Chapter 225: Chapter 225

Ding— Ding—

The sound of the bell signaling midnight echoed.

Carynne rolled her eyes and tried to fall asleep.

How should she get along with Isella? She still couldn’t tell. But living together might make it easier to become closer. Hadn’t Raymond said the same?

“How exactly do people make friends?”

“Just… by being together, you become friends.”

“Ah, really. Try to explain it with a bit more sincerity.”

A life without friends throughout a hundred years of solitude.

Carynne had earnestly asked Raymond how to make friends while holding her fountain pen, ready to take notes. However, Raymond struggled to explain it to her.

He had always been popular, with both men and women. But fitting in wasn’t something you could calculate and encapsulate with words. People usually approached him first, not the other way around. So, he didn’t know what to say to Carynne when she asked how to make friends.

“…Compared to the time I’ve spent with Isella, haven’t I been with you longer…?”

Raymond groaned and rubbed his temples.

“It’s just that I lived with a group. When you live together, you naturally grow closer.”

Raymond grabbed Carynne’s shoulder and reassured her again.

“Surely, if you live together, anyone would come to like you.”

* * *

With what confidence was he basing that on?

Carynne avoided the stern gaze of the vicar. His eyes were not kind. But it wasn’t really directed at Carynne herself. She at least was attending morning mass.

“Did Miss Isella Evans not come today either?”

Because Isella had no intention of participating in any of the cathedral’s activities.

Isella had not come today either. Days had passed quickly, but Isella had not once lived the life of a regular parishioner.

Then the scrutiny should be on Isella, but since she didn’t come out at all, Carynne had to keep making excuses for her every time. Today, Carynne concocted yet another excuse for Isella.

“…She’s not feeling well.”

“Is that true?”

No, it wasn’t. Isella was probably sleeping right now. She had gotten thoroughly drunk after meeting opera singers the night before. Zion had practically carried a heavy Isella to the front of the Grand Cathedral, but Carynne had to support her to her room.

“Miss Carynne. Is Miss Isella really that ill? Shouldn’t she see a doctor then?”

“It’s not that serious…”

“Miss Hare.”

Seeing the persistence of his questioning, it seemed he had caught them coming in yesterday. The vicar’s gray eyes gleamed beneath his brows. Lying further seemed pointless. It would only fuel the fire.

“That’s what she told me to say.”

“……”

Of course, Isella hadn’t said that. Isella used the Grand Cathedral as lodging, but she didn’t attend mass. She also consistently broke curfew.

Some priests gave her disapproving looks, but she ignored them. The heap of gold Isella had given to the bishop when she entered the cathedral was too significant to ignore, and they were mindful of her father, Verdic Evans. If they ousted her over her lifestyle and something happened, Verdic would surely wreak havoc on the clergy.

“Miss Carynne Hare.”

“Yes, Vicar Ciaron.”

“Just… let Miss Isella Evans live as she wishes. I won’t encourage her to come to mass anymore.”

The vicar, looking tired, entrusted this task to Carynne. He had several times chastised Isella’s indulgent and lazy lifestyle like an old clergyman should, but Isella, with the defiance of youth, ignored him. In the end, the vicar was the one who lost.

Here too, Isella could live as she wanted. And that direction was far from communal living.

Carynne was well-seasoned in playing the role of a maid by Isella’s side during the day, to the point that she was sick and tired of it. She knew which clothes Isella liked, which plays she enjoyed, in front of whom she made mistakes, whom she offended, and what kind of antics she was up to.

It would be rare to find someone who knew Isella over the past year better than Carynne did. Not even her parents could know her that intricately.

So, Carynne had some expectations about this situation.

“Isella, this dress suits you the best. It’s the finest here.”

Probably.

Carynne and Isella were in the midst of a lengthy argument while trying on various dresses in Madame Devinel’s boutique. Madame Devinel’s shop was one of the finer ones in the capital, and it was a place where Isella had greatly admired the designs Carynne had chosen in the past.

“But I hate this dress.”

“Doesn’t it suit you? This dress would be the most fitting for your attendance at Countess Luce’s gathering. It’s an auction, but the Golden Lion Hall is so crowded that you need something this flashy.”

Carynne tried to placate a grumbling Isella while gluing some ornaments to her face. The flamboyant corsage and the similarly designed skirt decorations were striking.

“It’s too heavy.”

“You used to like this kind of thing, so what’s wrong now?”

“I never really liked these.”

“……”

“I really like this dress.”

In the past, Isella would wear that peach-colored dress and twirl around the room in front of Carynne, showing off. Carynne had to clap her hands in admiration dozens of times or else face Isella’s wrath, her cheeks flushing as she clasped her hands in envy.

“It really suits you.”

“No touching. You couldn’t afford this dress no matter how long you worked.”

“The dress looks too tacky!”

“H-H-How can you say that about my design…!”

“Shouldn’t you give me a properly made dress? Bring something with smaller, more delicate decorations! And I don’t like the color either. It would be better if a different fabric were used around the neck.”

“Miss Isella Evans. For consistency, it would be better to use this fabric…”

“Are you just being lazy now!”

She was just throwing a tantrum.

Where did this come from? Carynne turned her head and sighed softly, then caught the eye of other ladies in the dressing room.

‘It’s tough, isn’t it?’

‘I’m alright.’

They briefly exchanged feelings through the shapes of their mouths and glances.

Carynne was amazed by that brief moment of connection. They were strangers. And it was hardly a conversation, yet she could feel such a strong camaraderie in that one instant—it felt almost miraculous.

Eventually, after much struggle, Isella had five dresses tailored.

After exhausting herself in front of Isella, Madame Devinel looked relieved as if a throbbing tooth had been extracted, and she was about to write down when to deliver the dresses, asking for the address. Upon hearing it was the Grand Cathedral, her face turned awkward.

“Merchants are forbidden from entering the Grand Cathedral.”

“Why is that when I’m just getting what I need?”

“It’s the rule.”

It was to prevent luxury goods that could be seen as bribes.

“If you were carrying the items yourself, perhaps it would be fine. However, for the store to deliver them directly is difficult because it would draw significant criticism.”

“How am I supposed to carry them if they’re heavy?”

“I apologize.”

“Look here! I’ve already paid for everything…!”

Madame Devinel bowed her head slightly in apology, but her face didn’t look very remorseful. Instead, there was a slightly amused expression as if she found Isella’s frustration somewhat satisfying.

***