TCBCVF 47

~Chapter 47~

Evangeline stepped out onto the balcony, holding a glass of juice.

The cool night breeze felt nice against her flushed cheeks.

“Ugh, this is so boring,” she grumbled, leaning against the railing.

As the Princess Claudius, her presence naturally drew attention.

But unless a man had an incredibly high status, no one dared to ask her to dance.

So, all she could do was stand around while men snuck glances at her from afar.

“Ugh.” She sipped her drink with a grimace.

The cool liquid helped calm her restless mood a little.

Evangeline stared blankly at the sky.

Tiny stars sparkled across the deep black night, like scattered glass.

And somehow, it reminded her of her friend Larit’s dark hair—and the pearl hairpiece she had personally chosen and pinned into her bun.

‘Come to think of it, Larit and my brother…’

She smiled to herself.

‘They look pretty good together.’

She recalled the moment earlier—the two people she liked most dancing under the chandelier light.

The party wasn’t that fun, and the men hitting on Larit had been annoying.

But watching Larit and the Duke dance had been enjoyable.

Just then—

“Princess Claudius?”

Someone called her softly.

“Huh?”

Evangeline turned—and her eyes widened in surprise.

“Lady Ansi?”

It was Larit’s mother, the Marchioness of Ansi.

Evangeline smiled warmly. “Is something the matter?”

The Marchioness approached her cautiously.

“You’re returning to the capital tomorrow, right?”

“Oh, yes. That’s correct.”

Evangeline nodded.

After all, Dietrich had scolded her non-stop in a letter:

[You’ve caused the Ansi family enough trouble.
You’re coming back to the capital with me. No arguments, understood?]

So she’d agreed to return to the capital with him.

Larit, however, would stay behind for a few more days to spend time with her parents.

‘Does she have something she wants to say?’ Evangeline glanced at the Marchioness out of the corner of her eye.

The older woman looked hesitant at first, but once their eyes met, she straightened and spoke in a tiny voice:

“Forgive me, but may I say something?”

“Of course. Please speak freely.”

Evangeline smiled politely, though the moment felt a bit awkward.

‘Did I maybe do something wrong?’

Truthfully, Evangeline was never popular with older nobles.

Her extremely high status made her unapproachable, and her blunt and bold personality often rubbed elders the wrong way.

‘I really wanted to make a good impression on Lady Ansi’s parents…’

She thought she hadn’t done too badly last time when she saw them talking to Larit, but now she wasn’t so sure.

Just as she was swallowing a sigh—

“Thank you so much, Princess.”

The Marchioness suddenly bowed her head deeply.

Startled, Evangeline almost jumped like a frightened cat.

“Huh?!”

“My daughter… I haven’t seen her smile like that in so long.”

A soft smile spread on the Marchioness’s once-nervous face.

“She used to always seem so timid and small.”

Evangeline immediately understood what she meant.

Larit Ansi.

In the social world, most people saw Larit as nothing more than Seraphina’s shadow.

Even Evangeline had thought that way at first.

Seraphina always acted arrogant.

Larit, meanwhile, quietly accepted blame for everything, bowing in Seraphina’s place.

So at first, Evangeline was just a little curious about her.

‘Why is she so devoted to Lady Lopez?’

To Evangeline, it was clear: Seraphina’s success in high society was entirely because of Larit.

Because Larit was always by her side.

Though Seraphina was from a poor noble family without a territory, she used Larit’s connections to enter society.

She bought expensive dresses with Larit’s money.

She joked at Larit’s expense to appear lighthearted and fun.

The more Seraphina was loved, the more Larit had to sacrifice.

And yet—Larit smiled at her.

“Seraphina is my friend.”

That warm, gentle gaze Larit had for Seraphina…

Eventually, Evangeline began to think Seraphina didn’t deserve her.

‘Friend…’

She began to long for that kind of bond, too.

Even without blood ties, Larit truly cared for someone.

‘Will someone ever care for me like that?’

So when Larit first came to her, Evangeline had secretly hoped—

That maybe she could share even a little of that kind of friendship.

And since signing their “friendship contract,” Larit had never once disappointed her.

“She’s never danced like that before,” said the Marchioness softly, breaking Evangeline’s thoughts.

“Sir Gregory always asked Seraphina to dance, never Larit… As a parent, it was painful to watch.”

The Marchioness stood straight and looked her in the eye.

The ballroom lights glinted behind her, making her eyes seem to shine slightly with tears.

“The reason my daughter could change like this… is all thanks to you, Princess.”

Her smile deepened.

“Larit may still have a lot to learn, but please continue to be her friend.”

Staring at the smiling Marchioness…

Evangeline suddenly felt like she understood how Larit had grown into such a warm person.

…And honestly, she felt a little jealous.

Evangeline had lost her parents’ love a long time ago.

“No, it’s not like that.”

Trying to hide her heavy feelings, she forced a smile.

“Lady Ansi is my one and only friend. I’m the one who should be grateful to her.”

“You’re very kind, Princess.”

Kind.

That was a word she had never once heard in her life.

Yet the Marchioness looked at her with such sincere, gentle eyes.

Eyes that looked just like Larit’s.

“Please visit us again sometime. We’d love to host you properly.”

“Oh, there’s no need for that. I’ve been treated wonderfully. But…”

Evangeline smiled with softened eyes.

“Since you’ve said it so kindly… I guess I’ll have to come back again someday.”

“Oh my, then we’ll need to do our best to prepare!”

The Marchioness laughed playfully, then continued more seriously:

“There are some beautiful spots nearby—though they can’t compare to the views in your duchy. When you visit, we’ll show you around.”

“Oh, now I’m curious already!”

Evangeline giggled.

Then a sudden thought crossed her mind.

‘If my mother were still alive and by my side… would it feel like this?’

It had been a long time since she felt this peaceful.