Before I found out my true self, Dorothy was quite difficult, but seeing her now, she seemed young. I laughed out loud as we left the parlor together.

“Do you want to help me pick out a dress if you have nothing to do?”

At this, Dorothy nodded with a face full of interest. I headed to my dressing room with her.

As soon as we arrived, Dorothy took charge of the maids.

“Bring all the dresses!”

“There are too many!”

“Choose the trendy ones!”

The maids looked at me nervously. I waved my hand, telling them to do as she said.

I leaned back on the sofa and examined each dress Dorothy had the maids pull out.

There were more custom-made dresses than I had ever worn before, so there were plenty to choose from. Dorothy seemed quite excited.

“What’s so fun?”

“No one dislikes dressing a pretty person in pretty clothes.”

“Is that so?”

Under Dorothy’s insistence, I changed in and out of dresses repeatedly.

The chosen one was a bright beige dress.

Dorothy seemed satisfied as well.

We gathered in the Duchess’s room, chatting away, and then set off in a carriage just in time for the banquet.

“What kind of person is Count Berlante?”

“Well…”

Dorothy made a strange expression. However, it seemed she had no intention of keeping quiet and answered right away.

“He’s a man who lives for gossip and rumors. In fact, he’s also someone who makes a decent amount of money from it.”

“Really?”

“And according to rumors, that man’s main interest right now is the Duchess.”

“Me?”

“Of course! The Duchess of Denaves, who was wrongfully accused and made a glamorous return!”

Dorothy spread her arms wide and spoke dramatically, as if giving a speech. Is this really her true character?

After saying that, Dorothy turned to me.

“So be careful.”

“What should I be careful about?”

“He’ll try to extract any information he can get from you.”

I chuckled softly.

“Is that so?”

I could hear Dorothy clicking her tongue, indicating she thought I was lacking in caution, but I really didn’t care.

‘I’m used to people talking about me, whether it’s about Ariadeline or Ahn Hye-in.’

Soon, the carriage arrived at the Berlante estate.

Dorothy and I stepped out of the carriage, escorted by our knights. And as soon as we got out, a man approached us.

“Welcome, Duchess of Denaves!”

With red hair and brown eyes, a man with a bold demeanor greeted me warmly. It was Count Berlante.

“Thank you for coming out to greet me personally.”

“What’s there to be thankful for? It’s only natural!”

He chuckled as he said that. Although he seemed to be in his early thirties, he looked a bit older.

“Please, come inside!”

“Oh my, Count. I see I’m not visible to you.”

“Oh dear, Lady Antrue, you are both so beautiful today!”

“It’s already too late. Hmph.”

Dorothy turned her head sharply. Count Berlante then moved closer to her, acting rather flirtatiously. I wondered if that was his true nature.

“I’ll escort you inside.”

He took Dorothy and me into the banquet hall.

As soon as we entered the hall, I had to bite my lip to suppress a laugh.

‘Everyone’s headpieces are so extravagant.’

They looked like magical tools ordered from the magic tower. They wore elaborate corsages, circlets, headbands, and pins, all staring at me.

“Everyone is very interested in the Duchess.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, because you set the trends. But I see you didn’t wear that circlet today?”

“My neck is feeling fine today.”

“Oh, so you haven’t lost your ability to speak.”

“You should have said that the first time we met.”

“Haha, that’s true.”

As the three of us gathered, people began to approach us one by one, greeting me.

[Hello, Duchess.]

Glistening silver letters floated in the air and then disappeared. I found myself silently scoffing at those letters.

Why do people who can speak properly obsess over such things? Is it because it’s magic? Do they want to flaunt symbols of wealth and power?

“Lady Borte, it’s been a while.”

“Do you remember me?”

The other person spoke joyfully.

“Of course. How could I forget?”

She expressed her delight and bowed once more. I thought it was unnecessary.

“What about that circlet?”

“Oh, the one you showed me was so beautiful that I had the magic tower make one for me.”

“I see.”

I responded simply, lacking interest. She continued to chatter and conjure letters in front of me a few more times, but I remained indifferent. Perhaps I shouldn’t wear the circlet for a while.

“By the way, did you come without the circlet today? I wanted to see those beautiful golden letters again…”

“Unfortunately, I’m not in the mood for that today.”

I could see her embarrassment at my firm reply, but I didn’t feel like comforting her. She hurriedly bowed again and left.

Dorothy approached and whispered.

“Shall I clear them out for you?”

“That’s a reassuring thing to say.”

After one person was awkwardly dismissed, the number of people approaching me significantly decreased. I casually acknowledged their greetings, avoiding long conversations and sending them all away.

‘Was it a mistake to come here?’

Click, click.

Someone approached me, their footsteps clicking against the floor. Her face was familiar; she seemed like someone I had seen before.

When I looked at her, she smiled brightly.

[Hello, Duchess.]

The letters were black and neat, as if written with a pen. I stared at the letters intently.

[I am Leoto Bertoa from the Bertoa family.]

I watched her quietly as she continued to use magic after her greeting.

I remembered. The young lady I had communicated with in writing.

[Actually, I wanted to express my gratitude since then, so I’m truly glad to meet you like this.]

“What do you have to thank me for?”

She chuckled softly and began to weave letters in the air.

[I have had a problem with my throat since birth, so I cannot speak.]

I didn’t respond to that and quietly waited for her next words. She seemed to realize I was waiting and continued with a smile.

[I have never been able to comfortably mingle with other ladies my age. But……]

Her magic paused for a moment. She smiled widely, although there were a few tears in her eyes. I felt like I understood her feelings a little.

[Thank you so much for creating this item and introducing me to the social world.]

She lifted the hem of her dress and bowed respectfully.

“What I did isn’t that great.”

[No, not just me, but other ladies like me also feel grateful to you.]

She looked at me with sparkling eyes. The light from the chandelier might have reflected off her tears, but her eyes resembled those of a girl filled with dreams.

[Since I got this circlet, I have been able to talk to more people than ever before.]

“…….”

I found myself smiling faintly without realizing it. Then I reached out and took her hand.

“I’m glad to hear that it helped. But don’t you ever feel uncomfortable? I have. I worry if you feel the same way.”

[I understand what you mean.]

People were looking at her, as if she were a spectacle. But Leoto shook her head.

[I am satisfied with just this. There will come a day when I find it inconvenient. But I want to enjoy this moment.]

“Yes… that’s good then.”

[Thank you. And your voice is truly beautiful.]

She smiled brightly. I couldn’t help but smile back at her face. She gave a light bow and left me, blending into a group of other ladies.

They nodded while looking at Leoto’s letters, lifting words into the air or engaging in brief conversations.

Watching that scene, I fell into thought for a moment. It felt strange that something I did without thinking could bring joy to someone.

“It’s a strange feeling.”

“What is?”

“Just… everything.”

“That magical tool you popularized won’t easily fade away. As long as magic symbolizes power and wealth, that is.”

“I see.”

Then I’m relieved. I nodded and soon turned my body.

One side of my chest felt tight. Ariadeline, who was only met with disdain, received words of gratitude from someone. It strangely tickled beneath my eyes.

ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚

The next day, I woke up early in the morning. I felt guilty for dawdling like before since I had to manage the household.

“Are you awake?”

The maid, Dolly, asked me.

I first took the painkiller that Dolly offered.

After washing my face with cool water, I chatted casually with Dolly as she helped me get dressed.

“It seems you enjoyed the banquet yesterday. You came back late.”

“Mm, it wasn’t bad.”

I felt something swell in my chest as I recalled yesterday’s memories.

‘I didn’t know I could be of help like that.’

I thought I should express some gratitude to my lovely yet foolish brother.

‘Maybe I should send a letter.’

I checked the buttons on my outfit in the mirror and saw my reflection. Everything seemed fine.

“Now, to the office…”

Knock, knock—

Suddenly, the sound of knocking interrupted my words. Before Dolly could ask who it was, a voice from beyond the door reached me.

“The Duke of Denaves has come to see you.”

Ah, that one.

I felt my lighthearted mood from the morning slowly fade away.

“Tell him to wait there.”