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Chapter 7
“Oh my, isn’t that Miss Blante?”
“It is. Do you think Miss Bayern invited her?”
“No way. There’s no one who doesn’t know the situation of the Blante Marquisate right now. Unless she wants to fall out of His Majesty the Emperor’s favor, there’s no chance she would invite her.”
“Then did she come on her own without an invitation? How rude.”
“For a noble lady to ignore etiquette like that. Just because her family has fallen, she shouldn’t throw away her dignity so quickly.”
“I feel sorry for Miss Bayern. Even if they were friends, to show up uninvited and ruin her party like this…”
“She never thought of her as a friend in the first place. Don’t you remember? Miss Blante always treated Miss Bayern like a supporting character.”
Whispers rose from all around her.
Every one of them was criticizing her.
None of it was true, but Ariel neither wanted to refute them nor pay attention to them.
Since earlier, her attention had been focused on only one person.
The man who had continuously avoided her gaze finally looked at her.
Their eyes met.
Cold, emotionless black eyes.
Ariel did not look away.
Why are you here? No… why are you standing beside Cier?
The words reached the tip of her tongue, yet she could not bring herself to say them.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the party hall.
Only then did Ariel turn her gaze toward the person approaching her.
“Ariel! It’s been so long!”
The person who stopped in front of her was none other than Cier Bayern.
“…Cier, it’s been a while.”
Ariel responded a beat late to the cheerful greeting that felt completely out of place.
Cier stepped closer and suddenly changed her expression.
Furrowing her brows sympathetically, she looked Ariel up and down.
“Oh my, look how thin you’ve become. You must have suffered so much…”
“…Cier, I’m fin—”
“Ariel, I know it’s late, but I’m so sorry I couldn’t attend the Marquis’s funeral. I really wanted to, but Mother and Father absolutely forbade it. They said mourning a traitor is itself an act of treason.”
A traitor.
The word pierced Ariel’s chest.
Her composure shattered.
“The investigation isn’t over yet. Don’t speak carelessly, Cier.”
Ariel’s sharp reply made Cier’s shoulders flinch.
It was foolish to react like this when she had come here seeking help.
But she could not tolerate anyone insulting her father.
And judging from the look in Cier’s eyes, there was little chance she intended to help the Marquisate anyway.
“Hm, if that offended you, I apologize. Yes, I suppose it’s difficult to accept. Your father being a traitor… I don’t think I could accept it so easily either.”
“……”
“But Ariel, all the evidence has already come out, and the Marquis took his own life… I just hope you can face reality as soon as possible. It’s not over yet, after all.”
You need to come to your senses if you want to save even the title of your house.
Cier added the last words quietly.
Just as Ariel had expected.
Though Cier’s face pretended to show concern, her violet eyes looked down on her.
Every comforting word was laced with mockery.
Apparently, she had been the only one who thought they were friends.
For someone’s attitude to change this quickly…
It must mean she had never considered her a friend from the beginning.
Another betrayal.
First love, and now friendship.
Have I lived my life wrong?
After one painful betrayal after another, Ariel felt more self-blame than anger.
Everyone present was rejecting her.
That only made the feeling worse.
So abandoning my pride wasn’t enough.
Realizing just how cruel reality was, Ariel finally decided to leave.
“…Fine. I understand. I’m sorry for showing up so suddenly. If I had known a party was being held, I wouldn’t have come.”
“I’ll be leaving now.”
However, before she could even fully turn away, Cier grabbed her wrist.
Ariel looked at her with confusion.
Cier’s eyes seemed to be anticipating something.
“You’re leaving already? Since you’re here, don’t do that, Ariel. If you leave now, it’ll look like I chased you away.”
Ariel’s eyes sharpened at the unpleasant look in Cier’s eyes.
Then Cier continued.
“Besides, the fact that you came here so suddenly without sending word means you must have something to ask me. Feel free to tell me anything. I’ll listen.”
“We’re friends, after all.”
“Friends…”
Ariel let out a hollow laugh.
Had the meaning of the word friend changed without her knowing?
Yet Cier continued with an innocent expression as though nothing were wrong.
“Yes, friends. And everyone here already knows our relationship anyway. A little rudeness from you won’t matter. No one will hold it against you.”
“In fact, I’ll personally ask them not to.”
Looking around deliberately, Cier raised her voice.
“Please forgive Miss Blante for hurting the atmosphere of the party. She is my dear friend, and the Blante Marquisate is going through very difficult times.”
“We understand.”
“It’s perfectly fine.”
The nobles answered.
Their voices were filled with obvious ridicule.
It was blatant humiliation.
Yet contrary to Cier’s expectations, Ariel neither trembled with shame nor lashed out in anger.
She simply looked at Cier silently.
Cier hesitated.
Unlike the past, when Ariel had been known as the flower of high society, she was now merely the daughter of a traitor.
Yet somehow, Ariel still carried an indescribable sense of pressure.
It was the same feeling Cier used to experience when she envied her.
Unable to withstand Ariel’s gaze, Cier looked away.
Then she noticed the item in Ariel’s hand and exclaimed dramatically.
“Wait, is that a gift for me? Well, you’re certainly not the type to come asking for favors empty-handed.”
Smiling brightly, Cier practically snatched the box from Ariel’s hands.
Everything happened so quickly that Ariel had no chance to stop her.
Cier deliberately tore off the wrapping.
The moment she saw the pocket watch inside, her eyes widened.
“Oh my! Isn’t this one of the treasures of House Blante?”
“……”
“I know things are difficult, but to bring one of your family’s treasures here… You must be truly desperate.”
Letting out a loud sigh as though heartbroken, Cier raised her voice for everyone to hear.
“Ariel, I’ve been so thoughtless. I’m sorry.”
“And don’t worry. I’ll help you.”
“Our family will soon be holding a charity event. I’ll donate all the money raised there to House Blante.”
Pfft—!
The moment she finished speaking, laughter erupted from the crowd.
The charity funds meant for the poor would be donated to the Blante Marquisate.
In other words, Cier was openly treating the once-great noble house as if it were no different from beggars.
It was a humiliation that crossed every line.
But instead of becoming angry at Cier, Ariel looked at someone else.
Behind Cier.
Standing roughly where Cier had originally been.
Kyleance.
Had she unconsciously expected something?
More than the nobles’ laughter, she found herself focused on the expression on his face.
Their eyes met as though he had been waiting for it.
Unlike the others, Kyleance did not openly laugh at her.
But neither did he show any discomfort at the situation.
He looked like a spectator watching a play.
Not the slightest trace of emotion crossed his face.
Then, with elegant ease, he raised his wine glass and took a sip.
I would rather you laugh at me like everyone else.
That indifference—
That complete disregard, as though they had never even met—
hurt far more.
Unlike Kyleance, she had not yet managed to erase him from her heart.
So I was someone you could forget that easily.
That’s why you could send the annulment agreement so quickly.
That’s why you can stand here wearing that expression.
As Ariel bit her lip to suppress the emotions threatening to overwhelm her, Cier’s voice reached her ears again.
“Ariel, I’ll do my best to gather donations. So please, hold on just a little longer.”
A disgusting voice masquerading as affection.
Thanks to it, Ariel’s mind, clouded by thoughts of Kyleance, became sharp once more.
Looking straight at Cier, Ariel finally spoke.
“Stop it.”
“What…?”
“Stop pretending to be my friend.”
“Stop pretending you care about me.”
At Ariel’s blunt words, the corners of Cier’s mouth twitched.
“Pretending to be your friend? What do you mean? Ariel, that’s too harsh…”
“Too harsh…”
Ariel smiled at Cier.
Just like Cier had done.
No—an even more perfect smile.
Then Ariel spoke.
“You’re right, Cier. I was too harsh.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ve been under so much stress that I forgot something for a moment.”
“That your social skills are terribly lacking.”
