Second Arc: Twenty-Second Chapter — Cosette's Awakening

"Lady Isabella…"

The noisy gathering fell silent, like a tide drawing out. Whoever had spoken, the murmur vanished on the wind.

When I glanced at Remias, his face had gone blank, his hands clenched, his eyes fixed on Lady Isabella. Lady Julia and the others had gone pale too, their lips trembling.

Seeing this, I fixed Lady Isabella with a hard glare. Whatever abuse she flung at me, I could let it wash over me — but I couldn't stand by and watch my dear friends be hurt. This I would not forgive.

After the last business with Lady Isabella, I'd gone around quietly asking Father, Mother, Sissi and others about her. Her father, Marquess Godwin, had taken the post of Chancellor after Duke Dranju's condemnation left it vacant. Lady Julia's father, Marquess Malfoy, had been a candidate too, but being too close to Duke Dranju had cost him the appointment, it seemed.

With Marquess Godwin now Chancellor, his eldest daughter, Lady Isabella, had leapt to the fore as a strong candidate for crown princess. When she'd presumed to lecture the crown prince before, it must have been on the strength of her father's power. It's an odd thing for me to say, when I'm the one rumored to have His Highness's favor, but it showed all too plainly that what she really meant was, look at me too. She's of a rank far more fitting for a crown princess than I am, so perhaps it's only natural she can't stand me flitting about His Highness.

My gaze and Lady Isabella's locked together. If a look could kill, the two of us would both be pincushions by now.

"…Why, if it isn't Lady Cosette Edelweiss, the earl's daughter. So very plain, I quite failed to notice you."

She ran her eyes over me from head to toe and spoke with a little snort of a laugh.

My dress used the very latest fabric, but its beauty didn't show unless I moved. The whole point of it was the shimmer of silver thread that surfaced when it swept and flared.

I gave her an elegant, showy curtsy, and as I lifted my head I let the soft hem flare out wide, on purpose. The pink dress flowed smoothly, and a silver glitter rose to the surface. From the students who'd gathered around us without my noticing, a sound of admiration escaped.

I smiled with particular grace, then deliberately put on a troubled face and tilted my head.

"Good day, Lady Isabella. Plain, am I…? I'm afraid I'm not well versed in fashion — my dress today, my accessories, all of it was designed by Madam Zamus herself. I'll be sure to consult the good madam on your advice."

Lady Isabella's face twisted in vexation.

Madam Zamus only makes dresses for clients she's taken a liking to. According to Sissi, it's common knowledge among nearly all the noble daughters that Lady Isabella has been turned down however many times she's tried to order, and has been badmouthing Madam Zamus out of spite.

Titters escaped the gallery around us; Lady Isabella's face flushed crimson, and she glared at me with even greater loathing.

"Madam Zamus's, is it… Well. The madam ought to choose her company more carefully. To design in person for the likes of an earl's daughter — how far she's fallen. A mere earl, getting above herself!"

Lady Isabella, muttering it as if in spite, would have done better to mind the eyes around her. An earl sits in the middle of the ranks, but dukes and marquesses are few, while earls and below make up the overwhelming majority of the nobility. Sure enough, the looks turned on Lady Isabella soured.

I let out a small laugh and glared at her, challenging.

"Do forgive the likes of an earl's daughter. …But did you know? There is a certain system at this school."

Watching Lady Isabella knit her brows in thought, I declared it flatly.

"…Lady Isabella Godwin. I, Cosette Edelweiss, challenge you to single combat. A mere earl's daughter is surely no match for you, of course. …But you'll accept, won't you?"

At my beaming smile, Lady Isabella's lips trembled.

"…Very well. I'll take you on!"

And so it was decided: my first-ever entry into a duel.