Shomin no Aji - Chapter 597.1 (Patreon)

Extra Edition / Mob Perspective: The Troubled Entourage Life of a Certain Viscount's Daughter 1
“Hey, did you hear? There's a rumor that Alicia-sama from the Marquis Gruzier’s family will finally withdraw from the fiancé competition!"

In the salon building at the tea party hosted regularly by the Marquis Metia family, Trixie-sama, one of the cronies, began speaking happily.

She, always chatty and fond of gossip, often gathers such stories from somewhere and tattles them to Francine-sama, one of the Crown Prince's potential fiancées, in these settings.

"Ah, it’s rumored that she was defeated by an overwhelming difference in ability when she was in the same class as Cristea-sama from Duke Ellisfield’s family, and lost her confidence."

Francine-sama, already informed, replied indifferently, causing Trixie-sama, who started the conversation, to straighten her previously leaning posture, as if her momentum was deflated.

Everyone, I don't know how, but they seem to be well-informed about the activities of the junior students who have just enrolled.
If I weren't allowed to participate in the regular tea parties like this, I, who am usually absent-minded, would be left out of the conversation and wouldn't be able to keep up in the social circles I will eventually debut in.
Oh, how terrifying.

"It can't be helped that Cristea-sama is too talented despite her youth. Both her parents and Norman-sama are quite capable. However, even though Alicia-sama has withdrawn from the candidates, the Ellisfield family originally adamantly refused to make Cristea-sama the Crown Prince’s fiancée. The Duchess is a close friend of Her Majesty the Queen, so it might not be that extreme, but ultimately, they will follow the Duke's wishes."

The young lady sitting next to Francine-sama said this to reassure her.

"There's a story that Cristea-sama herself has no interest, but who knows how true that is... Refusing the chance to stand at the pinnacle of this country, is that even possible?"

Francine-sama, with a skeptical expression, took her teacup in hand.

"Certainly, it was said that during her enrollment, Cristea-sama had such immense magic power that it caused the magic measurement device to go berserk. Additionally, she is a Sacred Beast contractor... Even if she doesn't wish for it herself, wouldn’t she be unable to refuse if it were a Royal order?"

At the careless words of another entourage lady, Francine-sama’s eyebrow twitched.
This is bad.

“Th-that’s not true, I believe! After all, despite His Majesty and the Duchess Ellisfeed being former fiancés, their engagement was annulled at His Majesty’s request. Duke Ellisfeed, who was a close friend to both, married the Duchess, while the current Queen, whom His Majesty was in love with, and was a lower-ranked noble, was adopted by the Duchess’s family and married His Majesty. This settled everything. The Royal family thinks making Cristea-sama the Crown Prince’s fiancée would settle past debts and ensure stability, but the Ellisfeed family is refusing. The Royal family won’t be able to force it.”

Another young lady hastily denied this in a rush, calming Francine-sama, who placed her cup down and signaled to a maid.

The maid, who had been waiting in the corner of the room, quickly poured fresh tea and served it to Francine-sama. Everyone waited for her next words.

So, the story about Their Majesties and the Duke and Duchess of Ellisfeed is true.
My parents are so oblivious that they never tell me such scandalous stories, so I thought it was a lie.
I’m just as absent-minded as my parents.
I need to be careful.

“... Indeed. The relationship between the Royal family and the Ellisfeed family is now so close that, from the perspective of future power struggles, having Cristea-sama marry into the Royal family is not desirable. My family had judged that the Ellisfeed family’s early withdrawal from the engagement was in agreement with this sentiment. However, due to the factions keeping each other in check, the Crown Prince’s fiancée has yet to be decided.”

Yes, the factions are really at odds with each other.
My cousin advised me that I wouldn’t be able to get through school life peacefully without joining a faction, so I joined the entourage of Francine-sama from the influential Metia family, who was also a strong candidate at the time.

Honestly, as someone who loves reading, I’d rather spend my time in the library than attending these tea parties, but for the sake of my well-being, I reluctantly participate.
Sigh...

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