My Lover Isn't Interested With The Female lead!

 

 

 

As Melanie was expelled, the soirée resumed.

 

Seraphina returned to her cousin, Lady Wallace, and her chaperone, Countess Wallace, while Letticia was on one side, sipping a drink with her friends.

 

“I just went through a truly unpleasant experience, Letticia. How can such shameless people exist?”

 

Letticia, drinking lemonade, replied to Stella, who was consoling her.

 

“At least we won’t have to see her again. Besides, you went through quite an ordeal yourself, Stella.”

 

“Oh, I just had a bit of an argument. It was nothing compared to what you endured, Letticia.”

 

“Honestly, what was she thinking using such disgusting language? And even after seeing her family kneel down, she still doesn’t seem to realize she was wrong. It’s just unbelievable.”

 

“Well, in the West, that term is a general label for referring to the nouveau riche and mixed-bloods. She probably couldn’t accept that it was wrong—her pride must be impossible to overcome.”

 

Dayna, responding to Valerie, glared in the direction where Melanie had left. Dayna, who was from the South, already had negative feelings toward Western nobility, and this incident had only worsened her sentiments.

 

The Empire of Ponteon was essentially composed of five regions: the capital, East, West, South, and North. Due to the large cultural differences between these areas, each region, aside from the capital, was as vast as a small kingdom.

 

The South, being coastal and home to numerous trading ports, was a highly developed area for commerce and trade with other nations. As a result, the South had many nouveau riche individuals, and their social gatherings were more akin to business meetings than aristocratic soirées.

 

In contrast, the West, unlike the plains-focused East, was a region where luxury agriculture thrived. Naturally, its ruling class consisted solely of traditional aristocrats, and their social gatherings famously excluded not only the nouveau riche but also anyone with even a trace of that blood.

 

Given these circumstances, it was impossible for the two regions to have good relations. Their rivalry extended to insisting that the Paduba Mountains, which divided the South and the West, should be called by their own regional pronunciation.

 

The capital eventually adopted the Southern pronunciation for official use, given that the South owned more territory. Yet, in the West, they continued to call it ‘Padua,’ amplifying the old-noble versus nouveau riche conflict.

 

For this reason, Letticia refrained from discussing Melanie with Dayna, though Dayna seemed somewhat disappointed by this.

 

“By the way, Letticia, Stella, if something like that happened, why didn’t you tell us? We were completely unaware of what happened to our friend.”

 

“It was hard to say because my mother had arranged with the Cassilis family to let it pass quietly. If I had told you all, you would’ve all ended up antagonizing Lady Cassilis.”

 

“Of course we would! How could anyone talk to a person who… I don’t even want to say it. It’s disgusting.”

 

Chloe shivered in disgust. Since everyone but Letticia was from a purely nouveau riche background, they quickly sympathized with her.

 

“Anyway, let’s make the most of the remaining time. Does everyone still have their dance partners lined up?”

 

“Oh, I plan to go a little later.”

 

Letticia checked the time and spoke, surprising Dayna, who tried to dissuade her.

 

“What? Are you sure it’s okay to leave already? You must have a lot of dance partners lined up.”

 

“If I say that the offensive words ruined my mood, nobody will argue,”

 

Letticia replied, and no one disagreed with her. After all, she’d been insulted as gravely as if she’d been slapped with wine.

 

‘Besides, I’ve achieved my purpose for today.’

 

Just when it seemed there might be a confrontation between the two ‘Diamonds,’ Melanie ended up becoming everyone’s target.

 

Lady Campbell and others who attended Melanie’s tea party were already gossiping in detail about what happened, and the whispers and mutterings about the incident had not stopped around them. The attention that might have gone to jeweled dresses and chains was now completely overshadowed.

 

‘It was convenient that she self-destructed just because I provoked her a little.’

 

Letticia thought it wasn’t exactly a victory, as her Canotia jeweled dress and Sharon’s jewel chain didn’t stand out, but it was a satisfactory outcome nonetheless.

 

Though it was troublesome to have to go and apologize to her male partners, Letticia decided to leave, thinking that doing so would make the incident more impactful.

 

***

 

The following morning, after a deep sleep, Letticia sat at the dining table with her family, reading the social columns that the butler had brought.

 

All five or six of the social papers prominently featured the incident from the previous night’s ball hosted by Countess Freke on their front pages.

 

<Is Western nobility alright? Lady Cassilis uttered ‘that word!’>

 

The Lucinella magazine vividly described Melanie’s expulsion from Countess Freke’s ball.

 

Along with a detailed report on the tea party incident from before, Letticia mused that these magazines must have informants planted at every ball.

 

[Lady Melanie Cassilis, the eldest daughter of the Cassilis family known for their truffles, shocked everyone at Countess Freke’s ball by addressing Lady Letticia Sharon with a term too indecent to print. Furthermore, a few weeks prior, during a tea party at her residence, Lady Cassilis used the same offensive term toward Lady Sharon, infuriating Lady Sharon, who has since severed ties with the Cassilis family.

 

The Western aristocracy is known for having one of the most exclusive social circles among regional societies. However, this is perhaps the first time the capital has become aware that ‘that word’—too unprintable—is still used so casually in daily conversation. Now, all eyes are on whether Western nobles will adhere to the capital’s standards or repeat Lady Cassilis’s mistake.]

 

“…Elise must be having a hard time because of her child.”

 

Camilla murmured bitterly as she read the social paper. Patrick, who had already heard about the tea party incident beforehand, looked at Letticia with a slightly worried expression.

 

“Letty, are you alright? You’ve been insulted like that twice now.”

 

“I almost threw wine in her face. Who does she think she is, calling my father like that?”

 

As Letticia grumbled, Lenard spoke coolly.

 

“When that happens, just throw the wine. I’ll handle the aftermath.”

 

“I’ll help too, so don’t worry.”

 

“If there’s anything I can do, count me in,”

 

Kenneth added, and suddenly, the whole family seemed to rally in support of Patrick.

 

Patrick, feeling a bit embarrassed, tried to change the subject.

 

“Well, with all this, it seems that both the jewel dress and chain went unnoticed. This was likely the first time that the Canotia jewel dress was actually showcased in society, yet it received no attention and lost its chance to make headlines.”

 

“With the courting season starting, there won’t be another event as significant as Countess Freke’s ball. They missed a golden opportunity.”

 

“That’s right. If you provoked her deliberately, Letty, you did well, apart from the insult you had to endure.”

 

Patrick gave Letticia a stern look—a father’s look, not a nobleman’s. Letticia, feeling a bit guilty, responded with forced nonchalance.

 

“I don’t really care about insults. I just see it as an opportunity to gain leverage over the other party. Though I can’t tolerate anyone insulting my father.”

 

“Then let me say this: I’m used to hearing such things. I heard it all through my academy years. But I cannot allow my daughter to be addressed like that. Especially in this day and age, such… words…”

 

Patrick, unable to contain his frustration, crumpled the paper he was holding. Although he hadn’t said anything after the tea party incident, he was clearly furious that Letticia had endured such words.

 

Surprised by her father’s anger, Letticia stammered.

 

“…It wasn’t intentional. I got annoyed and snapped back, but it was convenient that she self-destructed.”

 

“I can attest, Uncle, Letty didn’t plan it that way,” Kenneth added.

 

“Exactly, Father. Letty isn’t one to scheme so meticulously.”

 

“Hey, you fool of a brother!”

 

Letticia glared at Lenard. Unlike Kenneth, her actual brother showed no gentleness in defending her.

 

Watching this exchange between his children, Patrick seemed to calm down, and Camilla gently patted his hand.

 

“Honey, don’t worry too much. Now that Letty knows we’re this concerned, she’ll be more cautious in the future.”

 

“…Alright, as long as it wasn’t intentional.”

 

With the tension easing from Patrick’s brow, peace returned to the dining table.

 

Relieved, Letticia resumed reading Lucinella, hoping to relish her success from the previous night.

 

If only it weren’t for the article on the next page.

 

 

[Lady Sharon expressed her deep displeasure at the insult, apologized to her dance partners, and left the ballroom. Moments after Lady Sharon’s departure, His Highness the Crown Prince, expressing his dismay at the commotion, also returned to the palace.

 

The Crown Prince had danced the first quadrille with Countess Freke, the Count, and Lady Eskis, then the second waltz with Lady Sharon. 

 

Due to His Highness’s brief presence, all the other ladies eager to waltz with him were left disappointed. It led to speculation that perhaps His Highness attended the ball solely to dance with Lady Sharon…]

 

“Argh, you damned Lucinella!!!”

 

Letticia screamed, ripping the Lucinella newspaper in half.