Chapter: 21
Evangeline von Claudius.
Like a magnificent rose blooming atop a cliff, she was a noble lady who carried herself with elegance and overwhelming pride.
As the Empire’s one and only Grand Duchess by birth, her status alone made it impossible for anyone to approach her carelessly.
Evangeline herself had never enjoyed socializing with others, either.
And yet, that very Grand Duchess had chosen Lady Ansi.
Though the Ansi Viscount family was fairly well known in the provinces, they were still nothing more than regional nobles who had never truly entered the ranks of the central aristocracy.
Compared to House Claudius, House Ansi was like a firefly before the sun.
Their difference in status was simply that vast…
Besides, everyone knows what Lady Ansi has been like until now.
She had shamelessly volunteered to be Lady Lopes’s attendant, humbly waiting on her every need.
Naturally, everyone had expected the Grand Duchess to explode with anger.
Instead…
“Did Her Grace really become friends with Lady Ansi?”
One noblewoman muttered skeptically.
“Who knows.”
“I suppose I’ll have to check tomorrow to see if the sun rises in the west.”
The noblewomen simply shook their heads in disbelief.
Afterward.
Having parted ways with the Duke, I stood beside a wall, taking a short break.
Since he was such a famous figureāand since his appearance at the salon had been completely unexpectedā
“Duke, it’s been so long!”
“I never imagined I’d see Your Grace here…”
There were countless people desperate to exchange even a few words with him.
“I should really continue escorting you a little longer, Lady.”
“Please don’t worry about me.”
I generously let the Duke go.
We had already fulfilled the necessary social formalities, and it wouldn’t be right to keep taking up the time of someone as busy as he was.
Being popular must be exhausting.
Left alone, I accepted a drink from a passing servant.
After taking a sip, my eyes widened.
Ah… It’s practically juice.
I had suggested beforehand that they serve drinks with very low alcohol content, since I didn’t want any unpleasant incidents caused by intoxication.
It seemed the Grand Duchess had accepted that advice exactly as I had given it.
“You don’t know anything, Larit.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you just stayed quiet?”
…Unlike Gregory and Seraphina, who had always ignored me,
the Grand Duchess listened seriously to my advice and genuinely tried to put it into practice.
It still felt unfamiliar.
But it wasn’t unpleasant.
More accurately…
It feels nice.
Feeling satisfied, I took another sip.
The sweet yet slightly bitter liquid slid refreshingly down my throat.
Just thenā
“Lady Ansi!”
The Grand Duchess suddenly popped up behind me!
“Cough!”
I nearly spat out the drink still in my mouth.
She quickly glanced around before fixing me with a sharp glare and bombarding me with questions.
“Why are you by yourself? Where’s my brother?”
“H-He went to speak with some other gentlemen. They said there was an urgent business matter they needed to discuss…”
“Oh, please! What could possibly be so urgent?”
After hearing my answer, the Grand Duchess stomped her feet in frustration.
“They just want to make an impression on my brother and get investment for their businesses! And you actually let him go?”
Umm…
I gave an awkward smile.
The truth was, the Duke had insisted on remaining by my side until the very end.
“Are you certain it’s alright if I leave?”
“Yes, of course!”
In the end, I had been the one to push him away because I felt too burdened.
“I couldn’t possibly keep a busy man from his work. Besides, I’m grateful that you escorted me this far.”
Honestly, wasn’t that only natural?
The Duke was the male lead of this world.
Someday, he was destined to fall deeply in love with Seraphina.
Did I really need to become close to him?
“Don’t worry. Once the event is over, I’ll have a serious talk with my brother!”
“N-No, there’s really no need…”
“What do you mean there’s no need?!”
The Grand Duchess clenched both fists before turning toward me with a serious expression.
“You’re my te-tempor… temporary friend! I can’t let anyone treat you poorly anywhere!”
…Well, no one had actually treated me poorly to begin with.
Then, as if something had suddenly occurred to her, the Grand Duchess looked at me curiously.
“By the way… did something good happen?”
“Hm? Why do you ask?”
“You’ve been smiling this whole time.”
Had I?
I smiled sheepishly.
“I mailed a letter before coming to the salon.”
“A letter? Was it something important?”
“Not exactly.”
The smile on my lips grew a little wider.
“But… I am looking forward to the reply.”
At the same time.
Seraphina sat tensely in the reception room of Baron Bentner’s estate.
Across from her sat Gregory and the Baroness.
Seraphina felt as though she were sitting on a bed of thorns.
And for good reason.
The gaze that Baroness Bentner had always directed at her so warmly…
“Seraphina… could it be that we weren’t invited to the salon because of you?”
…was now colder than the harshest winter wind.
Gregory immediately shot to his feet.
“Aunt, what are you saying?!”
“How dare you raise your voice at your elder!”
The Baroness glared at him.
“Did I say anything wrong? It’s true that Larit and Seraphina have had a falling-out recently!”
Gregory had treated Larit like a mere servant just as much as anyone else, yet the Baroness conveniently left her own nephew out of the blame.
At the same time, she turned her attention toward Seraphina.
“That Larit girl may have acted petty, but you shouldn’t have given her a reason in the first place, Seraphina!”
“…”
Instead of answering, Seraphina bit her lip pitifully and lowered her eyes.
Gregory immediately came to her defense.
“Sera, don’t let it get to you. Honestly, Aunt, did you really have to say it like that…?”
But unlike her fragile appearance, Seraphina’s thoughts were in complete turmoil.
Is that girl Larit really planning not to invite me to the salon?
Unable to suppress her anxiety, she gripped the armrest tightly.
How could she do this?
A crushing sense of defeat spread through her entire body.
That foolish Larit was probably attending the salon right now, making connections with the Empire’s most influential nobles.
Meanwhile, I have to sit here between Gregory and Baroness Bentner, sipping tasteless tea…
And on top of that…
I’m about to lose all the goodwill I’ve built up with Baroness Bentner!
From the way the Baroness had openly blamed her earlier,
it was obvious she had decided to place all the responsibility on Seraphina.
Just thenā
“Lady Lopes, a letter has arrived.”
“A letter? Who sent it?”
“It’s from Lady Ansi.”
“What? Larit?”
Seraphina blinked blankly.
“My goodness, it looks like that girl finally sent the invitation after all.”
“Of course! There’s no way our Sera wouldn’t receive an invitation!”
The moment they saw the letter, Baroness Bentner and Gregory became excited.
But Seraphina’s expression only darkened.
What is she planning?
Even after Seraphina had personally visited the townhouse, Larit had remained completely cold toward her.
And now that same Larit had supposedly persuaded the Grand Duchess herself?
After a moment of suspicion, Seraphina shook her head.
No. Larit can’t do anything without me.
Dull, gloomy Larit.
The girl who was ignored wherever she went.
There was no way that crow-like woman belonged somewhere as glamorous as the Claudius family’s salon.
She probably attended the salon, only to shrink back because she couldn’t fit in with the other guests.
As Seraphina stared at the luxurious envelope, anticipation began to swell inside her chest.
