say, What about it?
The eyes of the noble girls behind her watching me with cold silence were just as sharp.
But unlike them or anyone else, I wasn’t someone easily taken down.
After ten years of real-world survival in rural Korea’s cutthroat business world, I was worlds apart from these pampered young ladies.
“It also has medicinal properties. It’s been used as a treatment for children with tongue-tied speech who struggle to pronounce words clearly.”
“……!!”
“It’s an exceptionally beneficial herb. I picked it with special care for Your Highness.”
As I continued with my explanation, smiling brightly, Lady Lariel’s eyes widened and her brows drew together in surprise.
The girls behind her looked startled too, clearly not expecting me to speak that way.
Lady Lariel’s cool expression froze completely as she shot me a glare, but she didn’t utter a word.
After all, I had only been explaining the gift’s benefits. No one else had heard that embarrassing mispronunciation, so any anger directed at me would simply expose her own childish taunt.
“……”
Lady Lariel’s tightly clenched fists trembled faintly.
Given that the Palace Affairs Chancellor herself was here, I probably needed to ease the tension a little.
Hah!
“Please, do enjoy it.”
I turned away with a cheerful smile, the blazing gaze of Lady Lariel burning into the back of my neck.
But tasting sweet victory was more than satisfying.
Of course, the social scene ahead still looked daunting……
It doesn’t matter. My rural survival instincts from Galnem are no pushover.
Just then, a voice that cut through the chatter of all the guests rang out.
“Madame Alence has arrived.”
The clear, resonant chime of a bell, and the heavy curtains that had been blocking the view finally parted, drawing every eye to the hidden room of the ball hall.
Adam’s words had been true: the woman who held the strings of the Empire’s social world truly had come to seek new students.
And the moment she stepped forward, one foot gracefully entering on her velvet-draped dress, her face revealed……
I couldn’t help but let out a startled gasp.