“Are you certain?”

Lariette nodded her head and smiled. It was a smile filled with happiness, something that the Count had rarely seen in the past few days. Count Freya was surprised at how his daughter’s timid and quiet face suddenly became so bright and cheerful.

“Right, if that is your wish, then Father is happy to support you as well.” As a father who greatly cherished his daughter, Count Freya accepted Amber’s proposal as well.

Afterwards, they looked at the rare plants that had been brought while enjoying refreshments.

When the tea party ended, Amber politely saw Count Freya and his daughter off.

As they left with Heinreich’s guidance, Lariette kept glancing back like she was sorry to leave.

“Are you that happy about it?” Count Freya asked as he saw his daughter looking back.

“Yes, I’m really, really happy that you let me, Father.”

Count Freya smiled bitterly at Lariette’s answer. Lariette studied her father’s expression in confusion.

“Why are you smiling like that, Father? Her Excellency is willing to invest and support the Freya household, are you not happy about that?”

“I am glad that you will be able to study what you enjoy without anything holding you back, but..” Count Freya let out a long sigh. “I worry that today’s visitation will be a topic between the ladies in society. I am especially worried since you have yet to make your debut just yet.”

Count Freya was worried that Lariette would be harrassed and hurt by Bella after meeting Amber.

The high society of the Eastern Lands was still dominated by Bella.

The world of high society was completely different than the world of politics or war. Even if Amber successfully brought Kalix to her side, it was uncertain if she would be able to control high society.

“If Her Excellency doesn’t wish to protect you, or can’t protect you in time..”

Lariette, who had been quietly listening to Count Freya’s worries, stopped in front of the carriage. “Father. Her Excellency is truly a wonderful person. She has already shown me great kindness, I do not wish to speak ill of her.” Lariette spoke with a stern voice.

Count Freya’s surprise was just as great as when he had seen Lariette smile brightly moments ago. It was an extremely rare occurrence for his shy and weak in nature daughter stand tall and speak confidently, much less against him.

Lariette raised her head towards Count Freya. His daughter’s eyes, which were always hazy unless plants were involved, shined with clear and powerful confidence.

“I see. She is your sponsor, after all. My mistake.” Count Freya obediently admitted his mistake.

Rather than feeling hurt or annoyance at Lariette’s refute and defense, he found himself thankful to Amber. As a father, what he wanted all along was for his daughter to find her confidence and stand tall for herself.

Surprisingly, what Count Freya and his wife spent a decade trying to achieve was achieved by the duchess in just a few hours.

Count Freya thought of the words from the nobles around him when the topic of Amber who had come from abroad came up.

“It doesn’t matter if she comes here, she probably knows nothing about the Eastern Lands.”

“I heard that Viscount Liart was quite rich, I’d be surprised if she doesn’t run away immediately at the state of the Eastern Lands.”

The nobles reacted quite negatively for an outsider with no relation to the East come and become the wife of the Duke of Thales. The knowledge that the marriage was a scheme by the emperor further increased their ire.

“She’s just a girl who doesn’t know anything after growing up sheltered.”

The social groups Bella regularly hosted often held prejudice towards Amber.

But their assumptions were wrong.