TCBCVF 59

~Chapter 59~

After the first gathering, the reading club continued smoothly.

I was fairly satisfied.

I had always liked reading books, and the ladies in the group were passionate about it, so sharing our thoughts and opinions was actually quite fun.

The princess, however…

‘Hmm, she still doesn’t seem to like the reading club.’

Inside the carriage heading to the Sherwood townhouse, the princess rested her chin on her hand and stared out the window with a bored expression.

Even if she didn’t enjoy the club, I found her effort rather admirable.

Honestly, the princess wasn’t the type to enjoy reading.

But still, she faithfully read the books and wrote reviews each time. That was really diligent of her.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

The princess suddenly glanced at me from the side.

“Ah, well…”

I gave her an embarrassed smile.

“I just think you’re really hardworking, Princess.”

“…All of a sudden?”

“It’s not all of a sudden. I’ve always thought that about you.”

“Hmph.”

She stared at me for a moment before turning her head away.

“Did you enjoy this month’s book, Lady Ansi?”

At least she was talking to me now, so I guessed her mood had improved a little.

The book chosen for the reading club this time was a romance novel, now considered a classic.

According to the review, it was about a man torn between love, wealth, and power—a story about human conflict.

“Hmm… honestly.”

I hesitated and then shrugged.

“It was a little boring, right?”

“Right?!”

The princess’s eyes sparkled as she whipped around to face me.

“The male lead was so frustrating!”

“Exactly. He should have just chosen his family or his lover, but he kept hesitating between the two.”

“Ah, this is why I like talking to you, Lady Ansi!”

We continued complaining about the book back and forth until the carriage finally stopped in front of the Sherwood townhouse.

But then—

‘Huh?’

There was an unfamiliar carriage parked outside.

The emblem on the door was…

“That’s the Sanchez family crest, isn’t it?”

The princess immediately recognized the family it belonged to.

I looked confused.

Because Lady Sanchez was…

‘She’s part of Peony, the same group Seraphina Lopez belongs to, isn’t she?’

Lady Sanchez was the second-in-command in Peony, working closely with Seraphina Lopez.

I had met her a few times through Seraphina Lopez.

‘And she has the exact same personality as Seraphina Lopez.’

In other words, she was just as unpleasant.

But that wasn’t the part that interested me right now.

“Um, Princess.”

I asked carefully.

“How did you immediately recognize the Sanchez family crest?”

Because the princess was famous for not caring about any family.

I always thought she simply didn’t memorize other noble families’ crests because she wasn’t interested in them.

Normally, nobles at least memorized the crests of higher-ranking families like marquesses and above.

But the princess had always acted completely indifferent.

That attitude even supported the rumor that she was arrogant, a rumor Seraphina Lopez had spread intentionally.

At my curious tone, the princess simply shrugged.

“I memorized the crests of all families ranked count or higher.”

“R-really?”

“Yes. My brother nagged me endlessly that I had to know at least that much.”

“…Then why do you pretend not to know them usually?”

“Because it’s a hassle.”

“…”

Oh.

I didn’t know what to say.

At that moment, the princess gave her first bright smile of the day.

“But you know, I memorized the Ansi family crest before my brother nagged me.”

“…My family’s crest?”

“Of course. It’s the one with waves and a swan, right?”

She looked at me with sparkling eyes, as if asking, “Did I do well?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I quickly nodded, my heart strangely moved.

The princess looked proud for a moment, but then quickly turned her head away.

“D-don’t get the wrong idea.”

She avoided my gaze.

“I only memorized it because we’re friends by contract. So I learned it out of courtesy, okay?”

“Of course, you’re just being faithful to our contract.”

I agreed immediately, and the princess suddenly looked flustered.

“…Well, not just that.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, nothing. Let’s get out.”

The princess hurriedly stepped out of the carriage.

Her flustered movements reminded me of a cat with its tail on fire, and I couldn’t help but smile as I followed her.

But then, someone approached us first.

It was none other than Lady Sanchez.

“Hello, Princess!”

Lady Sanchez smiled brightly and greeted the princess.

The princess gave her a frosty look and then glanced sideways at me, as if to ask:

‘Is this the lady who used to hang around Lady Lopez?’

‘It’s fine.’

I gave a tiny nod.

The princess then looked displeased but answered curtly,

“Yes.”

She turned her head away without even offering a polite greeting.

“Ah…”

Lady Sanchez looked a bit embarrassed, but she quickly turned to me instead.

“Lady Ansi! It’s been a while!”

I couldn’t help thinking how brazen she was.

This was the same woman who used to quietly look down on me when she was with Seraphina Lopez.

But…

‘If I call her out now, I’ll just look petty.’

To explain the subtlety of the situation, I’d have to start with the difference between the ladies of the capital and the southern ladies.

Southern ladies had grown up with me. They’d seen Seraphina Lopez belittle me and ended up treating me like a servant too.

But the ladies of the capital were more sophisticated.

Even if they laughed at me behind my back, they always kept a polite smile on their faces in public.

Annoying as it was, it was hard to call them out directly.

Besides…

‘I can’t risk hurting the princess’s reputation.’

Her reputation had only just started improving.

So I decided to let it go and smiled politely.

“Yes. Have you been well?”

“Wow, Lady Ansi, are you worried about me?”

Lady Sanchez clung to me and started chattering.

“I heard the Ansi family’s recent party was amazing!”

“Um, well…”

“I mean, the princess and the duke attended! I’m so jealous!”

I couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

I could see right through her.

She was talking to me, but her interest was obviously in the Claudius Duke’s family.

In other words, I was just…

‘A bridge.’

She wanted to use me as a connection to the princess.

‘Not a chance.’

I didn’t mind the princess making good friends.

But I wasn’t going to stand by while someone tried to use her.

‘That’s just wrong, isn’t it?’

Then I suddenly froze.

‘Wait… am I being a hypocrite?’

Wasn’t I doing the same thing?

Feeling a little guilty, I straightened my back.

Well, whatever.

I had a friendship contract with the princess.

‘We’re equals. Neither of us is using the other.’

“So, how did you get invited to the Watkins Reading Club?”

“Ah, my mother is very close with Countess Sherwood, so I asked her for a favor.”

“I see.”

I chatted and laughed with Lady Sanchez on the surface, but my mind was racing.

Lady Sanchez, the second-in-command of Peony, had left the group?

‘Is the group as a whole starting to cut ties with Seraphina Lopez?’

Just as I was deep in thought, someone suddenly grabbed my arm.