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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: A Strategic Friendship
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Meanwhile, as I was lost in thought, the Duchess gazed at me steadily.
“What are you doing? Drink your tea.”
She urged me to drink in a sullen voice.
“Ah, yes.”
I hurriedly took a sip of tea.
*It’s delicious.*
Whenever I had tea, it was always whatever Serapina and Gregory wanted to drink.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had tea that suited my own tastes.
The Duchess, who had been closely observing my expression, suddenly asked me.
“How is it?”
“…It’s delicious.”
“Well, that’s good then.”
The Duchess replied coyly, pushing a plate of madeleines toward me.
“That black tea tastes good with these madeleines.”
This time, I didn’t refuse and immediately popped a madeleine into my mouth.
A happy smile spread across my lips at the gentle sweetness.
“It’s delicious.”
The exclamation escaped me before I knew it.
A faint smile touched the Duchess’s lips…
*Wait, did she just smile?*
Startled, I stared at the Duchess with wide eyes.
But she had already returned to her usual expressionless face.
*Hmm, I must have imagined it, right?*
At that moment.
A question suddenly occurred to me.
*She’s a bit prickly, but her personality isn’t so bad that she should be feared as the villainess of the century.*
*Is she really going to end up locked away in a convent after tormenting Serapina?*
I once again went over the details of the original story.
Duchess Claudius, unable to bear her jealousy of Serapina monopolizing her brother's affection, resorts to harming her.
And is ultimately confined to a convent by her own brother.
*But.*
So far, the Duchess hasn’t harmed Serapina even once.
Which means.
It's possible that, like me, she was forced into those actions simply because she was the ‘original villainess’…
*No, what the hell is this damn original story anyway?*
Just for the sake of creating an obstacle for the male and female leads before they get together.
Is it really right for Duchess Claudius to be used up as a villainess?
*That’s not right!*
My expression hardened internally.
Even if this world revolves around Serapina, there should be a limit!
It’s infuriating enough that Serapina can so easily manipulate people just because she’s the protagonist of this world.
And to pave a flowery path for that same Serapina.
I have to be her doormat, and the Duchess has to be the villainess?
*That’s completely absurd!*
I inwardly ground my teeth.
Just then, the Duchess glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.
Snapping back to my senses, I quickly composed my expression.
*Phew, that was close.*
*I almost lost my composure in front of the Duchess.*
“By the way, Lady Ansi. You said you knew a way to restore my reputation, didn’t you?”
Although her tone itself was indifferent.
It was laced with a faint, unconcealed anticipation.
“What is this method?”
Somehow, the Duchess’s eyes seemed strangely bright.
Was it just my imagination?
“It’s…”
I swallowed hard.
*Wow, I’m so nervous I could die.*
*What if the Duchess scoffs and tells me not to talk nonsense?*
But my mouth was already moving on its own.
“You become my friend.”
As the answer left my lips, I squeezed my eyes shut without realizing it.
My brain went into overdrive, automatically imagining all sorts of negative reactions.
*‘Ha, you and I, friends, Lady Ansi? You certainly dream big.’*
…she might sneer.
Or, if not that,
*‘Did you dare request a private audience with me just to spout such nonsense?’*
…she might explode in anger!
But no matter how long I waited, the expected reprimand never came.
The Duchess was simply silent.
And then.
“Friends?”
A calm question came back.
*…She’s not angry?*
I cautiously lifted my eyelids.
At that moment, my eyes met the Duchess’s.
*Ah, that startled me!*
I flinched reflexively, my shoulders tensing.
With that expressionless face, she really looked like an ice queen who could freeze someone with a single glance!
“What’s with that reaction? Am I going to eat you, Lady Ansi?”
The Duchess chided me in an indifferent tone.
I hurriedly shook my head.
“Ah, no. It’s not that…”
“Never mind. More importantly, I’d like to hear why that’s a solution for my reputation.”
Umm.
Glancing furtively at the Duchess, I carefully began to speak.
“First, the rumors currently circulating about you in high society are…”
“The rumors?”
The Duchess swallowed hard.
*Oh?*
I blinked.
She’s usually so aloof, I thought she wouldn’t care at all about rumors concerning herself.
I guess she was surprisingly concerned about them?
“Um, is it all right if I speak frankly?”
After all, hearing the raw rumors directly might upset her.
Fortunately, the Duchess readily nodded.
“Of course.”
Hmm, in that case.
I continued cautiously.
“That you’re so arrogant you ignore everyone and refuse to interact with them…”
“No, that’s—!”
For a moment, the Duchess raised her voice, her face full of indignation.
Of course, perhaps considering her own dignity,
“…Never mind. It’s nothing.”
she quickly fell silent.
*What’s this? She has a surprisingly cute side.*
*She’s much more human than how she was portrayed in the novel, isn’t she?*
“This is just my opinion, but if you make a friend and show that you can get along amicably… wouldn’t your reputation naturally recover?”
I continued with a serious expression.
“On top of that, if you’re seen getting along casually with a lower-ranking noble like me, other people will start to feel more at ease with you.”
“Hmm.”
“It’s about softening your image so that others can approach you more easily.”
As I explained, I sneakily observed the Duchess’s expression.
She still maintained her haughty facade, but it was clear she was starting to be swayed by my words.
*Good.*
I dangled the bait.
“Besides, it may be forward of me to say, but you dislike Serapina, don’t you?”
“Of course I do!”
At that moment.
The Duchess, thoroughly agitated, cried out.
“Lady Lopes is completely insufferable, isn’t she?”
*Truly, every word you say is correct!*
I nearly shot up from my seat to give the Duchess a round of applause.
“There’s a limit to how much you can cunningly use people!”
The Duchess continued, fuming.
“She always pretends to be kind and frail, taking a step back while conveniently pushing the things she doesn’t want to do onto others, doesn’t she?”
*Wow, to think she understands Serapina so perfectly!*
I expressed my vehement agreement.
“That’s right! I feel the same way!”
“Right? You think so too, don’t you, Lady Ansi?!”
The Duchess, who had been quite excited, soon asked me again with a coy look.
“Then why were you so close with Lady Lopes until now?”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
I couldn’t exactly explain that this world was actually inside a book I’d read, and that I was originally a character who acted as Serapina’s handmaiden, could I?
Meanwhile, as I failed to answer, the Duchess narrowed her eyes and continued.
“To be honest, I’d been thinking you had absolutely no judgment whatsoever, Lady Ansi.”
*Ouch, Duchess.*
*That one hurt!*
The Duchess’s scathing words were enough to make my head spin…
“A-Anyway!”
I quickly changed the subject.
“From your perspective as well, becoming friends with me won’t be so bad.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I’m Serapina’s best friend, aren’t I?”
I shrugged for emphasis.
“I plan to distance myself from Serapina starting now, and when I do, people will wonder why our relationship soured.”
I lowered my voice conspiratorially and posed a question to the Duchess in turn.
“…And won’t they also wonder why, of all people, I ditched Serapina and went to your side?”
