The noble daughters hadn’t expected the Grand Consort Iris to respond so decisively, nor had they anticipated she’d possess such flawless command of northern court etiquette.
‘…We can’t just retreat like this.’
Cornered, their gazes turned to the one among them who was the most outspoken and quick to act—Lady Luchen Valbadia. She had been the one to send the letter to the Grand Consort as their representative.
“What is the meaning of this? You said the Grand Consort was from the capital and wouldn’t know the customs of the North!”
“Lady Luchen, what exactly did you write in that letter to provoke such wrath?”
They scrambled to absolve themselves of responsibility, choosing a scapegoat to hide their own shame.
“I-I just…” Luchen stammered, flustered under the barrage of condemning stares, her eyes darting around in panic. “I simply wrote what we all discussed and agreed upon.”
True enough, during their secret gathering, Luchen had followed the group's plan—sending a blunt letter that declared their intention to visit, without even specifying the date or time. They’d rushed to arrive the very day the letter was meant to be delivered, fearing the Grand Consort might have time to prepare.
“Why are you all turning on me now?” she cried, her voice tinged with disbelief as she turned to the other young ladies for support. But every one of them averted their gaze coldly.
‘They’re cutting me off like a lizard’s tail…’
At that moment, Luchen spotted Lady Camilla trying to quietly slip away. In desperation, she clutched Camilla’s hand tightly. She refused to go down alone.
“Camilla! Tell them! You were the one who said this approach would work best!”
“W-when did I ever say that?” Camilla blurted out, clearly taken aback, shaking her head furiously.
“You’re the one who wrote the letter, Lady Valbadia. It doesn’t even mention my name.”
“But you told me to send a blunt notice! You were right there with me when I wrote it!”
As Luchen grew more frantic, the others’ eyes turned increasingly cold. The more scapegoats, the easier it was for them to escape blame.
“My word, Lady Yordin. So you were scheming behind our backs like that?”
“We thought it was only talk, not something you’d actually
do
. How could you act so rudely?”
“That’s right! If the Grand Consort refuses to receive us now, what are we supposed to do?”
The Northern aristocracy wasn’t made up of only these ladies. Others whom they looked down upon had shown up properly, earning favor through grace. These young noblewomen had come with one purpose—to suppress the Grand Consort who now held the very position they had coveted.
‘If word of this spreads to other noble daughters?’
‘Our whole social circle will become a laughingstock!’
Some had opposed the plan from the start, having heard whispers of this scheme to humiliate the newly arrived Grand Consort of Leontheim. Now the threat of backlash loomed heavily.
“Anyway, this whole mess is the fault of Lady Yordin and Lady Valbadia.”
“Thanks to your thoughtless actions, now we’ve all suffered! What will you do about it?”
The rest of the girls huffed in frustration and turned to return to their carriages.
“Please wait a moment.”
A guard stepped out from the manor gates and halted them.
“Her Grace, the Grand Consort of Leontheim, has sent something for you.”
“She just sent something?” Hope lit up their faces.
‘Of course. She wouldn’t send us away without a word. Not when we’re from respectable northern clans.’
They believed she had thought twice, deciding it would be unwise to sour ties with influential families.
Camilla and Luchen, who had been the most distressed by the failed plan, now looked visibly relieved.
“It seems Her Grace has finally come to her senses,” Camilla said with her chin held high. “Though honestly, it would take something extravagant to make up for the emotional damage we’ve endured.”
The guard said nothing, merely stepping forward to distribute a book to each young lady.
“Please accept one copy each.”
The noble daughters took the books in confusion. The guard, smiling brightly, offered his parting words.
“You may now return home.”
The title of the book was:
Foundations of the Pelsis Empire’s Court Etiquette: A Beginner’s Guide for Children.
The noble daughters’ carriages slowly vanished into the distance.
“Whew. Finally got rid of that insufferable lot,” Vincent muttered, shaking his head as he watched them go.
“My lady, are you all right?” he asked, glancing toward Iris, who had returned to her paperwork.
She looked up and gave a calm smile. “I’m fine.”
“I’m glad to hear that, but…”
Vincent trailed off with concern. He knew his lady had a habit of saying she was fine, even when she wasn’t.
After a moment of silence, Iris spoke again, her gaze lingering on the documents before her.
Even before her return to this life, many noble daughters had pursued Cedric, driven by admiration or ambition.
‘At first, I thought they just didn’t like
me
becoming the Grand Consort…’
But now, she understood—they would’ve hated
any
woman who stood in that position.
‘Because they’re all infatuated with Cedric.’
That’s why she could read them so clearly without even bothering to engage.
‘Still…’
There was something she hadn’t dared to ask in her previous life. But this time, she would.
“Vincent. Has it always been like this? Were there always so many noble daughters throwing themselves at him?”
Iris’s voice was light, as though the matter didn’t affect her at all.
Iris already knew—many women in the North had long set their sights on the handsome Archduke Cedric.
Which is why cold sweat began dripping down Vincent’s back.
“I told him he should’ve handled this earlier…”
Aside from banning one persistent classmate from their academy days, Cedric had let the rest hover around without much care.
He simply had no interest. And when someone truly doesn't care, they don’t even see a reason to cut ties.
“H-Hah… Well, if you put it that way, then yes—but truly, My Lady had nothing to worry about!”
Vincent spoke fervently, defending Cedric with the loyalty of a core disciple shielding his sect leader.
“I swear, in our Lord’s path, there has only ever been one person—My Lady!”
He wished Iris could truly understand:
There were no other women in Cedric’s heart.
“There’s really nothing to worry about…”
But he knew.
No matter what he said—seeing women cling to Cedric like moths to divine flame must have bothered her.
That was why Vincent felt like his internal qi was boiling.
“Th-Then I shall summon the Lord and—”
“Don’t worry,” Iris interrupted.
“No, My Lady! Please strike him until your resentment clears!”
“…Excuse me?”
Iris blinked, startled by the unexpected suggestion.
“The Master should’ve dealt with those women before they even dared to approach!”
“Is that… so?”
“Yes! While we’re at it, we should pin that impudent noblewoman’s letter on his door. Let’s see if he still ignores it after that!”
Vincent bristled in defense of Iris. It worked out—Cedric had run off again today, shirking his duties.
Iris couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle.
“Now then, where are those letters the noble ladies sent?”
“Pardon?”
Vincent flinched. How did My Lady know about
those
absurd letters?
“How… how did you know they confessed to him in writing? You specifically ordered me to ensure you wouldn’t be bothered by them…”
“I have my ways.”
Even after the wedding, those noble daughters continued to send Cedric personal letters.
Vincent, hoping to spare Iris the pain, had quietly hidden them.
But Iris smiled meaningfully.
“Then they’re all still stored somewhere?”
“I… I’ve gathered them in the cellar to burn in one go. So please, My Lady, there’s no need for concern!”
“Oh, no need to burn them just yet. I’d like to read through them myself. I have… personal use for them.”
“M-My Lady… still…”
“It’s fine. I trust him.”
In truth, Iris already knew what was in those letters. She had read them before her regression.
At first, she’d ignored them—but their persistence forced her to read them eventually.
“This won’t end with today.”
To these women, who obsessed over the glory of the capital, there was no man more desirable than Cedric.
Some had even offered to become his
concubine
, should the position ever open.
What more could be said after that?
Vincent hesitated, but seeing Iris’s unwavering expression, he finally gave a nod.
“…As you command, My Lady. I’ll do as you wish.”
“And remember… this is
my
matter to resolve.”
There was a quiet strength in her faint smile.
Vincent was left speechless.
Indeed—this was an issue that the Grand Duchess of the North must handle.
If Cedric intervened, people would only say she was relying on her husband—
that she was a weak woman, leaning on a man.
Still…
“Shouldn’t the Master at least be told of this?”
“This is something I can handle on my own. There’s no need to worry him.”
Iris had seen her fair share of shameless noble daughters. She knew well how to deal with them.
“Now then…”
Just as she was preparing her counterattack—
Cedric appeared, as usual, without warning.
“My Lady,” he called, pushing a cart that likely came from the tea room.
“Shall we take a break?”
Vincent nearly grabbed his own neck in disbelief.
He just got back from a break and now he wants another?!
But this time, Iris didn’t immediately respond.
“Mm… I’m alright for today.”
“…Is something the matter?”
“I have… some unresolved matters to tend to.”
Unconsciously, Iris avoided his gaze.
“He’s not at fault.”
If there was any fault—it was that he was too perfect.
But she didn’t want to say that aloud.
“What if… he gets tired of me?”
Whenever Iris had expressed her sadness in her past life, her family had only grown weary of her.
“Ugh, come on! Can you
please
listen to me for once? No wonder you’re always sulking at home, Sis!”
“Iris. I’m your family, so I can put up with this. But don’t act like this to others—it’s annoying.”
And honestly… she had understood.
“I was never the sociable type anyway.”
Chapter 44