Pride and Sanctimony

Chapter 41

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The Baroness threw the newspaper on the table, the contents of which were riddled with vulgar gossip.

Normally she would’ve thrown the newspaper directly at Valentia’s face, but the horrid content that was written forced the Baroness to stay her hand. Mostly because after one ignored all the vulgar things, the only news that remained was information about the ‘Prince’ and how he rescued ‘Valentia’.

[Baroness] ’You inconvenienced the Prince again. What on earth did you do with him?’

The Prince risked his life to save her, so perhaps they truly were in that kind of relationship. It wasn’t likely, but if she were involved with the Prince, that would only cause trouble.

[Valentia] ’It’s true that I am close with the Prince.’

[Baroness] ’How close?’

[Valentia] ’He’s just a classmate that I’ve become friends with. Nothing else happened.’

[Baroness] ’Who in their right mind would believe that?’

[Valentia] ’If something like that really happened, wouldn’t it be more beneficial for me to go and spread the story myself? There would be no reason to hide it. If they’re just going to talk about it in an article, I may as well put myself in control of it.’

Maybe she was a little bit convinced, but the Baroness only gave a slight frown and didn’t say anything more.

[Valentia] ’It’s the exam period, so I’d like to go now.’

The fact that Valentia was the top student at the Academy wasn’t exactly a bad thing for the Baroness.

In truth, the Baroness’ image wasn’t very good. 

That was only natural, considering she was the Baron’s mistress from before the former Baroness Syner died. Not to mention she got married and took over the position before the body even went cold. 

And though she was only her stepmother, the former wife’s daughter was doing such a good job that the children of other noble families could not even begin to compare, and she quite enjoyed seeing them squirm because of it.

[Baroness] “Your results?”

[Valentia] “I took the top spot.”

[Baroness] “Is that so? Then return to your room.”

The Baroness looked satisfied for only a moment, nodding and speaking words of debatable mercy. And so Valentia briefly wondered what would’ve happened if she didn’t take the top, the thought passing through her mind.

[Baroness] “Did I not tell you to go?”

Normally Valentia would’ve stepped down immediately, but she stood still, causing the Baroness to issue yet another leaving order towards her.

[Valentia] “I have something I’d like to tell you.”

[Baroness] “What do you need to say?”

[Valentia] “The Academy will be hosting its Fall Banquet soon.”

[Baroness] “The annual Fall Banquet? Your point being?”

[Valentia] “I will need a dress if I wish to attend.”

[Baroness] “I know you don’t need a dress. So what are you asking for right now? You don’t expect me to buy you one, do you? Why on earth would I do that?”

This was a predictable response from her. That was why Valentia never before asked her for a dress in the past.

But she couldn’t afford to be quiet this time. She was supposed to be Lexus’ partner. Even if she couldn’t match her clothing with his, then at the very least, she needed to look presentable.

[Baroness] “It’s your business with the Academy. I don’t see how it concerns me.”

[Valentia] “The Prince asked me to attend.”

[Baroness] “You can’t honestly expect me to believe that.”

The Baroness’ expression twisted the second she mentioned the Prince.

[Valentia] “Yes.”

Normally she would have avoided attending the banquet with everything she had, but since he invited her as his partner, she thought it might be nice to go at least once. She would be graduating at the end of the year, so once this opportunity was gone, it would be gone for good.

[Valentia] “So I don’t have any choice but to go.”

The Baroness was clearly irritated, but if the Prince truly invited her, then it could not be helped. 

After all, the one by the Prince’s side would garner the most attention. If she were to go wearing shabby or unrefined clothing, it would reflect poorly on the barony, most especially the Baroness, who was meant to be her guardian.

[Baroness] “………I will reach out to a seamstress. She will get your measurements and get you fitted.”

Within every noble family, they always had a dedicated seamstress they would visit.

[Valentia] “Yes. Thank you.”

Though, to be honest, Valentia hadn’t heard from Lexus in a while. 

She was the one who said they should avoid seeing each other while the exams were happening, but she couldn’t help but feel a little anxious since he didn’t show up to see her even after they were over.

She went to the Baroness to ask for a dress since she didn’t hear any news of him rescinding his offer, but she wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up taking it back.

He was never a man to see a woman for a long period of time, and he and Valentia were not even technically seeing each other like that, and one would be hard pressed to call them friends. She couldn’t even understand why he was paying attention to her in the first place, much less why he was being so kind.

Their first meeting went awfully. It began with a misunderstanding, which resulted in him saying terrible things to her, which then led to her slapping him in the face.

She didn’t even know why she loved him. She definitely thought he was a horrible man at the start.

But then suddenly his smile seemed so bright in her eyes. His whole existence seemed to burn brilliantly, and before long, everything about him appeared so wonderful to her. Even now, she was terrified and worried about when he might get tired of her.

I wish I didn’t love him. I don’t want to love him.

She knew from the moment she realized these feelings. Something like that was not possible with that man.

But it was too late. She already held him so dear, to the point where she couldn’t stop herself even if she tried. His presence shook Valentia to her core. She was already so scared of the day when she would need to get used to that empty void next to her.

She already missed him terribly.

But before long, the day of the Fall Banquet came.

He did not contact her before this day. Just as she already knew, this relationship was very one-sided. Whether he got into contact with her or cut things off entirely, Valentia could not do anything on her own.

Aside from the bitterness she felt, Valentia was nervous.

[Baroness] “Is it true that you were invited to attend by the Prince?”

The dress had already been fitted and paid for, so the Baroness’ expression wasn’t very good.

Valentia was wearing a new dress. It wasn’t anything flashy or trending, but it was just nice enough that she wouldn’t embarrass the barony going out.

[Valentia] “Yes. It’s true.”

[Baroness] “If you lied just to get a dress, you know what will happen.”

She tried to look casual, but she felt a sudden pain in her back, like an echo from the Baroness’ earlier ‘lessons’.

The day she went to get the dress fitted was just as unpleasant as today was.

Ordinarily she would have gone in a public carriage, but since she was going to the seamstress under the name of her family, she was forced to use a carriage engraved with the Baron’s coat of arms. It was an incomparably comfortable experience next to the times she spent riding a public carriage.

When the carriage came to a stop and she went outside, the employees were visibly panicked. The carriage was marked with the symbol of the Syner family, but the person inside was different from who they expected.

[Owner] ’Welcome, Lady Syner.’

The owner quickly concealed her shock, giving her a polite greeting.

She got a message from the barony saying someone would be coming to get a dress fitted, and she knew that if someone exited a carriage marked with the barony’s symbols, she should always give the appropriate greeting since they would be a member of the family’s direct line.

But still, the owner was shocked. Although Valentia was a member of the barony’s lineage, this was her first time visiting.

[Staff] ’Come inside. We received word already. You’re here to get ready for the Fall Banquet.’

The staff spoke naturally, guiding her into the shop.

[Valentia] ’Yes.’

[Staff] ’Please sit here. What kind of tea would you like while you wait?’

[Valentia] ’Just water is fine.’

[Staff] ’Did you have a specific vision in mind? Or perhaps a color?’

[Valentia] ’No.’

[Staff] ’Is there any color you prefer?’

Valentia shook her head. Although they were speaking in a roundabout way, she could understand what they were getting at.

The question about what color in particular she would want was in reference to her partner, and whether or not she would be coordinating with him. When attending a banquet, it was common to match with one’s partner in accordance with the theme.

But Valentia did not know what to say because Lexus did not make any mention of this. He hadn’t even contacted her since asking her to go.

[Valentia] ’I don’t know.’

And now that she was thinking about it, she didn’t really know what her own tastes were.

Just living day to day was difficult for her. Though she was a noblewoman by any official standard, she was not afforded the luxury of having preferences.

[Staff] ’In that case, please look at this booklet and let us know what sort of color and design catches your eye, and we will help you. Please read it comfortably. If you see anything you like, please ring this bell.”

They set down the refreshments, handing her a thick booklet, and then left the room. Even if Valentia was a minor customer in comparison to what they usually dealt with, this treatment was still far too insincere. 

Unless the customer made the specific request to be left alone while they made the decision, it was customary for the service staff to remain while making suggestions and recommendations as they browsed.

But Valentia didn’t know that. She did not have anyone close that could tell her this treatment was unfair, and she’d never been here before.

Valentia sighed as she looked at the booklet, flipping through the designs. She wasn’t sure what to choose.

Design books were organized by fit, and were oftentimes difficult to understand. To know what style suited you best, it was important to try on many different dresses, and experience the fit and fabric for yourself.

But Valentia did not get that experience.

Though she had such a massive design book in her lap, she didn’t know what to choose. When she went to La Vie en Rose with Lexus, she didn’t have any kind of difficulty choosing what worked well with her body since she had someone to help her.

[Staff] ’I’ve never seen anyone come alone like this. Don’t people usually come with a chaperone or their mother?’

[Staff] ’If not the Baroness, shouldn’t there be at least a guard?’

They were whispering as they pleased in the next room, but against all odds, the door was slightly ajar. Valentia could hear every word they said.

[Staff] ’She’s of the direct line, though.’

[Staff] ’Did she have another daughter? Wasn’t Lady Selina the only one who ever came?’

[Staff] ’Have you forgotten? The former wife’s daughter……..’

[Staff] ’Oh, that’s right. I remember now.’

If it were anyone else, they might’ve overturned the dressing room in anger over what they heard. It was bad enough to be gossiping about a customer, but it was considered especially gauche when that customer was a noblewoman.

Any other noble would’ve ordered those employees to be immediately fired, and with anger left to spare, they would’ve had the owner dragged out and had them beg on their knees.

[Staff] —’Ah, I see. So that’s the former wife’s daughter.’

Isn’t that how it always is? There is no funnier story in the world than someone else’s business.

And among that, no business was more entertaining than the tragedy of another. Even if that person in question was a noble daughter that outranked them by leaps and bounds.

[Staff] ’I’ve never seen her have a dress fitted until today.’

[Staff] ’Oh, poor thing. I guess not all nobles are equal.’

[Staff] ’Well, you know. There are times when a well off merchant is doing better than a low ranking noble.’

[Staff] ’At least you wouldn’t be looked down on.’

[Staff] ‘But if she’s a part of the direct line, then is that her? The top of the Academy? I think I heard once that the barony had a daughter that was good at studying.’

[Staff] ‘Maybe so.’

They were enjoying the fact that they were in a position to pity Valentia. She sighed, pretending not to hear it, but eventually that got difficult, and she picked up the bell that was left behind, giving it a ring.

[Staff] ’She’s calling…….’

Clink—

And that was when the employee realized that the door was open, her whole face stiffening.

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