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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: A Good Friend
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“All done!”
The Duchess lifted a document high in the air, exclaiming in a bright voice.
It was the order form for the flowers to be used as decorations for the upcoming party.
“Lady Ansi, look at this! I finished the whole order form!”
The Duchess waved the paper at me eagerly.
“Well done. Let’s have a look, shall we?”
I took the document and quickly scanned it.
Then, I smiled in satisfaction.
“It passes.”
“Hooray!”
The Duchess was ecstatic.
Her skill with paperwork had certainly improved a great deal.
I, too, felt a sense of pride.
What was this feeling? Perhaps this is what it’s like to see a cherished younger sister suddenly all grown up.
“Just you wait, Lady Ansi.”
Meanwhile, the Duchess clenched her fists, her face full of determination.
“I will make sure your first dance is with my brother!”
“Haha…”
I could only manage an awkward laugh.
Of course, every lady in high society coveted the first dance with Duke Claudius.
It was only natural.
His status, looks, wealth, and power.
In the entire empire, there was no one as perfect as the Duke.
It was like seeing a prince straight out of a fairy tale.
But.
*‘Come on, there’s no way the Duke would actually attend.’*
I was skeptical.
He was always incredibly busy, and he had only come down to the Viscounty of Ansi for work this time.
The Duke’s time was far too precious to hope for such a stroke of luck…
Just as I was forcing a wry smile,
the Duchess suddenly shot up from her seat.
“I’m just going to step out for a moment.”
Bewildered, I looked up at her.
“Step out? Where to…?”
“Hmm…”
The Duchess’s eyes darted around before she gave me a vague smile.
“It’s a secret.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll be right back. Okay?”
And with that, she dashed out of the room.
What was with this sudden burst of action?
I stared blankly at her retreating back.
Just then.
“Lari.”
A voice called my name.
I turned to see my mother peeking her head into the living room.
“Mother?”
She sidled up to me and glanced around.
“Where is the Duchess?”
“She just stepped out. She’ll be back soon.”
“I see.”
My mother nodded, then narrowed her eyes and posed a question.
“But Lari, didn’t you leave out an important explanation for your mother?”
“What do you mean?”
“How did you end up becoming friends with Duchess Claudius?”
Ah.
For a moment, a cold sweat ran down my spine.
“Well, it just sort of happened.”
I could hardly tell her I’d made a friendship contract with the Duchess in a fit of anger, could I?
Fortunately, that didn’t seem to be what my mother was truly curious about.
“Still, it’s such a relief.”
“Hm? What is?”
“That the Duchess seems like a good person.”
As I blinked, my mother gave me a gentle smile.
“She’s so down-to-earth despite her high status. And, well, you know?”
Though her voice trailed off, I immediately understood what she was trying to say.
*‘So that’s how it was.’*
Whenever Serapina was involved, my parents would usually,
“You should still get along with your friends.”
…reassure me, so I never realized.
All that time I spent belittling myself, being taken for granted, and hanging around Gregory and Serapina.
It must have driven countless nails into my parents’ hearts.
How upset must they have been, watching their only daughter be disrespected time and again?
“I’m so happy that my Lari seems to have made a good friend.”
My mother gently stroked the back of my hand.
Seeing her bright smile, a pang went through the depths of my heart.
“Don’t worry, Mother.”
I answered in a deliberately cheerful voice.
“The Duchess is nothing like Gregory or Serapina. She’s so good to me.”
“Yes, I can see that.”
There was a faint wetness in my mother’s voice as she replied.
I squeezed her hand tightly for no particular reason.
It suddenly occurred to me that it had been a very long time since I’d shared such an intimate touch with my mother.
***
Evanjeline stomped down the hallway.
*‘I mean, would it kill him to attend one party? Would it?!’*
There was a reason for Evanjeline’s fury.
Her dear brother, of course, had yet to reply!
That was why Evanjeline was planning to pester him again, even if it meant bombarding him with letters.
She herself had sent a letter last evening, and had pestered him with another this morning.
She had completely forgotten that one should normally give the recipient time to consider a reply.
*‘Just you wait, does he think I’ll give up that easily?!’*
Her blue eyes blazed.
This was now a matter of Evanjeline’s pride.
She had already told Lalitt,
“Lady Ansi’s first dance will absolutely be with my brother!”
thumping her chest as she declared it.
Of course, if Lalitt found out about her ‘letter bomb’ plan, she would surely try to stop her.
So she deliberately hadn’t mentioned it…
*‘I mean, who does he think he is, playing so hard to get? If I tell him to come, he should just come!’*
Just as Evanjeline was fuming internally.
“Your Grace!”
Hearing her title, Evanjeline whipped around.
A maid was bowing her head.
“A letter has arrived for you, Your Grace.”
Could it be?!
Evanjeline snatched the letter.
On the envelope, the name ‘Dietrich von Claudius’ was written in elegant script.
*‘It’s from my brother!’*
Evanjeline’s eyes flashed as she tore it open.
Her expression soon brightened.
*‘Yes!’*
I have to tell Lady Ansi this wonderful news first!
Evanjeline hurried back to the living room.
“Lady An…! Hmm?”
She froze just as she was about to throw the door open.
“…that the Duchess seems like a good person.”
The soft sound of conversation drifted through the crack in the door.
Evanjeline’s eyes widened.
*‘That person is…’*
Lalitt’s mother, Viscountess Ansi.
“She’s so down-to-earth despite her high status. And, well, you know?”
The Viscountess smiled warmly at Lalitt.
“I’m so happy that my Lari seems to have made a good friend.”
“Don’t worry, Mother.”
Lalitt gave her mother a small shake of her head.
“The Duchess is nothing like Gregory or Serapina. She’s so good to me.”
*Hehe.*
Listening to the mother and daughter’s conversation, Evanjeline felt a secret sense of pride.
However, one name in their conversation particularly caught her ear.
“Lari.”
Evanjeline quietly mulled over the nickname.
Come to think of it, Viscount and Viscountess Ansi, and even Serapina, all called Lalitt by the nickname ‘Lari’.
*‘And I’m a friend who even signed a friendship contract.’*
Evanjeline pouted for no reason.
*‘When will I be able to call Lady Ansi by her nickname?’*
***
At last, the day of the party arrived.
The ballroom, opened for the first time in a long while, was as radiant as a summer garden brought indoors.
Floral arrangements, which the Duchess had poured her heart into, were placed throughout the hall, and the polished silver candlesticks and tableware gleamed so brightly you could see your reflection in them.
Light from the chandeliers cascaded down in a brilliant shower.
And in the center of it all.
I stood with my back straight, welcoming the guests as they entered the ballroom.
“Thank you so much for attending our family’s party.”
I offered the greeting with a smooth smile.
