Chapter 213
TL: Zimmings
[This is the social world! A scene of fierce battle without any weapon!]
Chul-soo’s voice was ringing in my mind. I deeply understand why he said that. The social world was a space where strength and rank were more important than anything else. They don’t wield any weapons, but it is no different than a battlefield.
To protect ourselves, we have to be perfect.
Disgrace leads to defeat, and if we lose, we have to kneel down.
Those children were trained not to lose by their parents, that’s why they acted so.
Without thinking about Dubblede’s power or status, they won’t side with a loser.
Until now, I was protected by my title, the child of fate. But deep down the nobles still thought I was only a commoner.
When I win, they will respect me as the child of fate and Lady Dubblede, but when I lose, I’m only a commoner child.
Since I have failed to heal Marquis Shuheil, they must have thought that I will be abandoned by the temple or Dubblede.
It’s also because the temple is making a big deal about my inability to heal Marquis Shuheil to pressure Dubblede, but Dubblede hadn’t show any movement.
‘Even so, they’re too bold. The fact that they are starting to reject me so openly means that there is an instigator.’
It was obvious who.
Empress Yvonne must be the one who does this because of Cecilia.
And Blake was the right person to be her puppet.
Meanwhile, the ladies and young master who didn’t like me for being a commoner took this chance.
“Lady, are you okay?”
Cecilia brushed off my skirt and looked at me worriedly.
“Yes. I’m okay.”
As I smiled, Blake’s gang became irritated.
One of Blake’s gang, a fat boy, asked in a soft voice.
“But, why does Lady Olga call the Dubblede girl a lady?”
Blake replied.
“She put her name under the branch family of Dubblede. It was often the case that people from the branch family called the children of the main family as lady and master.”
“But isn’t she one of the finalists? She might become an empress. Isn’t that a bit ridiculous?”
“She was a former knight of Dubblede right? It could be a respect to her master’s children.”
“If so, it will continue after being chosen too? Calling her like a servant? The empress is the mother of the country. It doesn’t make sense.”
“That…….”
Blake looked at me with a confused expression.
The boy, who had been babbling, stepped forward in front of Blake and looked at me.
“If you are a wise young girl, why didn’t you point that out? Did you enjoy being treated as such by the person who would become the empress?”
“…….”
“You were happy to receive respect from someone who has a high possibility of becoming an empress right?”
After saying that, the boy grinned, and Cecilia hardened her face.
“I never thought of it that way—”
I grabbed Cecilia with one arm and stared at the boy.
“So… well, who are you?”
“Huh?”
“I’m sorry. I had a hard time remembering unimportant people names.”
At those words, the boy’s face turned red.
“My father is the cousin of Duke Marche, and I’m the nephew of Empress Yvonne-”
“Nephew?”
“The empress always cared for me very much, and today I was invited to the Imperial Palace-!”
“You’re the nephew of Duke Marche. Since you are not from the caital, it seems that you are ignorant of etiquette.”
“W-what…!”
“I have been given the honorable title by His Majesty the Emperor. It was the same as being a royal. Cecilia had done the right thing.”
“That’s…”
“According to you words, shouldn’t it be you who will be punished for speaking such words in front of Cecilia, who is an empress candidate?”
I smiled and continued.
“You should do what you said.”
“You are rude!”
“I-!”
When I shouted, the boy flinched and shut his mouth.
“Don’t act recklessly next time or I’ll make sure you can’t step a foot in noble parties again.”
“W-what are you saying…”
“If you really want to attack me, throw your gloves right now.”
I walked passed him and smiled.
“I don’t want to meet you anywhere in the future. This is a warning.”
The nobles who surrounded us were shocked.
They must’ve thought I would probably cry my eyes out and repprted it to my dad.
I walked over to Blake as the boy flinched when I went past him and stepped back.
“Don’t provoke me any more.”
I whispered in her ear.
“I’ll give you five minutes. Go away.”
“……!”
The lady, whose face was red, pursed her lips. But I also didn’t want to provoke her any longer.
Afterall, attacking like this something the kid learn from her parents, it was also her parents that make her a safe fence so that she never gets implicated for being rude to people, under the pretext of protecting herself.
She picked the wrong opponent. I understand well how the social world works, and in my last life I grew up as a beggar.
That kid won’t be able to beat my experience.
Looking at the frightened Blake, I smiled and turned my gaze to the ladies behind her.
“Hello. I saw you at my gdmother’s party the other day, didn’t I?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
“Nice to see you again at the Imperial Palace. Oh Cecilia, she’s Marquess of Eshwar!”
As I said cheerfully, Cecilia approached me with a smile.
Blake, who was staring at me from behind, bit het lip.
Her sister Frances quietly appeased her, but Blake left the party.
Cecilia followed me and talked with the ladies.
After a few moments, she whispered to me with a worried look on her face.
“Are you okay?”
“What?”
“The threats… There will be more people talking about you.”
“It’s okay. I thought it was time to slowly reveal my personality.”
“Huh?”
“Back when I was a beggar with Emeline and Tri, there was a lunatic in the back alley. People say we needed to avoid him at all cost, do you know why?”
“……?”
“He didn’t really fought much. But they still avoided him, do you know why?”
“Why?”
“Ordinary people can’t win against a lunatic. Whether it’s a human or an animal, if we feel like we’re about to lose, we’ll never attack it.”
It could be the reason why the nobles have not waged a fight against Dubblede.
If we bite back once, we won’t let go.
So am I and that lunatic in the back alley.
The children who made eye contact with me flinched and bowed their heads.
***
In the end, Blake cried.
The boys and girls who gathered around her tried to console her due to pity.
“Don’t cry too much, Lady…”
“I think you’re just out of luck-”
Blake clasped the handkerchief tightly and shouted.
“Out of luck? No! Leblaine Dubblede is a lunatic. How can she humiliated me in front of the crowd…!
“It’s because she’s a commoner who doesn’t know much.”
“But…”
The curly-haired girl clicked her tongue.
“I’m sure she’s also out of her mind after making Marquis Shuheil like that. Lady, there’s a saying we should avoid the lunatic. Forgive the unreasonable lady. What could we do against a lunatic?”
Blake bit his lip and looked around.
“Why should we have to bow our heads to a commoner girl? I didn’t believe in the ‘child of fate’ from the beginning. The prophecy, the pattern of God… It’s all just the words of the temple, right?”
“That’s…”
“Only the temple knows what the patterns of God are like. What if the temple tampered the pattern for the child of fate they created?”
“… It’s terrible.”
“The reason she was adopted by Dubblede was because she’s the child of fate. What if the Empress Dowager was deceived by the temple and the Duke of Dubblede had no choice but to accept the child?”
“But the duke cared about her like she’s his daughter!”
“If you think about it, the prophecy said that the child of fate is the one who will bring light to the empire, right? That’s why the people respected her. But, did the child appear and bring light to the empire? Did she make any progress?”
“There’s been a lot of chaos because of that kid instead of progress. Will the Duke of Vallua summon devils, or will the Empress Dowager suffered from any illness if not for the child? The timing matches with her arrival at the capital!”
“She almost killed Marquis Shuheil!”
Blake nodded.
“As intellectuals, we have to step forward. I can’t let the people be played around by the temple.”
“Is there a way?”
Blake turned the empty cup over.
“It’s the obvious way to deal with riots in the social world.”
It was cmplete disregard.
As a sinister smile appeared on the faces of the boys and girls, Blake folded her arms and leaned into the chair.
“We’re going to defend the empire in our own way.”
From that day onwards, the bullying towards Leblaine began.
***
After I came out of the shopping district, I looked around and stopped walking.
The nobles who made eye contact with me shuddered, bowed their heads, and moved quickly as if they didn’t see me.
It’s been like this for a few days.
The chairman frowned as we went to the hope mercenary guild with me.
“It’s a protest.”
“Invisible human treatment? It’s only those who commit crime or adultery are treated so.”
“That’s right.”
“Who’s the leader?”
“… It’s Blake Arabel.”
“It’s stupid.”
I shook my head and turned around.
Even commoners quickly bow their heads. The bullying that started in the social world began to spread to the commoner.
“Lady.”
The chairman sighed and continued.
“Soon the charity party will start. The final selection will be decided by this charity party. It’s not a good time.”
“If I keep being bullied, no one will come to Cecilia’s party. Empress Yvonne is already keeping Cecilia in check.”
“You can ask His Excellency and the young masters for help. Javelin won’t be enough.”
I grabbed the hem of my skirt.
“It’s a big deal.”
“Your family will be worried, you should ask for help if you can’t handle it.”
“No.”
“Huh?”
“Wouldn’t that make the situation worse?”
“…….”
“Don’t worry, I’m great at dogfights.”
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