How to Survive as the Wife of the Monster Duke - Chapter 215

The voices welcoming Moena, the lady of the mansion, gradually gathered. Ilyn watched them quietly. She had expected this meeting and knew she would encounter Moena sooner or later.

In her dream, the girl was dressed not in a maid’s outfit but in more formal attire. Ilyn also remembered that some maid in the mansion had married a noble connected to Duke Roen.

However, she didn’t know that those two were the same person.

Ilyn took a deep breath. Her mind, which had been in disarray, was regaining its composure.

“Madam, are you okay?” Etra asked in a low voice. As someone skilled with the sword, she could not miss the irregularity in her mistress’s breathing.

“I heard a distinguished guest is coming today,” Moena said deliberately loudly, glancing around, and then widening her eyes as if she had just discovered Ilyn.

“Oh my, you are…”

Leaving the introduction to someone else would be impolite. Following the etiquette of Earl High Society, the other noblewomen also held back their comments.

Ilyn observed Moena. She used to be her maid, but now she needed to treat her like a lady.

“…”

“…”

Silence hung between the two. Ilyn tilted her head slightly, and the other noblewomen of the Earl did the same.

Treating her “like a lady” meant that Moena should approach, introduce herself first, and show proper manners.

She is no longer the quiet, docile young lady sitting in the dark room of the Arlen  mansion.

Ilyn watched as Moena approached, struggling to hide her puzzled expression from the curious gazes of the other noblewomen.

As Moena left the other noblewomen completely behind, her expression gradually distorted. She seemed to have some pride in greeting the cursed child of Earl Arlen, who had once been openly humiliated.

“Hello, madam. I am Leni Moena.”

Ilyn finally smiled.

“I am Ilyn de Bilften, the Countess of Bilften.”

Moena greeted her briefly and quickly stepped back. The other noblewomen, as if trying to thaw the somewhat frozen atmosphere, fanned themselves with their hand fans.

“It seems like Moena is feeling quite embarrassed today.”

“She must be nervous because a distinguished guest is coming.”

Danette, the Countess of Bilften, tried to lighten the mood with a light-hearted joke. Meanwhile, Moena did not take her eyes off Ilyn. She shot glances surreptitiously from the blind spots of others’ gazes.

Whether it was her wounded pride or pure animosity, she couldn’t completely ignore her.

She is no longer the young lady who sat quietly in the dark room of Viscount Arlen.

Ilyin watched the Viscountess Moena hesitantly approaching, leaving behind the puzzled expressions of the noble ladies around her.

As the Viscountess completely left her ladies behind, her expression grew more and more contorted. Her pride must have been hurt that she had to say hello first to the cursed young lady of the Viscount Arlen, whom she had openly looked down on before.

“…”

That impudent woman! Trying to hide her cursed abilities and seek love! Moena, the lady of the mansion, remembered Prince Seed, who had been charming during her time as a maid at the Arlen mansion.

If only that woman didn’t possess such a cursed power!

After Seed’s death, the atmosphere in the Arlen mansion turned harsh rapidly. She had to strive to survive in that situation. Moena bit her lips as she recalled the past.

“…”

Etra’s gaze fell on her. It was not the gaze she would expect from a servant. Annoyed, Etra skillfully concealed her emotions. She couldn’t cause any trouble for her lady.

“The winter landscape is so beautiful.”

The noble women gathered around the painting again. With Ilyn’s added descriptions, the winter scene became even more radiant.

“How cold is winter in the Summerland’s?”

The noblewoman seemed quite curious. Ilyn smiled playfully.

“Colder than winter in the sun.”

“Oh, my.”

The noble women looked at each other.

“It must be challenging for you.”

“It’s incredible how you endured it.”

“His Grace the Earl must take good care of you for it to be bearable.”

There was no need to mention Blue Nose’s powers or Aden’s abilities. Ilyn concluded the topic. Lady Danette, along with the other noblewomen, continued to ask various questions.

“Are we bothering you with too many questions, madam?”

While Lady Danette apologized for asking too many questions at first, Ilyn understood perfectly.

It wasn’t easy to meet someone from the Winterlands.

If Ilyn hadn’t foreseen the encounter with Aden, she would never have found the connection to the Acid Summit, a realm linked to the people of the Winterlands.

“I heard it’s the land of monsters. Isn’t it quite dangerous?”

Flena, who had been listening silently, asked. The other noblewomen nodded in agreement.

“It’s true that it’s a land with many monsters.”

Ilyn smiled. She didn’t want to speak ill of the Winterlands, but the fact that it was a land with many monsters was already well-known outside.

“However, the people of Beaufort are accustomed to dealing with those monsters.”

“Oh, my.”

Flena blushed.

“Then there must be many brave knights in Beaufort.”

“That’s right.”

Ilyn chuckled. She thought of the knights of Delos who had admired her in the Knight’s Tower and smiled brightly.

Questions continued to pour in even after that. It seemed as if this gathering had turned into a welcoming event for Ilyn. Lady Danette, perhaps feeling apologetic, repeatedly urged the servants to bring delicious treats and tea. Fortunately, the esteemed guests showed no signs of displeasure.

In fact, the noblewomen seemed to enjoy this atmosphere.

“Will you come again next time?”

Some even proposed such an idea. The only one not adding a word was Moena, the lady of the mansion. Others assumed she must be shy, but Ilyn understood her expression.

She probably didn’t like this atmosphere.

“Are wedding customs much different here?”

Lady Arlen asked while holding a plate. In response, some of the other noblewomen blushed.

“Well, it’s a bit embarrassing.”

“Oh, come on! It’s not like she’s asking about the wedding night.”

After saying that, Lady Arlen added carefully, as if he were hesitating.

“If it’s uncomfortable for you, you don’t have to answer.”

Ilyn let out a small laugh.

“It’s not much different.”

She briefly reminisced about her own wedding. While there were some differences in customs, like the bride staying in her bridal chamber for a while, it wasn’t too dissimilar from what they were used to. Ilyn recalled a mistake Aden had made during their time in the bridal chamber.

“It’s fine here.”