Penelope was dumbfounded.
‘What is this? A playground fight? Seriously?’
The imperial knights cast amused glances at the scene, while the court mage’s frown deepened further.
Trying to break the tension, Penelope forced a laugh and awkwardly addressed the court mage.
“You heard him, didn’t you? The Tower Master says he wasn’t the one who struck first.”
“Would you kindly ask him if I raised him to be this irresponsible as the Tower Master?!”
The court mage ground his teeth so fiercely it seemed they might crack.
‘Does he really think Ahwin can’t hear him?’
Though Penelope found the entire situation ridiculous, she dutifully acted as a messenger.
“You heard that, right? You shouldn’t behave like this toward someone who raised you.”
“Tell him no one at the Tower ever raised me, as far as I recall.”
“Can’t you say a single word without using me as a middleman?!”
It seemed the court mage’s patience had finally snapped. His furious outburst was so loud that Penelope thought her ears might burst.
Penelope grabbed Ahwin’s hand, which had crept onto her shoulder. He flinched at the contact. Without letting go, she yanked him forward, causing him to stumble out from behind her.
“Go and get scolded. If there’s something you need to take responsibility for, take responsibility. I’ll wait here.”
“Pepe, are you abandoning me?”
“Don’t call me Pepe.”
Grinding her teeth, Penelope shot him a warning glare. Ahwin pouted before trudging toward the court mage.
The court mage looked at him with utter exasperation.
“Have you regressed into a child since I last saw you?”
“Well, it seems like you’ve put on weight since I last saw you, Deric. Stress eating is an unhealthy coping mechanism.”
“And do you think you’re in any position to lecture anyone about bad habits as the Tower Master?!”
Ahwin clasped his hands over his ears, utterly unfazed despite the court mage looking ready to explode. After glaring at him for a moment longer, the court mage spun on his heel and stormed toward the garden.
“This way. Follow me. Take responsibility for what you’ve done.”
Ahwin shot Penelope a desperate look as if to say, “Am I really supposed to follow him?”
Penelope gestured emphatically with her hands. “Yes, go.”
Sighing heavily, Ahwin reluctantly trailed after the court mage toward the garden.
Finally, peace returned to the area.
‘It feels like I can breathe again.’
Penelope let out a long, deep sigh.
How much time had passed?
Ahwin, who had disappeared into the garden with the court mage, was still nowhere to be seen.
Penelope suddenly felt a gnawing hunger that was impossible to ignore.
“I’m thirsty... and I need to use the restroom.”
Attending the title conferment ceremony and the imperial banquet had left her skipping nearly every meal of the day. The only things she’d consumed were half a slice of cake and a glass of champagne in the resting room before the banquet.
Her stomach growled loudly.
“I can’t wait any longer. I need food.”
Penelope glanced back at the lively banquet hall, where cheerful music played. Inside, the tables were surely laden with delicious party dishes.
She made up her mind.
“I’ll just grab a quick bite to stave off the hunger and then head back out.”
Gripping her dress tightly, Penelope strode purposefully toward the banquet hall.
But she realized how naive her plan had been within thirty seconds of stepping inside.
“Baroness Halo! I almost missed you!”
Viscountess Ellern was the first to spot Penelope and approached her enthusiastically. Following her, a group of noblewomen swarmed around Penelope like bees to honey.
“Congratulations on receiving your baronial title!”
“I heard His Majesty gifted you a townhouse. What an extraordinary honor! My sincerest congratulations!”
“I’m hosting a tea party next week, and it would be wonderful if you could attend.”
“I’m organizing a book club...”
“And I’m hosting a charity gala...”
Penelope felt like her head was spinning. She also felt cornered, as though she were surrounded by wolves eyeing their prey.
“So this is why Ahwin can’t handle his followers,” she thought.
It was easy to be firm with those who showed hostility, but it was a completely different challenge to deal with those who expressed unbridled affection.
At that moment, her stomach betrayed her with an embarrassingly loud growl.
Grrrrrr!
The noblewomen paused, looking at her with disbelief as if they couldn’t trust their ears.
Penelope quickly waved her hands in denial.
“Th-that wasn’t me.”
Grrrrrr!
Another confirmation shot.
“...”
“...”
The noblewomen covered their mouths with their fans, desperately trying to suppress their laughter. Penelope’s face turned as red as an apple.
Viscountess Ellern came to her rescue.
“Well, I seem to have gotten hungry all of a sudden. Shall we move over there and grab something to eat while we talk?”
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“...Yes.”
Swallowing her embarrassment, Penelope reluctantly agreed. The noblewomen stifled their laughter as best they could.
Viscountess Ellern led Penelope to a table set up in a corner of the banquet hall. It was adorned with an assortment of hors d'oeuvres, elegant enough to whet anyone’s appetite. Champagne, wine, fresh fruits, biscuits, cakes, and cookies were arranged alongside the finger foods.
“Please, help yourself to anything here,” the viscountess said.
Drawn to the table like a moth to a flame, Penelope reached for a champagne flute. Her throat was parched.
Downing two glasses of champagne in quick succession, her thirst finally subsided. She moved on to food—starting with smoked salmon topped with cheese. After devouring shrimp ceviche, baguette slices topped with tomato and ham, and a few small roll sandwiches, her mind began to clear.
“You must have been very hungry,” the viscountess commented.
“I... hadn’t eaten anything today,” Penelope admitted, dabbing her lips with a napkin in a futile attempt to salvage her dignity. She was likely the only noble in the banquet hall who had eaten with such gusto.
“I apologize for my behavior.”
“Not at all. It’s good to see someone enjoy their meal. Are you sure you’ve had enough?”
“Yes, thank you...”
The viscountess smiled warmly. She had a soft spot for Penelope, the woman who had given her a second chance in life. To her, Penelope could do no wrong, even when eating like this.
“What a pity. If only she had gotten along with my son,” the viscountess mused, remembering how her son Enrique had danced with Penelope at a previous event.
“But since she came to the banquet with the Tower Master... are they in a relationship? Then what about Grand Duke Rahinsel? Could this really be the love triangle people talk about?”
As the viscountess pondered, the surrounding noblewomen fell silent as if on cue.
Baroness Einsha lowered her voice to speak.
“It’s the Countess of Corindel’s daughter.”
“Oh, is it?”
Penelope replied absentmindedly, the name sounding vaguely familiar.
Turning her head, she saw a young woman with long, flowing red hair. She looked to be about twenty years old, with a fair complexion, a delicate nose, full rosy lips, and large green eyes. Even the faint freckles dusting her nose added to her charm.
“She’s beautiful. Was she in the original story?” Penelope wondered.
But there was no time to think further.
“Is that... the Countess of Corindel’s daughter?”
“So she’s...”
“She’s even more...”
The noblewomen’s hushed whispers filled the air.
“What’s going on? Am I the only one out of the loop?”
Trying to hide her confusion, Penelope focused on the atmosphere to piece things together.
Despite the murmured comments and curious stares, the countess’s daughter calmly lowered her eyes as she loaded her plate with desserts. She exuded a composed yet aloof demeanor.
Baroness Einsha leaned in closer to Penelope, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.
“There are rumors of an engagement between the Countess of Corindel’s daughter and the Grand Duke of Rahinsel. Have you heard anything from His Grace?”
“Well... I wouldn’t know,” Penelope replied, forcing a strained smile. She felt her lips twitch with suppressed irritation.
“What is this, a soap opera all of a sudden?”
Only then did Penelope begin to understand the noblewomen’s fervent interest. The countess’s daughter was rumored to be in an arranged marriage with Rianel.
Penelope’s mind clicked.
“Could this be what I overheard in the imperial palace? The political marriage Rianel’s stepmother is pushing for?!”