~Chapter 7~
Meanwhile, the lady quietly watched me, lost in thought.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to drink your tea?”
She offered me tea in a sulky voice.
“Ah, yes.”
I hurriedly took a sip.
‘It’s delicious.’
Whenever we had tea time before, Seraphina and Gregory only drank what they wanted.
I couldn’t remember the last time I drank tea that suited my own taste.
Seeing my expression, the lady suddenly asked,
“How does it taste?”
“…It’s delicious.”
“Well, that’s good then.”
She replied curtly and pushed a plate of madeleines towards me.
“That tea tastes good with these madeleines.”
This time, I didn’t refuse and popped one into my mouth.
The soft sweetness spread, and a happy smile appeared on my lips.
“Delicious.”
I couldn’t help but exclaim.
For a moment, a faint smile crossed the lady’s lips…
Wait, did she just smile?
Surprised, I looked up with wide eyes. But she had already returned to her usual expressionless face.
‘Hm, maybe I saw wrong?’
At that moment, a question came to mind.
‘She’s a little prickly, but… is she really that bad to be called the villainess of the century?’
In the original novel, Lady Claudius bullied Seraphina out of jealousy for monopolising her brother’s love, and was eventually confined to a convent by him.
‘But so far, she hasn’t done anything to harm Seraphina.’
That meant… like me, she might be acting that way only because she was written as the “villainess” in the original.
‘Seriously, what is with that crappy original story?’
Just to create obstacles for the male and female leads’ love story, Lady Claudius was used up as a villainess.
Was that fair?
‘No way!’
Even if this world revolved around Seraphina, there had to be a limit!
Because Seraphina was the heroine, people bent over backwards for her.
And now I was just a doormat, and the lady was the villainess to pave Seraphina’s flower path?
‘That’s completely unfair!’
I ground my teeth inwardly.
At that moment, the lady glanced at me sideways. Startled, I quickly composed my face.
Phew, that was close. I almost burst out in front of her.
“Come to think of it, Lady Ansi. You said you knew a way to restore my reputation, right?”
Though her tone was indifferent, there was faint hope she couldn’t hide.
“What is that method?”
Her eyes seemed strangely bright… was it just my imagination?
“That is…”
I swallowed hard.
‘Wow, I’m so nervous I might die.’
What if she laughed at me for talking nonsense? But my mouth moved on its own.
“Become friends with me.”
As soon as I said it, I shut my eyes tightly.
My brain went into overdrive imagining her reactions.
‘Ha, you and I become friends? You’re dreaming.’
Or,
‘Did you dare call me here alone just to say such nonsense?’
But even after a while, no angry rebuke came.
The lady was just silent.
And then—
“Friends?”
She asked calmly.
‘…She’s not mad?’
I slowly opened my eyes and locked gazes with her.
‘Ah, that scared me!’
Seeing her expressionless face, she really did look like an ice queen who could freeze people with just her gaze.
“What’s with that reaction? Do you think I’d eat you alive?”
She scolded me in her flat voice.
I shook my head quickly.
“Ah, no. It’s not that…”
“Whatever. More importantly, why would that restore my reputation?”
Hm.
I cautiously began.
“Currently, the rumours about you in social circles are…”
“Rumours?”
She swallowed nervously.
‘Huh?’
I blinked.
She always seemed so dignified, I thought she didn’t care about gossip. But… was she actually concerned?
“Um… can I speak honestly?”
She might feel bad hearing them directly.
“Of course.”
She nodded calmly.
I spoke carefully.
“They say you’re so arrogant that you ignore everyone and don’t even socialise.”
“What?!”
Her face became filled with injustice as she raised her voice.
But, thinking of her dignity, she soon shut her mouth.
“…Forget it. It’s nothing.”
‘Huh. She’s unexpectedly cute?’
She was so much more human than in the novel.
I continued seriously.
“I think, if you make friends and show people you’re getting along well… your reputation will naturally improve.”
“Moreover, if they see you being friendly with a low-ranked noble like me, they’ll feel you’re approachable.”
“It will soften your image and make others feel they can approach you more easily.”
I watched her expression as I explained. Though she remained dignified, I could tell she was starting to be convinced.
‘Good.’
I threw in a bait.
“Besides… you dislike Seraphina, right?”
“Of course!”
At that moment, she exclaimed loudly.
“Lady Lopez is so annoying, isn’t she?!”
Honestly, I almost jumped up to give her a standing ovation.
“She always acts all sweet and weak, but dumps anything she doesn’t want to do on others!”
I nodded fiercely.
“Yes! I completely agree!”
“Right? You think so too, Lady Ansi?!”
She asked again, her eyes bright with excitement but her face soon returning to indifference.
“Then why have you been so close to her until now?”
I fell silent.
I couldn’t say it was because I was originally a character written to serve Seraphina in this novel.
While I was unable to answer, she narrowed her eyes and continued.
“Honestly, I wondered if your eyes were on your feet all this time.”
‘Ouch, my lady… my bones…’
Her blunt words almost made me faint.
“A-Anyway!”
I quickly changed the subject.
“Being friends with me wouldn’t be so bad for you either.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m Seraphina’s closest friend.”
I shrugged proudly.
“I plan to distance myself from her now. People will wonder why our relationship broke down.”
Then I lowered my voice meaningfully and asked her:
“Don’t you think they’ll also wonder… why I left Seraphina and came to you?”
