TCBCVF 69

~Chapter 69~

Thanks to Dietrich personally telling the kitchen that they would be dining with a guest,

the already excellent dinner table looked absolutely magnificent tonight.

The table was filled with the finest dishes the chef could create.

“What’s going on? Is today some special occasion?”

Evangeline’s eyes widened as she looked at Dietrich.

He simply shrugged.

“We have a guest for dinner. We should at least do this much, don’t you think?”

What’s wrong with him today?

Evangeline couldn’t hide her sour expression.

“This all looks really delicious. Thank you.”

Overwhelmed by the lavish meal that resembled a banquet, Laritte expressed her gratitude.

Dietrich smiled gently.

“I hope the meal suits your tastes.”

“….”

Evangeline lost her appetite and quietly set down her utensils.

Watching her brother smiling at her friend like that was a strange feeling…

But Dietrich didn’t even glance at Evangeline.

His eyes were fixed entirely on Laritte.

Not only that—

“Please try some of this lamb as well.”

He carefully offered her food,

“Lady Ansie’s glass is empty.”

He signaled a servant to refill her drink before it was empty,

“Do you dislike herbs with a strong aroma?”

He observed Laritte closely as she ate, trying to learn her preferences!

Meanwhile, Evangeline was completely ignored the entire time!

This is suspicious. Totally suspicious!

Evangeline barely touched her food, instead observing her brother’s strange behavior.

‘Fine, I can accept him inviting her to dinner.’

Her eyes narrowed.

‘But personally going to her room to invite her? That’s really weird!’

Dietrich was usually so busy he managed his time down to the minute.

Sending a servant would have been perfectly normal.

But instead, he went himself, as if he wanted to confirm Laritte’s condition with his own eyes.

Noticing Evangeline picking at her food, Laritte worriedly looked at her.

“My Lady, your meal…”

At the same time, Evangeline shot Laritte a sharp look.

Startled, Laritte quickly corrected herself.

“…Eva.”

Only then did Evangeline nod in satisfaction.

Watching this, Dietrich’s expression shifted.

‘Eva and Lady Ansie… Are they calling each other by nicknames now?’

Meanwhile, Laritte carefully asked Evangeline,

“Are you uncomfortable? You don’t seem to be eating much.”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Of course, she couldn’t say she’d lost her appetite because of her brother’s strange behavior.

Then Dietrich spoke up.

“By the way, Eva.”

“What?”

“I heard Lady Ansie got soaked earlier because of Lady Lopez.”

“Oh, that!”

Thinking about it again made Evangeline so angry that her forehead burned.

“You won’t believe what Lady Lopez did earlier!”

Evangeline furiously recounted the entire incident.

And when she reached the part where Seraphina spilled the vase of water all over Laritte—

“….”

Dietrich’s eyes turned cold as ice.

‘Huh?’

Evangeline stopped talking and stared wide-eyed.

‘Brother looks really angry!’

Laritte didn’t seem to notice, but Evangeline, who had lived with him her whole life, could tell.

Just hearing that Laritte had been soaked had put Dietrich in a very bad mood.

Still, Evangeline needed to finish her story.

“I almost got drenched, but Lady Ansie—no…”

Shaking her head, she quickly corrected herself.

“…Lari stopped it.”

“Lari?”

“Yeah. We decided to call each other by nicknames starting today.”

Evangeline smiled sweetly.

Dietrich sighed and turned to Laritte.

“Once again, I’m in your debt.”

“It’s nothing. I wanted to do it.”

“I’m just glad you’re not seriously hurt. Claudius will compensate you for the soaked dress and items.”

“No, it’s fine…”

Laritte was about to refuse, but then she froze.

Evangeline was glaring at her with intense eyes.

Accept it! If you don’t, I’ll be angry!

That was exactly what her look meant.

Feeling pressured, Laritte nodded.

“…I’ll accept it. Thank you.”

“Good.”

Dietrich nodded, then added gently,

“But… shielding Eva at all costs may not be the best way.”

“Huh?”

“Eva would feel upset if she caused Lady Ansie this much trouble.”

Yes! That’s absolutely true!

Evangeline nodded so hard it looked like her neck might break.

“….”

Feeling guilty, Laritte closed her mouth.

“Please remember to take care of yourself too.”

Dietrich looked at her with a concerned expression.

‘Hmm?’

Evangeline sensed something unusual in the atmosphere between the two.

‘Was my brother always the type to worry about others?’

Absolutely not.

If anything, he was the type to cut off anyone he didn’t care about.

So…

‘I knew it.’

Evangeline’s eyes gleamed like a hawk’s.

It’s clear the two of them have romantic feelings for each other.

She remembered a past conversation at the book club the day they planned their visit to the temple.

“Don’t worry. After meeting the Duke, my standards are too high now.”

“Wait, are you saying you’re interested in my brother?!”

“No!”

At the time, Laritte had been strangely flustered, unlike her usual self.

‘Just the fact that she mentioned my brother without thinking… doesn’t that mean she’s interested in him?’

And when Evangeline had pointed it out, Laritte had been completely shocked.

‘They say a strong denial is basically an affirmation, right?’

Evangeline grinned slyly.

Dietrich grimaced and scolded her.

“Why are you smiling so creepily?”

“C-creepy? How can you say that?!”

She snapped back but quickly fell silent as a thought struck her.

‘Ah.’

Laritte and Evangeline had now become true friends, beyond the friend contract.

But that alone wasn’t enough.

As she had seen with Laritte and Seraphina, friendships could break apart at any time.

‘But if Lari and I become family?’

If Laritte and Dietrich got married, Laritte would become Evangeline’s sister-in-law.

Their relationship would be much stronger as legal family, and…

‘I’d never have to worry about my friendship with Lari breaking again!’

Oh my gosh… I’m a genius, aren’t I?

Evangeline made up her mind.

‘I’ll make sure to bring Lari and my brother together!’