~Chapter 39~
“You’re being really rude, Lady Ansi!”
“Lady Lopez was so kind to you—have you no sense of gratitude?”
“Is being near the princess really worth throwing away an old friend like that?!”
Hmm.
I narrowed my eyes and looked over each of the ladies yelling with veins in their necks.
Judging by how ready they seemed to explode, Seraphina must’ve already spread plenty of gossip about me—
with her usual “poor me” attitude, no doubt.
“Ah…”
Meanwhile, Seraphina gave me a troubled look, as if she didn’t know what to do.
But.
‘This whole setup must be part of her plan too.’
She didn’t even try to stop the chaos.
She just stood there, slightly behind them—pretending to be uninvolved.
‘Just like always… How pathetic.’
I nearly laughed out loud.
Getting others to attack for her while she stands by, all innocent and clean-handed.
‘Exactly like when she spread rumors about the princess.’
Just then, Seraphina and I made eye contact.
She moved her lips ever so slightly.
‘Lari.’
Her dainty lips curved into a soft smirk.
‘You should’ve just invited me to the Claudius salon, you know?’
Then, she gave a fake smile and started to “calm the situation.”
“E-Everyone, please stop.”
Even fluttered her lashes pitifully.
“Lari probably didn’t mean to embarrass me.”
Wow, did she really just use the word “embarrass”?
She slumped her shoulders dramatically, as if heartbroken.
‘Same old performance. Predictable to the point of boredom.’
I rolled my eyes internally. This was getting so old, I couldn’t even bother to yawn.
“I mean… maybe I did do something wrong to Lari without realizing it…”
The ladies turned to her with sympathy.
“Oh my, Lady Lopez!”
“Are you okay?”
“Don’t be so hurt. It’s not your fault…”
They gently patted her on the back, then glared daggers at me.
“Lady Ansi, do you love power that much?”
“Must be nice to be treated like royalty just for kissing up to the princess!”
“Seriously, do you have no pride?!”
Seraphina, clearly pleased, shook her head as if trying to be the bigger person.
“Please don’t say that. I’m sure Lari has her own reasons…”
But she didn’t get to finish that sentence.
“You’re right.”
I cut her off with a nod.
“Being friends with the princess is amazing.”
In fact—total jackpot.
I looked around the room proudly.
Suddenly, the room went silent.
“……”
“……”
What? You didn’t expect me to agree?
Everyone, including Seraphina, was stunned into silence.
They just twitched their mouths and narrowed their eyes at me.
To be honest, their angry puppy energy made them look like—
“Pfft.”
I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh behind my hand.
Their faces turned bright red.
“A-Are you laughing at us?!”
“Just because the princess is paying attention to you lately, don’t get cocky!”
They looked even more like yappy little chihuahuas.
‘Okay, stop laughing. Focus.’
I bit my lip and composed myself, then said in a light tone:
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s just that…”
I obviously couldn’t say they looked like a pack of angry dogs.
So instead:
“You were all saying something so obvious.”
“O-Obvious?!”
“You asked if I enjoy power and being treated well because of the princess.”
I continued with confidence:
“Well, why wouldn’t I?”
“Is there anyone here who doesn’t like power?”
Go ahead, cast the first stone if you’re innocent.
“……”
“……”
The ladies just clenched their lips and stayed quiet.
I rested my hands on my hips and waved a finger playfully.
“But I should correct you on one thing.”
“C-Correct?”
“It’s not just her power I like. I like everything about her.”
The princess has so many great traits.
I grinned and went on.
“Her noble status is incredible. Her wealth is amazing. Her stunning beauty—unmatched.”
“L-Lady Ansi?!”
“Her cool personality, her kindness toward me—I love all of it.”
I shrugged.
“I’m proud to be friends with her.”
My strong words left the others speechless.
Then—
“Huh. What’s all this about?”
A graceful voice interrupted.
When I turned around, there was the princess, arms full of potted rose seedlings, looking our way with an arched brow.
Apparently, this coffeehouse sold rose plants in the garden.
‘You actually went and bought them, huh?’
My high-energy battle mode instantly deflated like a popped balloon.
Well… enjoy the roses, Your Highness…
“I really don’t get what the issue is.”
The princess stepped forward, narrowing her eyes at the ladies.
Her heels clicked sharply in the tense silence.
“So basically, Lady Ansi is saying—”
She looked at me sideways and lifted her chin proudly.
“—she’s proud of me because I’m powerful, noble, rich, and stunningly beautiful, right?”
“Uh… yes, well.”
It was true, but hearing her say it so plainly was…
“If Lady Ansi wants to be friends with someone as amazing and pretty and cool as me—what’s the problem?”
She blinked her pretty eyes at them.
“Honestly, I feel bad for you. You clearly don’t know what it’s like to enjoy real friendship.”
“But Princess!”
One of the ladies raised her voice.
“Lady Ansi can’t possibly be refined enough to be your friend!”
“Hmm?”
The princess raised an eyebrow, not impressed.
They all shouted in chorus:
“Look at how she threw away her dearest friend, Lady Lopez!”
“You’re being fooled, Princess!”
“Ah, I see.”
A slow smile bloomed across the princess’s face.
It was radiant, like a rose in full bloom.
But seeing it made me swallow hard.
‘Uh-oh.’
‘She’s really mad now.’
The princess had many kinds of smiles.
There were smiles when she was actually happy…
…and then there were these—the kind where she was seriously offended.
‘The kind she uses when she crushes people while smiling.’
Just like that time at the brunch café with Gregory.
And as always, I was right.
With a chill in her voice, the princess asked:
“Are you seriously saying that I’m dumb enough to be tricked by Lady Ansi’s sweet words?”
