Chapter 91
“Heh, the young lady is quite a strong person. Well, I suppose that’s how she’s managed to reach where she is now.”
Karin’s comment, which seemed to acknowledge her strength, came after she had relentlessly pressed Hestia earlier. Hestia simply smiled back politely.
“Do you have a moment to spare? Let’s chat for a bit,” Karin said as she pointed to the seat beside her.
The seat was already occupied, but Karin didn’t care and motioned for the person to leave—the woman, who had been sitting there flushed red and moved to another spot.
Feeling somewhat uneasy, Hestia took the offered seat.
At first, the conversation was trivial.
The empire’s social circles could be compared to a battle of roses with hidden thorns, but they were mostly just about passing the time, gossiping, and superficial politeness.
Hestia wasn’t sure if they were merely trying to size her up or waiting for the right moment to reveal their intentions, but surprisingly, they made no direct attacks. Instead, they seemed to shift to another approach.
“I heard the latest product from Tears is amazing, but it’s already sold out. Are there plans for restocking?”
“The imperial family seems to have commissioned you recently. What product does His Majesty use most often?”
“Do you plan to open more branches in the east? It’s a bit hard to find Tears products in that region.”
“Your dress is exquisite! Could you share the name of the designer?”
“I recently bought a necklace from Byron. It was so stunning—unique and truly remarkable.”
They subtly praised her, discussing the renowned Tears cosmetics and the artisan products from Byron, which she was associated with.
It was clear that they were trying to please her because Hestia wasn’t just someone to be wary of—she was someone worth aligning with. After all, she was the trend setter who had taken the empire by storm.
From the top-ranked Tears cosmetics to the growing popularity of Byron-crafted pieces, Hestia was a name every noblewoman needed to know if they wished to stay relevant in the social scene.
What started as wary glances soon turned into eager attempts to favor her. Watching this, Hestia couldn’t help but smile to herself.
‘I can’t miss such a perfect opportunity.’
“The new product has received more love than expected, so we’re preparing a restock. It should be available soon,” Hestia said with a gracious smile.
“We’ve recently gifted an unreleased product to the imperial family. It’s a secret, but we’ll be launching a limited edition version in a month. The packaging and case are crafted by Byron artisans, making it a true collectible.”
“We’re also considering expanding branches to other regions. Your patience is greatly appreciated.”
“This dress was custom-made at Sharil Boutique in Byron. The designer is young, but her skills are exceptional.”
“Thank you for your kind words about Byron’s products. We’ve faced some delays due to supply issues with the gems, but it will be resolved soon. When it’s ready, we’ll have more exquisite accessories. Perhaps you could visit the south sometime?”
With her eloquent words, Hestia quickly won over even those who had initially looked at her with doubt.
As the ladies listened intently, their eyes sparkling, Karin, who had been quiet, set her teacup down.
“Being a guardian must be demanding enough, yet you’re still so accomplished. Or are you still actively involved with Byron as well?”
“No, I stepped back from Byron after becoming a guardian. It’s impossible to handle both roles. However, my father and the artisans send me updates regularly, and I visited them before coming here.”
“Is that so? With the changes in the South, it must be hard to manage Byron as well.”
Karin’s subtle comment made Hestia’s brow twitch, and the other ladies grew curious.
“Oh? What’s going on in the South?”
“I don’t know the details, but I heard there was some kind of dispute among the southern nobles,” Karin said, almost testing Hestia.
‘She’s talking about Count Humphrey.’
The southern region was primarily managed by the secondary branches of the Winston family. If news of infighting among them leaked, it would cause trouble. Strict measures had been taken to keep things quiet.
Still, the Marquis of Oz had come down to the south with a decree from the imperial family. It was likely that Karin had heard some of it through him.
Hestia realized it was best not to speak freely about it. No matter what, she was a baron’s daughter serving as the guardian of a duke’s house, while Humphrey was a count. She had to tread carefully.
Nobles cared deeply about appearances, and the idea of someone like her imprisoning a count could lead to outrage.
‘That’s why I avoided taking it to trial.’
Hestia’s lips curled slightly before she feigned a troubled look, resting a hand against her cheek.
“You’ve heard about it… I feel so ashamed. It’s a result of my shortcomings.”
“Oh, my dear, if there’s ever something troubling you, please share it with us.”
“Yes, we might be able to help!”
Hestia subtly baited them, and they took it eagerly.
“As you know, I’m still quite young. I understand that some elders might find me unreliable. I work hard, sometimes barely sleeping, but it seems it’s not enough for everyone. Some still intervene quite a lot.”
“Oh my, how dreadful!”
“There was some tension, but things are better now. It’s been three months since I became the guardian, and stability is slowly returning.”
“Really? But what I heard sounded a bit more serious…”
“What do you mean?” Hestia asked with an innocent expression.
“I heard there was a major conflict with Count Humphrey.”
Karin finally brought up Humphrey’s name. Hestia maintained a composed smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“Oh, you must mean the redevelopment project!”
“Redevelopment…?”
“Yes. Recently, Count Humphrey proposed turning a southern seaside village into a noble resort. He sought investment from the duke’s house, but we couldn’t agree on the terms during our review.”
“A resort for nobles, you say…”
“Now that you mention it, I think he did bring that up before, creating a getaway in the south…”
As the conversation shifted to redevelopment, the ladies’ attention turned. Hestia looked at Karin and added with a sly smile:
“I also heard the Marquis of Oz invested a significant sum into the redevelopment. Is that true?”
Karin’s hand flinched slightly.
When persuading Humphrey, Marlus had mentioned that the Marquis of Oz had also made considerable investments. At the time, it was before Humphrey’s rebellion, so they likely had some connection.
It seemed clear that Karin wanted Hestia to openly admit she had put Count Humphrey in prison. But Hestia had no intention of giving her the satisfaction.
‘So, what will you do now?’
If Karin pressed further, Hestia might have to discuss the rebellion, which would tarnish both her own reputation and that of Count Humphrey. It would also create complications for Marquis Oz, who had invested heavily in Humphrey’s projects. After all, no one would want to visit a vacation spot run by a disgraced count.
‘If Humphrey collapses now, it’ll be troublesome for me, too.’
Hestia watched to see how Karin would respond. After waving her fan lightly, Karin smiled.
“Yes, I heard he was quite optimistic about the redevelopment project.”
Bingo.
The Marquis of Oz hadn’t pulled out of the investment yet. Perhaps he wanted to, but with Humphrey potentially unable to return the money, his hands were tied. They were stuck in the same boat now.
“If the Marquis himself is so interested, I’m curious about this project too,” another noblewoman chimed in. “Can you share more details?”
Karin’s recklessness seemed to have stirred their curiosity. Hestia, however, maintained a calm and pleasant demeanor.
“Apologies, but since Winston isn’t involved in the redevelopment, I don’t have much information to share. However, I believe the count is still seeking investors. Perhaps reaching out to him directly would be best.”
“Oh, then we should speak with Count Humphrey,” one noblewoman mused.
“I haven’t seen him or his family at the festival,” another noted.
“Ah, the count is extremely busy with his work these days and decided not to attend this year,” Hestia explained smoothly.
In truth, Count Humphrey was preoccupied trying to clean up the mess she had stirred, but to the noblewomen, it appeared as though he was fully engrossed in the redevelopment.
Hestia could already see the ladies planning to discuss this with their husbands, hoping to get involved in the project.
“You seem busier than anyone I’ve met, Lady Frost,” Karin remarked with a smile. “Is everything alright with you now that Sir Luciard has returned?”
‘Here it comes.’
Karin’s seemingly casual comment instantly shifted the room’s focus to Hestia.
“What do you mean?” Hestia asked, feigning ignorance. She decided to step back and gauge their intentions first.
“Is Sir Luciad treating you poorly?” Karin asked.
“Wasn’t he the late duke’s brother?” one woman added.
“Ah, so he’s the young duke’s uncle. Then why did not they appoint him as a guardian in the first place?” another questioned.
“With Sir Luciard here, do you even need to be a guardian?” a third chimed in.
Karin’s comment sparked a flurry of speculations.
“But Sir Luciad is an illegitimate child,” one woman said.
“Even so, wouldn’t Lady Frost be a better choice than an illegitimate child?” another countered.
“Still, he returned right after the duke and duchess passed away. That timing seems suspicious,” someone remarked.
“Do you think he’s planning to take the dukedom for himself?” a voice suggested.
“I hope he doesn’t intend to force Lady Frost out,” another said, feigning concern.
“Lady Frost, surely Sir Luciard isn’t troubling you, is he?”
Their words were veiled in fake worry, but their eyes sparkled with curiosity. Hestia smiled faintly, projecting a sense of weariness.
“There’s nothing to be concerned about,” she said gently.
“Still, be careful. People can be unpredictable,” Karin advised.
“Yes, but Sir Luciard is kinder than he appears,” Hestia replied with a soft smile.
This seemed to catch the ladies off guard.
“Now that you have mentioned it, hasn’t Sir Luciard been back for about a month?” one noblewoman asked. “If he wanted to take over, he would’ve acted already, wouldn’t he?”
“I even saw them together with His Majesty earlier. They seemed to get along well,” another added.
“Have you and Sir Luciard discussed the guardianship?” someone pressed.
Hestia nodded gracefully.
“Yes, we have. For now, I’ll continue in my role as guardian. There are a few reasons for this, but primarily, His Majesty only recently issued the decree, and it would be complicated to change things so soon.”
Her practical explanation seemed to satisfy them for the moment.
“Of course, the future may hold changes, but for now, I’m doing my best,” Hestia concluded with a serene smile.
“Even so, Lady Frost, always stay alert,” Karin said, fanning herself delicately. “People will go to any lengths for their ambitions. Trust Sir Luciard if you must, but a little caution wouldn’t hurt.”
“I appreciate your advice,” Hestia replied.
“If you ever need help, don’t hesitate to reach out,” Karin offered with a sly smile. “It would be unkind to ignore a lady in distress.”
Hestia mirrored her smile, tilting her head slightly.
“I’ll be sure to remember your generosity, my lady.”
