40.
The Grand Duchess appeared with a leisurely gait, her presence enough to overwhelm the entire assembly.
She offered a light bow, wearing a smile that, at a glance, looked more like a scoff.
A princess by birth, the Grand Duchess was the only woman in the Kingdom of Montebio to possess a lineage nobler than the Queen’s. This was because the current Queen was of aristocratic origin.
Consequently, no one dared to point a finger at the Grand Duchess’s somewhat cavalier attitude.
“I am infinitely grateful for the honor of the third dance at such a magnificent banquet. And happy birthday, Your Majesty the Queen.”
The Queen replied in a serene voice.
“Be humble. There is no one more fitting than you to claim the third dance.”
“That is only because I have the wonderful reputation of the Edenbahirs to lean on. It is not my own doing.”
“Is it really not your virtue? Did you not successfully arrange a marriage between the Duke Edenbahir—who had been dragging his feet—and a wonderful, beautiful lady? You have played a large part in the Edenbahirs maintaining their reputation.”
As the Grand Duchess’s expression sank into coldness, someone nearby audibly gulped.
However, the Grand Duchess smiled skillfully, pretending not to hear the Queen’s sarcasm.
“The gift I have prepared is a painting. It may not compare to the portrait of the Prince, but it is the work of a talented young artist, so please enjoy it at your leisure.”
The crowd surged toward the front of the painting. Anita was among them.
The painting the Grand Duchess revealed was thus.
“Duchess, Your Grace.”
It was the exact same painting Anita had prepared.
“I am sorry, my lady. It is my oversight. How could he—ha, how could he have brought a forgery!”
Perhaps having realized the facts, Milena had rushed over, her whisper sounding particularly frayed.
“Lady Milena.”
“That is a forgery. I am certain of it. I would need to check the finer details up close, but…”
“You are aware that I brought the painting you gifted me.”
“Of course! I saw the attendants moving the painting into the Imperial Palace. Once I have set my sights on a painting, I remember everything, from the size of the canvas to the date of its completion. It was finished a mere ten days ago; there is no way I could mistake it.”
Anita did not get excited, asking calmly instead.
“Were you not aware that there might be a forgery of such a work?”
Milena, calmed by her demeanor, took a slow breath.
“Duchess. Have you heard of the Milena House?”
“Of course I have.”
The Milena House was, in effect, a massive studio and social hub for young, aspiring artists personally selected by Milena.
The reputation of the Milena House was so high that many wealthy patrons sought to discover and invest in new artists through it.
*Milena House*, indeed. A naming sense truly characteristic of her.
“The artist of that painting is ‘Gray Holmes.’ A year ago, I went to De Roland’s art school myself and brought him to the Milena House. He was an artist of great talent, and six of his works were sold over the course of that year. It was as if everything he drew sold instantly. But…”
“I suppose the buyer of those works was the Grand Duchess?”
Milena nodded, wearing an unusually somber face.
“She must have been. Otherwise, she could not have perfectly replicated his style and technique in such a short time. I am sorry. I never imagined such a thing would happen. The Grand Duchess must have seen our paintings and brought in a professional forgery artist to copy them. What else could it be but a thoroughly planned crime?”
“Don’t you think Gray Holmes might have betrayed you?”
Milena’s reaction to this was ambiguous.
It seemed her trust in the artists she selected was quite profound.
“…I cannot say that he didn’t. Given the Grand Duchess’s malicious nature, it is possible he was coerced.”
“Then that puts me in the worst possible situation.”
Milena licked her parched lips with a red tongue.
“If Gray Holmes defends the Grand Duchess’s piece, Your Grace could be mocked. I know it is a shameless request, but for the sake of caution, perhaps it would be wise to postpone the gift reveal and switch to something else…”
“It is alright, please calm down, my lady.”
Watching Milena’s fidgeting made Anita feel uncomfortable.
Anita looked into the woman’s anxious eyes and reassured her calmly.
“Because this is all what I intended.”
“…What?”
Milena’s wide-open eyes wavered aimlessly with confusion.
“What are you saying, intended? Do you mean the forgery?”
It was at that moment the Queen left a brief comment about the painting.
“A very suspicious painting, indeed.”
Anita turned her head away from Milena.
In a short time, the atmosphere in the ballroom had grown even colder.
*Since the twins of Nuaza are aiming for the back of the head of the lame Nuaza. One would have to be a fool not to understand the meaning.*
That painting was a form of provocation. *I am always ready to strike you in the back.*
“Do you like it?”
“It is not bad.”
It was a blatant mockery, but the Queen skillfully managed her anger.
*She knows that getting angry here would only make her a laughingstock.*
Since the Grand Duchess was the only elder of the current royal family and the only aunt of Schubehlik III, she held a status that even the Queen could not easily challenge.
Moreover, her influence among the nobles was significant, so the Queen would want to be as cautious as possible. It was all patience for the sake of the time when Prince Maxim would ascend the throne.
The fact that Lancelot had voluntarily renounced his right to the throne must have played a large part in keeping her reason intact.
“That is enough viewing for now, Lady Veronica. With whom will you dance the third dance today?”
“A dance… Somehow, I feel like trying something new today.”
Scanning the crowd, the Grand Duchess’s gaze settled on Anita.
The Grand Duchess spoke.
“I shall dance with my grandson and the head of the Edenbahir family, Lancelot.”
Anita was struck with fresh admiration.
*Just as Lancelot said. She really did point him out.*
Rubbing her brow gently, the Queen tried to persuade the Grand Duchess in a weary voice.
“Lady Veronica. Has the Duke Edenbahir not recently married? He is a man who strictly has a wife. Furthermore, this is a debutante…”
“I lost my precious son not long ago, Your Majesty. Whenever I attended such grand balls, I always used to dance with my son.”
The Queen’s mouth closed at the mention of the former Duke Edenbahir.
*There is no other way to describe it than despicable.*
Anita knew very well how cold the mother-son relationship had been. She found the Grand Duchess, who wore a brazen mask, truly impressive.
“I wish to commemorate my departed son by dancing, for the first and last time, with my grandson, Lancelot. I desire nothing more than that.”
“…I have nothing to say to that. Truly, you leave one with nothing to say, my lady.”
The Queen sighed heavily. She must have felt the weight of her promise to support Anita, and seemed troubled that she had to retract it.
The Grand Duchess’s intention was obvious. By taking Anita’s place in front of the nobles, she sought to bring Anita’s image crashing down and break her spirit.
*As today is my debutante, I surely cannot yield.*
It was a malicious act, but it was a shame. The Grand Duchess’s plan had become useless.
“Chamberlain? I do not see the Duke Edenbahir.”
Normally, by now, Lancelot should have appeared to dance the third dance with the Grand Duchess.
But he was nowhere to be seen.
“His Grace, the Duke Edenbahir? Lady Veronica Edenbahir has requested the third dance. Are you not in your place?”
The murmuring of the nobles grew louder. The Queen raised a hand to silence them and asked Anita.
“Duchess. Where is your husband?”
Anita lowered her head as if apologetic and answered quietly.
“I am not sure, Your Majesty. It is the first time he has disappeared without a word…”
In truth, this was all a result of Lancelot’s insight.
Just before the ball began, at the time the Queen’s gift was being revealed, Lancelot, who had brought low-alcohol champagne for Anita, had warned her in passing.
[The Grand Duchess will surely point me out as her dance partner.]
[Today is my debutante… and she wants to point out my first dance partner?]
[You have spent ten years experiencing her character; you know she will make the impossible possible.]
[That is… true.]
Should such a situation arise, Lancelot would be the most troubled of all. They knew they couldn’t take every advantage while confronting the Grand Duchess. Her heart felt a little heavy, but she felt that this was a matter she should concede.
[I am fine, so you should dance with the Grand Duchess.]
[Why would I?]
[If you refuse, more people will criticize you. If the gossip that you are so crazy about a woman that you disregard your own parents heats up more than this, even the trust of the Callasgo Trust will be lost…]
[One does not lose trust over a mere refusal to dance. You seem to view me as a cripple who only possesses money and a title, my lady.]
[I, I have never thought that.]
[I don’t understand. How can you concede me to another woman with such an unaffected face?]
[…I don’t have to concede?]
[If you want to ruin your debutante, then concede. I won’t stop you.]
[No, I’ll take back what I just said. I… I won’t concede.]