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Elise, having confirmed that fact, began to perform enthusiastically.
"Then, could you at least convey my message? To thank him for taking me in after my uncle kicked me out... That I'll leave as soon as my living situation is resolved, and that I hope he'll return to the mansion."
She sounded genuinely concerned about Leticia.
As they watched the situation unfold, the public's opinion began to stir.
"Did the Duchess misunderstand something...?"
"No, even so, is it right for another woman to come and live in a house with a wife?"
"But where else would a young lady who's been kicked out with nothing go?"
The public was arguing back and forth, and in that situation, Elise, with her delicate appearance, was shedding tears.
Elise smiled inwardly as she watched the staff member, who was swallowing sighs of embarrassment.
This was now a matter of her pride. She couldn't back down.
"Please, at least deliver my message―"
Elise was about to say that and turn away, expecting the servant to be unable to overcome public opinion and stop her.
But then.
"Well, I don't think there's any need to convey that message."
The closed boutique door opened, and Leticia appeared.
Elise's face turned pale as she faced the approaching Leticia.
'Didn't they say she didn't come to work?'
The flustered Elise looked at the staff member, but even the staff member seemed surprised by Leticia's sudden appearance.
As everyone held their breath, Leticia, who had walked out leisurely, broke the silence.
"Thank you for coming and waiting for so long, young ladies. Our staff will guide you right away."
Leticia guided the noble young ladies who had come with Elise and then winked at the staff member who followed.
The staff member approached the young ladies, but they fidgeted and looked at each other, unsure of what to do, like people sitting on pins and needles.
"Oh, well. Thank you for the guidance, but..."
"If you've changed your mind, you can yield to the people behind you. All of you who have come are precious guests, and I can't let you wait any longer."
Only then did the young ladies, seeing the long line of people behind them, hesitate for a moment before following the staff into the boutique.
And so, only Elise was left behind.
In a place where everyone's eyes were focused.
In the silence filled with tension, Leticia stared intently at Elise, who was left alone.
Elise waited with a nervous expression for Leticia to say something.
But...
'What, what is it?'
Leticia turned away without saying a word.
As if she wouldn't give Elise even a bit of attention.
Elise felt a surge of anger and urgently called out to Leticia.
"Madam! Are you just going to leave without any explanation of the situation?"
Then Leticia, who was leisurely heading towards the door, stopped and turned to look at Elise.
"Explanation?"
"Wouldn't it be better to explain why you disallowed my entry?"
"Well, isn't that what people do when they've been falsely accused, or when they want to deny their sins?"
Leticia tilted her head and looked at Elise, her gaze turning icy cold.
"I have nothing to be falsely accused of, and there's nothing I particularly want to deny, so what explanation should I give?"
"People are misunderstanding the relationship between you and me. It was just a minor misunderstanding, but it's not good for either me or you to be gossiped about like this―"
"A minor misunderstanding..."
"Surely, you don't still believe that misunderstanding is true, do you?"
Elise looked at Leticia with eyes that were quite hurt.
"I don't mind being misunderstood. It's okay if you don't explain. If it makes you feel better, I'm willing to do anything. But..."
Tears welled up in Elise's purple eyes, as if they were about to spill over at any moment.
"Because the more you misunderstand and hate me, the harder it will be for you."
"..."
"That fact breaks my heart so much..."
Moist purple eyes, a pitifully trembling lip...
Anyone who didn't know the situation would see Elise as a pitiful victim.
'If she comes on too strong, it will damage her image, so she should stop around here, right?'
Elise thought that Leticia would either give an explanation or, because she was annoyed, allow her entry.
But...
Leticia burst out laughing and strode towards Elise.
Elise gasped at the unexpected reaction.
"Elise."
A soft breath tickled Elise's ear.
"Surely, you don't still think that I'll lose face over just having one man stolen? That's why I won't reveal the relationship between you and Peidan?"
"……!"
"That's the kind of thing someone who has nothing but a man would think."
"Wh-What……!"
"My value doesn't decrease just because I don't have a man."
Just as Elise was about to retort, Leticia straightened up and stepped back.
"Well, it seems like it's not me who's having a hard time because of the misunderstanding, but rather Miss Elise."
Leticia smiled at Elise, who seemed quite flustered by her reaction, and added.
"If you're upset about the misunderstanding, Miss Elise, then you should explain it. I'm not upset, and I don't want to deny anything."
Elise only bit her lip and couldn't bring herself to say anything.
'Who would believe anything I said in this situation!'
But if Leticia turned away like this without a word, that would also be a disgrace.
Just as she moved her lips to make some kind of rebuttal, it was then.
The sound of hooves could be heard in the distance, and someone exclaimed and muttered.
"Oh my! Isn't that the Imperial Palace's carriage?"
People buzzed, and the crowd parted as a carriage with the Imperial Palace's emblem appeared.
Elise, as well as Leticia, turned their attention to the carriage.
Soon, a maid from the Imperial Palace got out of the stopped carriage.
"Isn't that... the Head Maid of the Empress' Palace?"
The Head Maid walked forward, ignoring the murmurs of the people.
Leticia, who had been momentarily flustered by the unexpected appearance, quickly greeted the guest.
"What brings you all the way here, Head Maid?"
Unlike what she had expected, that she had come to buy something at the boutique, the Head Maid stopped in front of Leticia.
And handed her a letter.
A letter stamped with the Imperial seal, which only the Imperial family could use.
"Her Majesty the Empress wishes to invite Miss Leticia to the Empress' Palace."
Leticia, as well as everyone in that place, was surprised.
The most surprised person among them was Elise.
'The Empress invited her to the palace?'
The Empress was from a foreign country, and because she was weak, she didn't attend events very often, and because of that, she didn't have much connection with the nobles of society.
But regardless of the fact that people didn't like the foreign Empress, she was favored by the Emperor, so they wanted to build a relationship with her.
Such an invitation from the Empress.
'And it's not a servant or a knight, but she even sent the Head Maid herself...'
That meant that the Empress was treating Leticia as a very important person.
Leticia confirmed the letter she had received with a dazed expression.
[Dear Miss Leticia.
I wonder if you were surprised by the sudden invitation.
As the mother of the child who owes you a debt of gratitude, it is proper etiquette to visit you in person to express my thanks, but the situation does not allow it, so I have invited you in this way.
Could you visit the Empress' Palace this afternoon? If the situation is difficult, you can reply with a possible date.
Then I will look forward to meeting you in the near future.
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