After confirming that the Queen's transformation was indeed due to Wei Wei, Countess Nelson's desire to converse grew even stronger.
She began pressing Wei Wei for details on how the Queen's makeup was done and where the cosmetics were purchased.
Clearly, despite her dissatisfaction with Mirabelle, the Queen's transformation had stirred something in her.
Unfortunately, the eyeshadow used for the eye makeup was something Wei Wei had mixed herself. Ready-made products of this kind simply didn't exist.
When she learned that Wei Wei had made these cosmetics herself, Countess Nelson was astonished. "You made them yourself? Do you know medicine too?"
In this era, the methods for making cosmetics were closely guarded by apothecaries and physicians, often passed down as family secrets, rarely shared with outsiders.
Moreover, due to the Church's opposition to women wearing makeup—they believed it was sinful and immoral, as beautiful women could tempt men, especially married ones—cosmetics had previously been limited items distributed by doctors and apothecaries. Even nobles had to queue up to receive them, making it impossible to buy them on the open market.
However, in recent years, due to widespread protests from women and some unspoken changes within the Church, merchants had begun selling these items. Yet, the methods of production remained in the hands of doctors and apothecaries.
This was why Countess Nelson assumed Wei Wei had medical knowledge.
But for a noblewoman to possess such knowledge was highly suspicious, as women, whether noble or common, were not allowed to become apothecaries or physicians.
Wei Wei was well aware that her identity was fabricated, so she remained vigilant. Although she sensed that Countess Nelson's surprise was genuine and not born of suspicion, she quickly explained.
"It's just a personal hobby. The customs in my country are different from those in Pradi. Noblewomen are encouraged to learn various skills before marriage, including medicine," Wei Wei explained. "It's believed that mothers with some medical knowledge can better care for their children."
This reasoning was sound, and Countess Nelson didn't doubt it, though she remarked dismissively, "The noblewomen of your country must have a hard time. Why not leave the children to servants and nannies?"
Wei Wei remained silent. According to the etiquette she had learned, unmarried young ladies like herself were not supposed to engage in such conversations, as it would be considered unladylike.
Countess Nelson, realizing this, quickly steered the conversation back to cosmetics.
She asked Wei Wei if she had any plans to sell these products. Unlike the agricultural-focused, commerce-suppressing policies of China, Europe had a more accepting attitude toward business. Most nobles had their enterprises and saw nothing wrong with it.
Of course, due to so-called "noble honor," some believed that nobles should not engage in productive work and should instead enjoy life, choosing to collaborate with merchants and only collect profits without managing affairs.
Thus, Countess Nelson's direct approach to discussing business with Wei Wei was quite normal here.
Wei Wei had already considered this, which was why she had gone to such lengths to provide the Queen with so many cosmetics.
However, she couldn't reveal her intentions outright. Instead, she feigned hesitation, saying that making cosmetics was just a hobby and she hadn't thought about selling them.
Hearing that Wei Wei wasn't planning to sell, Countess Nelson immediately began persuading her. After all, where else could she buy such items?
She didn't want to be constantly mocked by Mirabelle.
Her eloquence was impressive, and it wasn't until Wei Wei agreed to consider the matter that Countess Nelson, satisfied, finally stopped talking, allowing Wei Wei to enjoy the banquet's delicacies.
Only after their conversation ended and Countess Nelson turned to speak with others did Felix finally have a chance to whisper to Wei Wei, "She's a cousin of the late Queen and was very close to her, so she doesn't get along with the current Queen."
To say they didn't get along was an understatement—it was more like oil and water. Although Mirabelle was a princess from a neighboring country and highly favored by the King of Bordo, Bordo was weaker than Pradi and too far away to offer much support. Thus, Mirabelle was essentially isolated in Pradi.
Countess Nelson's family, having intermarried with the royal family, held a high status. The ladies of her family weren't afraid of the new Queen, even when Mirabelle was at the height of her favor as the King's mistress. Countess Nelson had openly clashed with her.
The King didn't intervene in their conflicts, as he was at fault. He had been unfaithful while his wife was bedridden, and though this was an unspoken rule among nobles, the late Queen's death shortly after learning of his intention to marry Mirabelle as his next Queen left him with little moral standing when dealing with the late Queen's family.
"Though she appears haughty, Countess Nelson has a good reputation in the capital. If you want to enter the social circles here, befriending her would be a good start."
"A good suggestion," Wei Wei agreed. She also felt that while the Countess seemed aloof and difficult to approach, she was quite amiable.
Especially since she seemed like a potential high-value customer.
After dinner, the formal ball began. The opening dance was performed by the King and Queen. As they twirled, the Queen's dress blossomed like a flower, enhancing her graceful and captivating movements.
After the King's opening dance, the guests joined the dance floor.
Felix extended his hand, smiling politely at Wei Wei. "May I have this dance, beautiful lady?"
"With pleasure," Wei Wei placed her hand in his.
The group dances popular in the capital differed from those in Sardinson. Wei Wei had crammed in some lessons during her time in the capital and now danced in perfect sync with those around her, earning the admiration of those who had been discreetly observing her.
Neither Wei Wei nor Felix was particularly fond of dancing. After two dances, they retreated from the floor. Wei Wei scanned the room for Dolores.
Too young to dance at such events and naturally shy, Dolores sat quietly in a corner with Allen's sister, Aveline, who was entertaining her with stories that made the nervous girl smile.
Wei Wei headed their way but was quickly intercepted.
"Good evening, Earl Williams."
"Long time no see, Felix."
"Is this your fiancée? What a perfect match."
"How should we address her?"
As one of the most talked-about figures in the Pradi Empire, Felix was highly sought after at the banquet. The men wanted to discuss potential business collaborations, while the women sought Wei Wei's insights on the Queen. Before they knew it, the couple was separated.
Wei Wei was led to the seating area by the noblewomen, surrounded by high-ranking ladies, with Countess Nelson seated beside her.
True to Felix's description, Countess Nelson was worth befriending. Though she appeared haughty, she was warm toward those she approved of. She now introduced Wei Wei to the other ladies.
Wei Wei noticed that, according to Countess Nelson's introductions, the women around her were all married, but some were very young, even younger than Dolores, yet they carried themselves with the poise of seasoned noblewomen.
The husbands of these young ladies were often much older. In this era, it wasn't uncommon for teenage girls to marry men decades their senior.
The young ladies who, as titled noblewomen, could attend the Queen's birthday banquet and sit with Countess Nelson and other high-ranking nobles, mostly fell into this category. Women married much earlier than men, with the latter often waiting until their twenties, like Felix, to marry. Women, however, had to marry by fifteen or sixteen, or risk becoming "old maids" by twenty, destined for a life in a convent.
Thus, the age gap between spouses was often significant. Marrying a peerage heir close in age was ideal, with a gap of a few years to a decade. By the time the husband inherited the title, the wife would be older, like Countess Nelson.
But marrying a titled noble often resulted in a much older husband.
And such cases were not rare.
Thus, someone like Wei Wei, with a young, titled fiancé, was the envy of many.
Especially since Felix had been very popular in the capital, and many of these noblewomen had privately expressed interest in him.
So it wasn't surprising that Wei Wei sensed subtle hostility from some.
Fortunately, as married women, even if they were jealous of Wei Wei, such inappropriate emotions had to be hidden and not revealed in public, or it would become a scandal.
Thus, on the surface, Wei Wei's first interactions with them went smoothly. Their attitudes were friendly, and whatever Countess Nelson had told them, they all urged Wei Wei to sell her cosmetics, with many curious about how the Queen's dress achieved its effect.
"It's only one layer, yet it flares out so beautifully. Was there some special design inside?"
"Yes, a crinoline was added inside the skirt," Wei Wei briefly explained how crinolines were made.
The ladies were pleased with her honesty. Knowing how crinolines were made, the rest was easy. Soon, a new fashion trend would sweep the capital.
Then the conversation shifted from makeup and fashion to Dolores.
"Is this Earl Williams' sister? Does she have a betrothal yet?"
It seemed that regardless of class or age, married women loved playing matchmaker. Once someone brought it up, the focus turned entirely to Dolores.
After all, the cosmetics issue would have to wait until Wei Wei agreed, but forging ties with the Williams family was right before their eyes.
In their view, nothing brought families closer than marriage.
Dolores was Felix's only sister and at the right age. If they could arrange a betrothal with her, they would have a stronger claim to Earl Williams' favor.
Many thought the same. Upon learning Dolores was unbetrothed, they eagerly began introducing suitable candidates from their families.
But no matter how they pitched their young men, Wei Wei politely declined, citing Dolores' youth and the need for her to focus on her studies before considering marriage.
Of course, such reasoning didn't deter their enthusiasm. Seeing no sign of them giving up, Wei Wei seized the chance to slip away.
As she left the circle of noblewomen, Felix was still embroiled in his struggles, his gaze pleading for rescue.
Wei Wei could only offer a helpless look in return before turning away.
She searched the room and finally found Dolores alone in a corner. Aveline was no longer with her, and no one else was around. The girl sat quietly, partially hidden by a large vase, observing the other guests with a bored expression.
As Wei Wei approached, Dolores spotted her and her eyes lit up.
Wei Wei smiled and caught the girl as she rushed over, gently smoothing her neatly arranged hair. "How was your day? Did you enjoy the banquet?"
"Not really," Dolores pouted. "The others didn't seem to like me much. Aveline was called away, and I was so bored."
Unlike the adults, who were focused on networking and gaining advantages, Dolores had spent the day with the younger generation who hadn't yet entered society. These boys and girls, brought to the palace by their families for the Queen's birthday, were the darlings of their households and lacked the social finesse of their elders. To them, Dolores was just a country noble from a poor region. Considering themselves of higher status, they looked down on her, and the girls, jealous of her looks, excluded her. Not wanting to cause a scene, they simply ignored her.
Aveline had tried to introduce her friends to Dolores, but it didn't go well, and she was eventually pulled away, leaving Dolores alone.
If not for the Queen's interest in Wei Wei, she might have been sidelined like Dolores. After all, many of the female guests had their eyes on Felix, and without the prospect of gaining something from Wei Wei, they wouldn't have been so friendly.
Wei Wei couldn't help Dolores much in this regard, especially now that many saw her as a potential marriage candidate. Introducing her to others wasn't a good idea.
But not making connections didn't bother Dolores much. She wasn't that type of person, and though she complained, she was relieved not to have to socialize.
Neither Wei Wei nor Dolores was fond of banquets, so they enjoyed their quiet corner.
It wasn't until the banquet was winding down that Felix finally extricated himself from the crowd and came to find them.
"You two seem to be having a relaxing time."
He found the girls deep in conversation and only noticed him when he was right in front of them.
Wei Wei stood up. "What can we do? Thanks to someone, our Dolores is quite popular. We had to hide a bit."
Felix, having faced similar issues, immediately understood.
"I've already turned them down. They shouldn't bring it up again for a while."
Felix had initially wanted to arrange a marriage for Dolores early, as was customary for noble daughters. But since Wei Wei disagreed, he had to follow her lead.
"Can we leave now?"
"Yes."
The King and Queen had left shortly after the opening dance—everyone knew what they were up to—so the Queen, who had promised to introduce Wei Wei to others, never appeared. Instead, Countess Nelson had stepped in.
With the hosts gone, the guests were free to leave. Of course, it was usually considered impolite for the hosts to leave before the guests.
If not for the fact that the other high-ranking nobles were still present, leaving early would have been rude, and given the number of people wanting to speak with him, Felix would have taken them home sooner.
After leaving the palace banquet, invitations flooded the Williams residence like snowflakes. This time, they weren't just for Felix—many were specifically for Wei Wei, and most were difficult to decline.
For instance, the invitation from Duke Devonshire, Felix's friend's father and the highest-ranking military official in the empire, was one they couldn't refuse, regardless of their personal feelings.
And once they attended Duke Devonshire's banquet, it would be unwise to decline invitations from other high-ranking nobles, as it could easily offend.
This meant their stay in the capital would have to be extended.
"At least another month," Felix said grimly. "Which means the wedding will have to be postponed."
If anyone was more upset about the wedding delay, it was Felix. After all, he was far more invested in the marriage than Wei Wei, who felt that since the invitations hadn't been sent out, a delay wouldn't be a big deal.
So it was Wei Wei who comforted him. "It can't be helped. At least the invitations haven't been sent, so the impact won't be too great."
Though true, Wei Wei's reaction only made Felix more despondent.
"You don't seem upset at all."
Wei Wei chuckled. "It's not like the wedding's canceled. If that were the case, I'd be upset."
Felix didn't feel reassured. His beautiful blue eyes clouded over, looking pitiful.
Though a strong, masculine knight who was usually very composed, Felix had an unexpectedly sentimental side when it came to matters of the heart.
But this side of him was also oddly endearing.
In the end, Wei Wei had to soothe her fiancé with a sweet kiss.
Aside from the banquets she would attend with Felix, Wei Wei also received many invitations to women-only gatherings, most of which included Dolores. Their intentions were obvious.
"Should we go?" Wei Wei asked Dolores. "Though you're invited, you don't have to go if you don't want to. After all, you haven't officially entered society, so it's fine to decline."
Dolores was tempted. "Really? I don't have to go?"
"Of course. These invitations usually shouldn't include you anyway," Wei Wei said, waving the invitation. It was for a salon hosted by a noblewoman, with the theme of beauty. The guests were all married women, so inviting an unmarried girl was clearly out of place.
Thus, attending was optional.
"Then I won't go," Dolores decided. "Aveline invited me to her house to play. We plan to dress up Amy and do her hair."
She paused, then added, "Aveline likes Amy. She wants a doll of her own, and I promised to help her make one. Could you help me with the pattern? I'm afraid I'll mess it up."
"Of course."
After helping Dolores with the doll pattern, Wei Wei had to prepare cosmetics. The beauty salon invitation was aimed at her, with the theme being makeup study and a note that everyone should bring their cosmetics. Not wanting to bring her own, which were complicated to make, Wei Wei had to prepare a new batch.
Fortunately, it wasn't difficult. She had made them before, and even her maid had mastered the technique. With supplies readily available in the capital, Wei Wei delegated the task to Qin.
Meanwhile, she and Felix took advantage of the rare free time to meet with Zachary, the manager of the essential oil shop, to discuss its operations.