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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Letter
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I sat up in bed, tousled, and answered listlessly.
“Guests? I thought I told you to turn everyone away.”
“Yes, you did, but… they forced their way in.”
Amy trailed off, hesitating.
At that moment, I realized who had come.
The kind of people who could barge into the Ansi viscounty's townhouse as if they owned the place.
The people I had given that right to…
…were only two.
“…Serapina and Gregory?”
To my cold question, Amy stammered from outside the door.
“Yes, my lady.”
Well, if I had my way, I’d have thrown them out immediately.
*But I can’t do that.*
Even setting aside the Lopes barony, which was a title in name only.
It was a fact that the County of Gusto outranked the Viscounty of Ansi.
Causing a scene would just be a hassle.
In that case…
“I'm not feeling well. I don't have the strength to go down to the drawing room.”
I replied sullenly after a moment's thought.
“So, if they have something to say, tell them to come up to my bedroom.”
For reference, receiving guests in one's nightclothes is a privilege of the higher-ranked.
*They're so insignificant that I don't even need to get dressed to see them.*
That was more or less the meaning.
In other words, it was a situation their pride would never allow.
“I will relay your message.”
I heard Amy's footsteps receding from the door.
Listening intently, I grinned.
*So, will they really come to see me?*
Honestly, I thought their pride would keep them from crawling all the way up to my bedroom.
“Lalitt, what is this insolence?!”
Gregory, who had stormed in, glared at me.
“You haven't even changed! Receiving us while lying in bed!”
That was right.
I hadn't even gotten out of bed!
Leaning against a plush pillow, I put on a pitiful expression and looked up at them.
*Serapina, you're not the only one who knows how to act, are you?*
I can do it too.
“But… you're the ones who came even after I said I was sick, aren't you?”
“What?!”
“I thought you were here to see how I was doing. I was so grateful…”
A sick visit.
At that phrase, their faces flushed with indignation.
I chuckled inwardly.
Why else would I have used the excuse of being sick?
It was all to use it like this!
“I even thought you came without an appointment because you were worried about me.”
“…No, that's…”
“That's why I felt bad about you making a wasted trip and invited you to my bedroom… *Cough*.”
I coughed deliberately for them to hear.
For the record, I was perfectly healthy right now.
I had been holed up in the townhouse for days, eating well, having snacks when I was bored, and sleeping soundly.
Perhaps that was why my face was as smooth as a peeled egg right now…
“Anyway.”
*Ahem.*
Gregory cleared his throat and needlessly raised his voice.
“Do you have any idea how much trouble we were in after you left the picnic like that?!”
…And what am I supposed to do about it?
I looked at Gregory with that thought in mind, and he puffed out his chest and continued.
“I'm so disappointed. I'll have to reconsider our engagement.”
“…”
I wonder how he interpreted my silence.
Gregory's shoulders squared even more.
“I can't remain engaged to a woman as graceless as you!”
Oh, is that so?
“I'm going to tell my father! Do you understand?!”
Gregory shouted triumphantly, then stole a glance at my expression.
I was… simply dumbfounded.
What on earth was he thinking?
Did he really think that if he spoke forcefully,
I’d go, *‘Sob, I was wrong! Please forgive me just this once!’*
…and cling to him?
*No, my past self might have.*
My solemnity was brief.
I let my shoulders slump and opened my mouth.
“Actually, I've been thinking a lot about what happened that day.”
“Thinking about what?”
“When Serapina fell, you took such good care of her, Gregory.”
At that, Serapina shot me a venomous glare.
It seemed the memory of that humiliating posture had resurfaced.
Well, that wasn't my problem, was it?
“To be honest, if my fiancée were kneeling before another woman, I would naturally help her up…”
“Th-that's because Sera is my childhood friend!”
“Yes, yes, I understand. It's only natural for childhood friends to hold each other dear.”
I feigned a dejected expression and nodded.
“It's just that… this made me realize what a petty person I am.”
“…What?”
For a moment, Gregory looked at me with suspicion.
I met his gaze with a sorrowful look.
“Gregory, you said you wanted to reconsider our engagement, right?”
“Ah, no. That was…”
“As a matter of fact, I've already sent a letter of annulment to the County of Gusto.”
To a stunned Gregory, I added magnanimously.
“Of course, I understand why you haven't seen it yet. You must have been busy taking care of Serapina.”
“Wait, what are you talking about…”
“Then again, Serapina's condition was a bit odd. Her legs must have been so tired for her to mistake a perfectly tied shoelace for an untied one.”
I shrugged lightly and turned to Serapina.
“But we were sitting all day at the picnic… it's strange you felt your shoelace come undone. Maybe you should see a doctor; there could be something wrong with your foot.”
Serapina's face hardened.
At the same time, Gregory yelled.
“Lalitt! What on earth have you been saying?!”
“I'm saying I won't be a clueless third wheel between you two anymore.”
I smiled benignly.
“You two always said it, didn't you? That friends should wish for each other's happiness.”
“Lalitt!”
“So I'm going to wish for your happiness, too. Serapina, I hope you'll be happy with my fiancé. Oh, wait.”
My smile deepened slightly.
“He's my ex-fiancé now, isn't he?”
“Stop joking around…!”
Just as Gregory was about to raise his voice again.
“L-Lady Lalitt!”
Amy rushed over to me in a flurry.
I asked, bewildered.
“Amy, what is it?”
“A letter!”
Amy held up an envelope.
On the stiff, high-quality paper envelope, a family crest was stamped in red wax.
A rose and a sword.
The family that used those two symbols was none other than…
“A letter came from the Duchy of Claudius!”
What?!
My eyes went wide.
I stared blankly down at the letter.
On the elegant envelope, in a flowing script,
[Evanjeline von Claudius.]
was the signature.
That was right.
The sender of the letter was the one and only noble daughter of the Duchy of Claudius, Evanjeline!
“…”
“…”
Serapina and Gregory also stared at me with blank faces.
The Duchy of Claudius was, after all, a supreme noble house, as distant as the stars.
“…Duchess Claudius?”
After a brief silence.
Serapina was the first to speak.
“Why would the Duchess send you a letter?”
Oh, this was unexpected.
As befitting a heroine who received everyone's affection, Serapina usually managed her pure and innocent image meticulously.
To the point where she would leave all the unpleasant tasks—anything that might tarnish her image—to others.
You could see it in how Gregory was always the one to raise his voice at me, while Serapina would feign weakness and take a step back.
But for her to question me directly this time.
She must be really curious about what was written in this letter.
Well, it wasn't like I was obligated to answer her.
“Who knows? I have no idea.”
I gave a spiteful shrug.
