TCBCVF 80

~Chapter 80~

I was left speechless when the young lady snapped at me.

“Honestly, Lari, this is partly your fault.”

“Me?”

“Of course. You’re always saying, ‘I mustn’t trouble anyone,’ aren’t you?”

…Was I?

Her words were so unexpected that I simply blinked at her.

She pursed her lips and continued.

“Sometimes you should just accept other people’s kindness.”

“…Eva.”

“Most people act with their own interests in mind, you know.”

She shrugged her shoulders and pressed on firmly.

“And Lari—you’re allowed to do the same.”

“….”

At that moment, without meaning to, I thought of the Duke.

Am I really allowed?

The male lead of this world—
Seraphina’s fated partner.

Could I, setting aside all of that,
dare to harbor feelings for him?

Just then Eva’s cheerful voice broke my thoughts.

“Anyway, tomorrow you should come have dinner with me and my brother.”

“Dinner?”

“Yes. It’s nice that you and my brother get along, but… I’ve been a bit bored lately.”

Her eyes sparkled as she insisted.

“Our family recently invested in Restaurant Bailey. Have you heard of it?”

“Of course.”

I nodded.

Restaurant Bailey—one of the capital’s most renowned establishments,
a must-visit destination for every tourist.

“They say their limited summer bluefin tuna steak is incredible. Let’s go together, yes?”

“….”

Looking at her, my chest suddenly swelled with warmth.

Because I already knew.

Whenever there was a fashionable or prestigious place to visit,
Eva always tried to bring me along.

And the reason was surely…

She does it for my sake.

From the day we first signed our “friendship contract,” she had done so.

Through her, I had experienced countless places and occasions I never could have dreamed of before.

No doubt she was mindful of how neglected I’d been while serving Seraphina.

“Eva,” I said suddenly, almost without thinking,

“Do you know that I’m always grateful to you?”

“….”

She looked at me for a long moment, then smiled with her eyes.

“I feel the same way.”

Her answer warmed me deeply.

Before entering the restaurant—

the gathered ladies in the waiting lounge chatted excitedly.

“I can’t wait.”

“Tell me about it. It was so hard to get a reservation.”

Meanwhile, Seraphina flaunted her airs for the first time in a while.

“Restaurant Bailey’s food is always exquisite.”

The ladies exchanged sly glances.

She’s been practically dead in society lately…
Now she acts grand just because she’s finally going somewhere she knows.

But Seraphina showed no sign of stopping her boasting.

“I’ve been here before with Gregor. Each course was crafted with such care.”

Her eyes softened nostalgically.

“It brings back memories. The chef himself even came out to thank me personally for visiting.”

“Oh, really?”

“So Lady Lopez has been here already, then.”

The other ladies forced polite smiles, though their expressions soured.

Then one of them spoke.

“Did you hear? The Claudius family recently invested in this restaurant.”

What?

Seraphina’s stomach dropped as if she’d swallowed a block of ice.

Why Claudius, of all people?!

Don’t tell me… they’ll ban me here too?

The ladies carried on with their chatter.

“They say they spent quite a sum developing the summer special menu.”

“Yes, the bluefin tuna with their signature sauce. It’s supposed to be amazing—I’m excited.”

Just then, a waiter approached.

“Pardon me—are you Lady Lopez?”

“….”

Seraphina eyed him warily.

He spoke carefully.

“I’m terribly sorry, but we cannot allow you to dine here.”

“What?!”

Her face flushed crimson.

“I’ve eaten here several times before! Why not now?!”

“Our establishment recently updated its policy. We ask for your understanding.”

As they argued back and forth, the other ladies rose one by one, smirking.

“Lady Lopez, we’ll head in first.”

“We’ll be waiting inside.”

“Do join us when you’re done, won’t you?”

Once they disappeared into the restaurant, Seraphina was left standing alone, stunned.

The waiter pressed gently, looking troubled.

“Would you kindly leave now?”

“….”

She bit her lip until it bled and rose to her feet.

There was no hope of forcing her way in—
and besides, other waiting guests were staring and whispering.

“Goodness, what’s going on?”

“Isn’t that Lady Lopez?”

Humiliated, Seraphina fled outside.

But her ordeal wasn’t over yet.

That crest…

Right in front of the restaurant stood a carriage emblazoned with the Claudius emblem.

Seraphina instinctively ducked out of sight.

The door opened, and the Duke stepped out.

“Come, Eva.”

He offered his hand to his younger sister, then smiled as he extended it to Larit.

She took it gracefully, stepping down from the carriage.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“Think nothing of it.”

Seraphina stared as though entranced.

Adorned elegantly, Larit looked breathtaking—worthy of any grand stage.

And the Duke’s gentle gaze was fixed solely on her.

“Come on, hurry up,” Eva urged playfully.

The three of them together radiated such warmth and closeness that they seemed to belong to another world entirely—
a world Seraphina could never hope to enter.

“….”

They disappeared into the restaurant.

Unable to withstand the humiliation, Seraphina clenched her skirts so tightly her knuckles turned white.

The hushed admiration of the onlookers reached her ears.

“My, imagine—the Duke Claudius, his sister, and Lady Ansie together. Unbelievable.”

“They must be quite close, to share dinner like this.”

Praises for their closeness flowed freely—

“I heard lately that if you want to invite Lady Claudius, you first have to win over Lady Ansie.”

“No surprise. The young lady refuses to attend any gathering without her.”

They marveled at the special affection the Claudius siblings showed Larit—

“And that’s not all. Rumor has it Lady Ansie and the Duke are growing… unusually close.”

—whispers even of a budding romance.

The fact that people gossiped so freely only proved how special their bond was.

Seraphina’s eyes quivered violently.

That should have been me.

To walk arm-in-arm with the Empire’s most eligible man,
to meet those dazzling blue eyes with a graceful smile,
to live a life admired by all…

But that life had already been snatched away by Larit.

A twisted fury surged within her,
as if something rightfully hers had been stolen.

“Larit,” she whispered darkly.

“…I will never forgive you.”

Her usual sweet, lilting tone was gone—
replaced by a voice as cold and heavy as a curse.