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~Chapter 53~
“Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering… If I gave her something she didn’t like, that would be rude too…”
“Are you bothered that Lady Ansi wasn’t wearing the earrings?”
“…”
He was right on the mark.
Dietrich looked uncharacteristically flustered.
Evangeline looked at her brother with a pitying look and shook her head.
“She seemed to like them.”
“Really?”
Dietrich’s face brightened as he looked at his sister.
“Yes. But those earrings are a bit too expensive to wear with casual outfits.”
Evangeline added slyly, “Brother, you spent quite a bit this time, didn’t you?”
The jewelry shop where Dietrich had bought Evangeline and Larit’s gifts was said to be the most popular one in the Ansi territory.
The price must have been considerable…
“Of course I should spend that much, considering she puts up with our troublemaker.”
“Who are you calling a troublemaker?!”
Evangeline snapped but quickly quieted down, clicking her tongue inwardly.
‘There’s no point pushing further right now.’
People rarely realize their own feelings easily.
Especially someone like Dietrich, who had lived a restrained life as the head of a noble house.
‘It’s better to let him figure it out himself than to poke at him.’
Evangeline closed her mouth, even though she really wanted to ask more.
Then she smoothly changed the topic.
“Brother, Lady Ansi’s mother told me she was thankful that I was friends with her daughter.”
“Lady Ansi’s mother?”
“Yes. She said she was glad her daughter had a good friend.”
Evangeline quietly observed Dietrich’s reaction before continuing.
“And… Lady Ansi also said she was proud of me, right?”
“Who?”
“Lady Ansi.”
“…”
It was true, so Dietrich had nothing to say.
Evangeline smiled shyly.
“I was honestly really happy, you know? You and Lady Ansi’s mother too. It was the first time anyone had said that to me.”
“Eba…”
Evangeline’s voice was rarely shy.
“I really like being with Lady Ansi. How should I put it…”
Evangeline fidgeted with her fingers and averted her gaze.
“I feel like… I could become a better person in the future.”
“…”
Dietrich looked at his sister quietly.
She was often the subject of bad rumors in the social world, called arrogant and spoiled…
‘She’s just immature, but she’s not a bad person.’
Seeing his little sister blush over just a few words of praise made him feel sorry for her.
After a while, Dietrich spoke.
“Eba, you’re already a good person.”
“…Brother?”
Evangeline blinked, surprised.
Dietrich added teasingly,
“Of course, you’re also stubborn, a troublemaker, you never listen, and you snap back whenever anyone tries to talk to you.”
“Hey! How can you just start insulting me out of nowhere? I was about to be touched for once!”
Evangeline glared at her brother, who smiled softly.
“But… Lady Ansi and I both care for you very much.”
“…”
Evangeline went silent at those words.
Dietrich continued gently.
“Ever since you met Lady Ansi, you seem to be living much more happily. That makes me happy too.”
“…Whatever.”
Unable to deal with the embarrassment, Evangeline turned to look out the window instead.
A comfortable silence settled between the siblings as the carriage traveled toward the capital.
