*** *** *** *** ***
In the end, I succeeded in taking Leonie, who looked deeply moved, to choose a dress.
Moving is the best way to change the subject.
Of course, I tried to talk about the merits of Grand Duke Cygnus while we were moving, but somehow there was no gap in our conversation.
“Leonie, you look so pretty.”
Leonie chose a blue-tinted dress that went very well with her blonde hair.
“But Libe, isn’t the skirt too much? I feel a bit burdened.”
“What are you talking about? You need to wear at least this much to stand out.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, no. Leonie, you are really beautiful. Let’s go with this dress.”
I’m a master of persuasion and negotiation, after all.
After much effort, Leonie decided on a dress with a fluttering hem like dragonfly wings and a splendid skirt.
Leonie must be the most beautiful and noticeable at the ball.
That way, she’ll catch Gerlach’s eye!
Then, if the two fall in love, the original story will proceed smoothly, and I can say goodbye to this world, saying it was hard and let’s never meet again.
“So pretty. Shall we go pick a ribbon now?”
“Yes, sure.”
We were leaving the shop after looking at the dresses together.
“Oh my, who is this? Lady Bernadette?”
I turned my head at the voice from behind.
A familiar-faced girl was standing there, covering her mouth with a fan.
Paley Isley.
The Isley family had accumulated wealth through the wine business and had connections with the royal family.
In The Tumultuous Life of Leonie, she was the one who took the lead in bullying Leonie with me.
‘At first, Liberata was just playing pranks on Leonie, but it got worse as she got closer to Paley.’
Paley Isley was someone who believed she could solve everything with money, befitting a lady from a wealthy family.
“You two came to look at dresses together, I see.”
Paley said, staring at me intently.
What is that expression?
Originally, Paley would have conspired with me to bully Leonie from behind.
Because we were childhood friends, Leonie followed me well, and Liberata (in the past) took advantage of Leonie’s feelings.
“We’ve already chosen everything. Enjoy your shopping, Lady Isley!”
I was about to hurry away, holding Leonie’s arm.
Paley subtly approached and whispered in my ear.
“I heard Lady Bernadette had an interesting experience yesterday. Is it true?”
Ha, really.
Did someone climb a hill and shout it through a megaphone?
I knew well how to respond to Paley.
A clumsy excuse wouldn’t work, and I couldn’t completely ignore it either.
“I always have interesting experiences. Well then.”
At times like this, it’s best to mumble vaguely with a slightly dazed, foolish look and turn away!
“Wait a moment.”
But soon, a chilling voice hit the back of my head.
I turned my head slightly, and Paley was glaring at me, lowering her fan.
What, what is that expression?
“At the ball yesterday.”
“Oh, yes, yes.”
“I heard Grand Duke Cygnus lifted Lady Bernadette, who was drunk. Is it true?”
This is driving me crazy.
I barely managed to stop myself from reflexively closing my eyes tightly.
“Oh, that.”
How should I make an excuse?
Paley had a face that seemed to know everything, as if telling me not to even dream of lying.
“I drank a bit too much yesterday. So.”
“So?”
“I just made a little mistake.”
“A little mistake, you say?”
“Yes, yes, just a light mistake, you could say.”
“Then the two of you.”
Paley leaned in a bit closer and whispered.
“Is that all? Nothing else happened, right?”
“W-what do you mean?”
I was sweating bullets inside, but I was trying my best not to show it.
“Why are you suddenly stuttering? You look anxious too.”
Paley was glaring at me with eyes like a viper.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyway, Lady Almaz is waiting for me, so I must go.”
I shook off Paley’s hand and turned away, my heart pounding.
Then Paley added a chilling remark to my back.
“Don’t waste your efforts on unnecessary things and behave properly from now on. That person is destined for great things.”
“……”
I walked away from her quickly, but my heart felt like it was about to leap out of my chest.
‘What on earth is going on?’
It was true that Paley was spiteful, but she had never shown such an attitude towards me before.
‘Was it a problem that I seemed close to the Grand Duke?’
Of course, he was a hot topic in social circles, so that could be the case, but her reaction seemed a bit excessive for just that reason.
‘No, wait a minute. Then what is it? Could it be that she has feelings for the Grabd Duke?’
Ugh, that can’t be!
Paley having feelings for Gerlach?
‘Wait, then in the past, did she help me bully Leonie because she thought the Grabd Duke was taken from her?’
Paley was just a flat villain. However, she never took the lead and subtly bullied Leonie.
It was always Liberata who took the lead. So I wasn’t really curious about Paley’s feelings.
Could it really be that?
Oh no, this complicates things too much.
At that moment, Leonie spoke to me with a very worried expression.
“Libe, are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
“What did Lady Isley say? Was it something serious?”
Leonie asked me with a concerned look.
“Oh, no, it wasn’t anything serious.”
“Um, Libe.”
Then Leonie hesitated, looking like she wanted to say something but wasn’t sure if she should.
“Leonie, it’s okay, go ahead and say it.”
“Well.”
“What is it you wanted to say?”
“Libe, I don’t know how this will sound to someone as unbiased as you.”
“….”
“But I think it’s best not to get too close to Lady Isley.”
“Leonie.”
“I know. I know you’ve been spending time with Lady Isley lately. But there are a lot of bad things said about her.”
“Don’t worry, Leonie. I won’t do anything that would make you worry.”
This was something I was telling myself as well.
Let’s not create anything that would make Leonie worry.
Let’s not let the story get more twisted and complicated.
Stay calm, Libe!
At my words, Leonie looked at me with a deeply moved expression once again.
“Libe, you always listen to what I have to say. Thank you.”
I don’t think this is something to be thanked for.
Leonie clasped her hands together and showed a wistful expression.
“I’m happy to have a strong and reliable friend like you.”
“Hahaha, sh-shall we get going?”
Why is Leonie’s smiling face scarier than Paley’s cold gaze?
*** *** *** *** ***
A few days later, an unexpected guest visited the mansion.
“I apologize for coming so suddenly.”
“Apologize? Your Grace, please don’t say such things. Feel free to visit anytime.”
Please don’t say such things.
Feel free to visit anytime! Just a few hours ago, the news of the Grand Duke’s visit turned the entire mansion upside down.
Mother was in a frenzy, rummaging through the house, and the servants, with flushed faces, were dusting, wiping, and sweeping…
In the midst of all this, I was led by Ecla to the second floor to choose a dress and do my hair.
Mother didn’t even pretend to hear my question about whether all this was necessary and chose her cherished teacup and the most dignified dress to wear.
Then she stood quietly in the drawing room, fan in hand.
If Gerlach visits twice, Mother might collapse from a nervous breakdown, yet she says he can come anytime.
“Welcome, Your Grace. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Mother recited the words she had been repeating for hours without a hitch and looked extremely satisfied with herself.
“I apologize for the intrusion, but I have something to say to Lady Bernadette. Could you spare a moment?”
Gerlach immediately revealed that he didn’t want to engage in unnecessary conversation.
“Oh, of course.”
At his words, Father and Mother exchanged a glance and quickly left the drawing room.
After they left, only the two of us remained in the drawing room.
For some reason, I was too nervous to look him in the face, so I just pressed my lips together and fiddled with my clothes.
“It’s been a while.”
He began languidly.
“Yes, have you been well?”
I barely managed to say a greeting and glanced at him, noticing that Gerlach’s expression seemed somewhat uncomfortable.
As if a crack had appeared on his porcelain-like clear face.
He didn’t sit in the prepared chair but stood upright and asked dryly.
“Are you perhaps angry with me?”
Excuse me? That’s what I want to ask right now.
To ask me if I’m angry with that expression.
“Angry?”
“Since I haven’t heard from you since that day.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I just bowed my head.
Ah, you see, I’m currently trying to connect you with Leonie.
“I barely managed to catch you as you were trying to leave in a hurry and sent you off in a carriage. Are you now planning to treat me like a stranger?”
“Th-that can’t be.”
I swallowed dryly as Gerlach leisurely walked closer.
The scent of him that lingered in my mind. I took a step back, fearing I might welcome that scent.
“I’m glad to see you after a long time, but it seems you are not.”
For some reason, it was difficult to look him straight in the face.
I couldn’t meet his gaze, and my heart was uncomfortably racing.
“I came because I couldn’t forget the sight of you chattering that night.”
“……”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Your Grace. I have something I want to say.”
A Marquis’s daughter with ambiguous brown hair shouldn’t take the protagonist’s place.
So, your side is not my place.
I need to find my place.
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