TCBCVF 49

~Chapter 49~

Seraphina fluttered her long lashes and looked up at Dietrich—then suddenly flinched.

Dietrich was staring down at her as if she were an annoying bug.

‘So that’s the lady…’

Tap.

Dietrich let go of her arm irritably.

‘The one who treated Lady Ansi like a maid…’

Without even a formal farewell, he simply walked past her.

Seraphina was left standing alone, her eyes wide in shock.

‘This can’t be happening.’

Her usual confidence had always come from one core belief:

That she could always get attention from men—no matter where she went.

They would either act indifferent or openly approach her, but they always noticed her.

That’s why…

This was the first time a man looked so completely uninterested.

‘How can this be…?’

Her pupils trembled.

It felt as if the solid floor under her feet collapsed.

That floor was…

Her self-esteem.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

…Honestly, I wanted to ask the same.

Why did he suddenly show up, red-faced and shouting at me?

“Cut it out already! Why did you even throw this party?!”

Gregory shouted with veins popping in his neck.

“Are you trying to insult the Gusto family?!”

“Insult?”

“Yes! Holding a party on the same day as ours—!”

Ah, classic Gregory.

Talking nonsense, as always.

I yanked my hand out of his grasp with an annoyed expression.

“Is there some imperial law that says only the Gusto family can host parties on July 5th?”

“W-what?!”

“Otherwise, why are you mad? …Oh, wait.”

I blinked a few times and tilted my head innocently.

“Did nobody show up to your party? Well, that’s too bad.”

Then I smiled sweetly.

“Maybe you should’ve picked your friends better?”

(Evangeline did say I could use her name freely, so this much should be fine.)

Gregory stood trembling with rage for a while, then ground his teeth.

After that, he let out a long sigh and rubbed his forehead.

“Larit. Haven’t you had enough?”

He spoke to me like I was a child throwing a tantrum.

“If you’re trying to make me jealous, you’re making a big mistake.”

“…Huh?”

I was truly dumbfounded.

“Make you jealous? Why would I?”

When I asked sincerely, Gregory puffed up proudly.

“Because you like me, of course.”

Ah. So his “evidence” was just his own feelings.

I shook my head in disbelief.

“Gregory, that level of delusion is a disease.”

“D-delusion?!”

“Yeah. If I still liked you, I wouldn’t have broken off the engagement.”

He stiffened slightly, caught off guard.

But just for a second—then he raised his voice again.

“Don’t be ridiculous! I know what you’re really up to!”

“Oh? So you know my inner thoughts better than I do?”

I teased, and Gregory’s face turned as red as a tomato.

He snapped.

“You only broke off the engagement to make me chase after you!”

“…”

At this point, I knew I had to clear things up—because if I didn’t, this pointless argument would never end.

“Why would I do that?”

I sighed.

“Why would I beg someone to stay engaged to me if they don’t even like me?”

Gregory flinched at the direct hit.

“T-that’s…”

“Engagements are useful to bind someone. Especially someone who doesn’t like you.”

I continued calmly.

“And I chose to give that up myself.”

“Larit…”

“So that means,”

I shrugged and asked him:

“Doesn’t that mean I’m done with you?”

Gregory’s face twisted with frustration.

But honestly, I couldn’t understand why he was so upset.

He was the one who treated me like a servant while chasing after Seraphina all this time.

“Shouldn’t you be thanking me?”

“Thanking you?!”

“Didn’t you like Seraphina?”

I looked at his twisted face with a calm gaze.

“Now that you’re no longer tied to me, you can propose to her officially.”

(Although no matter how long you follow her around, Seraphina would never choose you.)

I looked at him with pity and gave one final jab.

“You may not become the Viscount of Ansi, but Seraphina is way more valuable than a title, right?”

“You…!”

He bit his lip so hard it bled.

He couldn’t deny it—but couldn’t say it out loud either.

“Anyway, shouldn’t you go back to Seraphina? She’s so delicate, you always said she might faint without your escort.”

I threw his usual line right back at him.

Gregory looked like I struck a nerve.

I felt bitter.

They always acted like a matching set of cockroaches—clinging to each other.

I didn’t expect Seraphina to be at this party too…

“Well, I think we’re done here. I’ll head back. You should return to Seraphina too.”

I turned away, done wasting my time.

But then—

“You’re just like all the other pathetic women.”

Gregory suddenly muttered.

‘Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?’

I turned around, confused.

He smirked with a twisted expression.

“Let me guess—you think you’re something special now that Duke Claudius danced with you?”

“…”

For the first time, I couldn’t answer.

Because… honestly, I had felt like the main character for once.

‘But so what?’

This party was hosted by my family.

‘It’s natural that the host gets attention.’

And even if I had felt proud—Gregory had no right to mock it.

‘Ugh. Almost let him get to me again.’

I really need to stop letting his insults shake me.

Meanwhile, Gregory seemed to think he was winning and chuckled smugly.

“Ha! Just say sorry already, will you? This is your last chance to stay my fiancée—”

“Apologize?”

Just then—

A calm, deep voice cut in.

And from the darkness, a man stepped forward.

In the moonlight, his striking features became clear.

‘The Duke?!’

My eyes widened.

‘Why is the Duke here?!’

He was walking toward us—slowly, but surely.