~Chapter 3~
‘So that’s what it was!’
On the first day Seraphina and I debuted in society.
Even then, my fiancé Gregory danced his first dance at the debutante ball not with me, but with Seraphina.
“Lari, we’re best friends, right? You’ll understand, won’t you?”
Without a single apology, Seraphina always made me do things for her!
‘Wow, this is seriously pissing me off.’
I was so angry my hands were shaking.
But what really made my eyes flip was—
‘What the hell is this?’
Seraphina’s shoelace was tied perfectly.
‘She clearly said her shoelace was loose?’
I stared blankly at the perfectly tied ribbon before looking up.
At that moment, Seraphina, who was chatting with Gregory, glanced down at me with a smile.
It was a gaze that clearly looked down on me.
‘Ah, I see now.’
In that instant, it felt like a bucket of ice water was poured over my head.
‘The shoelace was just an excuse. She just wanted to make me kneel at her feet.’
She always recommended ugly dresses that didn’t suit me under the excuse they looked good on me.
She did my makeup terribly with the excuse it suited my face.
At any outing or party, she always kept me by her side,
Showing everyone how I clung to her like a servant.
Like stars shine brighter in the dark, like petals look prettier with sepals.
That was my role to Seraphina.
……I was just someone who existed to make Seraphina stand out.
‘So that’s what I was.’
I clenched my teeth.
I had always felt something was off.
It was like I was forcibly inserted into a world that revolved only around Seraphina.
Until now, I desperately clung on, afraid to be abandoned.
My dearest friend.
My fiancé tied to me by our families.
Those two were my whole world.
That’s why being hated by them terrified me.
‘But now… I don’t care anymore!’
I reached out and yanked Seraphina’s ankle.
“Kyaa!”
Seraphina’s scream cut across the sky.
Thud!
She fell backward in her chair, staring blankly up at the sky.
She looked like an overturned frog hit by a stone.
It was a comical sight, completely unfitting for the usually elegant Seraphina.
“Goodness, Lady Lopez… pfft.”
“Are you okay, puhu…”
People trying to ask if she was okay couldn’t hold back their laughter.
Seraphina’s face turned bright red like a ripe tomato.
“Laritte!”
Gregory jumped up in shock.
Amazingly, while everyone was trying to suppress their laughter, only Gregory didn’t laugh.
Is that true love or what?
Honestly, it was pathetic.
“What did you just do?!”
Gregory shouted, glaring at me, and helped Seraphina up carefully.
He looked at her with eyes full of concern.
“Sera! Are you okay?!”
“Ah…”
Seraphina trembled like a newborn fawn, leaning into Gregory’s chest.
Then, with teary eyes, she whispered softly, making sure everyone could hear.
“Oh Gregor, I was so shocked…”
My eyebrow twitched.
Even now, she made sure to act all weak and delicate. Impressive.
“I feel dizzy… and my heart is racing…”
“We need a doctor right now!”
Gregory panicked.
“No, I can’t ruin the atmosphere of the picnic because of me.”
Seraphina shook her head pitifully, lowering her eyes.
“Laritte, how are you going to take responsibility for this?!”
Gregory glared at me, pointing his finger.
“What if Sera got seriously hurt?! Huh?!”
Even now, he called her “Sera” sweetly, while calling me by my full name “Laritte.” How admirable.
“P-please don’t worry, Count Gusto’s son.”
At that moment, Countess Johansson stepped in awkwardly.
“I ensured the safety of all guests…”
“Ensured safety with just a carpet?!” Gregory snapped.
“Sera is delicate! Even a small shock could hurt her badly!”
“……”
“……”
The atmosphere froze.
Wow, did he really just insult the host like that?
I couldn’t hide my disbelief.
‘Does Gregory have no sense at all?’
Today’s host was Countess Johansson.
She worked so hard to prepare for this picnic.
The grass was as soft as cotton, and thick carpets were laid on top.
“Isn’t that a bit much?” one lady whispered.
“He stacked so many cushions behind Lady Lopez.”
“Right? Other guests couldn’t even use them because he took them all.”
“With all those cushions, she wouldn’t get hurt even falling from the second floor.”
I glanced at Countess Johansson, whose face was turning red and blue with anger.
‘If a guest gets hurt at a picnic, it damages the host’s reputation too.’
Of course, I pushed Seraphina, so blame would come to me first.
But whispers would still spread.
‘Did you hear? Lady Lopez got hurt at Countess Johansson’s picnic.’
‘Shouldn’t the host have managed better?’
But clueless Gregory seemed ready to carry Seraphina off to a doctor.
So,
‘I should show the opposite attitude.’
I bowed deeply to Countess Johansson.
“I’m sorry, Countess. My hand slipped and caused trouble.”
First, I apologised politely to the host.
Then I turned to Seraphina with a regretful face.
“And sorry, Seraphina. I didn’t think you’d fall like that.”
“Why would she fall while tying her shoelace?!”
Gregory shouted again.
‘Thank you, Gregory. That helps.’
I covered my mouth in feigned surprise.
“Ah, because… her shoelace was tied perfectly.”
People started glancing suspiciously between Seraphina and me.
“Hm… didn’t Lady Lopez say her shoelace was loose?”
“Yes, I definitely heard that too.”
Especially Countess Johansson, already upset, narrowed her eyes sharply.
“Lady Lopez, did you make Lady Ansi kneel on purpose?”
At the Countess’s sharp question, others quickly waved their hands.
“Oh, no way.”
“It must be a misunderstanding.”
Most didn’t believe me.
But I was satisfied.
Just making people say, ‘Did Seraphina really make her friend kneel on purpose?’ about the ever-kind and lovely Seraphina was enough for me.
