The Clavel Family’s Evening Party

Soon after the tea gathering at House de Broy ended, an invitation to an evening party arrived from Isabella.

The invitation stated that she would be inviting young lords and ladies close to her, and that she wished her elder sister (Marguerite) and brother-in-law (Lucien) to attend as well.

Marguerite had promised to visit her family home.

However, she had not heard anything about an evening party. She had assumed she would return to House Clavel during the day to check on the management of the territory.

‘And Lucien-sama too…?’

Worried that it might cause him trouble, Marguerite glanced up at Lucien. He still looked displeased as usual, and when their eyes met, he turned his face away.

His cheeks were faintly tinged with color. Just as she noticed that—

“Of course, I’ll go too.”

Lucien turned back to Marguerite, his brows still drawn together.

“You are my wife. …Visiting your wife’s family home is only natural.”

Even if she was his wife, the marriage had been a political one, and their families were political rivals.

It almost looked as though he were forcing himself.

Still, having Lucien with her was reassuring for Marguerite.

“…Then I will gratefully accept your offer.”

As Marguerite smiled happily, Lucien’s cheeks reddened once again.

On the night of the evening party, Marguerite wore the dress and hair ornament Lucien had given her, and escorted by him, she returned to her family home, House Clavel, for the first time in several months.

‘There are fewer servants…?’

That was the first thing she noticed.

There was no one to tend the carriage or horses, and no maids assigned to guide them. Lucien and Marguerite stepped down from the carriage and made their way through the empty entrance hall toward the grand hall. This was only possible because Marguerite herself was visiting her family home—under normal circumstances, it would have been considered rude.

Around the grand hall, maids and stablehands hurried about, carrying dishes.

When Marguerite had lived here, there had been more than enough servants to host an evening party. What had happened?

Perhaps reflecting the situation, the mansion itself felt desolate, and dirt stood out in the corners of the floors.

‘House Clavel’s finances may be worse than I thought…’

Lucien seemed to share the same concern, and the two exchanged silent looks.

As if forcibly sweeping away such anxieties, a lavish evening party was unfolding in the grand hall.

Dozens of young lords and ladies were dressed as they pleased, drinking wine and savoring the food.

“Oh, Sister! You came after all.”

“Isabella, there was no one to guide us, so we came here on our own.”

“Oh, right. You were the last ones left, so I thought you might be late and sent them to fetch more wine.”

“And what about learning about the territory…?”

“It’s fine for today.”

Isabella declared this without a hint of remorse, then said, “More importantly,” and turned to her friends behind her.

“Everyone, this is my sister who married into House de Broy! And this is Lucien-sama, the future duke.”

At the clumsy introduction, Lucien frowned.

When they heard “future duke,” shrill voices rose from among the young ladies. Their flirtatious cheers made it seem as though they had no awareness that Marguerite, his wife, stood right beside him.

‘At this rate, any respectable people will avoid associating with House Clavel…’

Just as she feared, the young lords and ladies gathered at the evening party were not from particularly reputable families.

Those introduced were newly risen minor nobles and daughters of wealthy merchants—people with titles but no territories, lacking etiquette and manners, and seemingly ignorant of the nation’s history.

The reason soon became clear.

“So? My family is related to a ducal house, you know. And just the other day, I even met Third Prince Noel-sama.”

At Isabella’s boastful words, they gazed at her with envy.

They were people of lower rank than Isabella, gathered to satisfy her vanity. She was using even House de Broy—once a political enemy—to show that her family was connected to a ducal house.

“One day, I’ll invite Noel-sama to this evening party too.”

“That would be amazing! Please do, Isabella!”

“If we could get acquainted with a prince, our family businesses would really prosper.”

Her companions cried out in excitement at Isabella’s words.

Marguerite could only watch the scene with a pale face.

But Isabella’s fangs were, of course, aimed at Marguerite next.