At the voice mixed with suspicion and irritation, Ren’s group flinched and froze. Hugh recognized the lady picking the fight and gave her an extremely courteous bow before explaining the situation.

“They are Lady Coco’s guests.”

“So I’m asking who they are.”

A plump middle-aged woman lifted her black hat and studied Ren closely. Ren quietly lowered his eyes. Jepeto inwardly sighed in relief at his obedient behavior, and Veron pulled Ren behind him.

“Lady Kelberg...”

“And who are this old man and that man? That one is obviously a commoner at a glance. How could he come all the way to the front seats? Is this not an insult to the Gannion family?”

Her thundering shout rang out, drawing attention. Dozens of pairs of eyes that had been whispering among themselves turned toward Ren.

“With a pretty face like that, are you from some collateral branch? It seems Duke Gannion had an affair with another woman after all.”

“That is going too far, my lady. They are Lady Coco’s guests, so please calm your anger and...!”

Slap.

There was a sound like flesh tearing. Hugh’s head snapped to the side. His cheek quickly flushed bright red, and drops of blood welled where her nails had torn him.

“Hugh! Are you all right?!”

Hugh quietly pushed Ren’s arm away. Ren bit his lip. But all Ren could do was turn his head and glare at the woman.

‘Who the hell is that woman! Why is she hitting Coco’s knight?!’

“How dare you look me straight in the eye?”

“Madam Kelberg. What has angered you so?”

A voice that sounded quite amused cut in. Almond-shaped eyes, drooping brows. With his gentle impression and oily manner of speaking, he looked like a man hiding some scheme. He requested Lady Kelberg’s hand, took it, and opened his mouth.

“Were your precious hands injured, perhaps?”

“Injured? Of course they were! I think my nail broke!”

“Please do not be angry. It is bad for your health.”

“This man refuses to answer properly and talks back at every turn! And that commoner is here muddying the waters!”

Lady Kelberg’s finger pointed precisely at Jepeto. Pale-faced, he opened his mouth.

“I’m sor—”

“How dare you open your mouth when no one addressed you! You ignorant fool with no manners at all! Is that why you live like a beggar? This is why one must never associate with commoners. That wild filly of a girl has brought shame upon the family!”

“My lady, there are many guests present.”

Hugh spoke calmly, his face burning red.

“You dare try to lecture me?! Talking back at every little thing! You! I asked who you are. What are you, to be sitting here?”

“M-Mother... what in the world are you doing here!”

A man who had hurried over grabbed Lady Kelberg’s thick arm. Unlike her, the man was thin and looked weak. His pale pink hair fluttered in the wind.

“My son. I told you not to interrupt when adults are speaking, didn’t I?”

“Mother, please... people are watching.”

“Drain. Take my son away.”

Lady Kelberg lowered her voice elegantly and gave the order. Drain smiled with a leer and swept his arm in an elegant greeting. Then, with a rather forceful attitude, he took hold of Lady Kelberg’s son’s arm.

“Now. Let us return to the matter at hand. If you do not answer this time either, even I, who dislike blood, will not be able to help myself. Who are you?”

Even when Hugh stepped in front of her, it was no use. Hugh could not lay a hand on Lady Kelberg’s body. Lady Kelberg shoved Hugh aside and thrust her face close to Ren’s. Veron could not stop her either.

Lady Kelberg glared at Ren with a face like a demon. The hatred and desire blazing in her eyes were horribly chilling.

This woman was from a collateral branch of Duke Gannion’s house?

A terrifying woman like this?

He did not know what to do. Ren was a commoner. No matter how small a village he had lived in, he knew how frightening nobles were. He had treated Coco carelessly when he met her in the forest, but that was before he had experienced nobles in the royal castle and learned just how worthless a commoner was. He was different now from the time when he had known nothing and snapped at everyone.

And Coco had warned him too. She had left Ren, who would be staying in the royal castle, with countless warnings. Do not defy nobles. That had been her first warning and her last.

If he answered this woman back here, he would be breaking Coco’s warning, and worse... he might make trouble for everyone.

“Are you mute? Can you not speak?”

Lady Kelberg seemed to have reached the limit of her rage. Several dignified gentlemen approached and said a few words telling her to stop, but they did not seem to reach her ears. Those who looked to be of high rank had never paid attention to this side in the first place. There seemed to be no one who would stop her. Among the murmuring voices drifting around them, many spoke of Lady Kelberg’s brutal infamy.

She glared at Ren’s group, then stopped her gaze on the old man. As though an amusing thought had occurred to her, the corner of Lady Kelberg’s mouth rose.

Thud! Before anyone could stop her, Lady Kelberg shoved Veron with her large body.

“What are you doing!”

“So you can speak, yet you deceived me!”

Her huge shout struck his ears, and Ren’s heart beat uneasily. This was the first time he had ever seen anyone so rough. When Veron did not move, she snatched a cane from a man standing nearby and beat his legs with it.

“Don’t, don’t do that! I said don’t!”

“It’s all right, Ren. Now, listen here. How about stopping there?”

“Vermin like you are addressing me first! Does this family look easy to trample on now that Duke Gannion is dead?”

“I said stop!”

Lady Kelberg, who had been swinging the cane as if she was enjoying herself, saw Ren’s tears falling in heavy drops and threw the cane aside. Then she grabbed his shoulder so hard it felt as if she would tear it off.

“Ugh!”

“It seems you need to taste my whip. Yes. Now that I see you up close, I understand. Your face is smooth and glossy, but seeing you take the side of a foolish old man, you are obviously a commoner. My sin was being bewitched by your face and failing to recognize it at first. I will strike you only ten times. Come!”

“Let go! I said let go!”

“Lady Kelberg! Release him!”

The private soldiers of the Gannion estate did not know what to do. They were all well aware of Lady Kelberg’s reputation. But since Lady Coco had given no mention of her, they had no choice but to stand by and watch. Hugh blocked her path, but all that earned him was the offering of his other cheek.

What the hell was going on, and where was Coco...?

“Madam Kelberg!”

A thunderous shout rang through the grand garden. The commoners, who had not even known what was happening at the front and had been shedding tears in mourning for Duke Gannion, startled and lifted their heads. It was a voice terrifying enough to drive away grief.

The figure of a girl, hidden by the crowd, gradually appeared.

The one entering through the gate was Lady Coco, wearing a black dress with a full skirt. And beside her...

“Huh...? Could that be?”

Someone among the commoners shouted. Though the Heroes’ faces had already been forgotten, among those who had lived through the era of war, there was bound to be at least one person with a good memory.

“It’s a Hero! One of the King’s Stars!”

“Who? That man?” 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Whispers spread in an instant. The nobles recognized the man even faster than they did.

The King’s Fourth Star, the king’s strategist, the one who gave orders to the Heroes.

It was Giselle.

“Madam Kelberg.”

Coco ground her teeth.

People made way for Coco. She glared at Giselle, then strode down the path they had opened for her.

“The young lady has finally graced us with her presence? Let us hear your explanation, Lady Coco. What exactly were you thinking, giving this seat to a commoner? Is this not an insult to the nobility?”

Lady Kelberg lifted her chin. Her lowered eyes held a sneer, as if mocking the young lady.

At her words, the nobles showed signs of displeasure. The reason they had not actively stopped Lady Kelberg was because they agreed with her to some extent. They were already displeased that commoners had been allowed to observe a duke’s funeral, and now front seats had been given away too? In the current national situation, where talk of abolishing the monarchy was cropping up every so often, this was extremely unpleasant from their perspective.

The sound of someone clearing their throat rang out.

Lady Kelberg abruptly let go of Ren. Ren staggered and barely found his balance. He avoided the ugly sight of falling, but his face was already a mess from tears. This was the first time he had ever been made a spectacle like this.

“How dare you cause such a disturbance at my father’s funeral.”

“And does it make sense to bring commoners to a duke’s funeral?”

“...”

Coco struggled to swallow hundreds of thousands of accusations and curses. She could not reveal the ugliness of their family in front of gathered guests. Anger, guilt, and apology surged up in her. This was all because of Giselle, who had wasted her time.

Seeing both of Hugh’s swollen cheeks and Ren, who had endured those insults, made her feel like she was going insane. The old apothecary’s clothes were covered in dirt, as if he had fallen. Jepeto, his face white, kept glancing around anxiously.

At the very least, she should have sent someone capable of dealing with Lady Kelberg, but she had not expected to be late and had failed to prepare.

Coco tried not to bite her lip. She was just reaching her hand toward Ren when—

“Would you introduce your guests first?”

The businesslike voice stopped Coco’s hand.