AVELINE I was laying on my bed, staring up at the intricately carved ceiling, finally able to rest after the exhausting tea party. My thoughts wandered to Lady Margaret and Emilia's remarks earlier. What were they even trying to accomplish? Just as I was about to drift off into a light nap, the door creaked open, and Amy stepped inside.

"Lady Aveline, His Grace has summoned you to his office," she said with a polite smile.

I groaned internally. Of course, he'd need me now. I pushed myself up from the bed, sighing. "I'll be there in a short minute," I replied.

After freshening up quickly, I made my way to the Duke's office. The hallways of the Lytheryss estate were quiet, save for the faint echo of my footsteps. The air smelled faintly of the lavender polish used on the wooden floors.

When I reached his office, I knocked lightly. "You called for me, Father?" I said as I entered, finding him seated behind his large mahogany desk, papers spread out in front of him. He looked up, his piercing blue eyes softening at the sight of me.

"Have a seat, Aveline," the Duke said, gesturing to the chair opposite him.

I sat down, curious about what this was all about. "Is something the matter?" I asked, though his expression didn't seem particularly grave.

"Are you interested in the hunting competition?" he asked, leaning back in his chair with an amused look.

I blinked in surprise. "I've never participated in one before," I admitted, tilting my head. "Is magic allowed?"

"It is allowed," he replied simply, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

The idea intrigued me. A hunting competition sounded like an excellent opportunity to showcase my skills and represent the Lytheryss name. "Can I participate, then?" I asked, a spark of excitement in my voice.

"Alright then," the Duke said with a satisfied nod. "You'll be representing the Lytheryss family in the competition. Ha, I'll finally get to rest this year." He chuckled softly, clearly relieved at the prospect of not having to attend himself.

He added with a serious tone, "Do bring the First Squad with you, just in case anything happens."

I nodded in agreement. The First Squad, the elite guards of the Lytheryss estate, was known for their unparalleled skill and loyalty. Having them accompany me was reassuring, though it made me wonder if he expected trouble.

"Thank you, Father," I said as I stood up, smoothing out my dress. "I'll take my leave now."

"Sure, sure," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "Have a good rest."

As I exited his office and made my way back to my chambers, my mind raced with thoughts. A hunting competition... This could be exciting, but also risky. Why did Father insist on the First Squad? Was he worried about something specific?

The more I thought about it, the more I felt a strange sense of unease. Lady Margaret and Emilia had been unusually hostile today. Could this competition be an opportunity for them to cause trouble?

Shaking my head, I decided to focus on preparing. I needed to be at my best—not just to represent my family but also to prove that I belonged in the world of nobles, no matter what people like Lady Margaret or Emilia thought.

As I returned to my room, I instructed Amy to prepare my gear for the competition. "We'll need to be ready for anything," I told her.

"Of course, Lady Aveline," she said with a determined look.

Though exhaustion tugged at me, a spark of excitement began to grow. Let them try to challenge me. I'll show them exactly why I'm a Lytheryss.

***

DUKE EDRIC "The report, Derrick," I said, my voice steady as I sat at my desk, going through papers.

"Yes, your grace," Derrick replied promptly, stepping forward.

"Lady Margaret has been openly criticizing Lady Aveline at the tea party. It seems she knows about Lady Aveline's background. And it looks like Lady Emilia was criticizing her as well, so Lady Emilia was probably the one who told Lady Margaret," Derrick said, his tone calm as he recounted his observations from his discreet surveillance of the event.

I leaned back in my chair, mulling over the information. "Why do you think they have worked together?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"I believe it's because both of them are jealous of Lady Aveline," Derrick answered, his eyes sharp.

I furrowed my brow. "I understand if it's Emilia, but why would Lady Margaret be jealous of Aveline?"

Derrick hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "Well... I think Lady Margaret has feelings for His Highness, the Crown Prince. At Lady Aveline's debutante, Lady Aveline danced with the Crown Prince. However, at that time, Lady Emilia did ask for a dance with His Highness, but he refused and danced with Lady Aveline. From what I observed, Lady Margaret was standing far off in the corner, watching but unable to do anything, likely because she wanted to protect her image."

A small sigh escaped me as I absorbed the implications of Derrick's words. "Hmm... so it can be assumed that Margaret and Emilia both like the Crown Prince, but they're still working together," I said thoughtfully. "Derrick, isn't there information about Emilia marrying Kevin of the Ashbourne family?"

Derrick nodded. "You're right, Your Grace. The wedding is set to take place next week."

I thought for a moment before speaking again, my eyes narrowing slightly. "Well, that's interesting. What about the Browns?"

Derrick shifted slightly, looking down at his notes. "The case with Duke Brown is still ongoing. We've learned that his health has been deteriorating rapidly."

I leaned forward, my gaze focused and calculating. "Well done. Gather as much information as you can about the Browns. It wouldn't be surprising at all if they were involved in black magic. Haa... Why would the Emperor assign me to investigate this sort of thing?" I muttered, almost to myself. The task felt like a burden, but I knew I had to push through.

Derrick, ever the loyal assistant, spoke up with a hint of pride. "Maybe, Your Grace, it's because you are the most powerful in the empire."

I gave him a sidelong glance, a small smirk tugging at my lips. "Perhaps. But power doesn't make these tasks any easier, Derrick."