"Are you aware that, strictly speaking, Miss Maria isn't a noble?"
She had only entered society through the goodwill of relatives. Her father didn't even hold a nominal title, let alone any land.
Arthur's eyebrows shot up.
"Yes. And why does that matter?"
"It matters because you're a high-ranking noble. Let me pose you a question. Do you know what a lady's duties are?"
"Managing the estate's finances, educating the staff, maintaining connections with other families, and overseeing the estate in her husband's absence… I believe."
"You're not entirely clueless about a woman's life, then. But do you think a common girl could take on a lady's responsibilities the moment she marries? A couple of mistakes, and her reputation would be in ruins."
"…I see what you mean."
Arthur spoke with a clear-eyed resolve.
"Then I'll handle my wife's duties myself."
Damn it.
Natalie cursed inwardly, overwhelmed by mixed emotions.
It's easy to say that! Damn it, he would've been perfect for Dory!
Arthur, now looking slightly less anxious, asked, "Was that all the advice you gave Miss Maria?"
Sensing that Arthur might leave, Natalie quickly tossed out another piece of bait she'd been holding onto.
"We did chat for quite some time. About how the man you fall in love with and the man you want to marry are often not the same."
"Ah…"
"It's the reality. Debutantes dream of their first romance leading to marriage, but it's common for the hand secretly held during a first love to be different from the one exchanging rings at the altar."
"…Yes. I suppose that's true. Marriage is… practical, after all."
Arthur's confidence visibly waned, and Natalie held back a laugh.
Judging by his reaction, he must've at least held hands with Maria. How adorable.
She felt a sudden urge to wrap him up like a present and hand him to her sister.
Dory doesn't dislike him, after all.
She clearly remembered Dory lighting up at the mention of his name during the botanical garden event. Perhaps her sister had developed a liking for him after reading about him in the papers.
It's the first time I've seen her eyes sparkle like that over something other than food.
Unaware of Natalie's musings, Arthur asked earnestly, "What kind of man did Miss Maria say she'd like to marry?"
Natalie suppressed the urge to tell him to marry her sister instead and responded calmly.
"Before I answer, let me ask you something. Did my sister, Dory, behave like a lady in your presence? She's not much of a talker, so I'm a bit worried."
"No! Lady Dory was very articulate. She gave such clear and logical advice that I was truly impressed…"
"Advice? What advice?"
"Ah."
Arthur clamped his mouth shut but then hesitantly admitted, as though realizing he couldn't come up with a good excuse.
"This is a secret… but I've been harboring unrequited feelings for Miss Maria."
"That's quite a surprising revelation."
"Haha, you flatter me."
Damn it.
"And somehow, Lady Dory ended up supporting me and offering her help."
"Wait! What exactly do you mean by 'somehow'?"
"Oh, the music's over. Miss Redfield, you must attend to your other guests now."
Damn, damn, damn!
What happened?
Though internally screaming, Natalie maintained a composed expression and mingled with other guests, attending to her hostess duties. As her mother passed by, she whispered,
"Everything is going well, isn't it? I knew you'd pull it off!"
Natalie merely nodded, too preoccupied to reply.
Dory, how did you end up giving someone romantic advice when you haven't had any yourself?!
Two dances later, she managed to pull Arthur aside again. He urgently asked, "Miss Redfield, what kind of man does Miss Maria prefer?"
"She said she'd like a husband who fills her home with a sense of completeness, even when it's just the two of them."
"Could she mean me?"
"She wasn't referring to a man's size, so don't get your hopes up."
"Oh."
"Now it's my turn. How did Dory end up giving you advice?"
"Well…"
Arthur explained that it all started when they danced at a royal banquet. Apparently, Arthur and Dory had joined forces—Arthur to win Maria's heart, and Dory to capture Tristan's.
So Dory wasn't entirely passive after all…
While the thought was commendable, Natalie couldn't help but feel annoyed. Why, she wasn't sure. Before she could think further, Arthur continued obliviously, "Lady Dory really cares about her fiancé."
"What?"
"She kept praising His Highness. Saying things like, 'He's the most wonderful man,' 'Even though you're handsome, you can't compare to him,' and 'His refined manners are an example all men should follow.' She couldn't stop talking about him."
"…What?"
"I envy Prince Tristan. To be loved like that…"
"…What?"
"Miss Redfield?"
Natalie's mind went blank, save for one thought that consumed her.
Dory, when did you lose your mind?!
Love? Who, for whom?
Her sister's top priority when judging someone was always intelligence. Tristan's only asset was his looks!
Suddenly, a memory from months ago hit Natalie like a thunderbolt.
Dory once told me I looked beautiful… for the first time in her life.
Was this a late-blooming adolescence at age 21? Or had she secretly been drawn to beauty all along?
Whatever it was— I shouldn't have been so pleased when my sister complimented me for the first time! I'm not the only one recognized for beauty in society!
It seemed that her sister might truly have feelings for Tristan.
Though Natalie wanted to probe further, Arthur excused himself first.
"Ah, Miss Redfield, I've kept you far too long. I'll see you again in the second next song!"
Without needing to be told, Arthur retreated like a well-trained dog. Now it was Natalie's turn to find another dance partner, but her mind was so preoccupied with swirling thoughts that she couldn't spare attention for anyone else.
'Dory! It's not entirely bad to choose a man for his looks, but you should know—handsome commoners are the limit when it comes to trophy husbands. Handsome princes? They're just prideful burdens!'
To make matters worse, Tristan wasn't just a mess of bad character; his Blue Atrium estate was also on the brink of ruin.
'Dory… How well you must have hidden your feelings all this time.'
Her anger began to rise.
Several men approached Natalie to ask for a dance, but upon seeing her expression, they quickly averted their gaze and passed her by.
She wanted to storm into the Sacred Salon immediately, grab her sister, and shake her until that "emotional food poisoning" was purged from her system. But just a few hours earlier, Natalie had told Dory, "If you truly love him, I might support you."
'If I go back on my word in less than a day, my pride as a sister… No, regardless, even so—!'
Unaware of their daughter's turmoil, the late-arriving Count asked his wife, "Why is Natalie sitting alone? The men seem hesitant to approach her. Did she cause some trouble?"
"Trouble? Of course not! I'm sure she has her reasons. Do you even know how much Natalie accomplished tonight?"
"Accomplished? You mean, with the young duke, or perhaps another eligible bachelor?"
"All of the above! From the young duke to every man in the room, they couldn't take their eyes off her!"
"See? I told you I trusted Natalie! By the way, where is Dorys? She isn't hiding away in her room, is she?"
A maid chimed in to answer, "I helped her with her attire earlier, my lord."
"Is that so? At least she's not sitting idle at the party. Anyway, who's Natalie planning to dance with next…?"
The maid's little white lie allowed the Count and Countess to forget their concerns about Dory. They turned their attention back to the ballroom, where Natalie shone like a flame while Arthur seemed utterly captivated by her.
At least, that's how it appeared to them.
***
That day at the Sacred Salon, as expected, the hunting competition had become the main topic for wagers. Even those who usually showed no interest in society's romantic intrigues seemed to join in, making the scale of the event massive.
'It must be because the gathering includes nobles of all ages.'
The betting categories were also highly detailed.
From the person who would catch or receive the most game to the first to get injured, or even the first to step in dung—there seemed to be no end to the absurdly specific predictions.
'They'll gamble on just about anything.'
The only results she cared to remember were the winner of the hunt and the lady who received the most gifts. The rest? She guessed randomly.
Of course, she also passed along crucial information to Rick Rey, the man in the skull mask.
"Alex Philman. It seems the Marquis' son has taken an inappropriate interest in Miss Maria. He might approach her during the hunt."
"A young lord of such high rank, is he? Thank you for letting me know."
'You'll end up grabbing that arrogant young lord by the collar and throwing him down. And Maria will remain unaware of your efforts… The tragic fate of the second male lead.'
"Care for a drink? It's on me today."
"Ah, I appreciate the offer, but…"
"It's not a date proposal. Just drink."
"Oh, uh, alright."
She bought Rick a gin and tonic, greeted Lady Witch, and then slipped out of the salon. Though not drunk, the salon staff still assisted with her departure.
As the party drew to a close, a few carriages had already left the Count's residence. Using a side door, she returned to a now-quiet hallway.
She shed her coat and mask, returning to find the party in its final stages. The orchestra was long gone, replaced by slightly tipsy ladies and gentlemen amusing themselves at the piano.
A few guests noticed her as she prepared to leave.
"There you are, Miss Redfield. You must have had a hard time dealing with that overbearing sister of yours."
"Not at all. My sister's only fault is being beautiful."
"How sweet of you to say."
After exchanging polite words with a few guests, she turned her focus to finding her family.
'Mother and Father will no doubt scold me endlessly, so let's start with my sister.'
Natalie sat on a long bench to one side of the hall, gripping a glass tightly. Normally, she would have been dancing until the party's end, but tonight she seemed utterly exhausted.
Eager to express her gratitude, Dorys quickly hurried over.