TCBCVF 64

~Chapter 64~

Seraphina’s eyes widened.

“Why is she alone? Recently, she was always stuck to that Laritte girl like glue…”

Looking around, Seraphina saw a group of ladies gathered a bit further away.

It was Laritte and her companions. Lady Sanchez was among them.

“…No way?”

Seraphina’s green eyes glimmered with a calculating look.

“So after acting all high and mighty, Lady Claudius is actually being left out of the group?”

❖ ❖ ❖

“Could you ask the High Priest for just a little bit of his time?”

“……”

The priest’s expression soured at the question.

Evangeline fully understood his feelings.

This request was somewhat disrespectful. The High Priest was one of the highest-ranking officials in the temple.

Even though Evangeline was the Empire’s only Lady and his relative, normally, she would still need to make an appointment.

“I’ll deliver your message, but…”

The priest spoke with clear reluctance.

“If the High Priest refuses, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Thank you. That’s enough.”

Evangeline nodded and turned away.

“Haa…”

A long sigh slipped out from her red lips.

She felt complicated today.

“Today is just… full of unpleasant things.”

She disliked seeing Laritte getting along so well with the other ladies.

It was uncomfortable to have to ask Isaac for favors just to see him.

And Lady Sanchez’s unreasonable request was annoying.

Normally, Evangeline would have just said,

“No.”

… and cut them off coldly.

But this time, she couldn’t.

Because…

“Earlier, I acted too harshly toward Lady Ansie…”

She could still feel the icy atmosphere from before.

She didn’t want to cause the same cold tension again by refusing the request.

Especially since Laritte seemed to really enjoy the book club.

Evangeline bit her lip.

“I can’t let Lady Ansie get in trouble because of me.”

She replayed the earlier moment in her mind.

“Do you also want to meet the High Priest, Lady Ansie?”

“No, not really.”

As soon as Laritte answered that way, Lady Sanchez had glared at her with sharp, hostile eyes.

“What if I refuse and Lady Ansie ends up in trouble because of it?”

It was better to grant the request, even if she was reluctant.

But then…

“Huh?”

Evangeline tilted her head when she heard voices in the distance.

It was Laritte and the others talking.

“It seems the Lady has been rather sharp with Lady Ansie recently,” Lady Sanchez said with a worried look.

“Is she treating Lady Ansie badly by any chance?”

Evangeline felt her heart sink.

She instinctively hid behind a pillar and listened.

But then…

“Not at all,” Laritte answered firmly.

“The Lady treats me very well.”

At those words, Evangeline’s blue eyes trembled.

❖ ❖ ❖

After Lady Claudius left,

“……”

“……”

An awkward silence filled the air between me and the others.

It was obvious that I didn’t look pleased, so the ladies were busy reading my mood.

Even Lady Sanchez, who clearly knew she had crossed a line, kept her mouth shut.

But the silence didn’t last.

Trying to lighten the atmosphere, Lady Sanchez spoke to me in a sweet tone.

“Um, Lady Ansie…”

But what she said was…

“Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“It seems Lady Claudius has been rather sharp with you lately.”

…Complete nonsense.

She didn’t seem to notice my expression hardening as she continued with a worried look.

“Is Lady Claudius treating you badly by any chance?”

It was a familiar tactic.

That sly way of sowing discord between people.

Acting as though she truly cared, with a face full of concern.

“Of course… who else would pick up Seraphina’s nasty habits?”

I gave a cold smile.

“Not at all. Lady Claudius treats me very well.”

My sharp voice made Lady Sanchez falter.

“But…”

I cut her off firmly.

“The Lady is just a little clumsy. Like I used to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“You all know, don’t you? My old nickname in society—‘Lady Lopez’s maid.’”

At my blunt words, Lady Sanchez stiffened.

I gestured at her with my eyes.

“Some of you even believed those rumors.”

“Lady Ansie, I—”

She tried to defend herself, but I was faster.

“Back then, I didn’t know how to properly deal with Lady Lopez or Young Master Gusto.”

I looked her straight in the eye.

“I thought I had to obey them no matter what and put their interests above my own. But not anymore.”

“……”

This time, Lady Sanchez was the one who looked away first.

“And the reason I was able to change is all thanks to Lady Claudius helping me. So…”

I calmly concluded.

“Lady Claudius is someone who changed my life. She’s my benefactor.”

The other ladies looked thoughtful at my words.

On the other hand, Lady Sanchez’s expression became sharp with anger.

“Who does she think she is, getting mad?”

“Of course, I understand if you don’t know Lady Claudius well. But if it were me, I’d rather stay silent than speak carelessly about someone I don’t understand.”

Then I asked openly,

“Isn’t that right? Who was the one who threw a tantrum asking the Lady to arrange a meeting with High Priest Evans?”

“A t-tantrum?!”

Lady Sanchez’s face turned bright red.

But I continued without hesitation.

“And who was the one who graciously accepted that unreasonable request?”

The other book club ladies silently agreed with me.

Asking for a meeting with the High Priest had been a huge overstep.

“Besides, High Priest Evans is someone Lady Claudius feels uncomfortable with.”

I clenched my fists, my anger boiling.

Lady Claudius was enduring so much, trying so hard to change…

And yet…

“My point is, Lady Claudius has been incredibly generous toward Lady Sanchez.”

I suppressed my anger and smiled softly.

“So I hope everyone’s misunderstandings about Lady Claudius will be cleared up from now on.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“We’ll be more careful.”

The other ladies looked down, subdued.

But there was still one person who showed no remorse.

“Lady Ansie, don’t you think you’re being a bit harsh?”

It was none other than Lady Sanchez.

She lifted her chin proudly and challenged me.