Chapter 15
Perfect timing. If Lily and Isabella are trying to play tricks on me, then I have to strike back too.
“Lady Tiana has arrived.”
A servant standing by the door announced this, and the door opened.
From here on, if I let my guard down, I’ll be caught off guard. Huh? I was on time, but everyone is already seated.
“My apologies for being a little late.”
“No, you arrived on time. We just got here a little early.”
After I apologized, the Duke said that.
It felt a little strange, but I took my seat.
As soon as I sat down, a lavish feast began to appear before me.
I’ve never seen a meal like this in my life. It looks as luxurious as a high-end restaurant spread.
It looks absolutely delicious.
“All set. Then, let’s begin the meal.”
This is my first time eating with a knife and fork.
Wow… this meat is so tender and delicious. Even in my previous life, I’ve never eaten ingredients like this.
“…Delicious.”
Without realizing it, I muttered the words aloud in surprise at how tasty it was. How embarrassing.
“You like meat, Tiana, don’t you?” the Duke said.
“Uh, y-yes.”
I was a little surprised because he spoke to me directly, saying something different than usual.
“Gilbert, I heard you recently eliminated the human trafficking ring causing a stir in the capital.”
“Yes. The operation was large-scale, and it’s difficult to grasp everything. Since nobles may also be involved, we will continue the investigation.”
“Ah… when investigating, make sure to calmly assess the situation.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Gilbert… that’s Gilbert, the eldest son.
Gilbert is a young man with smooth, shining silver hair and translucent amber eyes.
He was said to have a shrewd personality. Perhaps because of that, in the novel, he didn’t have many direct interactions with Tiana.
As I quietly ate, Liam spoke up.
“You’ve been going to Ellie’s room a lot lately, right? And I heard you wanted Ellie’s necklace.”
Huh? Why would he think I wanted the necklace? I only complimented it because it was beautiful.
Could it be that my older sister exaggerated the story?
No, Lily was there too. One of them must have exaggerated it.
“Did someone tell you that?”
“Yeah. Lily told me.”
I’m glad Liam is straightforward. So it really was Lily who said it.
“Tia didn’t say that. She just complimented it, saying it suits her.”
My older sister corrected him.
Hearing that, the Duke and Gilbert shifted their gazes toward Lily.
Feeling their eyes on her, Lily trembled in nervousness.
“B-but… it’s true that Lady Tiana wanted Lady Ellie’s necklace!”
“When I was cleaning the room earlier, Lady Tiana was holding the necklace that Lady Ellie said she had lost. I also saw her put it in the pocket of her dress! I am Lady Tiana’s maid, so I hesitated to say anything that would put my mistress at a disadvantage, but I have no choice.”
Sigh… really exasperating.
This must be part of Lily and Isabella’s plan.
Their strategy is to deliberately humiliate me in a room full of Astelle family members and servants.
