Chapter 70: Chapter 70 - Just Can’t Be Friends!

Chapter 70 – Just Can’t Be Friends!

“What’s the matter, Dorothea?”

“Lady Odeletta insulted me! She mocked me for having an unrequited love with the Crown Prince!”

“…Really,” I deadpanned. I knedw Odeletta’s situation better than anyone else. I stared at Dorothea with a dubious expression on my face, and from behind I heard Odeletta clear her throat.

“I apologize that it sounded like I was mocking you, Lady Dorothea. I simply returned what you said to me because you are in the same situation as I am now. Just like how you felt sorry for me because of Lady Maristella’s two-timing.”

“T-two-timing?”

My eyes widened at this new revelation, and was only then did I realize the full situation.

Dorothea looked triumphant when she saw that I was speechless. As usual. I envied that confidence.

“Who is a two-timer?” a cool voice said from somewhere. No, not ‘somewhere’, but from right next to me. As I turned my head to the side, I saw Claude standing there with a fierce expression on his face. The intensity of it almost knocked me back. I had never seen anything like this before.

“How rude. I believe I heard that nonsense in my ears just a few hours ago,” he drawled.

“Nonsense?” Dorothea repeated, and she pushed her opinion proudly. “Lady Maristella frequents the Imperial Palace, and now she is flirting with you. Isn’t that obvious?”

“I’ve thought about it a long time, and I can only conclude that you only utter nonsense.” Claude looked down at Dorothea with scorn. “You are simply a trashy speaker.”

“Your Grace! How can you insult a lady that way!” she sputtered.

“Noble men and women must act with the dignity their title entails. Lady Dorothea’s words and actions are hardly that of a lady’s.” There was no sign of a smile on Claude’s face. He bore down at Dorothea with a cold look. “You insult my partner that way, you insult the Crown Prince, and you insult me. If you’re punished for contempt against the royal family, you know you have no defense.”

“What did I do—!”

“Don’t raise your voice, Lady Dorothea,” Claude interrupted sharply. “If you insult me and my partner one more time, then you really should prepare yourself to be locked up in Vale Tower for your profanity.”

Claude was still technically a royal, and, what’s more, Dorothea’s mouthful of false rumors also involved Xavier, the next emperor.

Dorothea remained silent, perhaps intimidated by Claude’s threat. The air remained stiff with tension, and I shifted awkwardly in the silence. When no one was talking, Dorothea opened her mouth to speak again. She looked at Claude and spoke in a clear voice.

“Why on earth do you care so much about Marie?” The moment I heard that, my shoulders stiffened in surprise. Dorothea’s eyes were narrowed in accusation. “You’re not in a relationship with Marie, are you?”

“You don’t seem to know anything,” Claude said with a smile. “Lady Maristella and I have something special between us two.”

The crowd suddenly stirred at the unexpected revelation, and my heart began to thump. I looked at Claude with a nervous expression, and he finally looked at me. Our eyes met in midair.

“We’re very close friends,” he said.

But that answer, too, was far from what I unexpected. My shoulders unknowingly relaxed.

“That’s ridiculous,” Dorothea retorted.

“What’s ridiculous?” Claude turned his head from me. He leveled Dorothea a hard stare, and clearly and forcefully spoke each syllable. “Although we met due to unfortunate circumstances, Lady Maristella and I are now close friends. It’s kind of surprising that her friend Lady Dorothea doesn’t know it.”

“Men and women can’t just be friends! Your Grace, this joke is too far.”

“You should keep your old-fashioned values to yourself.” His voice turned cold. “Apologize.”

Dorothea remained stubborn. “What do I have to apologize for? I’ve done nothing wrong, Your Highness.”‘

“If you’ve spoken carelessly, you must take responsibility for it, Lady Dorothea.” Claude’s voice echoed loudly in the air, and I gave an involuntary swallow. “I don’t care if you apologize to me, but you’d best apologize to the two ladies right now.”

“What did I do wrong!”

“You cannot stay like this,” he continued in an almost tired voice. “If you don’t want to be kicked out of this party, you’d better apologize. Unless you want to go to Vale Tower right now.”

“…”

Dorothea’s eyes trembled, but Claude showed no interest in giving her mercy.

“Apologize, Lady Dorothea,” he commanded again.

“Agh…!”

Dorothea looked furious. I had never seen her face so red since I arrived in the novel. But my own face remained as expressionless as a statue. I only felt numb. I had wondered if there could be something friendly between us, even if I did have some bad feelings towards her. But there wasn’t even that left now. I didn’t have the strength to hate her.

Dorothea came close to me and Lady Odeletta, then hesitated. I stood there waiting for Dorothea to speak. After a long moment, her lips finally parted.

“I…”

“…”

“I’m sorry.”

I lifted my head and looked at Dorothea. At that moment, I knew.

‘No, you aren’t sorry.’

I gave a silent cynical laugh, but I did not let it leave my mouth. Instead, I pressed my lips together then slowly opened them.

“Really?” I asked. I was genuinely curious. “Are you really sorry?”

Did she really feel remorse over what she said to me and Odeletta? Did she understand that what she did was wrong?

“What?” she said.

But I thought, well, what’s the use of it all now? I no longer had any emotions towards her. What’s the use of talking about it?

“This is enough,” I said with a slight upward turn at the corners of my mouth. “Let’s…just not see each other again.”

This was the real limit for the deal. It wasn’t possible for me to just stand there and be degraded. I had already grown so tired that I didn’t even want to talk to her for long.

In hindsight, I should have cut off this relationship at the tea party before the carriage accident. I dragged this situation on for too long because of external reasons.

I turned around. It really was over now. There was nothing left to say, and I did not regret my decision. As soon as I was about to tell Claude that we should leave, he spoke first.

“Lady Maristella.”

“…”

“Shall we go?”

All I could do was nod my head. With my mouth closed, I began to walk forward with Claude.