~Chapter 41~
“Lady Pailen, are you thinking of attending the Ansi estate’s party?”
Seraphina dropped the question bluntly.
Lady Pailen looked startled and glanced around, hesitating.
“Huh? I, um…”
“I’d like to believe our friendship isn’t so light and shallow,” Seraphina said with a deeper smile.
“Right?”
“Ah…”
Lady Pailen looked flustered and checked the reactions of the other ladies around her.
All of them wore uneasy expressions.
“……”
“……”
A heavy awkwardness settled over the group.
A moment later:
“Well… it’s my parents who decide whether I attend parties.”
“M-me too.”
“That’s right. I really want to attend the Gusto Count’s party, but…”
Their lips trembled as they forced awkward smiles, all while avoiding Seraphina’s eyes.
‘What is going on…?’
A heavy sense of unease settled in Seraphina’s chest.
That day, not a single one of the ladies gave her a clear answer about attending the Gusto party.
Meanwhile…
SLAM!
The princess burst through the café door and walked briskly.
Dragged along by her, I nervously tried to speak up.
“Um… Your Highness?”
Tap.
At my call, the princess stopped walking.
I quickly continued.
“About what those ladies said earlier… That I was using you—it’s completely false, I would never—”
But then the princess cut me off sharply.
“Lady Ansi.”
“Y-yes!”
I shrank back instantly.
But instead of replying, the princess just took a long, deep breath.
The longer she stayed silent, the more nervous I became.
‘Is she angry…?’
Maybe she was.
The ladies had been extremely rude, and I did snap back in the heat of the moment.
I guess my words could’ve sounded like I was saying the princess was useful to stick close to.
But then—
“Did you really mean it? That you’re happy being my friend?”
“…What?”
I was completely stunned by the unexpected question.
The princess turned around to face me, and her bright blue eyes sparkled like stars.
“I guess there’s no helping it, then.”
She spoke with a mock-proud tone.
“You can go ahead and name-drop me as much as you want.”
“…What?”
“Yes,” she said with a firm nod.
“Be proud to call yourself the one and only friend of the Claudius princess. Tell people I’m your friend.”
“Y-Your Highness?”
“And stop walking around all timid. Stand up straight, okay?”
She was fighting off a grin so hard her lips kept twitching.
“This much is nothing between friends.”
The princess lifted her shoulders with a smug flourish.
Then, looking suddenly flustered, she quickly added:
“A-anyway, it’s just because we signed a friend contract! That’s all! I’m just following the terms of the agreement!”
She looked like a cat whose tail had caught fire, trying to explain herself.
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Of course. I understand completely.”
Even though she talked about it being a contract…
‘She’s doing this to be kind to me.’
Somehow, it made my heart feel warm.
“B-by the way,” she added while sneaking a glance at me,
“you’re not in trouble because I decided to throw that party, right? Don’t worry about the cost—I’ll cover it.”
“No, Your Highness.”
I shook my head right away.
“I’ve actually been wanting to knock Seraphina and Gregory off their high horses.”
“Oh really? Great! That’s perfect!”
The princess clenched her fist with excitement.
“Let’s crush that annoying Lady Lopez!”
Then, she narrowed her eyes and glanced at me sideways.
“…What are you smiling about?”
“Oh, that…”
I rubbed my cheek sheepishly.
My lips had risen so high, I could feel it.
Might as well be honest.
With a wide smile, I said:
“Because I really like you, Your Highness.”
“…”
The princess stared at me blankly.
Then—
“I… I like you too.”
Her red lips moved quietly.
“I mean—I don’t dislike you, Lady Ansi…”
Then she quickly turned around.
“Come on, let’s get back. July 5th is coming up, and we’ve got a party to prepare!”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
I followed her, beaming the whole way.
At the same time…
‘It’s been nonstop.’
That’s how Dietrich would describe his days in the southern region.
Lunch meetings with merchants, business conferences, discussions with fleet captains…
‘You could call it “efficient,” or just say it’s “brutal.”’
His schedule was packed so tightly that he barely had time to sleep.
But thankfully, today he finished early and headed back to his hotel.
“Ugh… no matter what, I have to sleep early today. Hot bath, and then…”
His assistant, dark shadows under his eyes, slouched in the carriage and muttered like a zombie.
“……”
Dietrich shot him a mildly disgusted look, then turned to the window.
They were passing by a glittering street.
One of the most upscale shopping districts in the Ansi estate.
“Don’t forget to buy a gift!”
Suddenly, Evangeline’s cheerful voice echoed in his mind.
She was going to Ansi territory too. She could buy her own things.
‘That brat better not be bothering Lady Ansi…’
He shook his head, then thought of his sister’s friend.
Larit Ansi.
Her long black hair.
Her calm, steady pink eyes that always met his gaze.
Whenever she spoke gently to Evangeline, even Dietrich felt strangely at ease.
‘Will I run into her?’
The thought crossed his mind for a second.
And he chuckled bitterly.
‘As if.’
Ansi territory wasn’t big, but not so small you’d run into someone by chance.
Besides, Larit would likely stay at the family mansion.
‘Still… that’s kind of disappointing.’
‘…Disappointing?’
Dietrich froze.
‘Why?’
There was no logical reason to feel that way.
He quickly tried to reason it out.
‘Lady Ansi is… Evangeline’s only friend.
And the only one who can soften her rough edges.’
That must be why he kept thinking about her.
‘That’s all it is.’
He convinced himself firmly.
‘Anyway, that brat Evangeline…’
Clicking his tongue, Dietrich looked out the window with annoyance.
‘If I don’t show up with a gift, she’ll whine for three days straight…’
Just then, a shop caught his eye.
It was exactly Evangeline’s taste.
Her preferences were simple:
Sparkly, small, and pretty.
Jewelry was perfect for that.
He lightly tapped the carriage wall.
It rolled to a gentle stop.
At the same time, his half-asleep assistant sluggishly opened his eyes.
“Y-Yes, my lord?”
“I’m getting a gift for Eva.”
Blinking slowly, the assistant nodded.
“I’ll go alone. You catch some sleep.”
“But I should be escorting you… yawn…”
The man drifted off mid-sentence.
Dietrich watched him, feeling a flicker of guilt.
‘Maybe I pushed him a bit too hard the past few days.’
Well, technically—
His assistant did volunteer for this trip after seeing the huge bonus.
Shaking his head, Dietrich stepped out of the carriage.
