# 23
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As the attention of the surrounding nobles turned and the atmosphere changed, Isabella Howard looked visibly confused.
Taking the opportunity, I let my eyebrows droop sympathetically and held her hand tightly, my eyes sparkling with feigned innocence.
"Mrs. Howard, I think it's great that you have one-sided love. If you're okay with that, I'll be happy to help you with your romantic relationship."
“Wait. What are you...”
“Is there someone you have feelings for?”
Isabella was left speechless, her mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air.
It wasn't a surprise – after all, there wasn't a single noble in this greenhouse who didn't know that Isabella Howard had a long-standing crush on Ian Cloud.
Except for one person, of course – me, Eloise.
As I said before, life favors those who are unaware of the situation.
'The moment you mentioned Diana, you lost.'
I thought arrogantly.
I continued to speak loudly and clearly so everyone could hear me.
“Of course, it would be a problem if the person already had a partner… but I'm sure someone as respectable as Ms. Howard wouldn't have feelings for a man who's already married or has a family. Right?”
“Given that you are so interested in the love life of the Grand Duke and me, I trust that you have already made your feelings clear to your lover.”
At my words, I saw not only Isabella but also the nobles around her tremble.
It was written all over your faces.
I was barely trying to hide my smile.
"If there's anything I can do to help, either emotionally or financially, I'll be more than happy to help. Consider it a way to repay your kindness, so please don't feel burdened!"
Isabella must have felt very insulted.
Imagine how ridiculous it would feel to have the wife of a man you've loved for a long time supporting you, while insisting that it's not possible to be in love with someone who's already married.
And of course, she couldn't openly admit her remaining feelings for Ian in front of Amami.
You dug your own grave.
Unable to bear the stares from those around her any longer, she shook Isabella's hand, her face red as a beet.
“Thank you for your offer, but that's not necessary.”
“Why is that, Mrs. Howard?”
“You seem to be very interested in my affairs, Your Highness. My marriage is none of your concern.”
“But this is just my way of expressing my gratitude for your kindness. Please don’t refuse.”
"I said, 'It's not necessary! I don't appreciate that level of attention!'
Isabella stared at me, her voice sharp.
I watched her silently for a moment before letting my hand fall to my sides, a crooked smile tugging at my lips.
Understood.
“You know this too, don't you?”
"… What?"
“I just mentioned how inappropriate it is to care too much about other people’s affairs, didn’t I?”
The innocent expression I had been wearing until now had disappeared, replaced by a cold gaze.
Isabella finally realized her mistake and bit her lip.
“Oh, of course, I understand that you were simply showing kindness. I'm just worried that others might misinterpret that.” I added with a dry smile, watching her face contort in frustration.
“Just as you care about me, Mrs. Howard, I care about you, too.”
“I'm only saying this because I'm worried about you, understand?”
She smiled sarcastically and patted her shoulder. Unable to respond, Isabella silently bit her lip.
“Hmm...”
I let my gaze drift away from her to the group of noble women standing behind her, watching the scene unfold.
Many of them shivered and quickly looked away when our eyes met.
'Pathetic, these are all'
When a woman draws her sword, she should use it, and yet, here they were, turning their tails off and feigning ignorance as soon as things got tough.
With this level of determination, how do they expect to survive in this treacherous world?
I clicked my tongue in disapproval, and gave them a cold look.
“My words apply to all of you too.”
“Yes-Ma’am…?”
One of them stuttered and shivered a little.
Before they could respond further, I fixed my expression into a sharp look.
Before my marriage, Eloise Alpheus had earned the nickname “Ice Flower of High Society.” Not only for her beauty but for her icy demeanor.
When she stares at someone with her cold, emotionless turquoise eyes, people said she looked like a frozen lake in the middle of winter – hence the nickname.
Right now, my expression must have been colder and harsher than ever.
“You all know that it is inappropriate to show excessive interest in other people’s personal affairs, right?” I asked coldly.
“Countess Edward,” I said, directing my gaze to one of the women.
“N-yes?”
“You must understand why you chose not to bring up the fact that your second son was recently expelled from the academy due to his unruly behavior, right?”
At my direct observation, Countess Edward's face flushed red.
Clicking my tongue again, I turned my gaze to the dark-haired woman standing next to her.
“And Mrs. Harrison, I imagine you understand why I did not mention that your husband, Baron Harrison, once again spent your fortune at the casino under the pretext of a business trip.”
Baroness Harrison, who was pointed out immediately after, did not know where to look and bowed her head deeply.
Ah, why are you behaving so clumsily?
As if there was one noble here who had no guilt.
I clicked my tongue, thinking of the common people talking in the crowded streets about the scandals of the aristocracy.
“Should I go around asking about everyone’s ‘well-being’ too?”
I asked in a cold tone, and the women whose eyes met mine hurriedly turned away.
“…There is no need for that.”
Isabella Howard answered, clenching her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
She was biting her lips as if to swallow her exasperation at this whole situation.
“I was clearly being completely disrespectful. I must have been over the top in my enthusiasm to meet Your Highness.”
That's the thing.
"It wasn't necessarily disrespectful. I just wanted to offer some advice – just be careful that your kindness can sometimes be misunderstood by others."
"…Yes."
Look at her face.
She was struggling to contain her frustration, her neck red with anger – what a sight.
“Okay, I'm leaving now.”
“Oh, already?”
She smiled gently, in contrast to her gloomy expression.
"I was hoping to hear more from Mrs. Howard, but I think it can't be avoided. I should invite you to the Grand Duchess next time. I should have thought about hosting guests now that you're Grand Duchess."
No matter how hard you try, I'm the Grand Duchess now.
In the future, it will be Diana.
At my words, Isabella's face, as well as her neck, turned bright red.
Without saying another word, she ran out of the greenhouse as if she wanted to escape.
For a brief moment, it seemed as if tears were gathering in her eyes.
“Mrs. Howard!”
“We'll leave too.”
“…It has been a pleasure speaking with you, Your Highness.”
As I watched the other women hurriedly follow her, I gently clapped my hands.
“Hmph.”
They're not even worth my time.
Now that she had crushed them, they wouldn't dare try the same tricks with Diana again.
But who knows if these cowards will find another way to cause trouble for her.
For now, I can relax.
I was watching them leave with a mixture of contempt and satisfaction, and just as I was about to turn around—
“Pfft.”
Someone in the greenhouse broke the awkward silence with a chuckle.
huh?
I turned my head toward the sound and saw a little girl, her shoulders trembling as she covered her mouth with one hand, trying to stifle her laughter.
She was about as tall as my chest, and despite her small stature and youthful appearance, there was something distinctly arrogant and possessive about her.
Unable to contain herf any longer, she burst into full-blown laughter.
“Ahaha, that was funny.”
Even with everyone looking at her in shock, the girl didn't care at all, and continued to laugh until her eyes filled with tears.
Then I got a good look at her face.
Platinum blonde hair that shone like sunlight and violet eyes bordering on purple.
Despite her gentle height and youthful face, she exuded an air of arrogance and nobility.
There was only one person in the entire empire who had all of these traits.
The legitimate heir to the empire and first in line to the throne – Princess Louisa, Ian's half-sister.