# Chapter 30. Debutante (4)
Changing the scene momentarily to Count Netorie’s House.
Ria has left the mansion due to the debutante preparations, granting Bell, or rather, Belie, a temporary reprieve from her duties.
Belie is currently enjoying a well-deserved rest, evading the eyes of other servants in order to properly relax for the first time in a while.
One might question the logic of taking a rest when her infiltration into the Netorie family was primarily for gathering information, but there’s a difference between spiritually healing while attending to a young miss and physically relaxing the body.
“Hmph… That day was truly shocking. There aren’t many people who can startle me like that.”
While tidying up Ria’s room and reminiscing, Belie brings up the incident from a few days ago.
“Find out which families are attending the debutante ball and uncover their weaknesses.”
As usual, Cecilia delivered an astonishing request with her characteristic smile, which sent a chill down Belie’s spine.
But she’s a professional.
Despite the shock, Belie managed to keep her composure, maintaining her usual expression and tone as she mustered a rebuttal.
“Wait… Cecilia? Have you forgotten that I’m just a maid? I don’t exactly have detailed knowledge about noble families—”
“It really wouldn’t matter if you were ‘just’ a maid, would it?”
Of course, this mere rebuttal…
Ssshh—
The atmosphere in the room turned chillingly cold in an instant.
In the icy air, Belie, taken aback by Cecilia’s statement, could only manage to stutter out her question with a trembling voice.
“Wh… How did you know?”
“I didn’t know from the beginning. I neither have the experience nor the knack for detecting such things.”
“That said, there was something off about you. You make no sound—footsteps, rustling noises, even breathing. It’s like you’ve undergone some advanced level of training.”
“Plus, your eyes. They’re always moving, observing everything as if documenting it. Like you’re trying to uncover every secret of the Netorie household.”
“The real revelation came when you visited that guild your ‘brother’ belongs to. Despite being nobility, you were greeted with an excessive amount of hospitality for what was supposed to be a mere mercenary guild leader’s welcoming party. The mercenaries themselves were unusually lean and lithe—more suited for avoiding detection rather than direct combat, wouldn’t you say?”
“To top it all off, the guild members seem overly deferential toward their supposed ‘leader’s sister.’ That hierarchy just doesn’t match.”
“In conclusion… my deduction is this…”
“The guild you introduced isn’t focused on combat but on assassination and information-gathering tasks. And you, my dear… you’re either a key officer or the leader of that very guild.”
Ssshh—
“How does that sound? Little sister’s reasoning?”
“Love-struck girls are truly terrifying, aren’t they…”
Recalling the oppressive atmosphere she’d felt from the noble young lady that day, Belie was once again thankful for her decision to work here.
“Thought she was just another frail girl because of overbearing parents, but she was hiding sharp claws all along. Or should I say, she’s naturally gifted at it?”
Occasionally, there are people like that.
Those destined to lead others.
Those possessing an innate aura that commands respect and admiration.
People who rise above adversity to alter the course of history.
We call such individuals ‘heroes.’
“…What nonsense. Age is bringing on strange thoughts.”
Shaking off her musings, Belie began to worry once again about Cecilia’s appearance at the ball.
“By the way, is it my imagination or is she focusing mostly on women?”
Separate from her expectations for Ria’s potential, Belie couldn’t help but pity Rab, her fiancé, despite herself.
“Then we shall leave you. Remember, the revival of our dukedom rests on your shoulders.”
Watching her parents leave after delivering their orders, Cecilia let out a deep sigh.
“Even so, it’s fortunate they aren’t paying any more attention than this.”
It felt strange to finally receive the trust and interest she’d longed for in the past, now that her position dictated otherwise.
Cecilia realized, with some surprise, that the trustworthiness her parents exuded now disgusted her—not because she disrespected them, but because her allegiance lies not with the Boichi family but the Netorie household. That realization brought her a strange kind of joy.
“Well then, let’s return home. The Young Master is surely waiting for me.”
As Cecilia imagined Rab anxiously waiting for her, she couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle. But before she could take a step, she was greeted by a high-pitched, sharp voice.
“Hello there, Young Lady!”
Turning around, Cecilia saw a group of girls her age standing nearby.
‘Those are…the young ladies depicted in the documents, aren’t they?’
A few days prior, Cecilia had asked Belie, whose identity she’d uncovered, to obtain the guest list for the ball.
Among the attendees, Cecilia had paid special attention to the young ladies of her age group.
To Ria, all her peers were seen as potential rivals.
Unbeknownst to Ria herself, Cecilia had been using her unique abilities to listen to Rab’s inner thoughts.
Through this, Cecilia learned about his impending confrontation with an evil deity in the future, and how he planned to study magic to stand against his fate.
‘He’s a coward.’
This was the truth hidden beneath his outward appearance of courage and righteousness.
Rab feared death.
He was terrified of possessing someone else’s body.
And now, overwhelmed with the burden of saving the world, Rab’s inner turmoil became apparent.
In seeing his vulnerability, the fear he still faced despite choosing the path forward for her sake, Cecilia felt a surge of determination to grow stronger.
In her eyes, Rab’s willingness to overcome his fears and move forward for her was deeply moving.
In this light, Cecilia vowed to be the support system Rab needed in the upcoming journey, standing behind him as he led the way.
To her, the fear of losing Rab and being unable to help him overshadowed any trivialities like her overbearing parents or envious peer’s glares.
“Yes, hello there. Miss Enbi Gelochi.”
“Wow, you know who I am?”
“Of course. How could I not know the name of someone who leads the social circles?”
Indeed.
Enbi, a viscount’s daughter, has become a central figure within social circles, frequently appearing in conversations—though often for the wrong reasons.
“Such an honor it is that you remember me, Young Lady! I was so curious to finally meet you. Everyone’s talking about your upcoming debutante ball; you’ve been secluded in the duchy until now because of your health, but your first public appearance will be none other than as the renowned betrothed of Rab Netoire!”
“…….”
“Your presence here is so surreal that I just had to approach. I hope I’m not overstepping, am I?”
“Not at all. I’m glad to meet someone familiar, since I don’t know anyone here.”
“Heheh. So kind of you. Then would you allow me to move our discussion to another spot? I’d love to share a proper conversation with you.”
Enbi Gelochi.
The daughter of a marquis, Enbi had a childhood plagued by insecurities about her own appearance.
It wasn’t that she was terribly unattractive, but she lacked defining features, and her face wasn’t particularly beautiful.
Thus, early on, Enbi developed a penchant for jealousy, envying the beautiful girls who naturally garnered attention while she remained unnoticed.
Though she dreamt of leading social circles, discovering cruel whispers about her appearance from her friends pushed her aspirations into a darker direction.
“If I can’t lead the social scene through my looks, then I will lead it through another method!”
Enbi chose words as her weapon of choice—gossip.
While not true poison, she wielded her tongue to slander, torment, belittle others, all while maintaining an outward appearance of innocence. Many young ladies fell prey to her sharp words and manipulative nature.
Gathering a group of similarly insecure young women, Enbi honed her skillful manipulation of the upper echelons, amassing both good and bad fame in the social scene.
After all, don’t we all find those who share our hate for others more appealing?
Her next target? Cecilia Boich, the young noblewoman.
“What? That beauty! I thought she’d be hideous, someone who’s never ventured out until adulthood… yet I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than her!”
Consumed by jealousy upon witnessing Cecilia’s rumored beauty, Enbi quickly rallied her followers and approached her.
Thus, Enbi lured Cecilia into an isolated room to begin her psychological attacks.
“Since your legs may be aching, let’s take a seat and have a small chat~”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
However, before Cecilia could even take a step towards the chairs placed in the room, her followers rushed forward and quickly occupied every seat except for two—the most prestigious seat and the furthest one from it.
Enbi, in an almost subconscious manner, then promptly claimed the highest position at the table.
“…”
“Now, Young Lady, please take a seat. Your legs might swell if you stand too long~”
And that was the beginning of what Enbi called “Breaking the Bud.”
