~Chapter 5~
I woke up dishevelled from bed and replied indifferently.
“Guests? Didn’t I tell you before to refuse all visitors?”
“Yes, you did… but they forced their way in.”
Amy hesitated as she spoke.
At that moment, I realised who had come.
The only people who could barge into Viscount Ansi’s townhouse like it was their right…
There were only two.
“…Seraphina and Gregory?”
At my cold question, Amy stammered in reply.
“Yes, my lady.”
Honestly, I wanted to kick them out immediately.
But…
‘That wouldn’t be wise.’
Setting aside Baron Lopez’s family with its hollow title, the Gusto count’s house was higher in status than the Ansi viscount family.
If I picked a fight unnecessarily, it would become troublesome.
So…
“I am not feeling well enough to come down to the parlour.”
After a moment’s thought, I answered bluntly.
“So if they have something urgent to say, tell them to come up to my bedroom.”
Meeting someone while still in nightclothes was a privilege of the higher-ranked party.
‘It means they’re so insignificant that I don’t even need to dress properly to greet them.’
In other words, it was a situation their pride could never accept.
“Understood, I will convey that.”
I heard Amy’s footsteps retreat.
Listening quietly, I smirked.
‘Let’s see if they actually come up to see me.’
Honestly, I thought their pride wouldn’t let them climb up to my bedroom.
“Laritte, what is the meaning of this rudeness?!”
Gregory rushed in and glared at me with wide eyes.
“Not even bothering to change your clothes, let alone get out of bed, to greet us?!”
Indeed.
I hadn’t even gotten up from bed.
Leaning against my soft pillow, I looked up at them with a pitiful expression.
‘Seraphina, you’re not the only one who can act, you know?’
I can act too.
“But… you’re the ones who came despite me saying I was sick.”
“What?!”
“I thought you came to check on me out of concern… I was just grateful.”
The word concern made their faces flush red and pale alternately.
I chuckled inwardly.
Why else would I have pretended to be sick?
It was all to use it like this!
“I thought you visited without an appointment because you were worried about me.”
“…No, that’s not it.”
“So I felt bad about making you come for nothing, that’s why I called you to my bedroom… cough cough.”
I coughed deliberately for effect.
For the record, I’m perfectly healthy.
I’d been eating well, snacking out of boredom, and sleeping like a baby these past few days.
Honestly, my face probably looked smooth and glossy like a peeled egg right now.
“Anyway.”
Gregory cleared his throat and raised his voice.
“Do you know how troubled we were after you left the picnic like that?!”
…And what am I supposed to do about that?
I looked at him with that meaning, and Gregory straightened his shoulders.
“I’m truly disappointed. I need to reconsider our engagement.”
“……”
Interpreting my silence however he wished, Gregory’s confidence grew.
“I can’t stay engaged to a woman with no grace like you!”
Ah, is that so?
“I’m going to tell my father about this too! Understood?!”
He declared proudly, sneaking a glance at my face.
I was… speechless.
What on earth is he thinking?
Did he really believe that if he spoke harshly,
‘Sob sob, I was wrong! Please forgive me just this once!’
…I would beg him like that?
‘Well, to be fair, the old me might have.’
But only for a moment did I feel solemn.
Then I drooped my shoulders and spoke.
“You know, I thought a lot about it after that day.”
“What do you mean?”
“When Seraphina fell, you took such good care of her.”
Seraphina glared at me fiercely.
She must be remembering how embarrassing her posture was.
But that’s none of my business, right?
“To be honest, if my fiancé was kneeling in front of another woman, I would have stood him up immediately…”
“S-Seraphina is my childhood friend!”
“Yes, yes, I understand. Childhood friends care for each other deeply.”
I nodded, pretending to look downcast.
“But… I realised how narrow-minded I am.”
“…What?”
Gregory looked at me suspiciously.
I met his gaze with sad eyes.
“Gregory, you said you wanted to reconsider our engagement, right?”
“A-ah. Well… yes.”
“I already sent annulment papers to the Gusto family.”
Gregory looked blank.
I kindly added:
“Of course, I understand you haven’t seen them yet. You’ve been busy taking care of Seraphina, after all.”
“Wait, what are you saying…?”
“Come to think of it, Seraphina’s condition was a bit strange. How tired must her legs have been to think her tightly tied shoelaces had come undone?”
I shrugged lightly and turned to Seraphina.
“But you sat all day at the picnic… it’s odd you thought your laces loosened. Perhaps you should see a doctor about your legs?”
Seraphina’s face froze.
At the same time, Gregory yelled.
“Laritte! What nonsense are you talking about?!”
“I’m saying I won’t intrude on you two anymore.”
I smiled kindly.
“You always said friends should wish for each other’s happiness.”
“Laritte!”
“So I want to wish you both happiness. Seraphina, I hope you’re happy with my fiancé. Oh, right.”
My smile deepened.
“I guess he’s my ex-fiancé now?”
“Stop joking…!”
Just then—
“L-Laritte, my lady!”
Amy rushed in, flustered.
I asked blankly.
“Amy, what is it?”
“A letter!”
She raised a letter high.
It was sealed with red wax bearing a family crest on fine paper.
A rose and a sword.
The family symbolised by those two things was…
“A letter from the Claudius Duke’s family!”
What?!
My eyes widened.
I stared blankly at the letter.
On the elegant envelope, written in flowing script was:
[Evangeline von Claudius.]
That’s right.
The sender was none other than Evangeline, the only daughter of the Claudius Duke family!
“……”
“……”
Seraphina and Gregory looked at me in shock.
The Claudius family was the highest of high nobility, so distant they seemed like stars in the sky.
“…Did you say Lady Claudius?”
After a short silence, Seraphina spoke first.
“Why would she send you a letter?”
Oh? This was unexpected.
Usually, Seraphina strictly maintained her delicate and innocent image, avoiding any behaviour that could harm her reputation.
She left harsh words to others and stayed one step back.
Until now, Gregory had always been the one to raise his voice at me, while Seraphina played the fragile bystander.
But this time, she questioned me directly.
She must really be curious about what’s written in that letter.
Well, not that I’m obligated to tell her.
“Who knows? I don’t know either.”
I shrugged teasingly.
