TCBCVF 67

~Chapter 67~

The doctor, summoned by the Lady’s insistence, examined me thoroughly, almost as if I were a critical patient.

Of course, from the doctor’s perspective, he couldn’t do otherwise.

With the Lady glaring so fiercely, he had no choice but to do everything he could.

And then—

“Lady Ansie is completely healthy.”

…Of course, I was completely fine.

“Are you really sure she’s healthy?”

The Lady glared at the doctor.

“Are you sure she doesn’t have a cold, that her heart isn’t racing from shock, or that she isn’t feeling dizzy?!”

“From what I can see, none of those apply…”

“But you never know! What if Lady Ansie ends up bedridden?”

“Please don’t worry, Lady,” the doctor said with a nervous smile.

“She’s truly fine.”

“Really? Are you absolutely sure?”

“Yes, Lady. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

Only after hearing the confirmation several times did the Lady calm down a little.

After that—

“Then I’ll take my leave now.”

The doctor left the room.

“….”

“….”

A heavy silence filled the room.

Until now, the Lady had been so emotional that I had been swept up in it too.

I glanced at her cautiously.

‘Is she feeling better now?’

Lately, she had seemed strangely upset.

At that moment, the Lady called me carefully.

“Lady Ansie.”

“Yes, my Lady?”

“That… you know, earlier…”

She peeked at me and then, with her eyes tightly shut, blurted out,

“I’m sorry for eavesdropping on your conversation with the other ladies.”

Oh, that?

I shrugged.

“It’s fine. I already knew.”

“R-really?”

“Of course. Your dress hem was sticking out from behind the pillar.”

I smiled softly.

“Next time you want to hide somewhere, you should keep your dress tucked in better.”

“Agh…”

The Lady’s face turned as red as an apple.

“W-why didn’t you say anything?!”

“Did you give me a chance to?”

She shut her mouth, sulking.

A moment later—

“Anyway, I’m really thankful for what you did today,” the Lady murmured with a sigh.

“But don’t ever do something like that again.”

“My Lady?”

“For you to get soaked instead of me… it feels like…”

She bit her lip.

“It makes me feel like I’m no different from Lady Lopez.”

I was momentarily at a loss for words.

“We’re friends. I… don’t want my friend to suffer on my behalf,” she said firmly.

I opened my mouth but couldn’t answer.

Something felt off.

Normally, the Lady would always add,

“Because we signed a friendship contract!”

…but today, she didn’t say that.

At the same time, the Lady swallowed hard and called me seriously,

“Lady Ansie.”

“Yes?”

Her serious tone made me straighten up.

“I realized I haven’t been rational until now,” she said, clenching her hands on her lap.

“We’re adults, and I can’t monopolize you, Lady Ansie.”

“My Lady?”

“You looked so happy spending time with the other ladies. So I…”

She lowered her head deeply.

“I was jealous.”

Jealous?

I widened my eyes.

Avoiding my gaze, she continued in a tiny voice,

“To be honest, at first I wanted to spend time with you because of my reputation.”

“…That’s…”

“But it’s different now.”

She lifted her head abruptly.

Her lake-blue eyes stared straight into mine.

“I’ve come to truly treasure you, Lady Ansie. So…”

Her voice no longer trembled.

“I want us to be real friends, not just tied by a ‘friendship contract.’”

What?

I couldn’t believe my ears.

She spoke clearly, full of certainty.

“You’re such a good person, Lady Ansie, so I know you’ll make lots of friends in the future. But…”

She hesitated, then asked cautiously,

“Can I still be your best friend?”

Ah.

At that moment, something warm rose from deep within my chest.

No one had ever thought of me so seriously before.

And the fact that it was the Lady… I could never have imagined.

‘What do I do?’

My nose stung, and I bit my lip to stop myself from crying.

‘I’m so happy…’

The Lady seemed to misinterpret my silence and looked worried.

“L-Lady Ansie?”

“…Yes.”

My voice cracked.

She tilted her head.

“Hm? What did you say?”

She looked like a kitten staring up at its owner, and despite my emotions, I laughed softly.

“I said yes.”

“R-really?”

The Lady’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.

I nodded firmly.

“Of course. I’ve always…”

I forced back my tears and smiled brightly.

“I’ve always wanted to be your best friend, My Lady.”

The Lady let out a long sigh of relief and slumped down.

“Haaah…”

“My Lady?”

I looked at her in confusion.

She looked half-crying as she pouted,

“I was so nervous, you know.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I was scared you’d reject me.”

“That would never happen.”

I shook my head and spoke sincerely,

“I’m just so happy you feel this way.”

The Lady looked at me with an indescribable expression—a mix of joy, relief, and warmth.

“Then now, should we get rid of the friendship contract?”

I nodded.

“Of course. And since we’re ending the contract…”

I finally brought up the issue that had been weighing on me.

“The clause about the maintenance allowance will be gone too, right?”

“Huh?”

The Lady looked at me in surprise.

“Do we really have to get rid of that? You could just accept it.”

“I understand you only included that clause because you care for me.”

I drew the line gently, then chose my words carefully.

“But I think true friends are tied by feelings, not money.”

“B-but…”

“Of course, I know you only added it because you wanted to be good to me, and I appreciate that.”

I smiled softly.

“But being in a relationship where I only receive… that makes me uncomfortable.”

Truthfully, I had never touched any of the allowance money the Lady had given me since the contract began.

Our family’s finances weren’t so bad to begin with, and once I stopped money from flowing to Seraphina, we were much more stable.

Above all—

‘How could I take money from a friend?’

When we signed the friendship contract, I had been too overwhelmed to object, but I had always planned to address it one day.

‘I’m glad I can finally settle it now.’

I nodded to myself with satisfaction.