The Survival Strategy of the Contract Duchess - Chapter 26

Naturally, any social gathering attended by the Empress was held within the Imperial Palace. The Empress’s residence had a front entrance that connected to the Emperor’s main quarters and a separate back entrance that served as an additional route.

Whenever a social event was hosted, the first-floor hall of the Empress’s quarters, the reception room, and the spacious lawn beyond the back entrance all became part of the venue.

“Over there. That table is still empty. What happened?”

At the center of it all, Midienna was making her final inspections. It seemed as if every maid in the palace had been summoned to the Empress’s quarters. Midienna’s sharp gaze followed the people moving hurriedly through the space.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The food has not arrived yet. I will check right away.”

“The guests are arriving soon. Hurry.”

Before the maid could even finish her sentence, Midienna interrupted her with a sharp command.

She did not host such events often, so she wanted everything to be flawless. These gatherings were important because they helped her build connections with the noblewomen and allowed her to exert influence. That was why she cared so much about perfection.

This time, however, things felt slightly different. Each year, newly debuted young ladies would attend for the first time, but most of them did not stand out.

Last year, the daughter of Marquess Ivern had attended for the first time after coming of age. She was rumored to be beautiful, so everyone had received her with a mix of curiosity and caution. Aside from that, nothing particularly memorable had happened.

“Your Majesty the Empress. Have you been well? It looks like I arrived early again.”

With a graceful smile, Marchioness Datezen greeted Midienna. She had supported Midienna ever since people first began considering her as Empress. She offered her help in both visible and subtle ways and remained one of her most loyal allies.

She was a wise woman who knew how to hide sharpness behind a gentle smile. She was trusted more than anyone and took on more responsibilities than most. Even when she hid her intentions, she knew exactly where and when to act.

“Welcome. We were just about finished. Would you mind taking one more look around, Marchioness?”

“There’s no need. I already know how detailed and thoughtful Your Majesty is.”

Her laugh rang out clearly, fresh and bright like that of a young girl. As she smiled while looking over the venue, she suddenly added another remark.

“By the way, I heard that Duchess Ignote will be attending today. Is that true?”

Midienna’s expression immediately twisted at the mention of that name. There was no time to hide her reaction. The Marchioness’s tone carried a hint of mockery.

“They say she is not as beautiful as Lady Ivern. In fact, no one seems to have seen her in person. I heard she has been unwell since birth and has lived her entire life within the Marquess’s estate. You know the saying. Long illness can make even golden hair look dull and dry.”

Datezen was simply repeating the gossip she had heard. But Midienna had met the Duchess before, and the image of her returned vividly.

Her glossy blonde hair shimmered under the sunlight. Her hazel eyes had a soft glow. Her dress was simple, without any extravagant design or jewelry, yet she looked effortlessly elegant.

Most young ladies attending social gatherings for the first time were fresh and lively but lacked presence. Their brightness often came with a sense of lightness. But the Duchess was different. She had depth and grace that could be felt instantly.

Lady Ivern, who began attending last year at the age of nineteen, was the second daughter. That meant the Duchess must be at least twenty-one now. Even at that young age, she carried herself with poise and elegance.

“If she really grew up in seclusion due to illness, she probably knows nothing about social etiquette. And yet she dares to attend alone. That is bold. What do you think we should do, Your Majesty? Should we just ignore her?”

Datezen already knew that Midienna did not like the Duchess. She asked the question gently after observing the change in Midienna’s mood.

It might be best to put the Duchess in her place and make sure she never dared show up in society again. Knowing Midienna’s fiery nature, Datezen felt a thrill at the thought of an entertaining little game.

“Well, do as you please, Marchioness. I cannot concern myself with every little matter. Our gatherings are meant for mature women, after all.”

Midienna pretended to step back, offering freedom in her words. But her meaning was clear. No matter what Datezen chose to do, Midienna would not interfere or hold her accountable.

Datezen’s brown eyes sparkled. She stood beside the Empress, casually exchanging greetings with the noblewomen and young ladies who were arriving one by one. As she did, her gaze remained fixed on the entrance, curious to see who would walk in next.

“Wow. This place is even more extravagant than I expected.”

It was clear that extravagance was the height of fashion for women of this era. Their dresses were so elaborate they looked difficult to move in, and the colors were so bright they were almost overwhelming. The social gathering hosted by the Empress was no different. It was dazzling in every way.

She couldn’t help but think that this event might rival even a royal banquet in its grandeur.

The sunlight caught on the jewels, making them sparkle so brightly that it looked as if the night sky had fallen to earth. Though it was daytime, the way the gems reflected the light made it feel like stars were shining all around. From the lawn outside the Empress’s palace, the view was dazzlingly bright.

A long table stretched along one side of the path, overflowing with food, desserts, wine, and champagne—everything that noblewomen tended to enjoy. Every table was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers arranged in abundance.

“My eyes can barely handle this. So, this is what a women’s gathering looks like,” Dylan murmured.

He had never experienced a noblewoman’s event before, especially not at the Ignote estate. All of this glamour was completely unfamiliar to him.

Most of his duties involved chasing down rebels in hiding or moving through the gray forests where monsters appeared. The dry, colorless world of danger and survival was what he knew best.

The Ignote estate’s own grandeur was the most elegance he had ever seen, but even that could not have prepared him for this. Seeing gemstones used as casual decorations, like leaves scattered around, left him quietly stunned.

“Still, wouldn’t I have been fine attending on my own? I feel like I’m making you waste your time when you probably have far more important things to do.”

Dylan was likely the most skilled knight in the duchy’s order. He always appeared where things were most dangerous, always standing at Kyler’s side. He seemed to play a leading role in many operations. For someone like that to be assigned as her escort felt strange.

“Please don’t say that. I am honored to be entrusted with the task of guarding the mistress of the house.”

It was something he once thought he would never be allowed to do. Kyler had to be married for that role to even exist. For a long time, Dylan had pushed the idea of marriage out of his mind, not only because of who he was, but because of the pain left behind by his parents.

“I should be the one thanking you for becoming the Duchess. Please do not worry about this at all.”

Dylan was a sincere and upright person. He was not the type to say kind things just to make someone feel better.

Kyler was known to be cold, intimidating, and quiet, but he was not someone who lied or hurt others on purpose. Because of that, the people around him were also decent. Their personalities were different, but none of them seemed cruel or dishonest.

At the entrance, an official stood to check invitations. From that point on, only invited noblewomen could enter.

“If anything happens, just step outside and I’ll be right here,” Dylan said.

He stood firmly, bowing to her with clear determination. It was obvious that if she dismissed him now, he would not move a single step from where he stood.

“There’s no need for that. It’s just a gathering of noblewomen and young ladies. Nothing urgent is likely to happen. Please rest comfortably.”

“But still”

“I’ll be back soon.”

“The Duchess Sasha Ignote of House Ignote is now entering”

The moment she stepped through the entrance, her name was called out loudly. The atmosphere inside shifted instantly. Conversations that had been cheerful and relaxed suddenly turned into whispers and quiet murmurs.

She was surprised by the immediate and intense reaction. It was hard not to feel nervous.

Maybe just holding on to Kyler would be enough to get through this. But now that she was here, she wanted to be someone who could stand beside him as an equal. Someone who could offer support, not someone who relied entirely on him.

To survive as a noblewoman in times like these, it was essential not to overlook social gatherings. These were moments to build alliances or, if necessary, take control.

At the very least, she had to prove that she was not someone who could be ignored or dismissed.

She remembered the fury in Empress Midienna’s voice when she first claimed to be from House Ignote.

“You’re lying. You’re not from House Ignote. You cannot just pretend to be someone you are not. Speak. Tell the truth.”

The Empress had lost her temper without even stopping to think. Once she heard Sasha was the Duchess, her expression had turned complicated. Before the conversation could escalate further, Kyler had arrived, preventing any harsh words from being spoken. But Sasha had a feeling that if Midienna had pulled herself together just a second earlier, the situation could have been much worse.

Starting off with the Empress’s resentment was clearly a disadvantage.

Even so, Sasha raised her chin slightly and walked inside with composure. She would not let herself be overwhelmed. Just thinking of Kyler gave her strength.

She had a home to return to and people who believed in her. Whatever words were spoken here did not define her. The misunderstanding was born from lies. If she wanted to change that, she would have to work for it.

She had to live differently now. She could no longer stay trapped in the old life where she had given up and accepted her place without question.

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