I never agreed to do an interview, though. I felt a little uneasy, wondering what she was going to ask me.

Desnim had a high literacy rate compared to other countries, and many people read the newspaper, particularly in cities. The printing technique introduced from abroad had become widespread by now. However, newspapers were often filled with questionable contents, since they were nothing but rumors or were highly influenced by the reporters’ own ideas. The House of Evantail had called newspapers “vulgar fiction,” and my brother Paul and I hadn’t been allowed to read them. In light of my upbringing, I was understandably cautious when it came to an interview.

“Despite being known as Lady Bumpkin in high society, you are now married to Lord Nazelbart Florescruz, the man who can even influence His Majesty himself. Could you tell me how you feel about marrying into money?! Is your life all nice and comfortable now?”

“Huh...?”

“Or are you perhaps fed up with life in your rural domain? Is that why you came to the capital?”

“No, that’s not the reason. Sutrena is a wonderful—”

But Olce interrupted me yet again to fire off her next question.

“Do you have any thoughts on the exiled Princess Mia, Lady Agnes? Something like ‘Serves her right!’ perhaps? By the way, have you forsaken your bumpkinly ways?”

What was her deal with all of these tricky, awkward questions?

Just like the noblewomen at the tea party, her every word has thorns in it.

It was true that, as Lady Bumpkin, I had gotten married to Lord Nazel by pure happenstance, but I had no intention of showing off about it, and I liked the peaceful Sutrena. And though I had been angry at Princess Mia for the terrible way she’d treated Lord Nazel, these days I didn’t give her any thought at all. And as for my “bumpkinly ways,” I’d rid myself of them long ago thanks to Kelly.

I was about to tell Olce all of that, but Lord Julian s