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She didn't remember much of what happened after that.
When she came to her senses, Ortansia found herself back in the room she'd been given, with Pamela beside her.
"Phew, I'm knackered today as well. How did you find it, Ortansia? From where I was standing, you did brilliantly for your first day!"
Judging by Pamela's cheerful tone, it seemed she hadn't made any major blunders.
Yet, merely recalling the scene at the dining hall made a dull ache in her chest impossible to suppress.
‘My very existence was a symbol of the VeritĂ© duchy's distortion…’
It was precisely because Duke Verité and the singer Bernadette had met that discord entered the ducal house.
Ortansia, regarded as their child (though it seemed not to be true), was the very embodiment of that discord.
Had they never met, the ducal house would have known peaceful, warm happiness.
GĂ©rard's happiness had been here all along, without Ortansia needing to search for it desperately.
Confronted with that reality, her chest ached unbearably.
“Let's do our best again tomorrow! Goodnight~”
“...Goodnight, Pamela.”
After bidding Pamela goodnight and lying down in bed... sleep felt utterly impossible.
‘...Changing fate was the right thing. The Duchess is well, Father is well, that's what matters most.’
She repeated this to herself over and over.
...If she didn't, her selfish thoughts threatened to spill out.
Clamping down on her rising emotions, Ortansia squeezed her eyes shut.
◇◇◇
“I've decided to go shopping in town today! You must come along, Ortansia!”
Free-spirited Marguerite declared this as if it had just occurred to her while dressing.
“But My Lady, you have music and poetry lessons scheduled for today.”
Ortansia tried to object, but Marguerite merely laughed as if utterly unconcerned.
“It's fine! I want new shoes more than music and poetry! And I want to look at jewels to match the dress I'm having made next. And then…”
Listening to Marguerite, Ortansia recalled the contents of Marguerite's private dressing room, which Pamela had shown her yesterday.
...Shoes, jewels, from Ortansia perspective, there was more than enough of everything.
Even without buying new things now, it seemed they could manage perfectly well.
“...What sort of items does the young lady desire?”
“Well... I want silver shoes! The most adorable pair, adorned with beautiful jewels and ribbons!”
“In that case, there are several within the dressing room that might take your fancy…”
“No!”
Marguerite's voice rose so sharply it nearly made her eyes bulge, causing Ortansia to flinch and her shoulders to jerk.
“The things in the dressing room aren't new! I want something new! It has to be the newest and most splendid thing!!”
The items in the dressing room were surely only worn once... perhaps some had never even been worn at all.
They were all beautifully maintained, yet still seemed to fail to please Marguerite.
“Prepare the carriage, Ortansia. You can manage that, of course?”
“...Understood.”
Overwhelmed by that radiant smile, Ortansia bowed her head quietly.
Pamela had warned her yesterday.
Marguerite had a rather spoilt nature; if she refused to change her mind after several gentle reminders, one simply had to comply.
Those who voiced too much criticism risked falling out of favour with Marguerite and being dismissed...
‘I haven't done anything yet for the Duke of VĂ©ritĂ©'s household.’
She couldn't afford to be dismissed from here just yet.
Marguerite's capriciousness was a concern, but it wasn't a problem she could resolve immediately.
Quietly leaving Marguerite's presence, Ortansia hurried to arrange a carriage.
“Ehhn! How delightful!!”
Marguerite, now in the carriage, hummed cheerfully to herself.
Though the reclusive Ortansia seldom ventured out into town like this, Pamela had mentioned that Marguerite, quite the opposite of Ortansia, absolutely adored going shopping in the city.
It was rather troublesome. She said, because even if other plans were scheduled, Marguerite would still insist on coming out on a whim.
Having been singled out by Marguerite, Ortansia left today's scheduled apologies to the teacher and schedule adjustments to Pamela, and thus came along as an escort.
Ortansia's duties included carrying Marguerite's purchases when she bought something, and preparing and managing invoices for the ducal household.
It wasn't particularly difficult work, but perhaps because she was still dwelling on last night's events, she found herself feeling rather downcast.
‘Marguerite really is loved by everyone…’
It was plain the Duke and Duchess doted on her.
Even GĂ©rard seemed to hold Marguerite dear.
Some, like Annabel, voiced disapproval of her free-spirited ways, but surely that too stemmed from affection.
‘I couldn't do it. I couldn't make Father and my brother that happy…’
For Ortansia, who was merely a fake Duke's daughter, it was fundamentally impossible.
No matter how hard she tried, perhaps she only ever succeeded in wrecking the ducal household.
The more she thought about it, the more self-loathing threatened to overwhelm her.
‘But now, Marguerite is here’
The genuine Ducal daughter, beloved by all, spreading happiness.
She alone is the symbol of the ducal house's happiness.
“What is it, Ortansia? Is something troubling you?”
Noticing Ortansia's expression, Marguerite tilted her head adorably, looking puzzled.
Ortansia hastily covered it up.
“Er... Where are you off to today?”
“Ahhah, first to Sorcière, of course. Then to Belle Éternelle! You know it? The finest shoemaker in the capital. And then…"
Watching Marguerite happily list their destinations, Ortansia's expression softened.
‘Marguerite is loved and cherished by everyone... Then I must do my utmost to serve Marguerite too.’
Surely that was what was best for the House of Vérité now.
Determined, Ortansia steeled herself.
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