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~Chapter 55~
I wasn’t the only one shocked.
Sophia, who had brought Lyssa, and the maids waiting nearby all froze in surprise, staring at her.
“Lyssa… are you really angry?”
“If you were in my place, wouldn’t you be angry, Amelie?”
“…I guess you would.”
“Then tell me everything. From beginning to end. Don’t leave out a single detail.”
Of course, that was only fair.
So, I immediately explained everything to Lyssa. Whether the story was long or not, I left nothing out.
“…That’s how it happened.”
Lyssa listened to me in silence until the very end. She twirled her teacup with her fingers, showing she was paying attention.
Usually, she would’ve softened halfway through. But this time, her expression stayed blank, making me nervous.
Finally, when I finished, she spoke.
“So?”
“…Huh?”
“Why are you bringing up something else? What does Richard have to do with this?”
For a moment, I thought I’d heard wrong.
“Lyssa, Richard and I… had a scandal, remember?”
“Yes, I saw it! But that’s not what matters right now. Amelie, don’t you know why I’m upset?”
“…Huh?”
If it wasn’t about Richard, then what was it?
I was confused—and also surprised that she brushed off Richard like he wasn’t important at all.
Even if she trusted me, wasn’t it strange that she didn’t care at all about the man she liked?
“Um… well…”
But now wasn’t the time to wonder about Richard. Lyssa was glaring at me with sharp eyes.
Even if I couldn’t figure out the reason, I had to at least pretend I was thinking hard about it.
Sigh.
Lyssa looked at me for a while, then sighed.
“Amelie. I’m upset because you went to that party alone, without me.”
“You… were upset about that?”
“Of course! It was your very first social party. Do you know how much I was looking forward to going with you?”
I gripped my teacup tightly and looked away.
“…It couldn’t be helped, the situation was—”
“I know. I know you must’ve had a reason. But still, I was so, so upset.”
During the days we couldn’t meet because of the scandal, her disappointment had built up like a pile of bricks.
This was my fault. I really had wronged her.
“Sorry. Next time, I won’t go without you. I promise.”
Lyssa’s frown softened.
“Really?”
“Really. And before the party, let’s go buy dresses together. I’ll choose yours, and you’ll choose mine.”
“You mean… we’ll pick for each other?”
Her eyes sparkled brighter than ever.
I realized I’d never gone shopping with Lyssa before. She loved doing things together, so of course she would love this.
“And we’ll go eat cake too, soon. I know a place that has the best raspberry cheesecake.”
“Amelie, that sounds amazing!”
She covered her mouth like it was the happiest day of her life, though her smile peeked through.
I felt bad for being so distracted by social events that I hadn’t paid her enough attention.
“Actually, perfect timing. The Imperial Palace is holding a masquerade ball next week. Let’s go together.”
“Next week? When exactly?”
“Thursday night.”
I thought about my schedule. It would be busy, but since it was at night, it should be fine.
“Alright. Then let’s go shopping for dresses on Tuesday.”
“Deal! I’ll even skip training that day.”
She burst out laughing, then hugged me tightly, rubbing her cheek against mine like a puppy.
It reminded me of what she once said—she had a younger sibling, Yvonne, who was sickly. Maybe her affection came from that.
“Oh, right. Richard will be there too. That’s okay, right?”
“Richard? If he’s going too, shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?”
Of course Richard would attend—it was the Imperial Palace’s event. But going with him was a different matter.
Lyssa just tilted her head innocently.
“Why would you ask me that?”
“…Lyssa, remember? Richard and I had that scandal.”
“So what?”
She shrugged like it didn’t matter.
Good grief. The carefree heroine had returned.
She was so indifferent it made me wonder if she even liked Richard at all.
“Wait… Amelie, are you uncomfortable? I thought you two had become close, so it’d be fine.”
“Huh? N-No, it’s not that… I was just worried people might—”
But then I realized—wasn’t Lyssa used to being stared at?
She was the heroine, after all. Even without scandals, she drew everyone’s attention with her beauty.
If she didn’t mind, then maybe I could help create the right atmosphere between her and Richard.
“I’m not uncomfortable at all. I think it’ll be fine.”
“Great! I’ll tell Richard tomorrow.”
“Okay. Oh, but… do we need partners for the ball?”
“Nope. I don’t have one either.”
“What? Richard’s not your partner?”
“No. Neither of us have partners.”
Oh my god.
How could this be? A masquerade ball, and the male lead and female lead weren’t partners? Impossible!
“Really? That’s allowed?”
“Yeah. It’s not required. I don’t like dancing, so I never bother. Richard once asked me at the academy, but I turned him down. Ever since then, we always go alone.”
I shut my eyes tightly. Poor Richard…
At least he didn’t like parties much. Otherwise, he would’ve been lonely at every ball.
Still, I had to make sure Lyssa really did like him.
“Oh, right. That thing you told me before—about your acquaintance? The one torn between their dream and someone they like. Did they decide yet?”
Lyssa flinched, then pretended to think.
“Not yet, I don’t think.”
Her voice was lower than usual.
“Mm, I see.”
I nodded like it was nothing.
It was still too early for their romance to blossom fully.
“Alright. At this masquerade, I’ll help you two properly. I’ll step back from Richard, so you can reach your happy ending.”
That was my resolve.
