Episode 7

In the end, I managed to successfully drag a deeply moved Leoni off to pick out a dress.

The best way to change the subject is to get moving, after all.

Of course, I tried to sneak in a few good words about Grand Duke Cygnus on the way, but somehow there just wasn’t a gap in our conversation.

“Leoni, you look so pretty.”

Leoni had chosen a bluish dress that went perfectly with her blonde hair.

“But Ribe, isn’t the skirt a bit too much? I think it’s a bit overwhelming.”

“What are you talking about? You need something like this to stand out.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, no. You look really beautiful, Leoni. Let’s go with this dress.”

I am a master of persuasion and negotiation, after all.

After a hard-fought battle, Leoni finally settled on a dress that shimmered like dragonfly wings and had a lavish hemline.

She had to be the most beautiful and eye-catching person at the ball.

That way, she’d catch Jerlac’s eye!

And then the two would fall in love just like in the original story, everything would unfold neatly, and I could say goodbye to this world, thank you very much, it’s been rough, let’s never meet again.

“You’re so pretty. Should we go pick out a ribbon now?”

“Sure, sounds good.”

We had just finished looking over the dresses and were stepping out of the shop when—

“Oh my, and who might this be? Lady Bernadette?”

I turned my head at the voice from behind.

A familiar girl stood there, her mouth hidden behind a fan.

Pailey Isley.

The Isley family had made their fortune in the wine business and had connections to the imperial family thanks to that wealth.

In The Tumultuous Life of Leoni, she was one of the main culprits, alongside me, in tormenting Leoni.

Back then, Ribe just played harmless pranks on Leoni, but things escalated once she got close to Pailey.

Pailey Isley was the type who believed money could solve everything—fitting for a young lady from a rich household.

“You two must be dress shopping together,” she said, staring directly at me.

What’s with that look?

Originally, Pailey and I had been in cahoots behind the scenes, scheming together to bully Leoni.

Because we were childhood friends, Leoni trusted me, and Ribe (the old one) had taken full advantage of that trust.

“We’ve already made our choice. Enjoy your shopping, Lady Isley!”

I grabbed Leoni’s arm and hurried to leave when—

Pailey leaned in and whispered coldly in my ear.

“I heard Lady Bernadette had quite the entertaining night yesterday. Is it true?”

Oh, for the love of—

Did someone climb up a hill and shout it through a megaphone or something?

I knew exactly how to deal with Pailey.

Lame excuses wouldn’t work, and I couldn’t just ignore her either.

“I always have entertaining nights. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

In times like this, acting a little dazed and muttering vaguely before walking away is the best strategy!

“Wait a moment.”

But then came a chilling voice to the back of my head.

I turned slightly to see Pailey lowering her fan and glaring at me.

Wh-what’s with that look?

“At the ball last night.”

“Oh, yes?”

“I heard the Grand Duke Cygnus lifted you up in his arms while you were drunk. Is that true?”

I could scream.

I almost reflexively closed my eyes but barely managed to stop myself.

“Oh, that.”

How do I explain this?

Pailey looked like she knew everything already—her expression dared me to even try lying.

“I just had a bit too much to drink last night. That’s all.”

“That’s all?”

“Just made a little mistake, really.”

“A little mistake, you say?”

“Yes, yes, just a minor slip-up, you could say.”

“Then the two of you…”

Pailey leaned in even closer and whispered.

“That’s all there was? Nothing else happened?”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

I was sweating buckets inside but forced myself to keep a straight face.

“Why are you stammering? You look nervous.”

Pailey glared at me with eyes like a venomous snake.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyway, Lady Almaz is waiting for me, so I really must go.”

I brushed off her hand and turned away, heart pounding in my chest.

Then Pailey’s cold voice struck my back.

“You’d best not get any funny ideas and start behaving properly. That man is destined for great things.”

“……”

I walked away quickly, but my heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest.

What the heck was that?

Sure, Pailey was a bit mean-spirited, but she’d never acted like that toward me before.

Was it because I seemed close to the Grand Duke?

He was the talk of the town in high society, so maybe, but even then, her reaction seemed a bit too extreme.

Wait… no way. Don’t tell me Pailey has feelings for the Grand Duke?

Ugh, no, that’s ridiculous!

She likes Jerlac?

Hold on… then does that mean she helped me bully Leoni back in the day because she thought I stole him from her?

Pailey had always seemed like a flat, one-dimensional villain. But she never acted openly, just subtly tormented Leoni from the shadows.

It was Ribe who always took the lead. So I never really thought about Pailey’s emotions.

Could that really be it?

Ugh, no. This is getting too messy.

Just then, Leoni looked at me with concern and spoke.

“Ribe, are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

“What did Lady Isley say? Was it serious?”

She looked troubled as she asked.

“Oh, no, it wasn’t anything important.”

“Um, Ribe.”

Then Leoni hesitated, lips twitching.

She looked like she had something to say but wasn’t sure if she should.

“Leoni, it’s fine. You can tell me.”

“Well…”

“What is it you wanted to say?”

“Ribe, I know you’re someone who doesn’t judge people unfairly, so I don’t know how this will sound to you…”

“……”

“But I don’t think you should get too close to Lady Isley.”

“Leoni.”

“I know. I’ve noticed that you’ve been spending time with her lately. But there are a lot of troubling rumors about her.”

“Don’t worry, Leoni. I won’t do anything you need to be concerned about.”

That was something I was saying as much to myself as to her.

Let’s not make Leoni worry.

Let’s not tangle this story up any more than it already is.

Just stay still, Ribe!

Leoni looked deeply moved again and gazed at me.

“Ribe, you always listen to me. Thank you.”

I-I don’t think that’s worth a thank-you, really…

Leoni clasped her hands and gave me a wistful look.

“I’m so lucky to have such a strong and dependable friend like you.”

“Hahaha, sh-shall we go now?”

Why does Leoni’s smiling face scare me more than Pailey’s cold stare?

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

A few days later, we received an unexpected guest at the estate.

“Pardon the sudden visit.”

“Pardon? Oh no, Your Grace. Please don’t say such things. You are always welcome here.”

Please don’t say such things, she says.

You’re always welcome, she says!

Only a few hours ago, the entire estate had gone into chaos upon hearing the Grand Duke was coming.

Mother had dashed about in a panic, the servants had flushed red faces as they scrubbed and polished every corner…

Meanwhile, I had been dragged upstairs by Ecla to pick out a dress and get my hair done.

When I asked if we really needed to go this far, Mother didn’t even pretend to listen. She put on her finest dress, picked out her favorite tea set, and even unfolded a fan.

Then she stood elegantly in the drawing room like a statue.

If Jerlac comes here even twice, she might collapse from nervous exhaustion—but sure, come any time.

“Welcome, Your Grace. It is an honor to see you.”

Mother delivered the lines she’d been practicing for hours without a hitch, then beamed with satisfaction.

“I have something I’d like to say to Lady Bernadette. I hope you’ll forgive me for the intrusion. May I have a moment of her time?”

Jerlac clearly had no interest in idle chit-chat.

“O-of course.”

At his words, Mother and Father exchanged glances, then quickly scurried out of the drawing room.

Once they were gone, it was just the two of us left.

I suddenly felt too nervous to meet his eyes and just fiddled with my dress, pressing my lips together.

“It’s been a while.”

He spoke lazily.