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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Using My Name
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“By any chance, Lady, are you planning to attend the party at the Viscounty of Ansi?”
It was a pointedly difficult question.
The flustered lady’s eyes darted around as her words trailed off.
“Pardon? I, well…”
“I trust our friendship isn’t so trivial.”
Serapina’s smile deepened slightly.
“Isn’t that right?”
“Ah…”
Lady Pailen, at a loss, glanced at the other ladies around her.
The ladies seated around them also wore complicated expressions.
“…”
“…”
An awkward atmosphere settled over them.
A moment later.
“W-well… attending parties is something our parents decide!”
“M-me too.”
“That’s right. I’d love to attend the County of Gusto’s party, but…!”
Lips trembling faintly from the forced smiles.
And their gazes, constantly avoiding hers.
‘What in the world is this?’
Serapina felt a dark sense of foreboding.
That day.
Not a single one of the ladies gave Serapina a firm promise to attend the party at the County of Gusto.
* * *
Bang!
The Duchess threw open the coffeehouse door with a flourish and strode quickly away.
Dragged along helplessly by the Duchess, I cautiously opened my mouth.
“Um, Your Grace?”
Thud.
At my call, the Duchess stopped in her tracks.
Startled, I quickly continued.
“Th-that thing the ladies said earlier… about me using you, it was a complete lie…”
At the same time, the Duchess called my name, her expression serious.
“Lady Ansi.”
“Y-yes.”
I couldn’t finish my sentence and shrank back.
But the Duchess only took a deep breath, showing no sign of speaking.
The longer the silence stretched, the more frightened I became.
‘Could she be very angry?’
It was possible.
The ladies had been so unreasonable that I’d snapped back in a fit of anger.
In a way, my words might have sounded like I was saying she was ‘good to stick by and use.’
But then.
“Were you that happy to be my friend?”
“Pardon?”
The unexpected question left me stunned.
At the same time, the Duchess whirled around.
Her blue eyes, fixed on me, sparkled like stars.
“I suppose it can’t be helped.”
The Duchess began, feigning indifference.
“From now on, you have my permission to go around using my name as you please.”
“Use your name…?”
“Yes.”
The Duchess nodded firmly.
“Be proud that you are the one and only friend of Duchess Claudius, and tell everyone you’re my friend.”
“Y-Your Grace?”
“Stop cowering like that and walk with your shoulders back.”
The Duchess’s lips kept twitching as she suppressed a bursting smile.
“It’s not hard for friends to do this much for each other.”
She shrugged her shoulders pointedly.
Then, as if she’d realized something, she hastily added.
“W-we have a friendship contract, after all! That’s why I’m just acting friendly. I’m merely fulfilling the contract…!”
Her flustered excuses made her seem like a cat with its tail on fire…
I let out a small laugh without realizing it.
“Of course. I understand perfectly.”
Even though she was going on about a friendship contract, the Duchess was, right now…
‘She’s being considerate of me.’
…For some reason, my heart felt warm.
“B-but.”
Just then, the Duchess cautiously glanced at me.
“You’re not in trouble because I decided to throw a party on a whim, are you? Don’t worry about the cost, I’ll pay for it…”
“Not at all, Your Grace.”
I immediately shook my head.
“I’ve always wanted to knock Serapina and Gregory down a peg, too.”
“Oh, really? Good, that’s perfect.”
Full of motivation, the Duchess clenched her fists.
“Let’s crush that obnoxious Lady Lopes’s pride!”
Just then.
The Duchess narrowed her eyes and glanced at me sideways.
“…What is it? Why are you grinning like that?”
“Ah, well.”
I touched my lips awkwardly.
I could feel the corners of my mouth, which had curved into an irrepressible smile.
Since it had come to this.
I answered with a wide smile.
“Because I like you so much, Your Grace.”
“…”
At my answer, the Duchess stared at me blankly.
And then.
“I… I do too.”
The Duchess’s red lips moved slightly.
“I… don’t dislike you, Lady Ansi.”
Then she turned away primly.
“Let’s hurry back. July 5th isn’t far off, and there’s a lot to prepare if we’re going to throw a party, isn’t there?”
“Yes, of course.”
I followed beside the Duchess, beaming.
* * *
‘Insanely busy.’
This single phrase summed up Dietrich’s life for the past few days since he’d come down to the south.
Luncheons with merchants, meetings with staff, appointments with the captains who commanded his fleet.
Because he’d packed his schedule to the brim—in a way that could be described as ‘efficient’ but felt more like ‘suffocating’—
Dietrich had been forced to cut into his sleeping hours just to keep up.
Thanks to that, he was able to return to his hotel early today…
“Hah, no matter what, I’m going to bed early tonight. A hot bath, and then…”
His attendant, dark circles under his eyes, muttered grimly, leaning back in the carriage seat with a delighted smile.
“…”
Dietrich, who had been watching his attendant across from him with a sour look, suddenly turned his gaze out the window.
The road to the hotel passed through a splendid street.
It was one of the most exclusive shopping districts in the Viscounty of Ansi.
“Make sure you buy me a present!”
Evanjeline’s cheerful voice suddenly came to mind.
She’d said she was visiting the Viscounty of Ansi too, so she could just buy whatever she needed herself.
‘That Eva… I hope she’s not bothering Lady Ansi.’
Shaking his head, Dietrich suddenly thought of his sister’s friend.
Lalitt Ansi.
Long, flowing black hair.
Peony-pink eyes that met his gaze without wavering.
Listening to her calm voice as she gently soothed Evanjeline had somehow put his own mind at ease…
‘I wonder if we’ll run into each other.’
Lost in thought, Dietrich gave a wry smile.
‘Not likely.’
Although the Viscounty of Ansi wasn’t a vast territory, it wasn’t small enough to expect a chance encounter.
Besides, Lalitt would be staying at the Ansi residence.
Still, it’s a bit of a shame…
‘…A shame?’
For a moment, Dietrich froze.
‘Why?’
After all, there was no reason for him to feel that way.
Momentarily baffled, Dietrich quickly scrambled for a reason.
‘Lady Ansi is… Evanjeline’s only friend.’
And she was the only one who could smooth out Evanjeline’s rough edges.
That must be it. The reason he kept thinking about Lalitt.
Dietrich forced himself to accept that explanation.
‘More importantly, that Eva.’
Dietrich clicked his tongue and gazed discontentedly out the window.
‘If I don’t bring her something, she’ll whine for three days and four nights…’
Just then, a shop that seemed perfect for Evanjeline’s tastes caught his eye.
His sister’s taste in gifts was actually quite simple.
Shiny, small, and pretty things.
To satisfy that taste, nothing was better than jewelry.
Dietrich lightly tapped the carriage wall.
The carriage glided to a smooth stop.
At the same time, the half-dozing attendant groggily lifted his eyelids.
“Y-Your Grace?”
“I’m going to buy a gift for Eva.”
Dietrich added casually to his blinking attendant.
“I’ll go take a look by myself. You get some rest in the meantime.”
“But I must accompany Your Grace… mmmph.”
Muttering something, the attendant fell right back asleep.
Watching him, Dietrich felt a faint pang of guilt.
‘Was working him day and night for three days a bit too much?’
Well, to be precise, the attendant had volunteered to come, his eyes wide at the enormous bonus…
Dietrich shook his head and stepped out of the carriage.
