TYLSA 03

Chapter 03

“Yuri, come in.”

My stepmother welcomed me in as warmly as she had at the dining table earlier.

“You left so abruptly at the luncheon that I was worried…… Now that I see you, your face looks quite pale. Oh dear!”

“Does it?”

According to what I had checked just moments ago, my face was far too beautiful to be called pale, but I played along for the sake of moving things along quickly.

My stepmother affectionately stroked my hair and went on and on about her concerns for me.

“Thank you for your concern, Mother.”

“Oh, don’t mention it between us. So, what brings you to see me?”

“It’s nothing else but…….”

I spoke calmly, with the same faint smile as always.

“I came to receive my invitation, Mother.”

“My invitation, you say……?”

My stepmother’s green eyes deepened subtly. At the same time, she began to gently stroke the back of my hand.

Oh. I inwardly whistled and thought.

‘It seems this is where the real conversation begins.’

“But Yuri, didn’t you say you weren’t feeling well? As your mother, I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to attend in your ill state.”

‘What?’

What kind of nonsense was this?

“But it would be quite disappointing for the hostess if you didn’t respond to an invitation you received…… So I gave it some thought.”

……Let’s hear what she has to say first.

“……Yes.”

My stepmother’s hand, holding mine, tightened with a squeeze.

It wasn’t painful, but there was a subtle pressure in her grip.

My stepmother’s green eyes gleamed as she spoke.

“How about you yield the invitation to Eleni?”

“……To Eleni?”

“Yes. If Eleni attends in your place, I think Marquise Ciantic, the hostess, would graciously accept that as well.”

Marquise Ciantic was the person who ran the most prestigious salon in the empire.

It seemed my stepmother intended to withhold the invitation in order to introduce Eleni to the Marquise on this occasion.

“Eleni has a weak constitution and little social experience. I think this would be a good opportunity for her.”

‘Hmm.’

What should I do about this?

In the game, Eleni was portrayed as a girl with a weak constitution but possessing an angelic, lovable charm.

However, because the stepmother who sided with Eleni was the villain, most players tended to classify Eleni as a villain as well.

But in any case, there was no particular conflict between the kind-hearted female protagonist and the gentle Eleni.

‘In that situation, the game’s female protagonist, being kind, might have yielded the invitation without protest…….’

But I am not that person. I absolutely needed that invitation.

Moreover, a frustrating development where I couldn’t overcome my stepmother’s coercion was absolutely not to my taste.

“Mother.”

“Yes, Yuri. As your mother says……”

“I truly appreciate your concern for me, but I don’t think that would be proper etiquette toward the Marquise who invited me.”

“……Huh?”

“I know my own body. I’m just a little under the weather—it’s absolutely not to the point where I can’t attend a gathering.”

I smiled gently and smoothly pushed aside my stepmother’s hand as the strength drained from it.

“I’ll be fine, so please don’t worry too much.”

“No…….”

Apparently not having expected to be refused, my stepmother couldn’t hide a hollow laugh for a moment.

“Yuri, I……”

“If Eleni truly needs experience, how about I take Eleni with me?”

“That’s…….”

That wouldn’t do. Showing up to an event you weren’t invited to was considered quite brazen behavior.

Pretending not to notice my stepmother’s embarrassment, I spoke in a gentle tone.

“If Eleni really wants to go, I’ll explain it well to the Marquise.”

“……That won’t be necessary for you to trouble yourself with.”

But my stepmother soon recovered her composure.

“If you’re feeling well, and if you insist on going that much…… Eleni will just have to accept it. There will be other opportunities.”

Her tone was meant to provoke guilt until the very end, but I just smiled brightly and answered, “Yes.”

“Eleni is kind and lovely, so a better opportunity for all of high society to recognize that will come soon enough.”

“……Yes. I suppose so.”

My stepmother forced a smile.

It seemed she had finally acknowledged that it was impossible to persuade me with sweet words today.

“I hope you don’t misunderstand my words today. I was just……”

“Of course not. They were all said out of concern for me.”

“……Yes. Thank you for understanding, Yuri.”

—

<system> ‘Mini Event: Argument with the Stepmother’ has ended.

<system> Obtained the ‘Invitation to the Picnic hosted by Marquise Ciantic.’

—

I received the cream-colored envelope handed over by my stepmother, maintaining my smile until the very end.

“Then, Mother. I’ll take my leave now.”

Naturally, it was my victory.