Chapter 8: 
In response to Veronica’s invitation yesterday, Lena and Reid traveled by carriage to the noble salon in the upper city to attend a social gathering.
The noble salon in the upper city is a significant social occasion for the upper class of Gran City, though it is not particularly formal.
Thus, it is not a stage for the heads of powerful families to vie for power, but rather a way for the younger generation of families to relax and unwind.
This was the perfect debut for Lena in the social scene of Gran City.
Inside the carriage, Lena adjusted Reid’s bowtie for what felt like the umpteenth time.
“Remember, don’t talk about yourself proactively, keep your responses brief.”
“If you come across a question you don’t understand, just smile and nod.”
Reid was dressed in a deep blue velvet coat, a white silk waistcoat, and crisply pressed black trousers.
He also wore a sword at his waist, of course just a decorative rapier, a style that has become quite popular among young noblemen recently.
Just a few days ago, Reid had been nothing more than a bartender shuttling through a tavern with a tray, earning a living by deceiving noble ladies.
But at least now he looked the part.
“Relax, Miss Lena,” Reid held her slightly cold, nervous fingers, “I make a living through deception, remember?”
Lena wanted to argue but the carriage had already stopped.
The lights from the mansion spilled through the window, casting upon Reid’s face and highlighting his chiseled profile.
For a moment, Lena almost forgot he was a fraud.
During the salon’s routine small talk, with Lena’s assistance, Reid performed flawlessly.
This was a part they had practiced together, and since only a few young nobles approached them, there was naturally no chance for mistake.
In contrast, Veronica was being surrounded by a group of young nobles.
Those haughty young masters and ladies were now clustering around her like pets trying to please their owner.
It appeared that Veronica had prepared thoroughly for this gathering. Lena coldly analyzed the information in the room: the eldest son of the Crawford family, the daughter of the Morris family, and the nephew of the Chancellor—
Those who should have been neutral observers were now all standing by Veronica.
The laughter from Veronica’s side grew louder, and several young ladies occasionally cast meaningful glances at Lena.
Reid couldn’t help but feel a pang of anxiety for her.
As a subordinate, one must constantly manage the emotional state of their superior to avoid affecting their own work.
“Don’t mind it,” Reid whispered to Lena while passing a champagne glass, “stay calm to make reasonable judgments.”
However, Veronica’s offensive was more ferocious than expected.
As guests moved to the refreshment area, Veronica’s meticulously planned challenge arrived on cue.
“Sister Lena,” Veronica deliberately raised her voice, drawing the attention of several young nobles, “I heard you personally shot an officer from Augustus at the border?”
Veronica gently waved her feather fan: “It’s hard to imagine that a lady as graceful as you could…”
She intentionally left her sentence unfinished, letting the word “murder” hang in the air.
The guests who were chatting stopped, and a few timid ladies even covered their mouths with their fans.
Reid narrowed his eyes nearby.
Veronica’s question was too venomous, implying both that Lena had blood on her hands and suggesting she might be lying about her achievements.
Reid was about to step forward, but he saw Lena gently set down her teacup, the porcelain clinking against the silver tray with a crisp “ding.”
“Dear Veronica,” Lena’s voice was as smooth as silk, “do you know why officers from Victoria must learn the waltz?”
Lena walked gracefully toward the center of the salon, instantly becoming the focus of everyone’s attention.
The guests instinctively cleared a path in front of Lena—not out of respect, but out of curiosity to see how she would embarrass herself today.
Lena’s outfit perfectly embodied the essence of elegant sharpness.
She wore a silver-gray gradient gown, tailored to fit her curves, with a cavalry-style double-breasted jacket that buttoned up to her neck.
The skirt gradually transitioned from the waist into soft, flowing chiffon, moving like waves under moonlight with each step.
Her signature silver hair was carefully styled, with a few strands framing her face’s contours.
Her blue-gray pupils displayed a unique depth in the light—on the surface, the modesty of a noble lady, but beneath, the sharpness of a soldier.
Before Veronica could respond, Lena had already nodded to the nearby orchestra.
“May I borrow your sword, dear?”
Lena whispered to Reid, a smile forming at the corners of her lips, a subtle curve visible only to him.
As the waltz began, Lena drew the rapier from Reid’s waist. The sword tip traced precise geometric patterns in the air, each step perfectly in time with the rhythm.
The sound of Lena’s blade slicing through the air blended seamlessly with the music; each of her turns carried the precision honed on the battlefield.
The guests, who had initially anticipated a comedy, found their expressions shifting from ridicule to surprise, ultimately settling into pure shock.
“Because war is like dancing,” Lena’s sword tip danced with the music, “you must know when to advance and when to retreat…”
With a beautiful spin, the blade flashed with cold light as she suddenly sheathed the sword:
“When to end it.”
The entire salon fell silent.
“As for that officer you mentioned…”
Lena bent down to pick up Veronica’s fallen fan, gently placing it back into Veronica’s trembling hand:
“He died due to his own arrogance, just like everyone who underestimates me.”
Several young noblemen couldn’t help but cheer quietly for Lena.
Watching Lena’s dazzling performance, Reid instinctively held his breath.
This was a true counterattack—no coarse threats, yet an elegant display of one’s brilliance.
Veronica’s complexion turned pale, and her fan snapped shut with a “pop.”
Lena, however, had already turned away, giving a polite curtsey to the stunned guests.
Reid watched as Lena returned to his side, the rapier returned to its sheath, and the sharpness in her eyes concealed once more beneath a proper smile.
“I guess I need to charge a bit more for my services,” Reid said softly, his smile reaching his eyes, “it’s not easy to match such a performance.”
Reid realized he had completely underestimated this employer of his.
She was not some noble lady in need of protection, but a lioness who knew how to disguise herself with elegance.
Lena’s lips curled into a slight smile: “Performance?,” she said while gently adjusting her gloves, “that was just a warm-up.”
In Veronica’s original plan, the climax of the gathering was supposed to be an opera performance.
Veronica had spent a considerable amount of money hiring a famous diva from the capital for this gathering.
This was certainly not a waste of money; the inheritance dispute of Duke Noval was already well-known among the upper echelons of Gran City.
Moreover, those invited here by Veronica were not just any friends, but the key figures from the younger generations of various prominent families in Gran City.
Veronica’s choice to showcase her faction’s strength here was certainly not foolish; it was, on the contrary, a very clever move.
But no matter how Veronica prepared, placed after Lena’s outstanding performance, it all seemed laughably weak.
As the opera performance began, the guests’ attitudes had subtly shifted.
A few ladies began to secretly watch Lena, while the young noblemen who had previously been flocking around Veronica began to inch closer to Lena without even realizing it.
Veronica’s grand finale, carefully prepared, seemed utterly pale and powerless after Lena’s stunning sword dance.
When the soprano onstage hit an exceptionally high note, Reid couldn’t help but lean toward Lena’s ear:
“Why does she sound like a cat whose tail got stepped on?”
Lena nudged him with her elbow: “Quiet, this is the most famous aria from ‘La Traviata.'”
Reid shrugged but sat up straight.
However, during the intermission, Reid unexpectedly commented:
“So Violetta rejected Alfredo’s love because she knew she was dying? What a tragic story.”
“You understood?”
The diva Veronica hired sang in pure Genoese, and even Lena could only catch a few words in a single sentence.
This meant that most of the time, she had to rely on guessing.
“No, but I read the synopsis in the library three times.”
“And emotions are universal, whether for nobles or beggars. The theme of sacrifice for love may be clichéd but it is effective.”
“When did you do all this?”
Lena realized she was starting to like this man, but of course, that referred to the thrill he brought with his surprises.
It did not mean she liked him personally.
“When you were sleeping. If I’m being paid, I need to be professional.”
The surprise in Lena’s eyes made Reid secretly proud, but what surprised him even more was his own feelings at this moment.
He was actually pleased that he could make her see him in a different light.
This was not a good omen, especially for a professional conman.
