TCBCVF 66

~Chapter 66~

Normally, Evangeline might look at someone with disdain, but she never raised her voice like that.

She had always been seen as cold, noble, and arrogant, the type to look down on others.

“This is the first time I’ve seen the Lady get angry so sincerely…”

Seraphina gulped without realizing.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?!”

“I-I…”

Seraphina couldn’t even open her mouth to respond.

She had always felt inferior to Evangeline, but this time, she had truly made a mistake.

Yet Evangeline didn’t even give her a chance to explain.

“Just wait and see.”

Evangeline glared sharply.

“I’m not going to let this go.”

Seraphina felt a chill go down her spine.

Evangeline, still furious, grabbed Laritte’s arm and turned away.

“Let’s go to my house.”

“Huh?”

“You need to get checked by a doctor, clean up, and change clothes.”

“Huh?”

Laritte was too shocked to say anything else.

But Evangeline pulled her along with firm steps.

The other ladies followed, unsure what to do.

“Lady Ansie, oh my goodness!”

“What should we do…!”

Meanwhile, Lady Sanchez tried to quietly slip back into the group.

“Lady Sanchez, do you not know your place?”

Evangeline snapped like she had eyes in the back of her head.

“How dare you even think of following me.”

“W-what? Lady, I didn’t mean…”

“Stay where I can’t see you. I don’t even want to look at you.”

Sanchez shrank back, unable to say anything.

And with that, Evangeline took Laritte and left.

Lady Sherwood walked over to Lady Sanchez.

“Lady Sanchez.”

Lady Sanchez flinched like she had been slapped.

Lady Sherwood smiled faintly.

“You don’t need to come to the next meeting.”

It was a clear expulsion from the group.

Lady Sanchez’s face turned ashen.

“Lady Sherwood, wait!”

She ran after her, and only Seraphina was left behind.

“What have I done…?”

She looked down at the vase in her hands.

Half the water had spilled out.

She had almost drenched Evangeline with it.

Thanks to Laritte, that disaster was avoided…

“The Lady… truly turned her back on me.”

Seraphina felt dizzy.

A while later, a man walked confidently into the chapel.

His light brown hair fell gently across his forehead.

He had soft sky-blue eyes, clean features, and wore a neat priest’s robe.

He looked like a saint from heaven.

A priest looked surprised and called out,

“High Priest Evans?”

Isaac Evans — the youngest High Priest in history and beloved by all the senior clergy.

The startled priest asked cautiously,

“Why are you here, sir? Didn’t you decline the meeting request earlier from Lady Claudius?”

Isaac raised one finger to his lips.

“Shhh.”

His sky-blue eyes landed on Seraphina, still standing in a daze.

Isaac stared at her for a long while.

“Hmm.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

“Interesting.”

I didn’t even know how I ended up at the Claudius townhouse.

On the way to the room, the Lady kept asking me with a worried face,

“Are you okay?”

By the way, I think she asked me that like five times already—in the carriage too.

I replied lifelessly,

“I’m fine…”

“How can you say you’re fine?”

The Lady frowned at me.

‘Wait, weren’t you the one who just asked if I was okay?’

I gave her a tired look.

“You’re soaked. There’s no way you’re fine.”

Since she looked so frantic, I just kept quiet.

“Just wait a moment. I’ll call the doctor. Okay?”

She really wanted to get a doctor… for this?

I hesitated,

“I really am okay though…”

“Still! You never know! If your body tenses up too much, you could get sick later!”

The Lady kept talking in a worried rush.

Honestly, I was a little embarrassed.

It’s not like I got into a carriage accident. It was just a bit of water.

Then—

“Eva?”

A smooth, pleasant voice called out.

Turning around, I saw the Duke, looking at us curiously.

“I thought you went to the temple. Why are you back so soon… wait.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Why is Lady Ansie all wet?”

“Why? Because of Lady Lopez, of course!”

Evangeline snapped.

“Lady Lopez?” the Duke asked, frowning.

“She almost splashed me with water! But Lady Ansie jumped in the way!”

The Lady kept ranting, then paused and shook her head.

“Never mind, I’ll explain later. I need to get her to the doctor first.”

“Doctor? Why?”

The Duke’s expression grew serious.

“Did Lady Ansie get hurt?”

“No! I’m not hurt!”

Feeling like the situation was getting out of hand, I quickly jumped in.

“I just got a little wet…”

“Even so. If you catch a cold, it could be serious.”

“Huh?”

But the Duke was already nodding toward the Lady.

“Take Lady Ansie to the doctor right away.”

“See? Even my brother agrees with me!”

The Lady then dragged me inside.

My eyes were wide with panic.

‘Seriously… I’m fine!’

Dietrich, left alone, looked troubled.

“Lady Lopez tried to splash Eva with water?”

It probably wasn’t on purpose.

Lady Lopez had a good reputation and wouldn’t risk it over something so stupid.

Besides, Evangeline was the only daughter of the powerful Claudius family.

Even if they didn’t get along, doing something so bold in public was…

“Too risky.”

From what he had learned, Lady Lopez seemed like a careful, calculating person.

It was probably a mistake, and Lady Ansie protected Evangeline.

“….”

His blue eyes darkened.

He was grateful that Lady Ansie helped his sister.

But still—

“Can’t she look out for herself too?”

It was a hard feeling to explain.

Evangeline was safe, and that was good.

But seeing Lady Ansie come back soaked and trembling…

It bothered him.

She looked too fragile. Too pitiful.

…His hand almost reached out on its own.

“Just what happened between her and Lady Lopez?”

Seraphina Lopez—like a tiny stone in his shoe.

Annoying and always in the way.

Just like back at the Ansie party, and now again…

“She’s getting more and more irritating.”

Dietrich clenched his jaw in frustration.