Eleanor spent every day steadily touring Oclama with Anna at her side. Carrying the map of Oclama Lisa had procured for her, she diligently made her way through the territory.
Starting with the Merva Market they had visited on the first day, she inspected everything one by one—the vast farming districts, the territory’s only medical clinic, the middleman merchants who sold grain and fruit to outside regions.
Seeing Oclama with her own eyes, walking its roads herself, was entirely different from what she had imagined.
She had thought it nothing more than a peaceful countryside retreat, but life in Oclama was filled with hardships.
Because it was a rural territory, development was slow. Most of its people relied on agriculture for survival, which meant every dry season brought anxiety. Those who worked outside farming struggled to maintain stable incomes. There was little outside traffic, which meant tourism alone could never sustain the region.
Understanding the burdens of her people, Baroness Ponfury was making efforts in every direction she could.
Whenever Eleanor discovered one of her aunt’s countless attempts to improve the territory, she felt proud.
Yet gradually, that pride became tangled with a strange unease.
Because throughout the administrative records, beginning from early last year, Vanessa’s name appeared over and over again as acting baron.
Vanessa had handled everything the Baroness could not personally attend to, from minor but important administrative matters to official duties.
‘Try to stay close to Vanessa. She knows Oclama well. Becoming friends with her will never harm you. Eleanor, if you wish to rise to a position of importance, the people you keep by your side matter too. Vanessa will become someone you absolutely need.’
After finishing years’ worth of documents, Eleanor recalled her aunt’s words.
Now that she had personally examined Oclama, she understood why the Baroness had said such things.
But still—
‘Is she truly someone I need?’
Looking at the deep traces Vanessa had left behind in the territory’s administration, Eleanor could not help doubting.
Work that should have belonged to retainers or nobles had been entrusted to a sponsored orphan girl.
Living together in the castle was one thing, but serving as the Baroness’s representative was far too much.
In situations like this, people sometimes overstepped their place and began seeking greater authority.
Eleanor tapped the end of her pen lightly against the desk.
If left alone, this girl might become an obstacle to inheriting the Ponfury barony.
If that proved true, then Vanessa would need to be removed from the castle.
But Eleanor had only recently arrived in Oclama. Her influence here was weak, making everything difficult.
‘Or am I simply viewing her too negatively?’
“Haah…”
Eleanor let out a deep sigh.
Lisa, who had just entered the study, immediately looked worried after hearing it.
“My lady, is something wrong? That sigh sounded awfully heavy.”
“It’s nothing. More importantly, what is it?”
“You received an invitation.”
“An invitation?”
An invitation in this remote mountain territory?
Eleanor looked puzzled as Lisa handed her an elegant pink invitation card.
The family name was written neatly across the envelope in flowing cursive.
“The Duvar viscounty? The ruling family of Levin Territory.”
Levin was a neighboring territory located about an hour away from Oclama by carriage. Eleanor had never paid much attention to it before, but she had heard it was generally larger than Oclama.
“Yes. Apparently the lord there has three daughters around your age.”
“Really? So they want to become friends?”
Though the invitation was written at length, its meaning was simple enough.
In short, they wished to meet for tea.
A casual tea party.
Eleanor spun her pen thoughtfully.
Back in the capital, tea parties with noble ladies had been an everyday occurrence. But did she really need to continue that here in Oclama?
Back then, she had acted as the daughter of a count’s family.
Now, her goal was succession.
“As far as I know, Oclama and Levin don’t even interact much.”
Though neighboring territories, their lords and regional cultures differed greatly, leaving them in an awkward middle ground.
Apparently even the commoners had fought one another in the past.
It was difficult to call them either close or distant.
“That’s true. But after Lady Vanessa arrived, there’s been a little more interaction. Probably because they’re around the same age. Still, it’s surprising, isn’t it? Lady Vanessa’s a commoner, after all. Though the Baroness treasures her quite a bit.”
Lisa shrugged.
Eleanor stared again at the Duvar family’s invitation with mild surprise.
No—not mild.
Very surprising.
It was uncommon for noble ladies to associate closely with commoners.
There were nobles who cared little about social status and formed friendships freely, but—
Judging from the overly elaborate invitation addressed to the “Lady of House Stikov,” the Duvar sisters did not seem like that sort.
“Lady Vanessa received an invitation too.”
At Lisa’s words, Eleanor made her decision.
Handing the invitation back, she said,
“Tell them I’ll attend. And prepare a dress.”
If Vanessa truly might become a threat, then learning about her relationships with neighboring noble families would be useful.
While Eleanor and Lisa prepared for the tea party in Levin, Oclama Castle itself had grown unusually noisy.
A noteworthy rumor had begun spreading among the servants.
“They say the lord’s niece is going to inherit the barony.”
“Really? Isn’t she the daughter of a count from the capital?”
“There are two daughters in that family, right? Maybe one gave up her place and came here.”
Groups of maids and servants whispered among themselves.
Recently, rumors that Eleanor would become the heir to Baron Ponfury had spread throughout the castle.
Ever since she had suddenly arrived in Oclama and shown no signs of leaving, people had been speculating endlessly.
At first, they assumed she was merely visiting for a vacation.
Then they thought she might be staying long-term for recuperation.
Finally, the theory that she had come for the succession took hold.
“So the young lady really is going to become the next lord?”
In truth, Eleanor was not someone the servants particularly liked or disliked.
Partly because she was a noble.
But mostly because she had shown them almost nothing yet.
To the castle staff, Eleanor was simply an elegant and beautiful young lady from the capital.
So graceful.
She seemed as noble as a finely crafted porcelain doll, and as fragile as if she were made of powdered sugar—someone too delicate to touch carelessly.
Moreover, she usually moved about only with the maid she had brought from the capital, so the servants merely watched her from afar.
“But what if she really becomes the next lord…?”
Though Eleanor herself had done little, the people of the castle were already troubled with worry.
The reason was simple.
“What’ll happen to Lady Vanessa if the young lady inherits the territory?”
Because of Vanessa.
If anyone resembled a child to Baron Ponfury, who had lost her spouse early and had no children of her own, it was unquestionably Vanessa.
Two years earlier, Vanessa had been personally brought from the orphanage the Baroness sponsored.
From the moment she arrived, she carried the title of “the Baroness’s daughter in all but blood.”
At first, the staff had been skeptical because she was a commoner orphan.
But as they watched Vanessa act as the Baroness’s representative, they gradually fell into a massive misunderstanding.
‘The Baroness must be planning to adopt a commoner child and make her heir since she has no successor!’
What about the countless nieces and nephews from her late husband’s family and her own brother’s line?
Well, the nieces from the capital only visited occasionally before leaving again, while her husband’s younger brother and his children were greedy enough that relations with the Baroness were poor.
So in reality, the Baroness had no blood relatives she truly considered worthy heirs.
Those circumstances naturally fueled rumors over the last two years that Vanessa would inherit the barony.
Some people envied her for it.
“Vanessa’s so lucky. A commoner orphan becoming a noble is incredible.”
Others actively supported her.
“I really hope Lady Vanessa becomes the next baron. If she becomes the lord, Oclama will definitely become happier.”
Until Eleanor arrived in Oclama, the idea of Vanessa becoming heir had practically been accepted as fact.
But Eleanor’s arrival changed everything.
The sight of her inspecting the entire territory as though preparing for succession instantly reduced certainty to speculation.
And among the castle servants, reactions divided sharply.
“Well, of course. A commoner orphan becoming a noble was impossible anyway. Looks like the title’s going to the niece after all.”
Some accepted it casually.
“I thought I’d actually get to see a commoner become nobility in my lifetime.”
Some felt bitter disappointment.
“That’s ridiculous! Do you know how much Lady Vanessa has devoted herself to Oclama?!”
And others openly expressed hostility.
Meanwhile, because Eleanor now resided in the castle, a small number of supporters had begun gathering around her as well.
“She’s the Baroness’s actual niece. Isn’t it natural for her to inherit the title?”
“What are you talking about? Lady Vanessa has worked far harder for Oclama than the niece ever has.”
And so, the servants of Oclama Castle gradually split into factions over Eleanor and Vanessa.
As Eleanor herself had admitted, however, she had only recently arrived in Oclama.
Her support base was weak.
“We’re fellow commoners. Shouldn’t we obviously support Lady Vanessa?”
Those on Vanessa’s side began trying to pull neutral people toward them.
The beginning of proof that Eleanor’s suspicions were not entirely unfounded had quietly begun.
Before the tension inside the castle rose fully to the surface, Eleanor focused on preparing for the Duvar family’s tea party.
It would be her first noble outing since arriving in Oclama.
Lisa, naturally, was thrilled.
She always enjoyed dressing Eleanor, but lately Eleanor had spent most of her days touring the territory in relatively practical clothing.
Now that an occasion requiring proper elegance had arrived, Lisa could hardly contain her excitement.
Eleanor rejected ten dresses in a row.
Without knowing the personalities of the people she would meet, she could not simply appear in excessive splendor.
Of course, a lavish dress would immediately establish dominance.
But this was not yet the time for a battle of pride.
And above all—
“My aunt is known for being frugal. If I appear overly extravagant as her niece, wouldn’t that reflect poorly on her? After all, I’m attending in her name.”
She had been invited while staying as Baroness Ponfury’s niece.
She could not afford to seem greedy.
Lisa quickly understood, apologized, and brought more suitable attire.
Eleanor chose a chiffon dress decorated with dried forget-me-nots and pansies. A dark blue silk ribbon cinched her waist, while the hair at her temples was pinned back with flower-shaped jeweled pins.
She wore no necklace or earrings—only a thin diamond bracelet.
Bright and elegant, yet deliberately restrained in expensive jewels.
Once she slipped into plain white shoes, her preparations were complete.
Levin Territory, where the Duvar family resided, was quite a distance from Oclama by carriage.
To avoid arriving late, Eleanor finished lunch early and headed promptly toward the castle gates.
Vanessa, who had also been invited, was already waiting there.
She wore a simple green dress with muted colors.
The fabric itself was luxurious, but the dress clearly looked old and frequently worn.
While Eleanor had intentionally minimized her accessories, Vanessa wore none at all.
Her hair had merely been brushed neatly and left at that.
“Good afternoon, my lady.”
Vanessa, who had been looking elsewhere until Eleanor approached, bowed politely.
Eleanor responded with only a faint smile.
“Good afternoon, Vanessa.”
After their formal greetings ended, silence settled between them.
Vanessa had drawn the line first, and Eleanor had no intention of offering unnecessary warmth.
She would maintain basic courtesy, but she had no desire for pointless conversation.
As a result, silence accompanied them all the way to Levin.
Levin Territory was larger and more populous than Oclama.
Where Oclama had only one mid-sized merchant guild, Levin had two.
Still, Oclama possessed more farmland due to its terrain, making it more favorable for agriculture.
Taking in Levin’s scenery—a landscape both similar to and different from Oclama—Eleanor stepped down from the carriage.
Compared to the grand estates of the great nobles scattered throughout Bayern, Levin Castle was modest.
Still, it unmistakably looked like the residence of a ruling lord.
Led inside by the butler, Eleanor entered the castle where the three Duvar sisters warmly welcomed both guests with a beautifully prepared tea party.
“Thank you for inviting me. I’m Eleanor Stikov, niece of Baroness Ponfury.”
“The pleasure is ours. I’m Cora Duvar. These are my younger sisters, Mary and Carol.”
The Duvar sisters had ordinary, approachable faces.
Cora, the eldest, was the same age as Eleanor.
Mary was the same age as Lydia.
And Carol was two years younger still.
At such lively, youthful ages, they would have shone no matter what they wore.
But apparently that alone had not been enough.
The sisters had dressed themselves with remarkable effort.
It was obvious they had spent the entire morning preparing for this meeting.
Seeing the three sisters surrounded by frills, lace, and jewels, Eleanor felt relieved she had chosen restraint.
Had she dressed extravagantly as well, the four of them—excluding Vanessa—would have looked utterly ridiculous together.
“When we heard you had come to Oclama, we wanted very badly to become friends with you. Mother and I even discussed carefully when it would be appropriate to send an invitation.”
“Oh my, I’m honored. And now that you’ve met me in person, what do you think?”
Cora Duvar looked ready to offer the usual empty praise about Eleanor being even more beautiful in person.
But Carol Duvar, who had clearly been waiting impatiently for a chance to speak, interrupted first.
“You’re not dressed as extravagantly as I expected. But you’re still really pretty, so I was surprised!”
Carol grinned brightly.
Judging from the alarmed expressions of her older sisters, she clearly had no idea what she had just implied.
In noble society, that kind of remark was practically an insult.
Yet the younger girl remained perfectly innocent.
Seventeen, was it? Four years younger than me.
Estimating her age, Eleanor smiled gently.
She did not grow angry over the tactless words of an underage noble girl.
After all, there had been no malice behind them.
“Thank you for the compliment, my lady.”
“Lady Stikov, she didn’t mean—”
“It’s alright. I’m not offended, so don’t worry.”
Cora laughed awkwardly.
Only Carol, who had apparently received a discreet pinch from Mary beneath the table, looked utterly confused.
After exchanging silent looks with her sisters, the youngest visibly deflated.
Once the innocent youngest sister quieted down, the eldest spoke again.
“Since there are three Duvar sisters, things get confusing when people call us ‘Lady Duvar.’ Would you call us by our names instead?”
“I have a younger sister too, so I understand. Alright then, Cora.”
For a brief moment after answering, Eleanor hesitated.
Should she permit them to call her by name as well?
In the capital’s social circles, names were reserved only for fairly close relationships.
That was why, despite people often confusing her with Lydia, Eleanor herself was rarely addressed informally.
Should she follow the cold standards of the capital?
Or the overflowing warmth of the countryside?
Feeling the hopeful gazes of the sisters upon her, Eleanor smiled.
“For now, ‘Lady Stikov’ is perfectly fine for me. My younger sister is still in Bayern, after all.”
It was too soon to offer her name after a first meeting.
She still did not fully understand the Duvar sisters.
Even if it meant little in the provinces, Eleanor had spent her whole life in the capital.
In the end, she chose to follow her own standards.
The sisters looked disappointed, though they clearly understood the possibility she had left open.
“Then let’s definitely become close enough to call each other by name someday!”
Carol declared enthusiastically.
“Of course, Carol.”
When Eleanor answered kindly, Carol’s cheeks flushed pink.
Mary promptly jabbed her younger sister in the side again for interrupting.
As the sisters fell quiet, Mary spoke to Eleanor for the first time.
“I’ve actually seen you before, Lady Stikov.”
“Where?”
“At a debutante party in the capital. You were with your younger sister.”
Ah.
Right. She was Lydia’s age.
Eleanor lifted her teacup and touched the tea lightly to her lips.
A classic black tea.
In the capital, even commoners drank it freely.
But in remote territories like this, it was still something reserved for honored guests.
The debutante Mary referred to had taken place three years earlier.
Noble girls usually made their debut at sixteen, which meant Lydia had been sixteen then.
Apparently Mary Duvar had attended the same social event.
“I remember thinking you were such close and beautiful sisters.”
Mary spoke dreamily.
Eleanor merely smiled instead of answering.
She had attended Lydia’s debutante party faithfully fulfilling her role as the heroine’s older sister.
She had dressed carefully and beautifully enough not to embarrass herself.
Yet she could never imitate even a fraction of the radiance that naturally surrounded Lydia.
She had simply stood there like decorative scenery, proudly admiring her younger sister before returning home.
Close and beautiful sisters.
She had heard those words countless times in Bayern.
She had not expected to hear them here too.
Eleanor lowered her gaze toward her reflection in the clear tea.
She was smiling beautifully.
Perfectly.
“I wanted to become friends with you ever since then, Lady Stikov. So I’m truly happy we finally met like this.”
“I feel the same, Mary. They say unexpected encounters are a kind of fortune.”
The Duvar sisters burst into cheerful laughter.
Whether in the countryside or the capital, conversations built on polite flattery were equally tedious.
Just as Eleanor gradually began losing interest in the discussion—
“But this is rather surprising. To think you and Vanessa came together in the same carriage.”
Mary smoothly brought Vanessa into the conversation.
“Vanessa, you really are treated very well, aren’t you?”
