SOWD Chapter 91

Chapter 91

The fact that the man currently standing before me, begging for love, is yet another son of the Emperor is, surprisingly, not the most pressing issue. What matters is that he has been chosen by the Marquisate of Winblair.

“This means the three great families are planning to support him as Emperor!”

Ever since the fall of the Lancaster Dukedom, the three great families had been unusually quiet. I thought they were merely lying low, but to think they were orchestrating such a massive plan behind the scenes…!

“C-Can you really tell me something like this? You know that the Bliss Count family is…”

“Of course, I don’t trust the Bliss Count family. But I do trust you, who are suited for the role of Empress.”

Leandro lifted Angela’s hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles.

“Just as I must become Emperor, you must become Empress. That position suits you perfectly—you know that, don’t you?”

Of course, she knew. Any position in this world might leave one wanting, but Empress was the pinnacle for any woman.

Angela hid her triumphant smile and pretended to look bashful, lowering her gaze.

“I will give you that position. Please, come to me, Angela.”

It was a gamble fraught with risks.

But Angela was the kind of person who believed that such risks were worth taking for a significant gain.

She did not resist Leandro’s hand as it gently lifted her chin.

As she accepted his lips, still laced with urgency and desperation, Angela resolved not to let this man slip through her fingers.

---

After the party, it wasn’t just Laszlo who found himself busier than ever.

With Idel’s help, Linia sorted through invitations, attended the most worthwhile parties, and even began hosting gatherings at her own home.

“Do you think I could invite Lord Talon again?”

Linia sighed deeply as she spread out her invitations, still daydreaming about the magical tea time she had shared with Ian Talon.

However, Idel shook her head.

“If you invite him too frequently, rumors of a marriage arrangement will start to spread. It’s still too soon for that. You also need to reciprocate invitations from those who’ve hosted you to maintain a good reputation.”

“Sigh… So who should I invite? I feel it’s too bold to call on older ladies. But if I only invite my peers, it might seem inconsiderate…”

Idel quickly sorted through the pile of invitations in front of the hesitant Linia.

“You’re right that it might be seen as presumptuous for a young lady to invite older, more established women. It could come off as arrogant. Usually, you’d simply send a thank-you card in such cases.”

“Then should I just send thank-you cards?”

“However, you need to build your reputation. What if, in addition to the thank-you cards, you invite their daughters or daughters-in-law? That way, you honor the older ladies while keeping things manageable for yourself.”

“Wow… How do you think of these things, Idel? You’re amazing.”

Linia clapped her hands in genuine admiration, causing Idel to smile faintly. She was glad her past struggles to build a social reputation could now benefit Linia.

A few days later, a modest tea party was held in the reception room of the Cryses estate.

Instead of trendy snacks, universally liked desserts were prepared, and the fine tea leaves gifted by Ian Talon filled the guests’ teacups.

“Thank you for inviting us, my lady. I had no idea the Cryses reception room was so exquisite.”

“Actually, you’re the first guests to be entertained here.”

“Oh my! What an honor…!”

Curious about the Cryses family ever since their recent party, the guests were thrilled to be the “first visitors” to the reception room. It gave them something to brag about at future gatherings.

“It’s truly splendid. Whose taste influenced the interior design?”

“Oh, well, the decor reflects my brother’s image quite a bit. Neither he nor I have much expertise in this area, so we relied heavily on the butler’s assistance.”

All eyes shifted to Idel, who stood beside Linia.

The fact that Linia openly admitted her shortcomings and praised Idel’s contributions surprised everyone.

“Oh… Haha… I see…”

“Well, it’s well-known that the butler of this household has an exceptional eye…”

Linia watched her guests struggle to choose their words and found herself enjoying the scene.

The Linia Cryses who once shrank in the presence of these women and constantly fretted over their opinions was gone.

Thanks to Idel’s guidance, she had learned to recognize her strengths and also understood how insignificant the social world could be.

As a result, Linia’s true personality began to shine through.

“You all must know our butler by now. I wasn’t aware of it before, but I recently realized just how remarkable it is to have someone like him guiding me.”

“Did… the butler also serve as your tutor, Lady Linia?”

“Yes! Thanks to him, I’ve come to recognize my mistakes and improve in many ways. He’s truly indispensable to our household.”

“Ah, my lady…”

It was Idel who now felt flustered, as Linia spoke of him as though she were introducing a family member.

‘Why is Linia suddenly doing this?’

He wanted to stop her, fearing it might make her seem less dignified. But there was no way he could speak out here.

Moreover, Linia seemed fully aware of Idel’s concerns.

“Idel, there’s no need to be so anxious. I’m not saying anything untrue. Talking about how much I’ve benefited from you doesn’t lower my standing, does it?”

Her confident smile bore a striking resemblance to her brother’s.

Linia didn’t stop there. She continued to praise Idel to her guests.

“Idel worries too much about whether his actions will harm me. He’s always looking out for others. I wish he’d be more selfish and take what he deserves. Even when I give him extra pay, he uses it to buy snacks for the other servants or helps those in need…”

“Is that true?”

“Absolutely! He’s so upright and kind that my brother entrusted him with the role of butler. After being betrayed by our former head maid, my brother has become extremely cautious about hiring people.”

Linia was the only one talking, yet no one seemed annoyed. On the contrary, the guests appeared captivated, eager to hear these rare personal tidbits about the Cryses family.

As Idel observed Linia skillfully navigate the tea party, a gentle smile spread across his face.

‘When did she grow this much?’

From the perspective of a former duchess, Linia’s manners and behavior still had room for improvement. However, she had a way of turning even her rough edges into charming traits. Perhaps this was the true essence of Linia’s personality finally emerging.

While Idel felt proud of her growth, the other guests exchanged meaningful glances as they observed the bond between the two.

When Linia briefly stepped away with Idel, the guests lowered their voices and whispered among themselves.

“Isn’t this different from the rumors?”

“Exactly. Lady Linia doesn’t seem to be under the butler’s thumb. If anything, it feels like the opposite…”

“If Idel Lancaster were truly the Earl’s mistress, there’s no way Lady Linia would defend him so openly. It would be awkward for her.”

“I heard the Earl was betrayed by his head maid. Wasn’t that woman from Baron Owen’s household?”

“Yes! That’s her. Honestly, it was strange how she was suddenly painted as a villain. She used to have such a good reputation…”

The guests looked as if they had been blindsided, but when Linia returned to her seat, they greeted her with bright smiles as though nothing had happened.

---

Ever since her undercover employment at the Owen Barony, Marsha had been enjoying herself immensely.

Thanks to Edmund’s recommendation, the Owen Barony treated Marsha with special privileges. She didn’t have to do any real servant work.

Her role was simple: serve tea when guests arrived and subtly respond to the Baron or Baroness’s pointed questions, taking every opportunity to slander the Cryses family.

‘Where else could I find a job like this? A maid’s salary with extra perks just for badmouthing those people?’

Marsha smirked as she adjusted her hair, feeling smug. Since the Cryses family’s first party, the Owen Barony had been busier than ever with visitors, which meant Marsha was often summoned to the reception room.

For most, it might have felt like a tiresome job, but for Marsha, nothing was more delightful than tearing down Idel and the Cryses family.

‘Just you wait. I’ll ruin Idel, make him out to be a despicable whore, and paint that mercenary as a lovesick fool.’

Marsha prided herself on being an exceptional storyteller. The visitors to the Owen Barony seemed to believe her every word without question, which only inflated her confidence.

She genuinely believed her words could bring the Cryses family to ruin.

‘What story should I spin today? Maybe I’ll say Idel sold her body to several men on her way to the capital. If not, oh well!’

Chuckling to herself, Marsha made her way to the reception room.

 

As usual, she sat quietly in a corner, hands clasped and head bowed, waiting. Before long, the Baroness entered with guests in tow.

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