Revenge of Reborn Villainess

“…But.”

So much for that.

“Where should I sit?”

At Eshika’s words, the ladies looked flustered and turned to Lady Marshal.

Marshal, taken aback, gestured to the maids to guide Eshika to an empty seat.

“Guide the Duchess.”

Not offering a seat to a guest who came to the tea party would be a great rudeness.

Unexpectedly, Marshal’s confusion turned into anger.

Leona always said that Eshika was ‘a temporary match ‘ for Kallian.

Certainly Brigitte was too lowly to marry Klaus, and Eshika, who wasn’t even pretty enough for Kallian, let alone Leona, seemed desperate to stay in the family.

So it wasn’t a bad idea to relieve some of her stress by bullying a noblewoman from the Hanseatic provinces, who would one day be dethroned as a duchess.

But how dare she say that? 

Marshal’s frustration boiled.

‘This is the worst I’ve ever been subjected to by a woman.’

On the other hand, Eshika, sitting down, smiled slyly.

The previous Eshika had daily impulses to die because of such women.

They, too, were one of those who would pay for their misdeeds someday.

“Hello, Duchess.” Someone greeted me politely.

I take a seat and begin to pick at the refreshments, but someone beside me gives me a short bow.

With brown hair and brown eyes, her dress looked modest compared to the two ladies of the Countess.

But unlike the others who didn’t stare at Eshika, perhaps because they were busy watching the two ladies… or maybe it was because they were oblivious, she was talking.

“Ah… I’m Helenia Merhin. I’m the companion of Marquis Merhin.”

Only when Eshika stared intently did realize, thinking of the list Sella had investigated, it seemed plausible.

Then she introduced herself.

Merhin was a native noble of the Saynan region on the outskirts, much like the harbor city of Prifhartz.

“Duke Klaus is well known in Saynan… It’s really an honor to meet you like this.”

She replied, mentioning that his husband had come up to the capital a while ago to expand the cheese business.

“……?”

The woman sitting next to her whispered something in Helenia’s ear, and her face turned pale.

Seeing this, Eshika stopped talking to Helenia.

Afterwards, there was cheerful conversation going on.

Eshika didn’t participate in the conversation, and no one asked her anything.

The only one glancing at Eshika was Helenia.

She couldn’t bring herself to say more, but still, the blatant exclusion didn’t seem to bother Eshika, who was happily enjoying her dessert.

“I have something I want to ask Lady Klaus, the Duchess.”

So, Boran spoke to Eshika.

Eshika, who was focused on her cookie, looked up to see Boran.

When their eyes met, Boran felt his chest tighten.

‘Originally… was her gaze like that?’

Perhaps it was a misconception, but he felt like a small mouse standing in front of a lion.

Even though there was no hostility, an indescribable sense of intimidation emanated from Eshika’s calm eyes.

“It’s probably just that I’m not feeling well today.”

Boran tried to deny it with effort as he opened his mouth.

“I heard that the Duchess plans to send a gift to Count Alhemitz through Lady Klaus.”

All the ladies focused on Eshika upon hearing this.

Boran expected to see Eshika’s face turn anxious.

“She’s lying… I’ve never heard such a thing,” she would say, probably sweating nervously.

However, Eshika just chuckled and laughed it off.

After a moment, she spoke.

“Countess Palmania seems to be insulting Klaus.”

A cold voice flowed from her lips.

The atmosphere in the tea party turned chilly, and everyone was stunned, not even able to move their mouths.

Boran also doubted his ears at what he had heard.

After Boran’s indignant words a while later, Eshika smoothly cut him off.

“What the…… is that……!”

“My mother in law was gravely ill and had been bedridden for three days. The day the Count received his medal was the day before, do you think she would have had time to prepare a gift?”

Eshika’s sharp answer, piercing through the truth, shook Boran’s pupils.

Now, all the ladies gathered there were looking at Boran.

“Lady Palmania knew about the close relationship between the Duchess and Count Alhemitz, but to openly request a gift from the Duke, citing the award from the imperial court….”

This was a disaster.

“I… I was just telling the story I heard from the Duchess. About a week ago, there was talk that Count Alhemitz was likely to receive an award, and from there…”

“The bestowing of imperial awards, as well as any announcements from the imperial court, are all confidential matters. Even if one is a duke, one cannot know before the announcement, and even if one does, it should not be spread.”

Boran’s hands trembled at Eshika’s words.

Of course, Leona wouldn’t have said such a thing.

However, Leona, who harbored a deep hatred for her daughter-in-law, was a woman who would gladly accept any lie to torment Eshika.

The education about Eshika was also conducted in that manner.

“Currently, Lady Palmania is exposing that Lady Klaus acted recklessly, ignoring principles. Is that correct?”

“Ah… no! That’s not true!”

Boran, who stood up from his seat, clapped loudly with a darkened face.

In his attempt to harass Eshika, he ended up becoming someone who insulted Leona, demanded a congratulatory gift from Duke Klaus, and now found himself in a difficult position.

Most of the ladies present here are from families close to Alhemitz or Palmania, but rumors spread quickly and exaggeratedly. It was inconvenient to let it go on like this.

In the end, Boran apologized to Eshika in a trembling voice.

“I apologize, Lady Duchess. It seems I was mistaken.”

Marshal’s face also changed.

‘What’s going on? Why has that foolish and unworthy Eshika Klaus changed so much?’