Chapter: 13
Ugh, this feels awful!
“T-That can’t be true. If my friend receives good service, then I’m happy too.”
A moment later.
Seraphina forced a smile and spoke.
“More importantly, don’t tell me you came here alone? Lari, you don’t really know much about places this luxurious.”
Her dark green eyes looked at me with a feigned expression of sympathy.
“If you wanted to visit a place like this, you should have told me beforehand. I would have brought you here at least once…”
You know nothing.
Without my help, you can’t do anything.
Beneath her charitable attitude lurked unmistakable malice.
In the past, every one of those remarks had hurt me. I had feared her and desperately tried to stay on her good side.
But now, I remained perfectly calm.
“Well, I never said I came alone.”
“What?”
Gregory’s eyes flew open.
“You have someone with you?”
What? Why is he suddenly getting worked up?
Completely bewildered, I looked back at Gregory.
“What are you talking about? You’re an engaged lady, yet you can’t even behave with proper modesty…!”
“…”
Excuse me?
It’s already been several days since I sent him the letter breaking off our engagement.
And he’s still calling me his fiancée?
“And why haven’t you replied to any of my letters? I sent you several!”
“…”
I stared at Gregory for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.
“Oh, those? They were so full of pointless rambling that I didn’t think they were worth replying to.”
“Larit!”
Gregory shouted at the top of his lungs.
“You’ll regret this! If not me, who else would ever marry you?!”
“But why do you think I’d regret it?”
As I asked, I carefully observed the atmosphere around us.
People were beginning to pay attention.
And the customers in a high-end establishment like this were mostly noble ladies and gentlemen.
This works out perfectly.
In front of so many witnesses, it would be better to make it absolutely clear that I had already broken off my engagement with Gregory.
Having reached that conclusion, I deliberately spoke even more clearly.
“If I were going to regret it, I wouldn’t have sent you the letter ending our engagement in the first place.”
“What did you say?!”
“Honestly, I don’t have any reason to regret it. I’m the heir to a viscount’s family, while you’re only the second son of a count’s family.”
Gregory’s face turned bright red with humiliation and rage.
Feeling immensely satisfied, I admired his face, which had become as red as a ripe tomato.
“In the future, I’ll become Viscount Ansi. But you’ll just be an ordinary man without a single noble title, won’t you?”
“Y-You…! Are you finished talking?!”
“I only stated the facts. Why are you so angry?”
I answered with an innocent look.
As Her Grace had taught me, there was nothing more painful than having someone point out the truth.
Just then—
“What exactly is all this commotion?”
Click. Click.
Accompanied by the crisp sound of high heels, the Princess approached us.
Tilting her head slightly, she asked,
“From what I heard, Lady Ansi has already sent a letter ending the engagement. Doesn’t that mean the two of you are no longer engaged?”
“W-Well, that’s…”
“Then why are you clinging to Lady Ansi like this?”
Looking Gregory up and down as though she were staring at a disgusting insect, the Princess bluntly remarked,
“How pathetic.”
Your Highness, you’re amazing!
I clenched my fist in excitement.
But Her Grace’s assault through nothing but plain facts wasn’t over yet.
“To me, it looks like Young Master Gusto is the one who still hasn’t gotten over Lady Ansi.”
“T-That’s impossible!”
“Oh? Really? That’s good, then.”
With a scoff, she continued mercilessly,
“Then could you kindly keep your mouth shut and step aside? I’d like to enjoy my meal in peace.”
“…”
Gregory looked like someone who had been hit by three uppercuts in a row and was now barely clinging to consciousness.
That’s how completely dazed he was.
Meanwhile, after effortlessly crushing Gregory’s spirit, the Princess turned toward me with a confident smile.
“Lady Ansi.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You’ll be receiving an invitation from me soon.”
“An invitation?”
“Yes. It’s for the salon I host regularly…”
At that instant, Seraphina’s eyes trembled violently.
The Claudius Ducal House’s salon.
For generations, the duchess of the Claudius family had hosted salons that invited and supported promising artists and writers throughout the Empire.
The current Duke was still unmarried, so his younger sister, the Princess, had taken over that role.
More importantly—
It was the very salon Seraphina had always wanted to attend but had never managed to receive an invitation to.
The Princess proudly lifted her chin.
“When you come, be sure to wear the dress I bought for you. Understood?”
…She really must have hated the way I dressed.
After hesitating for a moment,
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I answered with a bright smile.
Seraphina’s and Gregory’s faces darkened miserably.
Seraphina and Gregory barely managed to finish their meal before fleeing the restaurant as if escaping.
Larit was one thing.
But neither of them could withstand the icy gaze of the Princess.
Just when did Larit become close to Her Highness?
Anxiously chewing on her lip, Seraphina frowned.
She had always believed, without the slightest doubt, that Larit would remain beneath her forever.
But that unwavering belief was beginning to crumble.
…It irritated her immensely.
At that moment, Gregory whined beside her.
“Sera, what if Larit really breaks off our engagement?”
“Oh, be quiet already! Honestly!”
Seraphina snapped at him before suddenly freezing.
“S-Sera?”
Gregory was staring at her with wide, startled eyes.
Realizing what she’d done, Seraphina hurriedly plastered a smile across her face.
“No, it’s nothing. You know how much Lari likes you.”
“R-Right?”
“Of course. She’s probably just upset this time. Don’t worry too much, okay?”
Even as she comforted Gregory,
Seraphina’s eyes remained cold and calculating.
I should go pay Larit a visit.
A few days later.
I was lazily rolling around on my bed while reading the letter I’d received from the Princess.
To Lady Ansi,
It’s Evangeline.
Did you sleep well last night?
Have you been wearing the clothes I bought for you?
I trust you’ve naturally thrown away all those rags you used to wear.
…Wait.
Does this letter have some kind of voice-reading enchantment?
I could almost hear the Princess’s haughty voice in my head.
Without realizing it, I chuckled.
So, when are you coming to visit my townhouse?
If we’ve made a friendship contract, then I believe that contract should be honored properly.
It’s absolutely not because I’ve been waiting for you that I’m sending this letter.
It’s simply because contracts are very important.
Seriously…
Just how many times was she going to emphasize the word contract?
Clicking my tongue, I continued reading.
Oh, and when you come, wear the dress I bought you.
You know, the sky-blue one with lace around the hem.
It’s not like I paid special attention or anything, but it actually suits Lady Ansi rather well.
The afternoon sun has been quite strong lately, so make sure to use the parasol we picked out together.
And be sure to style your hair.
If you come with your hair hanging all over the place like a ghost again, I’ll really get angry this time.
…She had even paid attention to which dresses suited me best.
My heart warmed a little.
I’ll be waiting for your reply.
In your letter, I’d like you to tell me exactly when you’ll be visiting the Claudius townhouse.
Or, instead of spending time writing a reply, you could simply come see me.
—Evangeline Claudius, Princess of the Claudius House
That was how the letter ended.
With a pleased smile, I folded it neatly and slipped it back into the envelope.
I should go visit Her Highness sometime soon.
Just then, however…
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
But why does Her Highness seem so relaxed?
