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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Personal Tour Guide
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I… was speechless.
And for good reason.
Of all the nobles we had ever hosted at the Viscounty of Ansi, the one with the highest status was…
‘Count Gusto.’
Yes, the man who was almost my father-in-law.
I whispered into the duchess’s ear.
“P-please don’t mind them. My parents will relax in a little while…”
But just then.
“M-My Lady Duchess?”
A trembling voice called out to her.
“Have we perhaps committed some offense?”
My father was looking at the duchess, trembling like a leaf.
“If there is anything that displeases you, please do not hesitate to tell us. We will rectify it immediately.”
The duchess grimaced and whispered to me.
“They’re not relaxing at all!”
To be fair, this probably wasn’t an unfamiliar reaction for the duchess.
Thanks to the malicious rumors Serapina had spread, she had unintentionally become the social circle’s drill sergeant.
But the duchess had a secret weapon.
“Sigh, I suppose I have no choice.”
Letting out a deep sigh, the duchess took a confident step forward.
“A pretty girl like me will just have to handle it herself.”
Um, Your Grace.
‘The words ‘pretty’ and ‘handle it myself’ don’t seem to go together very well…?’
But the duchess managed to brilliantly weave those words together through her actions.
“Hello, I am Evanjeline von Claudius.”
The duchess politely greeted my parents in return.
“I’ve heard so much about you from Lady Ansi. It’s a true pleasure to finally meet you.”
Then, she beamed.
A smile that could instantly captivate even a woman like me.
It was a smile far more splendid and dazzling than any of the roses the duchess grew.
How should I put it? The smile of the most beautiful woman in the world was so powerful that…
“Ah, please come inside.”
“We have prepared some tea and refreshments, though they may be humble.”
Although my parents were still a bit stiff, they welcomed the duchess with faces more relaxed than before.
‘Good heavens…’
I was purely amazed.
At the same time, the duchess glanced back at me triumphantly.
‘See?’
Her nose was in the air, held high with pride.
‘Pretty me solved it, didn’t I?’
It was true.
In this world, being pretty was everything.
* * *
And so, after we were all seated in the drawing room.
My mother spoke first.
“So, what happened with the broken engagement?”
“Ah, well…”
I carefully explained my reasons for choosing to break the engagement.
What happened at Countess Johanson’s picnic.
And how I was always forced to be the outsider between Gregory and Serapina.
“…Still, I’m truly sorry for acting on my own without consulting you first.”
“I see.”
My mother nodded and stroked the back of my hand.
“You did the right thing. Your well-being comes first.”
“…Mom.”
“I actually think it’s a relief that the engagement has been called off at this point.”
My mother smiled, her eyes crinkling.
“Your mother is right, Lari!”
My father quickly chimed in.
“It’s a huge weight off my shoulders! I never liked Lord Gusto from the very beginning!”
That’s right, that’s right.
At my father’s vehement reaction, the duchess nodded enthusiastically.
“That’s right, Lady Ansi is far too good for him!”
“Ah, you think so as well, Your Grace?”
“Of course! How dare he hit on my friend when he’s so beneath her? Every time I see him, I want to smack him on the head!”
My father and the duchess, now fast friends, began to badmouth Gregory….
Somehow, I felt strange.
Of course, my parents had always genuinely loved me, and it was true they weren’t particularly fond of my engagement to Gregory.
But they had never expressed their dislike for him so openly before.
‘Could it be because I quit my role as Serapina’s bootlicker from the original story?’
If I interpret it as their strange fondness for Serapina fading, leading to a greater dislike for Gregory…
Am I just overthinking things?
“Oh, honestly. I can’t do anything with your father.”
Meanwhile, my mother, who had been watching my father with a weary look, turned back to me.
“By the way, Lari. Did you know?”
Was it just my imagination, or did my mother’s expression seem a little dark?
“Lord Gusto and Lady Lopes are also down here in the south.”
“What?”
Why are they here?
“I believe they are currently staying on the Gusto estate.”
My mother gave a bitter smile.
“They even sent a summer party invitation addressed to you and the duchess.”
“Ugh.”
I scowled without realizing it.
I finally understood why that pair of cockroaches had come down here.
‘Has it already come to that time of year?’
Just as the capital has its own social scene, each region has its own social circle.
Naturally, the south has one too…
‘Serapina was always considered one of the foremost ladies of southern society.’
Usually, the influential families in each region host their own parties to coincide with the social season.
The southern social season was typically in the summer.
Serapina was always very welcome at the County of Gusto, an influential family in the south.
Given that she had the full affection of Gregory, the second son of the Gusto family, it was only natural.
Moreover, Serapina had the kind of personality that would never miss an opportunity to be in the spotlight.
During the social season, she would always make time in her busy schedule to make an appearance in the south.
‘Well, when the tiger is gone, the fox becomes king.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
After all, even in the capital where the duchess held sway, she deliberately targeted small social events the duchess didn’t attend and reigned like a queen.
So what would it be like in the south?
“So, you won’t be going to the Gusto family’s party?”
“Of course not.”
I replied, disgusted.
Still, it was astonishing.
It hadn’t even been that long since the duchess humiliated them at the brunch cafe, yet they had the audacity to send an invitation with such shamelessness.
I could never do something like that.
‘Well… I do understand their desperation, though.’
The County of Gusto had recently been hit by a series of misfortunes.
First, Gregory had gotten on Duchess Claudius’s bad side.
Second, the count’s family hadn’t even been invited to the ducal salon.
And since Gregory was the cause of all this, he was likely facing pressure from within his family, but…
‘Is that my problem?’
I shrugged lightly.
The only saving grace was that Serapina and Gregory were staying on the Gusto estate.
Since I’ve already declined the Gusto family’s invitation, it’s unlikely we’ll run into each other.
Please, just get out of my life.
In that case, all that’s left is…
“Your Grace, you can count on me.”
At my confident declaration, the duchess tilted her head.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“While you’re in the viscounty, I’ll be your personal tour guide!”
All we have to do is have fun!
It went without saying that the duchess’s eyes sparkled brightly.
* * *
The next day.
The duchess and I left the mansion as soon as breakfast was over.
For the record, the duchess had been so full of anticipation that,
“Lady Ansi, it’s morning!”
she, who usually opened her eyes groggily only after the sun was high in the sky, woke me at the crack of dawn.
She then rushed me through breakfast, barely eating a bite herself…
“When are we leaving? Huh?”
...she kept urging.
